Thank you to everyone who has been praying for us in the Dominican republic during hurricane Maria, we made it through: ) Other than a few leaks and flooding in the girls’ dorm, there was no damage! Praise God for His protection. Below are a few things I’ve learned here in the DR so far. Some are fun and humorous while others are serious things the Lord has placed on my heart. Both types of lessons will show you what life in the DR looks like for me. Enjoy!
- Smiles go a long way, no matter the language
- Just eat, don’t analyze it, and you’ll be surprised by how many things you enjoy
- Cold showers are actually refreshing
- Every child knows (or can pick up) Rock Paper Scissors like a pro
- Mornings are for spending time with the Father
- Foot races are universal and competition brings people together
- Don’t drink the water, or brush your teeth with it, or accidentally swallow it when swimming, just don’t
- Most people want to share their life story when someone truly wants to listen, and that is powerful
- Vans and buses often have Wi-Fi in he DR!! Yay for communicating home
- Trust the driver, it may look like you’re about to crash but, you will get there in one piece
- Handing out baked goods is a great way to love people in the community even without any words
- Coke tastes better in the DR (the secret: real sugar), as does orange juice, hot chocolate, and coffee
- Don’t worry about being stared at. As a young white woman in the DR that’s normal
- Never put toilet paper in the toilet
- My mom, Bobbie Kerr, got her first iPhone and a Facebook within the same week to better communicate with and keep tabs on me (not really a lesson, I am just bragging about how cool she is)
- Showering twice a week is actually semi acceptable here
- God is so much bigger than a language barrier
- When hand washing clothes, always rinse three times, or don’t even bother washing your clothes at all
- Lay everything at the feet of Jesus today, and tomorrow, and the next day, and forever
- If you are wondering if it’s going to rain, the answer is probably yes, everyday almost
- A hurricane on a tin roof makes it seem much worse than it truly is
- Read the word like it’s a story, because that’s how God intended it to be read
- Any chance you can, shower in the water fall (it feels like a Venus razor commercial)
- We are called to be peace makers, not peace keepers
- Put the phone down
- Put the camera down
- Write it down
Please keep me and my squad in your prayers, as well as the Dominican People as they recover from hurricane Maria. Feel so blessed by you all and so, God bless YALL
: )
