Monday, May 28, some time while we were out of the house it was broken into. Unfortunately we had a large amount of money and this was taken. Nothing else was touched. The passports, laptop, camera, etc were all there. Most often burglars ransack the house for valuables. We didn't realize the money was missing until the evening when Rick went to get it out in preparation for the next morning when he was going to Santiago with a missionary to purchase an SUV.
We are devastated and have shed many tears of anguish during the night. As is natural we have done the "I wish I would have...." But the fact is this has happened and God is sovereign and loving throughout it all. We are thankful that nothing else was taken and that we were not physically accosted. However, as anyone who has been robbed knows, we feel violated and vulnerable.
Here are some added details. We have been living in a house rented by Kids Alive which they use for teams to stay. They have never had a break-in during the few years they have had the house. The house is quite secure and we were vigilant about locking everything up as break-ins do happen here and foreigners, especially new ones, are easy targets.
Why so much cash in the house? We actually got the cash on Saturday and drove immediately to the dealer with our missionary friend. However we found the vehicle (a 10 year old Toyota 4Runner) to have some minor problems that we wanted the dealer to fix. So we put some money down and agreed to return Tuesday to pay the rest if the repairs had been done.
The money changer we use is very reputable and is used frequently by the missions here to change large amounts of cash into Dominican pesos. We could have been watched, but did not return home with the money directly. Who else knew we had so much money? Our missionary friend, the car dealer in Santiago. Of course, if we were being watched and did not return with a car, someone might guess we still had the money.
We need your prayers at this time as we are jolted by this event. On the advise of our Dominican church member, we have chosen to involve the police. If the police are not involved in the crime, they can be of some help. The police indicated there have been several other robberies in the area. Pray for us in this as the police are corrupt in general and involving them does not add a sense of security.
The purchase of our vehicle is on hold at this point. We called the dealer and told them we could not come today. We need some time to decide what to do. We do not have money to complete the deal and may need to get our down payment back. The money we had to purchase a vehicle was not from support we have raised. It was the money from the sale of our two vehicles in Minnesota.
This leaves us in a difficult spot and we are trusting God that He will provide transportation for us. Because of the terrain and poor road conditions, the work we have come to do is nearly impossible without a hefty four-wheel vehicle. Last week we visited one of the church plants and after we left the paved road drove for some time on muddy dirt road, then forded a river, drove through a rock field, and finally back on steep muddy roads again. (This is Boma for those of you have been to the DR).
Late last night, or early this morning, we remembered some of the words of a dear friend who is now with the Lord. Those who are from Calvary EFC may remember Tammy Orth saying "When adversity enters your life, you can rest in the fact that it has first been filtered through the sovereign hands of God. And those are fingers of love, because God is love." We are so thankful for this reminder. Also, we are well aware that it could be much much worse and we thank God that only money was taken.
Please pray for us. Emotionally we struggle. Pray for our need of transportation. Currently we are renting a car and will continue to do so until we can work out a plan to purchase one.
As we know you will pray, thank you for your prayers.
Update:
What you just read was an email we sent out. Many people responded and asked how they can help. We then sent out information for how to give so we can get a car. In just 3 days, we received pledges for over the amount that had been taken. We now have bought a car - different form the Toyota 4Runner that we had talked about in an ealier post (that is another story). We now own a Susuki Grand Vitara XL7 (pictured above). We feel that it is God's car. Earlier in the week, we were overwhelmed with the loss and wondering how would could buy a vehicle and now, we are overwhelmed with God and His provision.
Praise be to God!
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