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Dominican Diary Our Story ”Whatever you do to the least of my brothers, you do to me.” -Matthew 25:40 |
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Episcopal Diocese of Dominican Republic Web Pages
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"He who refreshes others, will himself be refreshed." Proverbs 11:24
Is God Calling You to Invest in the Snow's Ministry in the DR? If So, Mail your tax-deductible contribution to: The Episcopal Diocese of Nebraska Snow Mission 109 No. 18th St. Omaha, NE 68102
Note on the Check "Snow Mission"
Courier Service for Mail to the DR:
Rev. Bob & Ellen Snow DMG 13388 7990 15th St. East Sarasota, FL 34234 |
A Ministry of Mission
For example, in a period of two weeks, Bob served as deacon at a service where the celebrant was Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold. A week later he did the same for Canada’s Presiding Bishop Michael Peers. During this same period, he provided a guided tour of DR church facilities to New York Bishop Mark Sisk and his party. The Snows helped host the Executive Council of the United States Episcopal Church. And, Ellen and Bob worked with Phoebe Griswold and Milagros Holguin, Bishop Julio Holguin’s wife, to present a retreat in the DR for spouses of Episcopal Bishops.
The Snows
are from the Diocese of Nebraska where Bob was ordained as one of the
first 13 vocational deacons in the diocese on Nov. 8, 1985. Both Bob
and Ellen were active involved in the prison ministry prior to his
ordination. The day after becoming a deacon, Bob was named part-time
prison chaplain at Nebraska’s maximum security prison in Lincoln and also
served the people of St. Matthews Church in Lincoln.
In June 1989, the Snows were among the adult sponsors on a youth mission trip to Honduras. Bob: “Our group visited the Episcopal girl’s home, Little Roses. During this visit, Ellen and I made friends with a 12-year-old named Carla. As we got ready to leave, Carla began to cry. I, too, became teary-eyed and walked out of her sight to hide my own emotions. It was then my heart and spirit heard this call: “Bob, this is what I have called you to do.” “At first, I denied the call, but I kept reliving the experience. About 18 months later, I asked Ellen: “What’s would be your opinion, if we gave up our jobs and entered the mission field.” Her reply was: “I wondered when you would make up your mind.” Honduras or the DR? The Snows thought they would probably serve in Honduras. The South American Missionary Society (SAMS) sponsors a conference to help Christians discern if they have a call to missions. During this conference, Bob was reviewing a list of possible mission placements. As he scanned the list, openings in the Dominican Republic seemed to be in big bold letters. Of course, they weren’t.
In March 1993 the
Snows investigated mission opportunities in the DR and Honduras. As part
of their discernment process, they took two months to pray about a
decision that would change their lives forever. On the Day of Pentecost
1993, they shared what they had separately discerned. Both of them
believed the Lord was calling them to the Dominican Republic. For 22 years Bob had worked as public information officer for five mayors of the City of Lincoln. Ellen was a librarian for the Nebraska Library for the Blind and physically handicapped. Even though Bob and Ellen enjoyed their work, giving up their jobs was easy in comparison to the task of raising financial support to enter the mission field. The Snows are appointed missionaries for the United States Episcopal Church. Like most Episcopal missionaries, they don’t receive a salary from ECUSA or from the foreign diocese. They must raise their own financial support. From December 1992 to August 1993, they made 43 church visits. Most missionaries struggle to maintain their financial support, and they are no different. Since 1992, they have shared their mission story in more than 100 churches in all parts of the United States. In many cases, members of these churches have never met an Episcopal missionary. Church visits are an integral and important part of mission life. Though financial support is necessary, increasing mission awareness is equally important. The First of Many Miracles
Raising funds was
difficult, but learning a second language at age 50 seemed like an
insurmountable obstacle. Neither of them spoke Spanish. Bob had tried
learning French in his University years and failed miserably. The Snows
enrolled in a nine-month intensive language course for Christian
missionaries in San Jose, Costa Rica. This experience with missionaries
from different denominations remains as one of the most inspiring and
spiritual times in their Christian walk. Even today, they view their
ability
The deaconate and mission ministry have one important characteristic in common. Both are servant ministries. A deacon interprets the church to the world, and the world to the church and is a servant to all. This describes their roles as assistants to Bishop Julio Cesar Holguin. A successful missionary is one who comes with a servant’s heart and helps the nationals meet their priorities. Their ministries in the DR evolved slowly. Ellen coordinates all work and medical teams coming into the diocese. In addition to serving as the Bishop’s assistant, Bob is deacon and assistant pastor at Epiphany/Union Church. The diocese has no catedral, but most major diocesan events are held at Epiphany. A small seminary where most of the diocese's priests have been trained is also located on the property. Epiphany is the only diocesan church with services in English, Spanish and French. Building God's Church Work teams are a vital source income in the development of the diocese’s infrastructure and social ministries. When the Snows first arrived, the diocese was hosting 8 to 10 work teams a year. The diocese now hosts between 40 to 50 teams year. These teams help build churches, schools, organize summer bible school programs, participate in evangelism events, built playground equipment, church benches, and paint, repair, and remodeled church facilities. Medical teams from the USA treat over 6,000 people each year. Part of Bob’s responsibility is to provide “mission exploratory trips” for clergy and church leaders who have an interest in diocesan projects. These five to seven day tours provide participants with a cultural orientation, as well as an opportunity to visit sites and projects where the diocese is searching for mission partners.
Bob is the only
vocational deacon in the diocese. In less than 2 years, he will be
joined by 15 – 25 people who will be the first Dominicans ordained
During his first year in the diocese, Bob implemented two projects which remain among his favorites. In San Pedro de Marcoris (better known as the hometown of Sammy Sosa), an old school building next to St. Stephen’s church needed to be rehabilitated or torn down. The Bishop asked Bob to work with the local church and priest in developing a regional medical clinic for the poor. The task seemed like an impossible one, because the diocese did not have the financial resources to participate in the project. This experience taught the Snows that “if what you are doing is in God’s will, then anything is possible.” After 6 months of frustration and little progress, Bob was contacted by the executive director of Esperanza International, a foundation of former professional baseball player David Valle. The foundation was interested in supporting health projects and by chance (miracle) had heard that the diocese was trying to open a clinic. Esperanza provided a grant which allowed the diocese to begin remodeling the building. As God would have it Clínica Esperanza opened its doors shortly after Hurricane George devastated the San Pedro area in 1998. Education Changes Lives The only way to change a third-world country is by education. The government estimates only 52% of its young people progress beyond the eight grade. The 17 Episcopal schools in the diocese must be self-supporting, so students pay tuition. Many of these schools are located in areas where the poverty is profound. Therefore, Bob started a scholarship program to provide financial assistance to children from poor families. In 1996 churches individuals in the United States provided 150 scholarships. In 2002-03, 507 students received scholarships. In 1999, the Snows received a financial gift to support a ministry of their choosing. They decided to start “A Lilies of the Field” scholarship program to support Episcopal youth who desire a university education. Those who believe they may have a calling to the priesthood or deaconate receive preference.
Most Dominican Episcopalians are poor materially, but rich spirituality. |
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Sharing Christ's Love in the Dominican Republic E-Mail: bobsnow_2000@yahoo.com Diocese of the Dominican Republic Web Page: http://www.dominicanepiscopalchurch.org/
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