My team and i are partnering up with team Genesis and our local DR ministry contacts Miguel & Emily, and heading into the most dangerous, darkest village in San Juan: Goachupita. Guachupita is labeled a “green zone” because it is such a poverty-stricken area that people are not allowed by law to live there, but they still do. Living there is free since the land is not owned & the Dominicans living there have no other place to go. If the military came in they would legally be able to kick everyone out.Goachupita is its own island.There is a river that encompasses the whole island and when it rains the whole village floods badly & is destroyed. This occurs about every 5-8yrs, leaving the village in ruins & causing diseases to run rampant among the people. We’ve been told that all the men, women & children living there have at least one type of round worm in them & different parasites. Many are malnurished. In this village many are victims of alcohol abuse, spousal abuse, sexual abuse, gang violence, crime,drug abuse, & other difficulties that rise up in a poor barrio/slum. We will be only the 2nd World Race team that has ever ministered to them.Along with both of our two teams and lMiguel & Emily, we will also be working with a few t Spanish speaking translators as we do vacation bible school, house visits, build a canal, help teach nutrition, play with the kids, pray for the hurt & the sick, encourage beiievers & build relationships with everyone. We walk over 12 miles everyday to/from this village. There are over 500 people living there.
Our ministry schedule is: Mon-Fri 8:30am-11:30am, then return 4:30pm-7:30pm in evening. The Dominicans all stop work & close down shops after their lunches so they can nap , or have a siesta. I think that America should carry on this tradition haha 🙂 On Saturdays we will work there from 8:30am-11;30am and have the evening off to write our blogs, buy groceries/do laundry/rest, you know…usual stuff.Sunday is our day of rest! This village is about a 30minute walk from our mission house.A funny random fact/remedy: we were told by our ministry contact that if we feel sick/have parasites/worm then we need to take a walnut & let it sit in a glass of Vodka for 3 days, then drink it!! Walnuts contain ingredients that kill the bacteria/parasites!! Tonight at 4:30-7:30pm my team & i are entering Goachupita for the 1st time, doing a prayer walk around the whole village, & introducing ourselves to those living there. I ‘m excited & know that God will be watching over us as we step onto these dangerous grounds where no one usually dares to enter. God loves these people & we do too.This village is known to have the most murderers, gang members, highest crime rate, most poverty, & be the darkest village in San Juan.This is where Jesus would be. These are the people who Jesus hung out with:the outcasts, the diseased, the hurting, the orphans,the widows,the poor,the lost. I’m excited to report back & share our experiences with you. Thanks for your prayers, keep ’em coming! By the way, a 4inch green worm came out of the nose of a small child living in Goachupita. This is normal for them.Please pray for our health & safety!
Pslam 91 says that the Lord our God is our refuge & protector against evil. I rest upon that & trust that He will shield us from any evil. It is an amazing chapter to read, i encourage you to read it when you have a chance 🙂 Love you guys, God bless you & i’ll catch ya soon!
