Gaba & Yaselis Reyes

Dominican Republic

Gaba and Yaselis were both raised in the community of La Represa in the Dominican Republic. Gaba’s mom was a Christian, and she always took her three children to church. In his teenage years Gaba followed in his father’s footsteps which included spending time in bars, drinking, and not going to church. When Gaba was 16, his dad regretted the poor example he was for his son and gave his life to Christ. About a year later while playing baseball, Gaba felt the Lord calling him and went to the church. The pastor met him there and said he had been waiting for him. This was the moment that Gaba decided to follow Christ.

Although Yaselis was born into a Christian home, her parents separated and she moved with her mom and sister when she was six. The season of separation from some of her siblings, her dad, and her community was very sad and difficult for her. When she moved back to La Represa, there was still instability in her family, but she started spending time with a Christian family and new Christian friends. They showed her what it truly meant to have a relationship with God, and she accepted Christ when she was 17.

The couple served and worked as translators with different ministries in their community, and they started dating in 2017. While their relationship wasn’t the greatest at the time and they made some mistakes along the way, they were close to missionaries in their community that invested in them and encouraged them to make their relationship right before the Lord. Gaba and Yaselis were married in 2021 and have three children. They are grateful that their family can be an example to others of the Lord’s forgiveness and faithfulness. While their call to missions has been more recent, they have been serving with the Como Árboles ministry for a few years. Gaba coordinates the Sowing Hope program for high school and college students and is the pastor of the student program in the local church. Yaselis coordinates sponsor communications and gifts and is excited to start serving young moms in the community. They appreciate your support and prayers as they begin this journey as missionaries.