The Home Team!

Oh, my goodness! We have had an incredible summer and we an overwhelmed by God's grace and goodness showered on us during these past few months. In a few weeks we will have some time to fill you in but for now I just wanted to share about our team from our home church!

The minute they pulled on to the base I started to cry - I know, go figure! But I was overwhelmed by this sense of peace just knowing that we were going to be surrounded by people we have a history with, people who have known us through thick and thin, who know our character and who love us so much! And people that we love so much and have loved for many years! Some of the participants we have known since before they were a twinkle in their parents' eye! And they are now 18 or 19!

And how honored we were to be a part of their walk with God here in the Dominican Republic. The Holy Spirit was tangible and moving through their lives in a way that was fruitful and nourishing to all they came in contact with. We were so proud to be connected with our Cascade Covenant Team. Jesse, Kelly, Nikki, Shannon and Matt were phenomenal leaders, truly an example of dying to self for the sake of others, always serving and caring, leading and guiding their team members.

While they were here our life was full with our work and daily living but we were able to squeeze in many moments to visit and touch base. How encouraging to hear the stories of all that God has been doing since we have last seen everyone along with all that He was doing during their time here. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera pretty much every day so I only have a few pictures from their time here, although I know everyone else has tons they took!

Beginning on Tuesday, Kenny became so sick that he wasn't able to go to the base and actually remained in bed until just this morning. He went to the base to say good bye last night but is still not fully recovered. Turns out he had an amoeba! Yikes! But he got the medicine needed yesterday and he is already beginning to heal! All that being said, he was so bummed to miss time with the team. So he isn't in any of the pictures! Dios sabe!

A Prayer Remembered

We brought our first team from Cascade Covenant Church down to the DR in 2004.  I distinctly remember our first team.  I can remember Brian Jenks and I laying on an old deck built around this tree during siesta time (12:00 - 2:00).  I remember praying and asking God for His blessing as I tried to speak and understand Spanish. Oh how badly I wanted to learn Espanol.

Well, in this picture of the building you can see a second deck.  That building wasn't there in 2004.  But that upper  deck is where I now have my language classes.  One day I was waiting for my teacher, sitting up and looking down at the tree.  Tears filled my eyes as I all at once remembered crying out to God to please grant me favor in learning this new language.

Currently I have class 2 days a week for an hour each time.  I also have a new friend, Carlos, who is graciously giving me an hour of his time once a week to just walk and talk Espanol.  I also have a staff member, Willian,  who is taking time with me almost each day to just talk, gently correcting me and walking with me in this journey.

Also, so many other staff members pour their time and energy in helping me.  I am finally at a place now where what I thought would never happen is slowly, but surely becoming a reality.

I will never forget that day as I looked down at that tree and God reminded me of my cry, and His answer.  A true picture of the meaning "everything in His time".

His faithfulness endures forever!

The great "Prayer for Learning Spanish Tree"

As I sat up on that second level, God reminded me of the time I prayed.  And.. He hadn't forgotten even though I did.

My brother in Christ, Carlos, who has made a commitment to sacrifice some of his time weekly to help me learn espanol.

Helena Arrives :)

Karen and Helena

I’d like to introduce everyone to our 2^nd of two wonderful volunteers for the summer.  This is Helena .  We are super excited and blessed to have Helena for this summer and look forward to the great season God has blessed us with to live in community.

Helena & Courtney  2013 Summer Volunteers :)

Three awesome women ready to serve

Super excited to serve together

Our 1st Volunteer

We are so excited.  On Monday Courtney Barlow arrived in Jarabacoa and came to stay with us.  She is officially our very first volunteer.  A volunteer is someone who has come as an intern for a summer and feels a call to come and investigate possible long term ministry. Volunteers live in the community rather than on the base like interns do. Next Monday we will pick up the 2nd and final volunteer for the summer.  Then on Wed, May 15th, 10 interns for the summer will be arriving with teams beginning on May 20th.
It is such an exciting time for Karen and I as this will be our first summer as Teams Directors.  We pray God will bless us with humility, grace and wisdom as we model leadership, servanthood and love to all those we walk with this summer.

We are so thankful for all those back home who continue to support us financially and prayerfully so that we have this great chance to impact students lives hopefully for eternity.  Please pray God will give us, SI-DR staff, volunteers and interns wisdom to love well this entire summer.

INTRODUCING - COURTNEY BARLOW
Kenny and Karen Miller's very first volunteer! Courtney will be running our SI-DR Media site for the summer!

Thank you to all

As many of you know,  we came home to Seattle for about 5 weeks due to my dad being hospitalized because of a fall and a serious infection throughout his body.  Thank you to so many who lifted us and him up in prayer, provided a home for us and loved us while were home. My dad spent about 10 days in intensive care and then another week at the hospital, then was moved to a rehabilitation home and spent about 2 weeks there.  During this time we prayed for my dad, visited him regularly, all the while cleaning out his house and garage.

Praise God for his faithfulness!  What looked so impossible to us turned into God blessing us over and over.  God brought family, friends, neighbors, and people we didn't even know to help us and Grandpa.  I have no doubt some were angels :)

During this process we also needed to find my dad an adult family home because he was still so weak.  God again was faithful in that He blessed us with just the right place for my dad.  We absolutely love the home we found him and we are so thankful for Marc and Claudia, the owners of the adult family home.

We were so sad that we didn't have much time to spend with our family due to how incredibly busy we were trying to accomplish all we needed to. But we did have a few days along the way to spend with them.  Here are some pics.

Again, thank you to all who prayed for us through this incredibly tough journey we just traveled. God is good!

The Jayne Family - looking good! (Daughter Amy and family)

Micah and Jonah's best friend Johnnie, with Oma too :) (Our daughter Amy's boys)

Matching smiles !
(Daughter Amy)

3 generations of beautiful :)
(Oma, daughter Lyndsey, granddaughter Ellie)

Grandpa, Oma, and one super happy kid
(Karen, her dad Jerry, Lyndsey's son Eli)

Notice any similarities ?
(Daughter Lyndsey)

One day we had to go look at some property Grandpa owned, so we took the boys with us.  Great day
(Amy's boys Jonah and Micah)

TREASURES

It was a great day!

Perfect form !  Looks like a home run from that swing
(Our son Trapper's son Wyatt)

Thats one proud papa
(Trapper with daughter Addison)

A great night with our grandson Carter playing cards, he beat everyone.
(Our daughter Crystal's son Carter)

Oma and Carter

I know what they're saying here.  I just got a new camera and was a little click happy.  They're saying  "Man, I hope his battery dies
(Sons Kenny Jr, Trapper and his wife Kaysee and daughter Addison)

I double checked, they don't make them any more beautiful :)

Again, one proud papa 

This guy....... Is Awesome !
(Daughter Lyndsey and husband Tom's son Eli)

Addison - Oma - Opa 

Much love,
Kenny and Karen