I’m in the Dominican Republic!
So it’s been a week since I started on this adventure. On January 7th
My mother, father and I started our trip down to Florida to have a short visit
with family before dropping me off at the Fort Lauderdale Airport for my Launch
for the World Race! I spend some time with cousins that I have not seen in almost
10 years, and it was awesome. The fellowship we had a day before I left was
great. I wish I could have stayed longer, as they were so encouraging to be
around and talk to. It was great to spend some quality time with my immediate
and extended family before being dropped off to reunite with my family for this
upcoming year.
Our squad stayed in Fort Lauderdale till the 20th getting re-acquainted,
had some awesome worship and heard some previous World Race Alumni speak life
into us, give us advice and pass down some of their wisdom for what we are
going to experience this upcoming year. It was an awesome way to start off the World
Race. On Jan 20th, 130 World Racers(3
squads) were launched from the Fort Lauderdale Airport…each going to a different
country to start their race. My squad’s(C Squad) first country was the
Dominican Republic!
On C Squad there are seven Teams of six people. Three teams are doing
ministry out in the field(aka in the coutry) this month. Then there are three
teams that are living in a house together in San Juan. I am one of those three teams….and
we are SO blessed! We are staying in a HUGE house this month with plenty of
rooms, 4 bathrooms, 3 showers, running water, a front AND back porch where we
can relax and hang out hammocks and to top it all off…. a washer!
This month my team is working with a Pastor, Emanuel who leads a church
in Las Charcas, in the DR. We are helping out with Children’s ministry as well
as Evangelizing to the people in the neighborhood. We did a short skit for the
kids yesterday on ‘God Loves You,’ about the story in Mathew 19 where Jesus
told the disciples to let the children come to him. We sang some songs in Spanish
and then played baseball with the boys while the girls played hand games and
braided hair.
The Dominican Republic is an amazing place. The culture is so different
here, but I love it! I wasn’t a big fan of Spanish while in HS and College, but
I love trying to pick it back up again. I am able to understand parts of
conversations and can get the gist. of what is being talked about. I love
re-learning the language and being immersed in this culture. I know this is
going to be a good month. God has blessed us with an amazing house with so many
amenities that you really don’t see on the race. Our God is a GOOD God!
P.S. We have internet this month, but it is in town, so I will have it
maybe once a week or so to post blogs and check in with everyone back in the
states.
