Mountain love in the DR - Explore Archived World Race Alumni Blogs

As I sit here on my last day atop this beautiful mountain I cannot help but reflect on everything that has happened this past month. Tomorrow will be the mark of our first month on the World Race and I currently sit surrounded by the most gorgeous mountains while taking in the breeze that softly covers my bare feet. I’m thinking of the children whom I have fallen in love with, whom I have told that I loved, whom God has placed specifically in my life this past month while here in the Dominican Republic. I can see their faces in my mind and picture their precious smiles while hearing their faint laugh in the background.

Coming here I knew I would have to say many hellos and goodbyes, but I never imagined that I would fall madly in love with people in such a short period of time. God has filled me up with His love and joy, and has graciously allowed me to completely pour myself into every person I’ve come in contact with. I have loved these kids with everything I have and I’m having trouble imagining driving down the mountain tomorrow knowing that I will probably never see them again, knowing I may never kiss their foreheads again or squeeze them so hard that we both start losing our breath.

In the past month I’ve experienced God in ways I haven’t before. I am starting to see myself and others the way He sees us. I am looking at everyone as precious sons and daughters of our heavenly Father and in awe of how much He loves us. These children aren’t just children, but they are children of God. They are souls that are in need of a Savior and I am so blessed that we have been apart of their lives for the last few weeks. We have taught English camp here where we play games, sing English songs about the fruits of the spirit, learn English lessons, teach about God’s love, make crafts, listen to daily devotionals, and overall love on these children the way Jesus loves on us. Each day we make a decision to press fully into God and love these kids knowing that we would fall in love and leave them right after. In all honesty, that’s been the hardest part for me.

Over the years I’ve learned about my heart for people, especially children. God has blessed me with this gift and it is now being used around the world for His glory and that is amazing! Leaving is never easy, but God has taught me a few things lately. He’s taught me to love hard, so hard that it hurts sometimes. He’s taught me to not allow my heart to be hardened, but to place these people in a special spot in my heart where I can always remember the beautiful times we shared together. I was scared of giving all of myself to these people because I didn’t want to say hard goodbyes knowing I would never see them again. I’ve realized that is so selfish of me not to fully share God’s love with others. He tells us to love Him and love people, because He first loved us. God has placed us here for a reason, and that is to love and share the Gospel with each and every person we meet, whether it is with our words or our actions. He knew that we would have a hard time loving and leaving people all year, but He takes care of us through that pain. He fills us up fully, knowing that we will be emptied and in need of filling back up again. Each day I ask Him to fill me up and allow the Holy Spirit to arise within me so it can be poured out of me to everyone I am around. As I type this out I feel Him so powerfully. I feel so blessed to know that He is using me as a vessel this year, and I am humbled by that. We are not the ones who change hearts, but He has allowed us to be His vessels this year to share HIS love with everyone! He gives us strength when we don’t have our own and I will continue to love the people I meet this year wholeheartedly.

I can’t believe month one is over already, it’s crazy!!

Here are some photos of children who have very special places in my heart.

Jayden and Ado were the youngest in our class. Ado became a child I wish I could take home with me, and I’m going to miss him the most.