By Meredith Chase, Executive Director of For the Widow Ministries
We had a wonderful team join us on the mission trip from November 30 to December 7, comprised of six women representing four different churches from Texas and Florida! We spent time with each of our current widows, learning more about their walk with the Lord and sharing the significance of Christmas with them.
Special Moments with our widows
Betania is one of our widows who hasn’t yet made a decision to put her faith in Jesus. Our team members were really able to connect with her, and in her prayer requests, she asked us to pray that God would open her heart to him!
Jungara is able to use her new refrigerator with a freezer to sell ice to people in her community. We got to see her make a sale, and she showed us her process for making the bags of ice. She is an entrepreneur at heart and is making a profit on her new business!
In the afternoons, we assessed four new communities – Canoa, Batey Cuatro, Batey Siete, and Villa Central. The purpose of these visits was to learn about each community, identify current assets and resources, understand the community’s needs, and begin to meet the people in the community. In addition, we shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ and gave families bags of rice and beans.
Amazing moments while visiting new communities:
We met a man who said he had been attending church and felt like God was calling him. He wanted to give his life to Jesus this past Sunday, but his kids couldn’t be there, so he decided to wait. He didn’t want to wait any longer, so our team had the honor of praying with him as he made the decision to put his faith in Jesus!
There is something special about Batey Siete … we aren’t exactly sure what it is, but we met two widows who are 99 and 100 years old. There is another widow who is 112! Consuela is 99 years old and is sharp as a tack. She’s had 17 children, 8 are still living. She has 56 grandchildren and 42 great-grandchildren. And she loves the Lord with all her heart. She was so inspiring!
The Impact
- 6 days of sharing the love of Jesus with the people of the Dominican Republic
- 8 communities visited
- 1 man put his faith in Jesus
- 20+ hours spent visiting our 12 widows
- 12+ hours spent assessing new communities and widows
- 525 lbs of rice and beans and 75 cross necklaces given out as we shared the gospel
Evangelism is the purpose of all of our mission trips at For the Widow. These trips often impact the lives of the participants on the trip as much as they do the people we are sharing the gospel with. This trip was no exception!
Perspective of Team Members
Our days were filled with so many touching conversations as we visited each widow and heard from their hearts. We are so excited to see them, and they are just as excited to see us. Each widow is endearing in her own way; some are shy and quiet, and others are outgoing and talkative. Each one is a joy to get to know. I am again struck by how humble and grateful they are, even when sharing a personal struggle or need. Serving alongside the other team members fills my heart with such great joy, and the time we spend getting to know each other is so fulfilling and unforgettable. I’m already looking forward to the next trip, the Lord willing. – Barbara Seeds
My mission trip with For the Widow was very impactful and memorable. The relationships that Meredith has built with the widows and others is remarkable. You can see that the love is reciprocal. This trip was about much more than giving material things. It was about giving the love of Jesus to everyone we met. – Maribel Fontanez
I had been feeling a little down and prayed to know what to do, then the Lord answered my prayers to go and see what Meredith does in the Dominican Republic. I saw how Meredith’s love towards the widows had impacted their lives, and the lives of their families. I felt the love of all the team, especially the Barahona team, who helped with the work. I really loved seeing the widows and the songs that were sung in Spanish. Even though I did not know the words, I could feel the message. I am looking forward to going on another trip in the future. – Tanya Blake
It’s difficult to put into words what the recent mission trip means to me, but simply put, it was life-changing! It was my purpose to help the widows in the program, which to some degree is true, but as it turned out, they were the ones helping me as they shared their lives of faith and resilience. The team from the USA and Dominican Republic is amazing and I’m so very thankful for the opportunity to have been a part of what Jesus is doing through it. ❤️ – Lynn Sawyer
72% of Our Goal Met for a Ministry Truck!
Thanks to all of our amazing supporters, we are at $34,054 of $47,200 which is 72% of our goal that has been met! We need to raise another $13,146 to purchase a ministry truck and begin serving more widows.
Church Partnerships Are Critical to Our Success!
We are pleased to announce a new church partnership with Highland Colony Baptist Church in Madison, Mississippi. For the Widow Ministries is so thankful for their support and partnership in 2025. We are also excited for members of their congregation to join us on a trip!
If you are a part of a mission-minded church that would be willing to let us come speak to the leadership team or any other groups in the congregation, please let us know! You can connect with our team here at forthewidow.org/contact or send an email to contact@forthewidow.org.
