This month in the Dominican Republic has been incredible because we are living in the mountains in tents, sharing one bathroom with 45 other people, bathing in a river, washing our clothes by hand, and eating a typical Dominican diet. It’s an adventure and these things are becoming the norm for us. Travel to and from the city in various modes of transportation has been an exciting part of this adventure as well.
The other day, three other teammates and I were riding in the back of a truck on our way home from ministry in the city. I really enjoy the 45-minute ride because we go from the busyness of the city up into the mountains, where life happens at a much slower pace, seeing God’s glory all along the way in the beauty of the mountains and in the faces of the people we pass by.
My teammate Abbey and I were facing one way, while my other teammates Kayla and Jen were facing the opposite direction. I asked the question in amazement that is so often asked here, “What is our life?” to which Abbey responded with a shout, “It’s so beautiful!”
You see, Abbey and I had a beautiful view of the mountains with the city off in the distance, but what Jen and Kayla saw was much different. They saw something that isn’t such a strange sight here: mounds of trash along the streets.
So while two of us were soaking in the beauty around us, the other two were laughing at us because what they saw was hardly beautiful.
People may laugh at you when you see beauty they can’t see, don’t be afraid to acknowledge the beauty around you just because others don’t see it. Likewise, don’t let the mess that others see keep you from seeing beauty that is right in front of your eyes.
