We made it! We are in Lajas, Dominican Republic. We flew into Santo Domingo and ventured onto a 5 hour bus drive into the mountains to our ministry contacts’ place. We managed to stick 53 people and our giant packs and day packs onto two 32 passenger vans. It was a squishy ride.
To say we are spoiled here is an understatement. The view is beautiful and I hate to admit it but we even have a waterfall and a pool… It’s not all glamour though, the living conditions and sleeping quarters are tight. We have a small concrete floored room filled with sleeping pads, bags, packs, bugs, and lizards. Oh, we also have cold showers everyday (but at least it’s running water) and were given our monthly portion of toilet paper that is absolutely forbid to be flushed. We are able to use internet through purchasing a wifi card in the local village and to charge our electronics when there is electricity available.
There are six out of the eight teams on my squad doing ministry here this month. We have each been given a ministry to be part of per week. It rotates every week and each team is given a chance to partake in the different ministries that HOPE (our contact) is working in here. The different areas include: working with the missionaries’ children (my team did this the first week), door to door evangelism (this is our ministry this week), construction, writing discipleship curriculum for 7-17 year old females, prayer walking, and preparing curriculum for ESL camp that occurs every Friday. Ruben and Vicki Dominguez are the couple who initiated HOPE and they are great (as are their children and rest of the HOPE team).
Our ministry time this week was eye opening. We spent time pouring love into the children of the two missionary families that have relocated here. Their parents are pretty busy and spend a lot of time pouring into others and furthering the work that God is doing here. This sometimes translates to the kids as lack of time, which can leave them feeling a little less loved than normal. Our job description was basically to love the kids as much as we could and spend time doing things with them that reflected that. Each day we did a mini daily devotion (geared for eight kids aged 4-14 years). We learned closer to the end of the week to really push the heavy physical activities to the morning and keep the more relaxing things for the afternoon when it was warmer out. We spent a lot of time playing capture the flag, hiking the river, swimming, and playing four square/basketball. We spent time playing cards, watching movies, hanging out with barbies, eating play restaurant food, board games, and just asking and answering questions about each other’s lives. We spent Friday helping with an English camp that is put on here as camp counsellors which was so rewarding. I have realized that even though kids are extremely draining, I love them more than I thought. Their innocence and the way that God reveals himself to us through them is a gift in itself.
Our team really learned a lot about each other over the last week and we are growing closer. We learned who loves kids and who doesn’t. We have learned what makes someone happy and what can make someone grouchy. We learned how much Savannah loves the game zombie dice and Trish loves Scattergories. We learned that David needs more than a few hours a day with people in order to feel loved. We learned that Bryan will one day be an amazing dad. We learned that Jess needs absolute silence in order to not be distracted (especially in devotion time). I am learning a lot about myself and being pulled to grow through some awesome squad leaders. I am learning to rest in the Lord and dig deeper into His word. We can get life and rest through his Word. I am learning to find rest this week. Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Thanks to everyone for keeping my squad, team, and myself in your prayers and thoughts. Next month will be a tough transition into Haiti and I continue to ask for your prayers. I am still in need of funds to be fully funded so please also keep that in your prayers!
