I originally moved to the Dominican Republic (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominican_Republic) for a unique opportunity to work in an international Christian school in 2021. After the 2021-2022 school year, I resigned from that school in order to go in a different direction that I felt God was leading me. God used that job opportunity to bring me to DR, but it was very clear that working there was not the purpose God had for me. Leaving that job allowed me to get out of the very American minded environment and start to really experience the cultures and languages of this country. This ultimately allowed me to start to build relationships and make friends in the broader community.

God has radically changed my life through the community that he has blessed me with in DR. 

What started out as a few friends and I walking together and specifically praying for ways that we could serve the needs of the community, building relationships, and ultimately trying to encourage relationships with Jesus, has grown into a wider network of Christ-centered community living out those same goals. It’s amazing what God can accomplish through the body of Christ when the focus is truly on Jesus. 

The body of Christ truly equips itself through the gifts and strengths that God has blessed us with. I have learned and been truly discipled and equipped by the community here. They have encouraged me and empowered me to step into the authority that lives in us through Jesus. I am on such a difficult, humbling, yet fulfilling journey of learning how to demonstrate the Kingdom of God to others.

God has specifically called me to the Haitian community of Santiago amongst other non Haitian individuals. God has been teaching me how to serve people well, learn new languages, create intentional relationships, and ultimately point others to Christ and equip them to step into their faith.

What used to be a handful of people meeting together in a house church has flourished into multiple different house churches, community groups, and children’s classes throughout the wider community. 

In this short time, God has already allowed me to witness people choosing to follow Jesus, miracles of healing from illnesses, healing from demonic oppression, and miracles of supernatural protection.

God is so good. It is a privilege to be an ambassador of Christ (to the best of my ability) wherever God leads me. I am blessed to live in freedom through Jesus. I am also blessed to be able to share these testimonies with my Advent family.

Life update: Many of you already know that I got married last year to my husband Obama. God connected us through mutual friends and the rest is history. God knew all along why he brought us both to DR. Being able to now follow Jesus and serve alongside my husband has been so incredible. God is so good.

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-Torri