Published in the Fall 2011 edition of Woman to Woman.

Art by the Heart

by Lin Bourie

The Dominican Republic is a country that houses some of the most beautiful people in the world and is also home to the sugar cane. The sugar cane is the reason that many Haitians come to the Dominican. They work really hard in the fields and live in small villages called Bateys. Lin, Artist Principal of Art by the Heart, made her first trip to the Dominican in 2005. She came home knowing that she had to do something to help the children of the Bateys. She realized that if the children of Haitian immigrants are ever going to escape the poverty in which they live, they need an education. The Sugar Cane Kids Ministry was born. She introduced the Christ Story bracelet to the women of Faith Baptist Church, and everybody wanted one. She recruited her mother and other retired women to make bracelets. Through their diligence the bracelets have made about $15,000 for the Sugar Cane Kids. The money is used to send children to school, buy books and other school supplies. Lin is an accomplished artist who has taken her business, Art by the Heart, which she shares with her business partner Joanne Spurr and gone mission. All of its profits will go to the Sugar Cane Kids, minus the cost of supplies.

GOD LEADS THE WAY
The first prompting from God is the mission to the sugar cane kids managed by a team of professional women who are all connected to the Good Samaritan Mission Council. The group consists of a teacher, a dentist, and a psychologist with Estella Sifren, another psychologist, as the director. They go into the Bateys to speak with the promoters, a kind of case manager for the village, and the teachers to understand the needs of the people. Clothes and uniforms are distributed, school supplies are given and curriculum is discussed. They support the mission through the sale of The Christ Story bracelets, original art work and prints and donations from American teams working with The Good Samaritan Mission Council. Lin and Joanne continue to tell the story of the sugar cane kids, hoping to raise awareness and support.

The second prompting from God is to the women of the Bateys, who seem invisible. They toil within the confines of the lean-tos in which they live. Without education they might eventually disappear. In her fifth trip to the Dominican in August 2010, Lin met with the women in the Bateys. She brought copies of Christian mandalas (circular images) for them to color. The women were told the parable of the woman at the well and how Christ promised living waters for believers so that they might never thirst. Their joy was contagious and they ended the sessions blowing bubbles and exchanging gifts. It is clear that these women need to learn to read. Using God’s Word would effectively accomplish this, and the mission is to supply the resources needed.

The third prompting from God came on this trip to the Dominican where Lin met with 25 pastors’ wives to share what God had laid on her heart concerning the women and children of the Bateys, and she learned that God had spoken with the women as well. They are consumed with the Haitian immigrants fleeing the earthquake who are flooding the streets of their city, looking for food, shelter and jobs. They weep because there is little they can do for them. Together it was decided that they could make items that are strictly Dominican to sell. Lin and Joanne will be a conduit for their goods for fair trade in the States; to help raise awareness and support that will provide the equipment needed for this entrepreneurial ministry. Also, there are five women, members of the mission church, who go into the Bateys two by two to minister, evangelize and disciple. They need support as well, to continue traveling and ministering to these precious women.

GOD IS CALLING! DO YOU SENSE HIS PROMPTING?
Please go to our website: artbytheheart.com and our blog and partner with us to carry out God’s bold plan for this mission.