David Dean leads mission trips to New Missions in the Dominican Republic. Each time, the lives of children are impacted with the love of God and the power of the Gospel.
The story of how a mission trip changes lives is too often buried under “life” when we return home. Below are questions asked of David Dean, a personal friend, who leads mission teams to New Missions in the Dominican Republic.
Tim: On your most recent trip to the D.R., what long-term impact did the team feel they made in the lives of the Dominicans?
David: It usually occurs in the moments we never planned. Six to seven months prior to each of our trips, we begin meeting to discuss how we plan on sharing Jesus with the locals. More often than not, ministry moments take place off our agenda—spur of the moment prayer time with someone who is ill or who recently lost a loved one.
The joy of the Lord is the strength for each child to grow strong and discover their full potential in Christ.
Tim: After a trip, what is life like?
David: Arriving guns blazin’ in the D.R. is the easy part. Returning home to the frenzied pace of our internet driven world can be overwhelming. A day after we came home from our trip I tweeted, “I spent a week in the Dominican Republic and not once did I watch TV or read a newspaper.”
Tim: Spiritually, how has your involvement in missions drawn you closer to God?
David: I’m a big fan of David Livermore’s book on short-term missions called, “Serving With Eyes Wide Open.” Livermore writes that often times, our teams are so consumed with the “stuff” we plan on bringing to the locals that we forget what the locals are longing for the most: our presence. Like our children, the most valuable commodity we can give is our time. So these trips have taught me that my prayer-Bible time are THE most important moments in my day.
At New Missions, you can sponsor a child from the Dominican Republic. Search at newmissions.org for a boy or girl to share your love and prayers.
Tim: When it comes to your prayer for the people of the Dominican Republic, what is deep in your heart for them?
David: The most common request I hear from the locals before we pray for them is that they would “stay hungry for God.” How ironic is that—coming from a people who long to squeeze in one or two small meals a day? It’s a great prayer for my Dominican friends; a great prayer for us.
Thank you, David, for your passion for the people of the Dominican Republic. It’s contagious!
Maria Alexandra Torres Garcia, attends our Bombita school, and is sponsored by The Thirteen Foundation. She has hope in God and is surrounded by Christian teachers and pastors from New Missions.
~ Timothy DeTellis
