1 Timothy 4:12
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.”
I first met Junior, the oldest of the Dominquez sons still living at home, the first day in the D.R. We were coming out of the airport, carrying our massive packs, after traveling for 2 full days without sleep. He greeted us with a big smile and started grabbing our stuff and directing us where to load on the bus. Truthfully I thought he was with the bus company and not our contacts’ son. There was a mix up in communication and they were told we would be bringing only backpacks. I don’t think they were prepared for our kind of backpacks. That meant that we lost a couple rows of seats in both buses to fit everything in and it meant we would need to get in some very interesting seating arrangements. Amongst the confusion, Junior started giving instructions, guiding us where to go, and had the entire thing organized within no time. The best part is he never broke stride and was as friendly as could be. This 16 year old had somehow managed the impossible and had all 49 of us packed up and on the road very quickly.
Once we realized who he was, it didn’t take long for Junior to be adopted by my team. He was making fun of us and cracking jokes within 2 days. Every night, we are required to have “team time.” This consists of feedback (positive & constructive), testimonies, Bible studies, group issues, and whatever else needs to be discussed. We invited him to join us one night and he just kept coming back each night after. I think he even gave constructive feedback the first day, which is one of the hardest things to do amongst our team. Again not worried that he was much younger than all of us, he had a confidence in who he was in Christ that superseded all age barriers.
Over this past month I’ve been able to see Junior in many different situations and he always impresses me. The way he serves his family and our team is truly a gift from God. He is always moving and doing something to help and I never saw him slack or cut corners. He was determined to do things with excellence.
Another day we had a children’s day planned at one of the ministry’s churches. Junior had expressed multiple times that he didn’t enjoy going to the church and had avoided going for a long time. The night before, Junior was not acting like himself and I asked him what the problem was. He expressed his feelings about going to the church and was determined to not enjoy himself and even went as far as to say he was going to hide in the car. Being the good sister I am I had some words of tough love for him about how attitude was a choice and he could decide how the day turned out based on the attitude he chose. (it’s always easier to tell others about themselves isn’t it?) The next day came and Junior was still not so sure about going to the church. But, he didn’t really have a choice, so he went. What I saw that day, solidified my respect for this young man. He kept the entire day organized and kept all 49 of us in check. The best part was he chose an attitude of joy. He was joking, smiling, and although he won’t admit it, I think he was actually enjoying himself.
Later that night at team time, I expressed how proud I was of Junior and how he made the decision to serve the team and the children regardless of his personal feelings that day. It hit me that night that this young man was no ordinary 16 year old. His maturity went beyond just being able to organize a team or make sure things got done, but he has a spiritual maturity that is far beyond his chronological age.
There were many other times and situations throughout this past month where Junior’s love for his family, our team, and Christ shined through. It reminded me of the above verse. Junior is a perfect example of how society might look at him as only a 16 year boy who can’t do much for the Lord. But what I saw in a short month was that he is a force to be reckoned with. He doesn’t just serve the Lord out of obedience to his parents but he truly sets an example in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity. He encourages me to want to set a better example for people around me and to exhibit more of the fruits of the spirit.
My encouragement for you is to not discount the youth around you. Encourage them to grow in their relationship with Christ and be an example for not just their peers but everyone they come in contact with. They are not to be put aside until they are old enough to be a witness, they can start right now. I know that my experience this past month would have been a lot different without Junior’s encouragement, prayers, and example. By him surrendering his life to Christ I was able to choose joy in moments that seemed hard, grow in my understanding of my identity in Christ, and see the Lord move.
Thank you Junior for your love for me, my team, and most importantly for God.
Crisco Unico will never be the same without you!
I Timothy 4:12
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.”
