Marj reports that Pastor Erasme is working with local churches on the border that have outreach ministry with Haitians and cross-border partnerships with churches in Haiti in what has become a shared ministry with Dominicans and Haitians. Photos courtesy of SOP.

Four Solar Oven Partner volunteers-in-mission—Marlys Larsen, Rita Robison, Shirley Vearrier, and Jane Keller—joined Director Marj Evans-de-Carpio for ten days in the Dominican Republic (DR) beginning July 18. 

Once again the SOP team will work with Pastor Erasme Fígaro, Missionaries and fellow Dakotans Ardell and Gordy Graner, Pastor María Bock and driver Mario Deoleo in three communities along the Dominican border with Haiti. 

"Two years ago, Rita, one of our team members, was on the team that went to Pedernales. We are returning to Pedernales and also going to Jimaní and Monte Cristi. That means we will run the length of the Haitian border from south to north," Marj says. 

"Some people are afraid that it will be too hot in the DR in summer. It just may be the case that it will be hotter in the Dakotas than in the DR this week! The DR is summery all year round but doesn't tend to get the extreme heat that we get during a heatwave here."

"Whenever we go to a community, Erasme's phone rings like crazy following completion of the first seminar. Calls come from surrounding community pastors who want us to come to their churches. This team will distribute the last ovens in storage in the DR. We need to complete the manufacturing of the reflectors to be able to ship more ovens to the DR as soon as possible."

Volunteers are urgently needed at the fabrication workshops in the Dakotas. Please call 605-692-3391 or email sopdir@swiftel.net after August 1 to make arrangements for a team from your church. 

Regular monthly gifts are a significant way in which many donors choose to sustain this ministry. Such generosity demonstrates predictable income around which SOP can purchase materials, ship components, and maintain networks with churches. Go to https://solarovenpartnersumc.org or follow us on Facebook to learn more.

Photo: Marlys Larsen, Rita Robison, Shirley Vearrier, Marj Evans-de-Carpio, and Jane Keller. "We have two teachers and a sign-language interpreter who also works largely in schools as well as a retired team member who went in January. We are a small group, but for teachers, summer is their only opportunity to join a team," Marj said.