Deweerds In The DR

21/04/2026

We don't often give reports like this on Facebook but this month has been unique for our family and impactful for various reasons. This month we have experienced loss, growth, sorrow, peace, celebrations, challenges, victories and changes.

Liona
March 8th was the last day we saw our precious Liona before she became sick or before anyone realized how sick she was. For 13 years she had been like a mother to us and like a grandmother to our kids. We visited her in her home on Good Friday and a week later we woke up to the news of her passing. We said our final farewell to her on April 19 and it was obvious by the show of support from her family and community that she was was dearly loved. Ryan had the honour of being asked to speak at her memorial service.

Finish the Mission Conference
From April 10-11 we (Every Day Ministries Canada) held our first ever Missions Conference here in Nagua. It was a huge undertaking and a huge success with speakers and visitors coming from 5 different countries and pastors/leaders traveling in from all over the region. We are praying that this conference will ignite and encourage local pastors and leaders to take up the call to fulfill Jesus' words to "Go into all the world"! It was an incredible time!

LAC Missions Retreat
Following the conference, we gathered with over 50 PAOC/LAC global workers for our Latin America Global Workers retreat. This time was so precious and refreshing. It is truly an honour to be a part of such a faith-filled, dynamic, caring, uplifting group. Ryan and I were also blessed to be honoured for 15 years* of service.

With all the activities of this month our hearts are full, swirling, sad and hopeful. We take comfort in knowing that the Lord is our Shepherd. He leads us. No matter the season - times of green fields or times of trials - He is with us.

*I have actually been in the DR for 13 years and Ryan has been here for almost 20 years, however, Ryan has been an official PAOC global worker for 15 years :)

25/03/2026

🌱 DeWeerds in the DR Ministry Update! -

As we enter the second quarter of 2026, and the world is constantly providing ample reason to worry or feel uncertain, we want to declare that Jesus is our incredible peace and solid Rock! In Him, our Good Shepherd, we lack nothing, and as Dallas Willard says so poignantly, this world is a perfectly...

11/03/2026

High School Ministry 2026!
We began our second High School of 2026 yesterday and we had the privilege of having Ryan's dad (Jim) join us and help us with set up and tech support. Always a joy to have "Pappy" with us.

Please pray for the students we are meeting with - there are many issues and needs.

30/12/2025

Update on the funds for the computers we posted about!

The COMPUTERS have been bought! 💻 ❤️ 💻

We bought them in faith believing that the funds would be supplied and the total for the devices was less than we expected!

We are thankful to those who have donated and we are praying for $1200cnd help off set the cost!

Two of our office staff are in urgent need of new computers! There are days when their current computers will not turn on and we are all left scrambling. We depend on our office staff to be able to work efficiently and when they are hindered, we are all hindered.

Ryan will be traveling to the Capital tomorrow where he can buy good quality laptops - Will you help us with a donation toward these computers?

You can use the link below to make a donation through CanadaHelps - if you do make a donation for these computers, please include the note "computers".

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/2357

24/12/2025

Wishing you a joyous Christmas and praying that Christ may fill your homes with God's peace and a deeper appreciation of His great love for you shown through Jesus' birth, life, death, and resurrection... ¡Feliz Navidad!

08/12/2025

Two of our office staff are in urgent need of new computers! There are days when their current computers will not turn on and we are all left scrambling. We depend on our office staff to be able to work efficiently and when they are hindered, we are all hindered.

Ryan will be traveling to the Capital tomorrow where he can buy good quality laptops - Will you help us with a donation toward these computers?

You can use the link below to make a donation through CanadaHelps - if you do make a donation for these computers, please include the note "computers".

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/2357

04/12/2025

🎄 December in the DR! 🎄 -

It is, without a doubt, our favourite time of year. A time of wonder and worship as we remember the Advent of our Lord Jesus! The apples and grapes (and roasted pork) line the streets along with Christmas lights, and the temperature here on the north coast of the DR has finally dropped (a whole 4-5....

28/11/2025

It's been a very full fall season of ministry with High School Programs, Parenting Workshops, speaking in a Unity Service on the Family, a Seminary Intensive, Special Teaching on AI & The Church and a Women of Destiny event.

We are thankful for these opportunities to serve the Church and thankful for the faithful men and women we have the honour of serving with.

Thank you to those who stand with us, pray for us and support us!

29/10/2025

🍁 Fall DeWeerd Ministry Update 🍁 -

It is hard to believe that we are well into fall! Summer flew by here in the DR, with the hosting of four (4) teams, our annual Girls of Destiny Celebration, the beginning of an extensive replanting of our passion fruit farm, the fall start of our Family Centre programming, and many others exciting....

28/10/2025

Hurricane Melissa Update - We are so grateful for those of you who have thought of us and reached out to us to ask if we are being affected by Hurricane Melissa. We are totally fine and the bands of this storm are not expected to reach us.

Last week we began to experience some of the effects of the (then) tropical storm, with rain and some gusts in our area (north coast) which continued through the weekend (Sunday was pretty stormy).

Many parts of the Dominican have experienced flooding due to the heavy rain. The Government closed all school in the country on Thursday and Friday and businesses were encouraged to close as well.

We are very concerned about Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba right now and praying for them often throughout the day. We are especially focused on Jamaica as Eddison's teacher is from Jamaica and her husband and children are there on the south coast.

Please pray for these countries 🙏
This is not a small storm and will cause great destruction.