Many of you were taught what I was taught at a very young age…. Do not talk to strangers. Other stipulations come with that principle of course, such as do not take candy from strangers, do not get in the vans of strangers, and so on and so forth. Typically I am a stickler for such stipulations, but here in the Dominican Republic, or rather while on the race, you learn to let all normality go.
So, a few nights ago my team and I were at our favorite hangout in town, Pollo Rey, the grease chicken joint where we get free wifi, and a group of Dominican musicians came in waiting for their ride, having just gotten off of the Caribe tours bus (the same company of luxury buses which made our trip back to the DR so memorable lol) that drops off in the same parking lot. Kam, being awesome Kam, made friends with them, and by the time we were leaving to go get the most amazing tacos in existence, we were being invited to go to the Christian concert they were in town to perform at. Once we realize that it is not in walking distance, we kindly informed them that as poor visiting missionaries we did not have a way there, and amazingly they offered to come and pick us up from the same parking lot at 9 pm and bring us home after.
Now mom, I know what you are thinking… and breathe, it was not a situation taken lightly. But we were excited by the adventure and felt assured, especially by the church van and the conversations we had, so we eagerly accepted.
So at 9:05 or so 9 of us (we picked up two more squad mates in the between time) piled into a van that smelled strongly of mildew and slightly of urine, wondering what we had gotten ourselves into and excited for the adventure ahead. We find out as we talk to our new friends on the drive over that it is a service, and then, not a single artist concert, but a huge concert with many artists, and it was held at a Christian youth camp like 10 minutes from our home here. So we pull up to this huge gazebo thing PACKED with young Dominicans and are immediately brought into AMAZING Spanish worship, full of jumping, dancing and the Holy Spirit. Soooooo good! That went on for a while, and then around 11:30ish a man got up there and began to talk…. And continued to talk…. And continued to talk…… and continued to talk. He was very charismatic, but because none of us speak Spanish, let alone stay up or out that late anymore, we were losing steam fast and exhausted.
I love how much God works through every situation with such great revelation if you just learn to listen. So just as I feel anxiousness rising I think to God, “Its not that I wish I didn’t come, I just wish I could understand.” And I heard Him say, “You’re not supposed to.” Huh?? So I pondered that, and realized that just because WE could not understand did not change the fact that we were in the midst of HUNDREDS of youth and young adults who COULD. All of a sudden I was energized and excited because I had a purpose, so I spent the remaining hour or more joyfully praying intercessory prayers of every heart and soul in that place.
At one point I was sitting and talking to Kam about that revelation, as mr. charisma continued to talk on, and I was reminded of Jesus and the disciples. Like when He went off into the night and asked His disciples to pray despite their exhaustion, without knowing what was being done in the darkness with Jesus, without knowing why, but simply because THAT is the power of prayer and the joy of obedience. And so yes, we were TIRED, yes we were exhausted and being eaten alive by mosquitoes, but what an honor for God to ask us to simply pray for strangers that they may receive God’s message, God’s presence, and God’s love in ways that we would never see. God is so good.
So then, when the man does finally stop talking, another man comes up, and picks our adrenaline right back up with this AMAZING Spanish Christian meringue and we were pumped and then a few songs later he finishes, and people start to clear out. Slightly confused, but pumped from the night we had just had we start grabbing our things, and are informed that all of that was the service, and people were leaving the gazebo just for their 20 minute intercession before the CONCERT started. Oh man oh man, but we stayed on super excited.
So as we grab up front seats, the bands start sound checking and I hear the absolute most amazing thing I have ever heard…… HARDCORE!!!!!!!!!!!! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh! I was practically jumping out of my skin!!! And so we stayed for another couple hours hearing a great slew of Christian rappers and probably the coolest hardcore band I have EVER heard… all in Spanish. All in all probably the best night I have had in the race so far which we are still all elated from days later, and a complete gift from God. Hallelujah! <3
