Well, this is it…tomorrow we leave the town of Azua. It’s going to hurt, you know…my heart is here and I am sure a piece of it will get left behind when I try to tear it away. I’ll need to use it again once we get to Haiti. The good news is that God is constantly growing my heart…for Him, for my wife, my family, the people here, the people there, the people everywhere. It hurts to have to leave a little bit of it behind, but my heart is bigger for having been here.
It’s just impossible not to love these people. Our host family (pictured in this blog) have been so kind to us. Gregorina, our “mom”, has cooked many incredible Dominican things for us that I am praying I can find somewhere in the States. She’s made sure we’ve had everything we need, from clean clothes to purified water to ice to get the gum out of a pair of shorts. I still don’t know how that got there. Our 
“dad”, who affectionately calls us his “babies”, is always asking how we are doing and is always ready for a game of Crazy Eight’s, Two’s and Three’s, or Dominoes. Our “brothers” and “sister” have been fun to get to know, and we’ve definitely bonded over Mario Kart on the Nintendo 64, puzzle games, sports, and floods in the streets on days where we have water. They’ve all been patient with my limited spanish!
Pastor Raul, his wife Zanza, and his family have been such a blessing as well. They’ve taken plenty of time and money to make sure that everyone stationed here has been well cared for. Raul has taken us for ice cream more than once, has taken us to the beach, and has completely and selflessly opened his entire house to all of us. This family definitely has a heart for this community, and it shows in the way that the community loves them back. We’ve been very fortunate with this first missions opportunity and I hope we h
ave been able to bless these people at least half as much as they have blessed us. I hope we have been a bridge of communication between him and AIM and I hope AIM is able to send people here for many years to come. I also hope we’re able to stay in touch with Raul and Zanza and watch at least from home their ministry continue to grow!
And of course, how can I forget the reason that we are here? Every single one of those little pairs of eyes staring intently at us wherever we are. They seem to appear from every direction like a tiny invasion of people who just want to be played with and loved. Even if we can’t understand them, it’s the most beautiful thing to hear them singing praise and worship songs at church, or to see the pictures they’ve drawn us representing the Bible story we shared with them that day. We’ve been blessed to show them how to play basketball and volleyball and take those Dominican skills and turn them into something they can use!
It made my heart leap to hear the kids speaking their english to each other on the streets after class after we’d worked so hard to teach them. Sure, it was frustrating when they didn’t listen or seem to understand what we were teaching them, but kids will be kids – all we can do is keep loving on them. I hope they remember this love of Chirst poured out through us, and I hope these tiny relationships with Jesus continue to grow in the years to come.
Conditions are far removed from what we’re used to in the States, but we are not in want of anything. When the power is out (like it is right now), you just make the most of what you have (or can see). When there’s no running water for 3, or 4, or even 5 days, you make the most of the little bit in the bottom of the huge drum in the bathroom. It’s important to be conservative when that water is also used to flush the toilet! It’s hot and there’s no fan, there’s a metal bar in the bed right under your back, and creepy crawlies at night. There are nak
ed boys in the street playing, a bumpy dirt road that we have to walk on every day, and dirty little kids who you just can’t refuse a hug from…I love all of it so much. I feel bad trading it for the world as the saying goes…but God is calling us elsewhere. I am going to miss it terribly, but it would be selfish to stay here.
God, thank you for this time here in Azua. You knew exactly what our team needed to experience, and you gave it to us without hesitation. We were here to bless the community, but I can’t thank you enough for all the blessings you have given me in this month alone. I can’t wait to see how else you are going to move and work this next year, and the thought fills me with such excitement! As we move into Haiti, I just pray that you continue to guide us on the road ahead. I pray that you continue to grow my heart for you, for my wife, and for the people of the world. Lord, I am excited to glorify yo
u this year! I thank you for who you are, for what you have done, and for what you are still doing today – I thank you for your love and mercy, and for allowing us to reach out and draw closer to you. All the honor and glory and praise for this month go to you Lord, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
