I am now half way through the second week of being in San Juan, Dominican Republic. And what an exciting time it has been full of spontaneity, laughter, crying, and getting used to the crazy driving of the Dominicans. Pedestrians here DO NOT have the right away, I’m now on my 25th life(=
Those who live here are very passionate about music, it is blaring from houses, cars, and even vans with speakers in the back as they leave the trunk open. My hearing might be impaired after this month (= I have traded my heart for baths in the U.S. for bucket showers in Dominican. Electricity and water are only on and running for if we’re lucky 12 hours of the day. The electricity does not turn on until about 5 p.m. and in the morning it turns off about 7 a.m.
The women on the squad who are doing ministry in San Juan (about 25) all share “the green house”. I have 3 gorgeous roommates who are Taryn , Blair and Ashley. Monday morning after we arrived I awoke to realize I had received my breakfast delivered to my “bed” (sleeping bag) Blair had delivered my packet of club crackers. Living on the $7 budget of food a day has proved to be quite a challenge and that was the beginning of realizing adios (goodbye) to all my favorite foods.
The area in which we do ministry is called Hija Quieta, which is translated be still daughter. The pastor of the church is a little woman whose name is Zelanda. She is a small woman with a mighty faith. She was saved on the streets of the slums and as her faith grew Jesus challenged her to change and growth. She left her business on the corner of the streets selling from a cart beer and food and began to follow God’s calling on her life. She obeyed God as he asked her to offer her house as a church for the slums neighborhood.
Zelanda listened to God, obeyed where He guided her to go, and waited on Him as He has blessed the church with 40-50 people gathering in this small house for church. Our team Koinonia has been able to work alongside the church and love the children and women who attend. There was a 3 day revival service in which team members were asked to share testimonies and the love of Jesus Christ.
I ask for prayer for the people in the slums, that God would speak to their hearts, continue to grow their faith, and the men would rise up and become leaders in this area.
