From the Damerons…
We feel we have been quiet for a bit, we are sorry for that! We have both been under the weather since we arrived here in the Dominican Republic! Derek caught a stomach bug and I had a summer flu…but we are both recovering!
We officially have 21 days left on the World Race….what?i
Derek and I were talking about how quickly this journey is ending while we were washing dishes last night after dinner. Where has this year gone, and what are we really taking away from it with us?
Are we taking away lasting relationships and community? What about skills and lessons we desired to learn for our life of full-time ministry? Are we more spiritual?
I at least have answers for these questions, but they are nothing like what I thought they would be in the beginning of the race.
I have talked with our hosts in most of our countries more on the race than I think I’ve talked with people at home or on our squad. For instance, one of my dearest friends, Tanja, lives in Serbia, and we are moving there in January. She has kept me going on the race when no one else probably could (I mean, she is Serbian and slightly scares me…haha just kidding Tanja I love you). Whenever we both have a decent connection to the internets our Month 7 host in Lesotho, Keila, always invites me for another cup of tea on her doorstep (even now while writing this I ache to be sitting with her and discussing life). And my South Africa girls…gosh. I don’t know what I would do without my Imari, Hannah, and Paula. They bring such joy and pride in my heart. They inspire me. And also keep me young and hip*. And there are so many others I’ve been able to bond and keep in touch with. And talking and forming relationships with these people has helped me start communicating with my mentor and best friends and family from home, and I’m realizing that alot of my relationships from now on will be through a computer or phone.
Talk about learning life-lessons. Derek and I have truly learned what it means to communicate, love, and take care of each other. We know how to fight for each other and our marriage, and we know the signs that mean we need to be fighting harder. We have grown in our spiritual giftings and how we work together as a couple to accomplish the vision God has given to our marriage. We know each other strengths and weaknesses far better than we could have prior to this race. And we have also been gifted for the foresight that we have a lifetime of learning to really know each other.
And are we more spiritual? I don’t know. I believe I am closer to God than I was before I started, and so is Derek. But I don’t believe there is really a measuring stick. And in the end our goal should be to look more and more like Christ so all people see is Him, not us. That’s our goal anyway.
This month we are in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Our teams have dissolved and as a squad we are living together, but individually we are in charge of our ministry. We are finding our own ministry, rest time, and community this month.
So far we have been sick, so we have been resting and trying to prepare for the marathon God has set before us. This next week, our ministry will differ from day to day, from discipling the squad, evangelizing, and other work. Many on our squad are working in nursing homes, orphanages, evangelizing in malls….our squad is literally going out and doing what we have been all race long.
This month is a test to see how we will handle the freedom of “normal life” when it comes to living a missional life, but still having the boundaries of our squad contract and community to help ease us back into home. Let’s just say, we are excited to be home in the US of A soon!
We are working hard to start fundraising for our long term mission in Sombor, Serbia. If you would like to find out more about that and how you can help, visit and subscribe to our new website at dameronmissions.org.
Thank you all so much! We love you!
