Latest Updates from Jackie and Alan Perez
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5 Apr 2012 | 3:20 pmPosted by: Alan and Jackie
Last month Yasmin and her mom Carina, traveled to Santo Domingo to complete the final tests before Yasmin would be scheduled for her surgery, however, a shocking verdict was given, one we feared.She was denied the surgery.She is a perfect candidate, except, they don't believe she would survive the surgery.She is severely malnourished and needs to not only eat, but eat the right kind of foods that would make her healthy now and to help her heal from surgery.We held a meeting with Carina, Yasmin, Doctor Vladamir Canela, and our Staff Nurse Deloris Norman. They took measurements, talked with Carina about nutrition and then scheduled a series of tests and x-rays for Yasmin, which she is having done today.Operation Smile said if Yasmin can get to a healthy weight they will perform the surgery. Will you please pray with us for this dear child? We have turned all of our focus away from the surgery (temporarily) to focus on healing Yasmin's body from malnutrition.Please join us! If you wish to give to help heal Yasmin, please send a donation to the G.O. Ministries Stateside Office:11501 Plantside Dr. Suite 14Louisville, KY 40299Please put "Perez, Yasmin medical" in the memo line.Much peace,Alan and JackieRead more... -
15 Mar 2012 | 12:19 pmPosted by: Alan and Jackie
I spent two days in Haiti last month. It was a bit of a last minute trip. My purpose was to go with Reid, our newest member to G.O. Ministries. Reid is shooting G.O.'s new comprehensive video and was paired up with me to get the footage he needs.
I was overwhelmed by this trip. To the naked eye, we were simply surrounded by poverty, desolation, humility, hopelessness. We interviewed one woman living in the community and when we asked what her day consisted of, she said "in the morning we search for food, but we don't find any. We fish, but many times, there are no fish." Her daughter, about 3 years old, stood near her legs. Everyday she lives the same life over and over again.
As the sun began to set and darkness fell upon this shanty camp of a "town," there squatting over a pot sitting atop a pile of rocks, sticks and fire was an old woman. She was cooking food for her family, but she had only rocks and sticks and fire. She had no stove, no fancy bakeware, no cooking utensils, just sticks and rock and fire. Every day, she lives the same life over and over again.
The final day I was there I stole a few moments to myself to walk around the town and bid goodbye to a place that has come to teach me so much. As I walked, I saw an old woman smoothing out a tarp on the dusty dirt floor, laying out carbon to sell. I have seen her many times. They cut down the trees and burn their branches and trunks, smoldering them away until it turns into charcoal. This is how she finds her income and supports her family, and she too, lives this same life each day.
Amidst all of this despair and pain is a beautiful world around them. Surrounded by mountains and cacti forests intricately growing and forming walls surrounding homes. The water from the bay laps against the rocks in beautiful shades of blues and greens. You can watch the sunrise over the water and if you walk up the hill to where the mango trees stand, you can watch the sunset over the mountain range. It is magical. In a song Dave Crowder sings, the lyrics go "heaven meets earth with an unforseen kiss and my heart turns violently inside of my chest." I have seen and experienced this many times in Phaeton and every time I wonder, do they see the magic and wonder of their savior amidst the tragedy in which they live? Do they see the beauty of heaven colliding with the plight of the daily fight to exist? Do they even count it as tragedy as I so readily do, or do they simply accept life the way it is? Do they know there is a world outside of Phaeton vastly different from their's?
We interviewed the Pastor, Lucner Jean Pierre about his partnership with a church from the states that travels to Phaeton and works alongside of their community. The church was there while we were there shooting video and I asked Lucner, what do you think this church gains from working alongside of your church and community and he answered, "There is nothing I can think of that they could gain from us, but I believe the Lord is preparing a special place in Heaven for them and for G.O. Ministries." Trying to hold back the tears and continue the interview I knew I would never be the same.
Oh Lucner and people of Phaeton, if only you knew how much we gain, how our lives will never be the same, how we could never return to the states and live as we once did, all from our time serving alongside of you and the beautiful people of Phaeton. You may not see the beauty of the land or what you could ever have to offer, but I do.
