Ministering to the people of Jarabacoa through baseball, social work and microfinance

Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic 2025 #2

We have had some days of great ministry in the city of Jarabacoa! Jeff has been serving with boys aged 11-14 at the baseball site. He’s helped the boys to sharpen their baseball skills while also sharing how the Lord has worked in his life. He received a lot of questions from the boys and he was able to tell them how God was with him through the highs and lows in life. The boys are part of a community youth league and Jeff traveled to the city of Santiago to help coach them in two baseball games. The team lost the first game, but won the second game. Jeff said the boys were very happy. On the bus ride back from the game, the boys singing along to songs on the Spanish radio station.

Patricia has really connected personally with the women at her social work ministry site. She has worked with the site leader to learn about the women and the girls that attend the meetings at their location. The meetings typically consist of prayer, a lesson from the Bible, and a craft. Since Patricia is an excellent Spanish speaker, she was able to really listen and understand the issues and problems of the ladies and of the community. She is able to clearly share her life experiences and her walk with the Lord. She’s also led the ladies in making beautiful bracelets that could be sold to earn extra income for their families. It has been amazing to hear the stories of how she’s encouraged these women and girls.

Peggy has enjoyed working at the Microfinance site. Although it is a financial ministry, much of the Christian outreach mirrors the mission of the women’s social work site. As part of the outreach, the team worked alongside business owners in the community. The team spent time helping small business entrepreneurs make their goods to sell. The full-time mission workers and the volunteer team worked with two businesses to help make a delicious bread called Pan de Leche and dessert called Carlota de Limón. The volunteer team provided samples to people at the ministry base and marketed these products to sell.

  On the financial side of the ministry, this incredible program serves many communities in Jarabacoa to give small loans to women. The money can be used for housing, medical, and small business expenses. There is an option to deposit funds in a savings account that the participants can withdraw as well. The women meet every 15 days at a home or a community building such as a school. The meetings begin with praying for prayer requests and a bible lesson. Then the women bring cash to pay toward their loans or to even help pay an amount on the balance of a friend or family member. The women seem to have great a community and enjoy getting together. There have been amazing stories of how this money has helped women pay for surgeries and make important home repairs.

The Woodmen Valley Team has definitely “loved well” in Jarabacoa and look forward to the next few ministry days.

- Peggy Close