Kenny and Karen in the Dominican Republic: September 2013

We were talking with our semester students the other night about what Jesus "saw" when the bible says "he saw the crowds" in Matthew 9. What does it mean to really see someone? Jesus "had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." What do we "see" in others when we are with them - or do we even take the time needed to really "see" as Jesus did?

As I was looking at the pics below from where we serve - I tried to really pay attention to the faces and the backgrounds. What do you see?

More from Isaiah 58
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
To loose the chains of injustice and untie the chords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and flood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
you will cry for help and He wills say: Here am I.

We didn't have a lot of opportunity to take pictures of Students International Ministry this summer but thought we would gather pics from interns and friends to share with you. This gives you a glimpse into the hope Christ is bringing to many!

This month I have continued to return to Isaiah 58. I keep thinking that I truly understand and then God shows me something new that I missed the day before!
Saturday as I was reading Isaiah and thinking about Sunday and the Sabbath and planning my day, God reminded me once again - He asks that we make one day a special day - to honor Him, to grow closer to Him, to get to know Him better, to enjoy Him! Sometimes I wonder if maybe I think since we are serving Him daily I maybe can fudge on Sabbath and think it's okay. But truly Sabbath is for my relationship with Him so I am not able to serve Him fully during the week unless there is Sabbath. And I have learned this lesson how many times??? So I revised my plans for Sunday and took out more of me and put in more of Him.

"Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the house of Jacob their sins. For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them.
Why have we fasted, they say, and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves and you have not noticed?
Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers.
Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.
Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself?
Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and lying on sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?

Our Intern Rachel (right)
and the students at Education Mata Gorda

Intern Jesse and Alberto - Ministry Site Leader at Education Mata Gorda

Women's Sports Site

Summer intern Morgan with one of the girls from the volleyball team!

Rachel who is our site leader missionary for Community Health!

Intern Rachel and some students from El Callejon

Intern Rebecca with some students from Mata Gorda!

Orientation with our interns - one of our first days with them! So fun!

Intern Erin at Genesis, the Special Education Site

Intern Aubrey and Summer Volunteer, Helena!

Sports Site

Karen crossing a bridge on an excursion.

Intern Benjamin and Puni who works in Microfinance with her hijos!

Kenny (orange shirt) showing interns around the sites

Karen again!

Alberto (from the DR), site leader at Education Mata Gorda, Heidy (from the DR) site leader at Los Higos Social Work, Abby and Melisa (daughters of Daisy (from Columbia) site leader at Social Work El Callejon and Silvio (from Nicaragua) Site Leader at Physical Therapy

Intern Rebecca at Education Mata Gorda!

Silvio, site leader at Physical Therapy (missionary from Nicaragua)
with a bass guitar a participant gave him as a gift this summer!
So cool especially because Silvio is super gifted on the bass!

Intern Rebecca and Mata Gorda students!

Volleyball Site!

Intern Zach

Intern trip to Pico Duarte - They climbed the highest peak in the Caribbean!
They were all in such great shape!

Kelly from our home church, Oscary and Silvio from PT

Intern Rachel with a sleepy little one!

Courtney, our summer volunteer took over the media site
and took amazing video and pics with her super cool Go-Pro!

Our staff at the beginning of the summer! Six Americans from this picture finished up their time here
and have since returned to the states.

Intern Tyler who took all the baseball pics with a young man from the sports site.

Volunteer Courtney - Media site leader and one of the volleyball girls.
(Courtney is also an amazing volleyball player!)

Intern Erin at Special Education

Intern Rachel at Education El Callejon

Interns!!!

Our two Volunteers, Courtney and Helena at motocross near a community SI serves in!

Intern Morgan and volleyball girls. That's Marcy on the right - Her mom is a missionary site leader at Special Education and her dad Mike is a Ministry Site Supervisor.