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6 Feb 2012 | 2:14 pmPosted by: Alan and Jackie
Phaeton (pronounced F-eye-ay-tone) is a small community literally in the midst of nowhere. You drive and drive through miles of dirt road and cactus wall until you enter through the red, white, and blue posts welcoming you to the village, and as we began to enter I began to imagine it all over again.
My first trip to Haiti was in 2005. It had just become safe to travel there again after Aristide had been removed from power. How strange and different this dusty place was, I thought. Haitian men and women passed along both sides of us wheeling wheel barrows of chickens, eggs, and other goods. Men carried stacks of plastic chairs on their heads to sell in Haiti. The children, many wearing nothing, danced along the dirt roads alongside of us shouting and pointing "blan, blan," which meant "white, white." Missions was foreign to me, but the Lord spoke deeply and quietly in my heart, during my several hours there and I knew this was it.
I began a journey of much prayer and joined G.O. in 2007. My first summer I traveled to Haiti several times. Each time I crossed the bridge, over the Massacre River into the Dominican Republic, my heart longed to return to a place I thought of as home... And then, nothing. For three years I waited to return to Haiti, but never did. Until last January, during our staff trip. I had never been to Phaeton. This was brand new for me and oddly, I found myself anxious, and not wanting to go. Much in my life had changed since my last trip and I thought I would be left to deal with feelings of remorse and mourning that my life's path did not appear to be leading me to Haiti permanently anytime soon. Oh, how my sweet Savior surprised me. It was an incredible trip! Instead of mourning and sadness I was filled with joy and praise for what he was doing in this tiny fishing community on the northern coast. You can read more about that experience here.
This year, as our team waited at the border to cross into Haiti while swarms of Haitians passed by carrying their goods to sell during market day, I breathed out a sigh of relief... I was once again for 5 days, in the place my heart knew as home.
I heard the familiar calls from a little girl named "Woodsline" as she ran up and took my hand in hers. This place is special. And G.O. is going to do mighty things here!
One of the purposes of our trip was to dig! We dug two trenches on the property where someday a ministry building will stand. It will be a church for the community, a nutrition center to feed the children, and dorms to house visiting short-term teams. Their will also be community gardens and an agricultural piece to the project.The thing that gets me though, is that even if we didn't do all of this and we had no grand project for this place, the work of the Lord is still very active and present in this place! Without G.O.! He has chosen us to partner with Him in this great work to bring glory to His name and point others in Phaeton to the work He is doing. I read a great book (Velvet Elvis) that talked about missionaries using the term "taking Jesus to..." as if he wasn't already present there. We are not taking Jesus to Phaeton. We are pointing people to where he is already alive and present in Phaeton doing a might work through the local pastor, Lucner!
I've recently began meeting with another G.O. Staff member and we've been reading a Psalm a week. We meet, dissect it, pray about it, and discuss how it applies to our lives. It was no coincidence that during my week in Haiti we read Psalm 43.
1 Vindicate me, my God,
and plead my cause
against an unfaithful nation.
Rescue me from those who are
deceitful and wicked.
2 You are God my stronghold.
Why have you rejected me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?
3 Send me your light and your faithful care,
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you dwell.
4 Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the lyre,
O God, my God.
5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
The word that spoke to me the most is that 3 letter word in the middle of verse 5. Yet. "Put your hope in God," it says "for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."
I find myself praying for the Lord to answer my prayers so that I may praise Him. That word "yet" hit me so hard as I looked around and saw a people who suffered in so many ways in a town that lacked every basic vital necessity for survival and yet praised him.
Oh how I long to have a faith like our Haitian brothers and sisters who praise even yet!It was an incredible trip and time of seeing Lucner pastor his community and care for the many needs of others with such love and kindness. Lucner is an incredibly humble guy who shepherds his flock with true humility and kindness for the people in the community, continually looking to meet their many needs. We partner with Lucner and 6 other pastors located in the mountains of Haiti. We are grateful for Northeast Church who partner with Lucner and Phaeton.Lucner and his wife Marie
It was also a blessing to work with our staff in purpose and unity as we were literally "in the trenches" together and I am certainly looking forward to 2013 in Phaeton.
