God’s love is greater than language barriers

It is currently day 18 on the race. In the last few weeks I have learned more things about myself and God than I could have ever imagined. Beyond all of these things, I have had peace through the whole process of leaving family and friends and entering into a place of the unknown with people I didn’t really know either.
He has given me so much love and joy in the last few weeks that can’t be expressed in words.

A week or so ago, our teams helped out with teen camp as counselors, drama performers, station leaders, etc. here at Hope Dominican Republic. 90+ children from all over the area between the ages 12-17 came to hear about God and experience His love. Each day we had a new topic to learn from and verses to go through with the kids. We had a team name, a team color, and created amazing relationships with the children in our group. My team had was called Pica Piedra which the kids came up with (aka spicy rocks in English lol) and included 5 of my squad mates as counselors alongside myself. We went through the week on the theme of Lost and Found and illustrated with them how we are lost without Christ and are found in Him alone. It is not until we realize that we need a relationship with Christ and choose to enter into relationship with Him, where we are truly found in His identify.

In the beginning I was concerned about leading a camp where the children have no idea what you are saying because of the language barrier. The first few days were difficult because I couldn’t find where I fit in it all. I didn’t know how to create these lasting relationships without being able to understand their language, or them being able to understand mine. It wasn’t until day three where it finally clicked for me. God’s love is so powerful and has no end. His love is greater than the language barrier and He proved that to me. He loves each of us the same, and with His spirit inside each of us, we are able to show God’s love to anyone we come in contact with, despite the language barriers. God’s love isn’t based on being able to understand the language or even being able to fully understand Him, because frankly, we will never fully understand Him or His undeserving love. He loves us more than we will ever know, and taught us how to love without speaking the same language. It’s playing with these kids and hugging them and smiling every time you see their precious faces. It’s worshiping alongside them and showing them how God has changed our lives after diving into relationship with Him. They are sweet children of our father in Heaven and deserve to know how much they are loved by their Father. I was filled with so much love and joy while I was around them. I saw Christ in their eyes and their longing to know Him. Listening to them worship and watching them dance was so beautiful. So many moments happened that week that I will cherish forever.

Above all else, God is never changing and never failing. His love is spread through His spirit that lives within us if we just press into what He is doing in that moment. I learned so much during the week of camp, and was so filled by the end of the week and sad to watch the kids drive away. They come from some hard places but I have faith that God has amazing plans for each one of those children, and that each one experienced His love last week. We get to see them all one last time at the end of the month and I cannot wait!

God is so, so good. I am truly having the time of my life and am so humbled by how He prepares us for things we can’t prepare ourselves for.