First week at Dominican Republic!

 

 

 

 

After a meeting/orientation with Miguel
today about culture, we met with our ministry contact, Pastor Selanda and her
husband Hamino. We also met our translators Jose Frank and Orleen, young men
who has great character, and they will be serving as our translators,
protectors, and male ministry partners. We will be working at Ps. Selanda’s
church in a poorer neighborhood. Every morning we will go there, and because we
are foreigners, we will automatically draw lots of children there. It is up to
us to do whatever we want. And then 3 times a week in the afternoon we will be
teaching English. On Monday and Thursday nights, there are services at the
church which we could join.

Honestly, I expected to be TOLD what to do,
be given specific instructions. After meeting our ministry contact and hearing
other teams’ ministry, I really had to let all my expectations go. Yeah, so I
thought I had no expectations, that I’ll just do whatever is given me, but what
I didn’t expect was the lack of structure. Like we’re really not quite sure
what we will be doing tomorrow with the children or the people that we will meet.
And the language barrier really hit me today. I didn’t understand a single
word, couldn’t even pick out any words to at least help me understand a little
bit. The lack of structure plus the language barrier was just frustrating to
me. Really got to learn to let go and trust God to take care of things.

12/1/11

Woke up today still a little worried with
what we were going to do today. And I just had to ask God to really lean on
Him. And guess what He told me today right before we left the house:

“Let me prepare you for the day that
stretches out before you. I know exactly what this day will contain, whereas
you have only vague ideas about it. You would like to see a map, showing all
the twists and turns of your journey. You’d feel more prepared if you could somehow
visualize what is on the road ahead. However, there is a better way to be
prepared for whatever you will encounter today: Spend quality time with Me.

I will not show you what is on the road
ahead, but I will thoroughly equip you for the journey. My living Presence is
your Companion each step of the way. Stay in continual communication with Me,
whispering My Name whenever you need to redirect your thoughts. Thus, you can
walk through this day with your focus on Me. My abiding Presence is the best road
map available.”

Exo 33:14  And he said, My
presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

 
And boy was God right (of course He is!
Haha). The whole morning went better than I anticipated. Cadence stepped up and
got the kids to sing along some songs, told a Bible story (the lost sheep), and
then we played a lot of games with them. The language barrier was not a big
thing at all, as a simple smile on the face and a simple hug communicated a
lot. The kids had fun, we had fun. And they can’t wait for us to be back on
Friday.

 

 

 

 

 

14/1/11

Today is our second day of ministry with
the kids. Again we played games with them and sang some songs, and just loved
on them. I was really touched when one of the little kids prayed and gave
thanks to God for this day, and asked that He will help us to understand
better. Such a simple prayer, but such a simple heart. Met a 5 year old little
girl today whose name is Genesis. She is such a sweet thing and has such joy. I
don’t know but when I heard her name I just wonder if she will be the BEGINNING
of change in this community. She was extremely sad when we had to leave and
kept saying “Stay back. Stay back”. It just breaks my heart.

To me, it really doesn’t seem like we are
doing much in this neighborhood. I mean how much can we do in a month? And
that’s me with such a small view, small vision, when the God I know is infinite
and great.