Enjoy some pictures taken from our trip in Phaeton by Amanda Braisted, our ministry photographer!Our construction work projectMe, digging.The sun setting over the remnants of the old sisal rope factoryA typical houseMy friend Goody. She is pretty incredible and I am thankful and humbled to know herThis is where all the meals are cooked for the kids in the nutrition center currently feeding kids in the churchChildren sat on tarps and ate their meal at the nutrition center, outdoorLook at those eyesI am a shrimp! We're inside the prison at the Citadel.Team photo (minus Jen) at the CitadelKids meet and have school classes in the churchAll ready for school
Many thanks to our many faithful supporters and prayer warriors! We would not be able to do this ministry without your partnership with us!
Love,
Jackie Read more... -
21 Nov 2011 | 3:11 pmPosted by: Alan and Jackie
This month I am celebrating ten years of knowing my Savior. As I reflect on ten years, there is much for me to be thankful for- this is my story.
I grew up in Las Vegas. From what I can remember I had a great childhood. I spent many Saturdays riding bikes all day with my dad at the park. I played outside until it was dark with friends. We took family vacations to places like Disneyland. We camped, we fished, we were happy.
And then we moved.
And then my parents got a divorce.
And then I turned 12.
While my childhood was seemingly perfect, my early adolescence was anything but perfect. At twelve I lacked skills to cope with my emotions. I was so raw and hurt and couldn't understand that it had nothing to do with me or my brother. I started drinking at school in the bathrooms. I felt alive, doing things I knew I shouldn't. We partied a lot, too and I dabbled in drugs when they were available to me.
As high school approached, I thought I could use a fresh start. I auditioned for a performing arts high school and was accepted. Change was coming and I was excited, but on the second day of school, a girl in the bathroom offered me crystal methamphetamine, and I was helpless against her persuasions.
Unable to cope with my own emotions and feelings of rejection, I began to resonate with those that used substances to cope with their pain. We hardly showed up for school and cared more about scoring a taste than scoring a good grade on a test. When you are addicted to something, you do whatever it takes to get it. I had little money, and I quickly learned if you don't have money the easiest way to score is to date the dealer. You get free drugs that way.
I don't remember a lot of the details from my high school years and I believe the Lord protected me from remembering some things I was involved in. Every now and then I remember a memory I hadn't been able to remember before, but now I am able to move beyond them and find healing.
I moved around a lot. I ran away when I was 15 and lived with several different relatives and in and out of my mom's house.
I experimented with many different ways of coping with pain.
Drugs.
Alcohol.
Sex.
Cutting.
I barely graduated high school. Not because I wasn't smart, but because I refused to apply myself, or show up. I was 18 and nearing rock bottom, but it would still be a couple years and a lot more pain before I would get there. I started dating a local deal dealer, and we dealt together. We lived together too. At first we just dealt marijuana but then it turned to cocaine and things much worse. After a year of dating he asked me to marry him and I said yes.
And then it hit me.
I was 19 and planning a wedding. I had convinced myself I was getting "the life," but I wasn't. We lived in fear of being raided all the time. We lived a lie to my whole family, pretending we were clean. We weren't. I couldn't take it anymore. I was almost 20 and I wanted to die. I remember thinking that if this was any indication of how my life was going to turn out, I should just kill myself, and I knew something had to change. I had to change.
I broke up with my fiancee. (He was later killed by his younger brother who also dealt drugs and who had lived with us for two years. It took me many years to heal from that). I stopped doing drugs, and I was trying to get my life in order.
I barely spoke to my brother, who was four years younger than me. I heard he was going to church and he was going to be baptized. He invited me and on a whim I decided to go. The pastor who baptized my brother asked him if he wanted anyone to get in the water with them. I knew he was going to choose me, and he did. I didn't realize it then, but it wasn't just my brother choosing me, Jesus was choosing me too. I entered into the water and stood next to my brother and felt something come over me. Peace. It was the first time since I was twelve that I could remember feeling peace.
