Stories from the Damas Juntas Retreat
Last month, our Women's Empowerment team hosted its first Damas Juntas Leaders’ Retreat. With 11 groups represented and over 200 women in attendance, the day was filled with laughter, learning, and moments of profound connection.
Our theme for the day was “Surrender.” Together, the team spent time in silence and solitude, reflected on what it means to surrender to God fully, played games that brought so much joy, worshiped together, and prayed over one another’s communities. It was a beautiful reminder of how God is at work among these women and the impact they’re having in their own neighborhoods.
One story in particular reminded us just how powerfully God moves in people’s lives. A young teenager who had accepted Jesus as her Savior just last month came to the retreat and shared that she had invited her mom and sister to join her at Damas Juntas the previous night. Both of them accepted Jesus as well.
A whole family, now walking with Christ, was an incredible picture of how God is using Damas Juntas to bring hope and transformation to generations.
We are so thankful for each woman who leads, serves, and shows up with open hearts. This community is a living testimony of God’s faithfulness.
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Densia’s Story
Esterline’s story began in a place of deep fear and uncertainty. His mom was very sick, and their family had already spent everything they had trying to help her; going from place to place, even to a voodoo doctor, hoping something would work. But nothing changed. She was still just as sick, and they were left with no money and no answers. In the middle of dealing with his mother’s illness and his own desperation for her to get better, Esterline cried out to God. “If you save my mom,” he prayed, “I will follow you for the rest of my life.” Not long after, he asked his small group leader and their village champion to come to his home and pray. As they stood together and lifted up his mom, something powerful happened. Not just physically, but spiritually. In that moment, she chose to put her trust in Jesus.And things began to change. Day by day, her health started to improve… until she was completely healed. But the story doesn’t stop there. Esterline remembered the promise he made. He went to the village champion and said, “I need Jesus. I remember my promise to God.” And he chose to follow Him. Now, instead of fear filling their home, there is joy. Instead of searching for answers, they have found hope. Together, they go to church. Together, they worship. What started as desperation turned into a story of healing.
March was packed, and we can’t wait to tell you about it! Over the course of the month of March, 361 team members came alongside the work in the Dominican Republic, helping serve 1,535 people through medical care and reaching 746 more through Strategic Ministry Time. We welcomed over 2,200 kids into Kids Club, and most importantly, we celebrated 61 people who made the decision to follow Christ! While in the community of Los Higos, one of our teams spent time with a couple who are both battling cancer. After spending most of their savings on medication, they were often left without enough money to even buy clean drinking water. Through local church leaders, we were able to reach their home and give them a water filter that will provide safe, clean water for the next 10 years. As the team shared how the filter takes water that isn’t safe and transforms it into something clean and pure, they explained how Jesus does the same in our lives—washing, restoring, and making us new. Sitting there in their home, the couple was moved to tears. In that moment, both chose to accept Christ. We are so thankful for every team member that came down, ready to serve, share the Gospel and bring hope to every man, woman and child across the Dominican Republic.
