What’s Derek been up to in the DR?

        Upon arriving to San Juan from Santo Domingo where I had additional training for a week, I feel as if I am finally getting settled into this lifestyle of living in a different country and living out my backpack…crazy!

         My team called “Eruption” and seven other WR(World Race) teams are all living together (that’s a total of 46 people) in community in a two-story, four roomed rented house for the whole month of July. It’s been challenging, not going to lie, but GOD has been teaching me patience through it all. We all need patience right? J Overall, I am enjoying how GOD is growing all of us more into a family- HIS family.

         So, I have been in San Juan for a total of a week now, which it feels like a lot longer…probably because I have done so much! My team and I are working with a married couple who are both pastors, Manuel & Cesarina, who are pasturing separate churches in two different areas within San Juan. As of right now, we have participated in a church service…singing, sharing testimonies, sharing GOD’s word, etc. Along with that, we have helped with cleaning up garbage, cutting grass, repairing fencing, trimming trees and playing soccer with kids. We have also had a time of fasting and prayer for GOD to show up and move in the rural areas where the church is at. Lastly, we have gone out to share and show GOD’s love in the surrounding rural areas to those who live near/around the church.

         GOD is definitely stretching me and teaching me in the following ways:

Adequacy…I am adequate in all things because GOD makes me adequate in HIM. I am the finance person for my team and with this comes a lot of details, responsibility and stress. In my own mind-set, I don’t feel as if I am the right person for this position because there is a lot of numbers, money, etc. involved. Therefore, I don’t feel adequate to be the finance person, but GOD on the other hand, says differently… “Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from GOD” (2 Corinthians 3:5). So, I am sticking with it and will “choose in” to finish this commitment that I made to GOD and my team.

Secondly, Dependency… GOD is showing me that my dependence solely needs to be on HIM and in HIM alone. GOD has stripped away every security/comfort from me: my family, friends, girlfriend, living environment, favorite foods, familiar culture and everyday luxuries, etc. Been tested and challenged in all these aspects to completely depend and trust in HIM. But GOD has reminded me… “Seek first HIS kingdom and HIS righteousness, and ALL these things will be given to you” (Matthew 6:33) and “And GOD will provide all your needs according to HIS glorious riches in CHRIST JESUS” (Philippines 4:19). Thank GOD you are enough to meet all my needs.!

In closing, I wanted to share with you about a conversation I had with one of my teammates. I was sharing with her about how good it is to see something that needs work on or fixed in the beginning stages in comparison to seeing the end stages in its finished work. This took place at the church we were helping at. In the beginning stages, there were grass/weeds, trees, rocks, worn down fencing and trash that surrounded the church making it non-inviting. Then after a day and a half of cleaning, landscaping and fixing the church’s surroundings, it was transformed into something inviting and welcoming.

         I can totally relate to this because I believe GOD wants to cut/trim “weeds and dead branches”, to clean out the “trash” and to repair the “broken fencing” that I have in my life from my past up until now. And the end result, GOD wants me to become the godly man HE desires me to become, but most importantly, to become more like JESUS CHRIST. This has already begun and I know that I won’t necessary enjoy or like the initial process, but the end result/transformation will be totally be worth it! GOD reminded me of this…“For I am confident of this very thing, that HE who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of CHRIST JESUS” (Philippians 1:6). I am a continued work in progress, but thanks to GOD HE sees what is yet to come in me!

         What about you…what is GOD cutting/trimming, cleaning or repairing in your life so that HE can make you into the unique person that HE desires you to be, ultimately shaping you to become more like JESUS?