I had gotten a job working for my mom at her health food store and the pastor who baptized my brother came in regularly to study and prepare his sermons. My mom also hired the pastor's wife, who was the Children's Ministry Director at the church. They talked to me a lot about Jesus.
One day I decided to go to church. I called my brother and asked him to take me. I remember that everyone seemed really happy. Peaceful. I wanted it.
I went to church on and off for several months. I was trying to stay clean and trying to change my life and one morning I woke up, it was November 6, 2001 and I had this overwhelming feeling to get face down on the floor. I remember thinking I was really weird. I didn't know what to say, so I just laid there at first and said-
"Jesus, I am yours."
I have been so weak at times, I don't know how I could go on. I have been in what felt like the pit of death. I have seen things kids should not. I have experienced such emotional pain it physically hurts. I have hurt myself and have caused many others a great deal of pain and I believe He allowed me to go through what I needed to experience for me to get to the place of needing him, thirsting for Him, hungering for Him. I have experienced his joy, and his peace, and his love. Parts of me that I thought were forever damaged have been healed. He has put back together all of my broken pieces but made me into something new.
What more can I say, except "Jesus, I am yours."
Ten years of worship. Of following Him, where He has led. I have known Him for a decade, though He has known me my whole life. I am looking forward to many more decades with my sweet Savior.
The first verse I memorized was 1 Peter 1:24-25. I was in a coffee shop when I found it.
“All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.”
He is the Word, and He endures forever. The pain and the shame and the guilt of this world do not. The scars of my past do not. The hurts of tomorrow do not. Only He endures forever.
Today I am one blessed wife and mother and so incredibly thankful for the new life He has given me!
I am forever indebted to Him.
Jesus, I am yours. Read more... -
20 Oct 2011 | 9:05 amPosted by: Alan and Jackie
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27 Aug 2011 | 7:54 pmPosted by: Alan and Jackie
We want to introduce you to Yasmin.She had my heart the moment I laid eyes on her.She is 16 months old and has the most beautiful blue/grey eyes. She doesn't smile often, but when I caught the smile on her lips and the twinkle in her eyes I had to choke back the tears.She isn't like most 16 month old little girls. She was born with a hole in the roof of her mouth making it almost impossible for her to eat, drink, sometimes even breathe. She weighs a mere 11 pounds putting her in the 0% for her age.The little food her mom is able to give her, often comes out her nose as she is choking and gagging. Little is retained. Because she is so weak, she cannot sit up on her own, walk or even crawl. She has no muscle mass, likened to an 11 pound sack of potatoes.There are other complications as well. She is severely anemic. She has fluid in her brain and in her lungs. She has not been given much longer to live."There are nights," her mom tells me "I walk into her room, and look at her body lying there barely breathing and think, this is it, she has died."However, amidst all of this tragedy in her brief 16 months of life, there is much hope. An organization called Operation Smile, located in Santo Domingo has agreed to begin the preliminary evaluations to see if she qualifies for a cleft pallet surgery. If she qualifies, the surgery will be free.We need your help. Aside from a free surgery, there will be many trips to Santo Domingo, over night stays in the capital city, medicine, and other essential costs that will occur outside of the surgery. We are asking you to pray and give sacrificially to help change this little girl's life. We need about $1000 for the additional costs.$1000 will radically change this little girl's life. Forever.Yasmin and mom CarinaIf you would like to give towards her medical care, please respond to this email and let Jackie know at what cost you would be willing to donate.Checks can be made out directly to G.O. Ministries, Inc. and in the memo line please write "Perez/Yasmin medical care." Please mail them to our G.O. Office at:11501 Plantside Drive, Suite 14Louisville, KY 40299Read more... -
23 Jul 2011 | 8:54 amPosted by: Alan and Jackie
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South Hills 2011 from Amanda Braisted on Vimeo. -
19 Jul 2011 | 7:18 pmPosted by: Alan and Jackie
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 2nd Peter 3:18South Hills Mission Team
I am humbled to think we have this fleeting moment here on earth to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My heart yearns to know Him more and more in intimate ways. My soul longs to spend unending time studying His word, talking about His life and the way he lived and did ministry on earth. I am beyond unworthy to spend all of eternity with him, but humbled by the good news of a great joy that is for all peoples. That is for me. That is for you.
