On Sunday around lunch I was talking to someone about how I
was so ready to get out of the house and begin some ministry, I was going stir
crazy since I had missed all week with my team.
Well, God answered my prayers! Team Eruption had been asked
that night to lead worship service for Pastoral Sesalina and Pastor Manuel in the neighborrhood of Mijo. 5
of the 6 people on their team were feeling sick so Megan asked me if I would
want to join along to help out.
YESSS :]
So I hop into the back of a pick up and begin my first adventure
outside of town. It was also my first time to experience the Dominican culture
outside of the “rich� neighborhood we are staying in.
The neighborhood and church are literally right off the
“highway� and this was the view I saw…
b.e.a.u.tiful God.
We split into two groups and began walking to houses near by
to tell them about Jesus and invite them to church that night. I quickly began
to see their views on being Christian. In so many of the houses we visited, the
people kept saying they believed in God, but were not Christians because they
were still waiting on God to call them.
I was confused. Here are two American girls in front of a
house full of Dominicans, speaking the life and truth about Jesus and they are
still saying they are waiting on God to call them? Not saying that to give us
credit at all or to say everyone we will come in contact with will be saved. I
just mean by that, that it’s not an everyday event for them. I’m not sure if they meant they are
waiting on some sort of physical healing or God’s direct voice, but it was hard
to walk away and not know if they truly understood God’s love. But I know that
is not for me to judge.
One women we talked to, had such a eager heart for
Jesus. She has six children and a “store� on the side of the road that she
runs. She too said she knew Jesus, but had not become Christian because if so
she could no longer sell beer in her store. And without the profit from that
she couldn’t take care of her kids. This broke my heart. We explained to her
that God provides for every situation and that in taking the next step
accepting God and trusting in Him to provide would be hard but totally worth it
all. She said she understood and was not afraid, but I left there too
wondering if she got “it”.
Flash foreword some. Time to lead service, wahoo! At first,
it was only a bunch of kids there and I was thinking how the heck are they
going to understand us? We had planned to sing some worship songs out of our
ipod in espanol but the power was not working so improv we did. After singing a
couple of songs in English, the translators helped us to leads some in Spanish
too (pic below). It was so surreal to worship God in another language in candlelight. I can
only hope to experience that again.
^^Frank signing, he’s awesome to have around with us!!
Then before Megan got up to preach, she had asked me to
share my testimony. I was stoked. When I stood up there I realized some older
kids and adults had begun to trickle in, so I was even more excited for God to
speak through me. Normally I hate getting in front of people, but I had no
fear. I felt God just flowing through me. I have no idea what all I said, but
it was awesome to get up there and get to share what all God has done for me.
Megan ended the night with a sermon full of truth and hope.
It was beautiful. On the ride home in the back of the truck I couldn’t stop smiling and
thinking wow this is my life, really?? Thank you Jesus for calling me on such
an amazing adventure!! Thank you for your love all around the world, that is
endless and unchanging. And this is only the beginning :]
**cribs video and blog about my teams ministry will be soooon!
