Rob and Melissa's Blog

Rob and Melissa

Dearest family and friends,

In June of this year, after much prayer and searching of God’s will, Melissa and I resigned as missionaries with MGM ministries. Our decision was a most difficult one, since we loved the service that God had called us to do…the service of serving others.

Our four years and two days of missionary ministry has been more than a blessing to us. First, because God has allowed us to “connect” to so many of your hearts as we’ve served alongside you for the Dominican/Haitian people. You have been the extension of Jesus’ hands and heart, as you’ve loved the “least of these.” We truly fell in love with you.

Second, we became one in spirit with our suffering Dominican/Haitian brothers and sisters. We understand what it means to “cry when they cry and laugh when they laugh.” We felt and lived in their joys, sorrows, and desperate needs. That has made our prayers earnest and our hearts tender.

Third, and most important, is that we comprehend at a much deeper level that this walk with Jesus is not a walk of “religion” or “belief,” but a walk of relationship. If people are only living by the rules of religion or the basics of beliefs and not in the intimacy of relationship with Jesus Christ, they are outside the true definition of Christian. In four years He has never failed us…never. In health concerns, finances, the loneliness of great distance, in our tragedies, in our failures, in our inabilities, in our frustrations, in our blessings, in our joys…HE NEVER FAILED US. We have learned a dependence on Him that has transformed our journey of faith into an adventure toward the Kingdom of God.

That adventure is now what we pursue with great excitement. After our separation from MGM in June we spent several months just praying for direction from God. Several other missionary opportunities presented themselves. One, as mission coordinators at a facility in Santo Domingo and the other as coordinators in a compound in Haiti. We struggled with each because even though they were excellent opportunities, we could not discern any internal peace in an affirmative decision. Clearly God saying “no.”

Then in August, after declining both positions, we were presented with what Melissa and I both felt was a gift from God. The offer to return to Erie, Pa. where I (Rob) would assume a role as an Associate Pastor at Millcreek Community Church, with a two-year plan culminating in pastorship of a church or church-plant.  Again after much prayer, God’s peace overwhelmed us and we knew that this was His purpose. We are certain that this will be a time of preparation, strengthening, and learning so that we may, it greater force, continue serving our Lord.

We are now home in Erie trying to settle into a culturally different environment than we’ve been accustomed to for the last four years. Finding new residence, along with everything that means, will be our next endeavor. I will begin acclimating into the Associate position on an unpaid, part time basis in September.  Since the position itself doesn’t officially begin until January 1, 2011, we are asking those of you that so sacrificially supported us for these last few years to prayerfully consider continuing your support until Dec. 2010. If that is your heart and intention, please contact us at the below address.

Know that we will miss serving with you. You have brought joy into our lives through your love to others and to us. I pray that our lives have in some way made your walk with Jesus a closer one. In the Lord’s mercy and goodness, may we one day serve together again to affect lives for the Kingdom. Please feel free to contact us at funyfarm1@earthlink.net.

Our love is ever toward you,

Rob and Melissa Dunn

ps. All the pages of this blog have been revised with some of our many pictures so please revisit us for any future updates!  This blog will remain active until Jan. 2011.