It's most of why I am here in the Dominican Republic serving Him. I am learning countless lessons all the time through community with other missionaries and through ministering to Nationals on the Island.
We have the greatest joy when we are able to contextualize our love for Jesus and the love he has for the least of these when we can share and expose North American Believers and churches to what the Lord is doing amongst his people in Hispaniola. We have been so blessed by the many teams who have come and served as Jesus' hands and feet to the people here. It brings tears to my eyes to see lives being changed.
The teams who come and serve with us catch a glimpse of what is going on here and I am convinced sometimes all it takes is just that glimpse for a revolution in our own hearts, souls, and minds to take place. We call it mutual transformation. Teams come to the DR to serve and change lives and through their time serving, Jesus has changed their hearts and their lives. Forever.
I had the greatest priviledge to see this happen amongst a team of 11. A small, intimate team from Las Vegas, NV. My home church. South Hills.
November 6 of this year I celebrate 10 years of knowing Jesus. 10 years of Him penetrating my heart and changing me more and more into His image. 10 years of laying down my own pride, selfish ambitions and desires in my feeble attempts to become His image bearer. I haven't always (and mostly) done it well, but His grace covers me and I am humbled by that.
10 years ago, I walked into a church, fearful of my future and where I was headed and today I stand a changed person because of that church in Las Vegas and those who took great care in teaching and leading me.
10 years later, it was an honor for them to come to the DR to serve alongside Alan and me and the work we are doing through G.O. Ministries in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
It was an incredible week. From the beginning they were humble and patient. They arrived in the afternoon and we wasted no time in taking them to the mother of all projects for G.O. Ministries. The Leadership Development Complex (or LDC as we have termed it). The LDC will be a wellspring of life and knowledge for the many men and women who serve there. It is a facility that will have a sports complex with basketball courts, soccer fields,baseball fields and almost every other kind of sport you can think of. Teams will participate in sports camps year round and the Dominican & Haitian sports team (including Alan) will be the forefront of all the ministry that happens there. A seminary will also be on the grounds, termed, Seminary of the Americas and will train up teams of pastors and Christian leaders to plant churches in communities all over Latin America and finally, Kingdom Businesses will line the property- over 40 acres that will provide jobs and sustainable income for the ministry.
We stood on what now is just over grown land and dreamed about what this place could look like... someday. I love what one team member, Diana said "The Lord told me to take off my shoes, we were standing on Holy Ground." Yes, we are standing on Holy Ground.Talking to the team about the future LDC
Throughout the week, wherever they served they served cheerfully, without complaint and always looking for a way to bless those around them. Brandon, began putting up the brick facade on the front of the Central Church. The Central Church project is huge for our ministry and must be complete before the LDC so we can begin the Seminary training at the church. The church is one of the first of it's kind in the DR- it has age appropriate classrooms for children's ministry, and a common meeting/eating area, along with a kitchen and dorms to house teams. The plan is for the church to meet up top on the 2nd level, but it's not finished, so everything happens on the first floor and we are packed every Sunday.Brandon and Alan using a water level to measure up the side of the buildingMixing up some concreteThe team spent 3 days working on the Central Church project as well as two houses we are building for Rene and his family and Luis and his family. They both lead our construction crew, who work tirelessly to continue building churches, nutrition centers, and houses all over the island. They have each worked for the ministry for over 10 years. It's a great blessing to give these houses to them for their service in ministry.The team works on the roof of Rene's houseSouth Hills helped us paint a few walls in our house and prepare the backyard for grass. The joke is that we outgrew out house the day I found out I was pregnant. Last year we moved to a bigger house, only to be broken into and we had to move back to our old house. We've been ready to move ever since, but learning that it's God's timing and not ours. In the meantime, we wanted to create a place where our girls could play and have more space. It was lovely being blessed by the team in this way.The "before" shot! Thanks Bruce for working so hard to get that palm moved!The "after" shot! Grass installed!Jose painting the inside of our home
