You know those commercials on TV you see selling products for new and improved cosmetics or strange inventions? You get so sucked in on the idea of an amazing object or experience, that you momentarily forget the possibility that the product might not actually be what you thought. So you buy it anyway, pay what’s asked, and wait impatiently on your toes for the day it shoes up on your doorstep.
That’s how the World Race feels so far, unexpectedly different than what I thought it would be, harder in some areas I didn’t anticipate would be an issue, and easier in some places I had braced myself for. One week ago I landed in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. From there we hopped on a bus and rode 7 hours to Lajas, where we arrived at our ministry site called Hope Mountain. There has been a lot that has happened already and I have learned a ton, but I’ll save the life lessons for another time and simply give you an update on what our living conditions are like and what we have been up to!
First of all, our hosts are A-MAZ-ING. They have welcomed us like family, treated us like royalty, and served us like true disciples of Christ. We have been able to hear some incredible words of wisdom from both the parents as well as the children, it’s a privilege to have a whole month in which we are able to learn from them and serve them and the community around.
This month is squad month!!! Which if you haven’t guessed, means that we won’t be breaking into teams, but rather doing ministry all together. We have the opportunity to rotate in teams each day however, as we are assigned to property projects, outreach, administration, and hospitality projects.
So far outreach has included prayer walks, and a children’s event at Hope where we played games, put on skits, and danced. Today we did children’s ministry at the basketball court down the road. The amount of kids we have met is amazing already, and the way they respond and so willingly receive our attention is a testament to the fact that if you say you will go and serve, the Lord opens amazing doorways. He gives you opportunities and He qualifies you through Him to have an impact. We know VERY little Spanish, or at least, I know very little. But today when I walked through the streets of Lajas, repeating the few words I know like play and basketball, and as I watched my teammates ask if kids on the street wanted to come play games, I was in awe of how easily we gathered a crowd of children, ranging from too little to play basketball all the way up to our age.
Living here so far is tiring and intimidating at moments, but it is anything but burdensome. We have dorms, and crowded describes them accurately, however we also have bathrooms and showers and water. We have electricity for part of the day so we have the ability to keep in contact with family and friends, and we are in an absolutely stunning part of the world.
Living in community is new to me. I live with two people at home, here I live with over 40. It’s hard in the sense that I am in unfamiliar territory, it’s uncomfortable for sure, but I’m learning how to interact with people I don’t know in a better way, and I’m learning to focus on the bigger pictures and realize that problems I have in my heart or mind are trivial compared to the mission at hand which is advancing the kingdom of heaven.
I love it here, the people I am with are incredible, the motivation I see in my team and in the rest of the squad is inspiring, the dedication I have witnessed from our hosts and squad leaders is more then I think any of us could have asked for, and the service I’ve already seen, even from one racer to another is an example that I’ll remember forever of what serving the Lord looks like.
There will be more updates ASAP! Thank you so much for reading:) The fact that you took time out of your day to read about what is happening in my life is a big deal and means a lot to me. If you would like to donate to support the rest of my trip, I am still several thousand short, and any help would be an incredible blessing!!! God bless:)
