Barger: Dominican Republic

For several months, Donny and I have been sensing that God was preparing us for a change, although we did not know when or to where.

At cluster meeting, Phil Templin, the regional leader for Middle America and the Caribbean, approached us and asked us to consider the field strategy leader position for the indigenous of Mexico. We immediately began to pray about this position and have come to the conclusion that this is where God would have us to serve. If the visa process goes smoothly, we will plan to leave some time in October.

In this job, we will be working with missionaries and nationals who are engaging some of the 66 distinct ethnolinguistic groups (283 language dialects) as well as developing strategies to engage those who are not currently being engaged with the gospel.

There are more than 10 million people included in these indigenous groups, located from Baja California to Guatemala, many of whom do not speak any Spanish at all. We will be living in the city of Puebla, which is at 7,000 feet altitude, so a major climate change for us. It is also a developed city, so we will be adjusting, as well, to an urban lifestyle, as opposed to our rural lifestyle that we have lived for the last several years. I have to tell you that this has been one of the hardest decisions I have ever been a part of. 

The Dominican Republic has not only been our place of work for over five years, but has also become our home. It is home for our children, too, and so it is difficult in more ways than one. However, we know that God will prepare the way for our new ministry and home in Mexico, and we are looking forward to the challenges, opportunities and blessings ahead.

We ask that you pray for us as we prepare to make this move. Pray for us as we finish our work here and for the other missionaries who will continue the work in the rural Dominican Republic. Pray for us as we say goodbye to our home, our Dominican friends and our missionary family. Pray for us as we go through the visa process for Mexico, that things will go smoothly so that we can be on schedule to arrive in Mexico in October. 

Donald and Jennifier Barger
Dominican Republic