Towards the end of the week, we made a trek to Phaeton, Haiti. A rural community lost in the middle of nowhere setting along the coast. It is said that someday Haiti will be in the ocean. Until then, we are committed to the vision God has set upon this ministry to redeem people, renew communities, and restore Creation. Our total time in Haiti was a little over 4 hours. No matter how much time I spend in Haiti, my world is always rocked by what I see there. I am grateful that the Lord is using G.O. to restore dignity and hope to a long forgotten people... though the world may have lost sight of them, the Lord has not forgotten them.A typical home in PhaetonMolly feeding a sweet child in the nutrition centerSandra loves on the kids in the nutrition centerJared was so tall all the kids wanted a ride on his shoulders
We were so encouraged by the team. After long days they would go to Alan's English Class that he teaches to support him and the Bible study he is a part of.Alan teaching English class
On the last night they were here, Jose, a team member came to me and asked me if I would be present when he talked to a girl about 13 years old who had been helping cook the meals for the team. With tears in my eyes, I listened as he shared about his own family and how he had a daughter about her age, pure and kind. He told her Jesus loved her, and someday soon boys would come if they hadn't already and try to sway her, but their promises could never match that of Jesus and His promises for us. He encouraged her to stay strong in her faith and to wait until marriage no matter what any boy said to her. I was overwhelmed at Jose's kindness to share with her fatherly love. To be Jesus and speak his words. Overwhelmed.
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 2nd Peter 3:18
We have been changed by our week with South Hills and we want you to know how incredibly thankful we are for your partnership, continued love and encouragement to us, and for pointing people to Jesus and His truth while serving with us! We are giving the Lord all the glory for the many amazing things done in His name and for His glory.We are so thankful to Brandon and Amy! Thank you for who you are in our lives!
We love you South Hills and continue to pray for you all!
Alan and Jackie Perez
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19 Jul 2011 | 7:57 amPosted by: Alan and Jackie
Our summer has been rich with service. Many lives are being transformed, Dominican, Haitian, and North-American.
Here's a quick picture of our June teams! I recently began taking over the task of booking teams that would like to come and serve in the DR & Haiti, and we have almost 20 teams on the calendar for 2012!
Summer 2012 is filling fast- if you are interested in bringing a team, please let me know asap! You can email me at jackie (dot) perez (at) go (dash) ministries (dot) org.
Peace,
J Read more... -
6 Jun 2011 | 10:22 pmPosted by: Alan and Jackie
For our girls' first birthday we chose to do something a little different. Instead of gifts for Amelia and Stella we asked guests to consider making a contribution to a fund we would use to buy books in their name for kids in the DR and Haiti.Alan and I both love to read and hope to pass that love onto our girls. There is nothing quite like curling up on a rainy day with a good book. I love the smell of the print on the pages, the sound the paper makes as it turns... one after another. I love the feel of the book in my hand, the older the better. There is something timeless about a book. I love shopping for old books with fancy titles. I'll read almost anything. We have bought our girls many books. They are stocked up! They love to play with them (and especially chew on them!). Soon we hope they will love to read them with us.In Haiti they estimate only 52% of children over the age of 15 can read or write (87% in the DR). We hope these books will help little kids learn to read and have a love for it. We are so grateful for the beautiful gift and ability to read that God has given us. Many children all over the world have never even owned a book or perhaps seen a book.Help us change that! If you would like to donate towards Stella and Amelia's book fund for Hispaniola email me at jackie (dot) perez (at) go (dash) ministries (dot) org. We'll be ordering books soon... that's where the fun comes- choosing books! We've raised over $100 so far!picture courtesy of: www.wolfeyebrows.files.wordpress.comStats courtesy of: www.cia.govRead more...
