We arrived in the Dominican Republic on January 7th. We spent our first few days in Santo Domingo for launch. Our last day of Launch our whole squad went to the beach it was a lot of fun. On january 10th my team along with 3 other teams left for San Juan where all 4 teams shared a house for the month. Although we all shared a house each team had there own ministry site.
We worked with Pastor Victor, Juan Carlos, and Albert and got to know everyone at the church very well. Our ministry included lots of door to door evangelism, dramas at the church, visiting people, doing VBS for 3 days (2 of the days were at a public school), visiting schools, and just getting to know the people at the church and in the community.
Our time in the Dominican Republic was a time of personal growth and spiritual growth.It was very much a time for me to just pursue God, and seek him on many areas in my life. I definately left the Doninican Republic a different person thatn when I arrived in the Dominican Republic.
At some points there it was hard for me to see or understand how of even if God was using me there. It wasnt until the last day of ministry that God really showed me he was using me. YOu see i had played around with lots of the kids at our church there, but there was one little girl named Erlin she is 10. We met our first day of ministry and she just kinda always was with me. We played lots of games and she enjoyed just being with me. On our last day of ministry she came in a little after church had started like normal.She found her spot next to me. I wrote her a little note in English and she had one of the adults next to her that could understand it read it to her and she gave me a hug. In broken Spanish I tried to tell her this would be my last night but she really didnt get it. It was only when the pastor was up front talking about it being our last night that she got it. She then leaned over on me and with her arms around me she began to cry. It was then that I realized that God was using me even when I didnt even think I was being used. She then asked for my notebook and wrote me ter she wrote me sa note in spanish that iwasnt able to read until i got home so i could have someone translate it for me. Basically the letter said that she loved me and thought of me as her sister. That she wanted God to protect me and thatshe wants me never to forget her.
The pastor had us go forward and the people in the church prayed for us. It was so hard to say goodbye to Juan Carlos and Albert who are leaders in the church who we worked with everyday. It was also hard to say goodbye to our translator Mayi. All three of them became friends with us. Please pray for these three. They are so on fire for God and have been a blessing to my life.
some little girls from our church
God is at work in the Dominican. Please continue to pray for the people of the DOminican Republic. Pray that there hearts would be open. Also pray for the children as the culture is very different. Especially the little boys that there little minds would be cleansed. Thank you all for your prayers and continued support. Thank you once again for partnering with me to furthering Gods Kingdom.
