Dominicans have a phrase, “A falta de pan, casaba.” Translated, “If there’s no bread, cassava,” and means you make do with what you have. For Haggai leader Claribel Rodriguez, this has rung true since her Haggai Leader Experience challenged her to reach the women in the Dominican. She shares, “I was challenged to be creative with what I have. The light came on and I thought to myself, ‘I will do that with what I have in my hands.’ And quite literally, that was a cell phone.”

Not only is Claribel using her phone and now a used computer to reach the women of her country, but is reaching women outside of her country, too. She started a nightly devotional on Zoom. This was the beginning of the story, she says. 100 women began praying with her every night as Claribel shared the Gospel with them. Today, some teach alongside her and everyone else is finding ways to help their neighbors, living as holistic witnesses to the Gospel just like Claribel through her ministry, Hijas Bendecidas (Blessed Daughters).

“Some call me for advice, and I use the Holy Spirit to guide me in how to answer,” she says. Claribel has had the opportunity to speak to the difficult moments in their lives as well. “I see many women in various states of depression: desiring to die, having no money to eat, hopeless, abused. I spent 18 hours on the phone with one lady until she could flee to her parents’ house because her husband was planning to kill her.”

Realizing that most Dominican women listen to something on their phones while they do housework, Claribel notes that podcast audios and even YouTube can be “a powerful medium for the Kingdom. I try to transform women using His love first and sharing the Gospel as one mother to another, like Deborah in the Bible. Answering their questions and sharing my personal testimonies and experiences helps them to understand they are not alone.

“Since actions speak louder than words, I try to model my faith. Women in our ministry visit my home and see me in real life. That allows them to connect with me and with other women in authentic relationships. And it all started with what I had in my hand.”

Written by Valerie Dyke