This month we have a seventh member of our team. Her name is Mayi Jimenez and she is an 86 pound bundle of joy. Mayi is our translator and is living with us this in Padre Las Casas. She is a missionary in San Juan with Dominican Rising, which is an organization that is increasing the number of Dominican missionaries. She has also studying English in her University. It’s true, her English is great which is wonderful for us but her heart for the Lord and his people is much greater.
During our first week here she sat down with us to tell us about her latest mission trip to Cuba. She described the country as being very poor and still much consumed with communism. She told us this particular story where she was invited to eat with a family. When she walked in the door there were bugs and flies everywhere. She mentioned that it was not because these people were dirty it was because they were not allowed to have cleaning supplies to clean their homes. So, she went in and they had prepared a meal that was covered in flies and she just didn’t know if she could bring herself to eat the meal. She excused herself from the house and prayed that the Lord would give her strength to attempt to eat the meal. While she was praying she heard the family singing praises to the Lord thanking him for the food he blessed them with. As Mayi was telling the story she couldn’t help but breakdown in tears like she did in that instant she heard them singing. She realized that these people have nothing, they have no real freedom but they still choose to praise the Lord for their fly infested meal. She was so humbled and grateful for all the things she had and that the Lord had blessed her to live in country that has so much.
I love that story because it shows us how consumed we can get with worldly possessions, but all that really matters is our relationship with the Lord. I am so thankful Mayi shared that story, it just demonstrates how wonderful her heart is and that she really cares for the Lord’s people. For these past few weeks Mayi has become a member of this team. She has been right there with us in our ministry, working and serving that she is so much more than just a translator. I wish she could continue this journey with us but I know the Lord is using her in different ways through Dominican Rising. Please join me in praying for this organization and that there will be more missionaries, like Mayi that come from the Dominican Republic.
