My squad has officially arrived in the Dominican Republic! We have been here for just over a week and we are starting to get accustomed to life on the race.
Erin and I watched as the contacts picked up our teams from the airport, knowing that nobody was coming to pick us up. I saw the wide eyed wonder as some people on our squad began to experience a new culture for the first time ever. I saw their first moments on one of the coolest journeys they will take. When the last of our teams were on their way out the door Erin and I looked at each other and we were on our own. With minutes on our cell phones, a paper with the address to our hostel and a hopeful reservation that we had booked online about 12 hours before, we headed outside to get in a taxi.
As we drove down a highway with one of the most beautiful views of the ocean I have ever seen I felt more comfortable than I have in months. In my heart there is a comfort that comes with the bright colors of the buildings and the signs in a language I don’t understand. Even the crazy driving that would scare pretty much any American didn’t even phase me. I felt right at home. That was just even more confirmation to me that I am exactly where I am supposed to be. A sense of bravery began stirring in my heart and my confidence grew as I embraced this season of sweat and tears and joy and more reliance on the Lord than I have ever needed until now.
The first five days here in the DR we spent letting the teams kind of get going in their ministries and Erin, Paul, and I spent that time bonding as a team before we split up and went around the country to the different teams. We got to do some fun things and create some memories with us. We got to establish ourselves as a team since the three of us had a total of 12 hours together before we got on the field. It was nice to have that time but all of us were ready to go with our teams by the end of our five days.
Now I am with two teams in Santo Domingo. Their ministry is with a church that is just wonderful. My ministry is mostly to the teams. I do join them when they need another set of hands, but most of the time I am spending my moments getting to know the people on my squad. I spend time with them hearing their stories, checking in, and loving them. Dominican life is so much slower than American life so we are all adjusting to that.
Yesterday was my first Dominican Sunday church service. I sat next to a woman named Juanita and I was surprised at how much of the service I could understand. I haven’t really been around Spanish since the part of my race that was over two years ago, but I could understand the majority of the message. I also knew a few of the songs from the time on my race. It was nice to have some familiarity in singing songs in another language without having to focus so much on figuring out the right words, because I already knew them.
I seriously love what I get to do, I don’t know how many times I can say it. I am so excited for the ways that God wants to grow me and my squad in these next few months. Please pray for me as I continue to grow in my leadership and in boldness during my time squad leading.
I need to raise $3500 by the time I leave the field in December. Please consider joining my team of ministry partners. Internet is limited this month
