We arrived in San Juan, Dominican Republic 5 days ago after a 17 hour travel day and it feels like we have been here for 5 years. There has been so much packed into such little time, but I am finally getting some time to reflect and process.
Sounds of roosters crowings, motorcycles zooming by, and loud music has become a part of my everyday life. I get to sleep on a mattress in a beautiful house and I even have a washing machine this month. Trust me, this is luxury!
This month my team and I are working with a ministry called Domincan Rising. We spend Sundays and Thursdays in a beautiful little mountain town, Cativo. It's about an hour drive away from San Juan on a bumpy dirt road, but I don't mind because I love the scenery that surrounds me. On Mondays and Tuesdays my team and I travel to a little village, Mohados. We had planned to do house visits and simply pray with people, but as we saw how the kids reacted to the Americanos showing up, we have been able to set aside a few hours to do a VBS with them. On Wednesdays we are working with our conact, Miguel, working on his farm and evenutally we will get to roast coffee beans (which I am super excited about!)
I have always struggled with going on mission trips and not getting to see a direct effect of the ministry that I am able to take part in, but as God always does, he teaches me admist the struggle. We are not painting a church, building a school, or getting our hands dirty in hard labor (yet), but we are building relationships, getting to pour into the missionaries here, making children smile and laugh, and lifting people's spirits with our prayers.
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10
This verse is taking root in my heart and I believe that God will be exalted no matter what our ministry looks like any month.
I believe God is exalted when we are playing with the children. (even though we have extremely broken spanish)
I believe God is exalted when we are pouring into the missionaries here.
I believe God is exalted when we get to pray for these precious people.
I still have to keep telling myself that I am not coming home on Saturday, that I am here for another 10 1/2 months, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I will be posting pictures as I can. I have not had the opportunity to take them just yet, but there will be pictures coming within the next few weeks!
__________________________________________________________________________________
I am still $3,800 away from being fully funded. If you feel led, click the Support Me tab on the left side of this page to give!
