Hispanic Ministries of Whitewater Valley Presbytery

During a trip in 2014, our PCUSA team met with several IED pastors and church leaders to begin to build our partnership. It was a wonderful experience, and we got to know fellow believers who have an incredible faith and spirit. We were uplifted by their love of God, their worship and focus on sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in their communities.

At the church in Jacquimeyes, Pastor Alfreda told us how the women of the church help each other with “Dorcas baskets.” Each woman donates a food item for the basket, then, a name is drawn and that woman receives the Dorcas basket. A Dorcas basket helps supplement what the family can buy and eases the burden of feeding a family.

On the same visit to Jacquimeyes, we also heard it was difficult to provide basic craft items (crayons, glue sticks, etc.) for children’s activities, such as vacation Bible school. 

Later, as we were reviewing all that we had seen and heard, the Holy Spirit inspired us to provide a “Dorcas basket” of craft items for each of the churches in the South.

Since 2015, we have provided Dorcas baskets! In the spirit of partnership, we provide the supplies and the churches in the DR do the real work of loving and teaching the children in their communities.