A group of six youth from the Dominican Republic have \u201cstepped out on faith\u201d in their efforts to attend National Youth Conference, said Beth Gunzel. \u201cIt is a group of exceptional leaders who all have generous and kind spirits.\u201d Gunzel is consultant for a microloan community development program in the Dominican Republic working with the General Board\u2019s Global Mission Partnerships.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was immediately impressed to see how well they worked together and the thought-provoking questions they had,\u201d Gunzel said of the Dominican youth. \u201cThe group maintained a positive attitude as they practiced songs and dramas, while facing the possibility of not being able to travel.\u201d<\/p>\n
A strict US immigration policy has made it very difficult for the youth to obtain travel visas, Gunzel said. \u201cIt would be hard to bear doing all that work and getting excited just to be told \u2018no\u2019 for no apparent reason,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The six youth from Iglesia de los Hermanos-DR (Church of the Brethren in the Dominican Republic) arrived July 15 to visit the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., and the Chicago-area congregations before attending National Youth Conference in Colorado. Gunzel is host and translator for the group, assisted by Tim Heishman, son of DR mission coordinators Irv and Nancy Heishman.<\/p>\n
The six participants and their churches and villages are: Guildalba Feliz Guzm\u00e1n, Pe\u00f1a de Horeb, Bastida; Elizabeth Feliz Marmolejos, La Hermosa, La Caya; Mar\u00eda Virgen Suero De Le\u00f3n, Ebenezer, Bonao; Vildor Archange, Nueva Unci\u00f3n, Mendoza; Benjam\u00edn Lamu Bueno, Rey de Reyes, Sabana Torsa (San Luis); and Pedro S\u00e1nchez Ledesma, pastor at Mone de los Olivos, Magueyal.<\/p>\n
Guidalba Feliz Guzm\u00e1n explained just how new this experience is for her. In one weekend, she has experienced for the first time computers, e-mail, air travel, and hamburgers. At a Sunday morning worship service at York Center Church of the Brethren in Lombard, Ill., Guzm\u00e1n found herself enjoying the piano music, even without the clapping or drums she is accustomed to. \u201cAlthough our worship styles differ, we serve the same God,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The group\u2019s schedule included a potluck at Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren in Elgin; a trip to Camp Emmaus and Pinecrest Community in Mount Morris, Ill.; worship with Christ Connections congregation in Oswego, Ill.; and sightseeing in downtown Chicago.<\/p>\n
The Dominican group will be highlighted at NYC on Tuesday, July 25. During morning worship, Vildor Archange will share about the microloans program from his perspective as a board member and a local representative in his community. The group will perform the closing song for evening worship.<\/p>\n
–Janis Pyle is coordinator of mission connections for the Global Mission Partnerships of the Church of the Brethren General Board.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
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