About three months ago, I had the opportunity to spend Holy Week in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. In the months leading up to this trip, the heaping demands of my busy schedule of school and jobs caused me to reconsider if I still even wanted to go to the Dominican – I was exhausted. But the second the plane landed in Santo Domingo, I knew I had made the right decision. After getting through customs and a very confusing currency exchange, we hopped on a school bus and drove an hour to our home for the next week.
We were staying at an orphanage called Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos which means “Our little brothers and sister.” This orphanage is home to about 200 children, 20 of them with a physical or mental disability, and most them with no families at all. I expected to be uncomfortably surrounded by a bunch of lonely and resentful orphans, but the moment we stepped off the bus, kids were jumping excitedly all over us, thrilled that we were there. All the stress leading up to this trip vanished.
As this was my first experience in a Spanish speaking country, my biggest fear was the language barrier. But after only being at their home for 20 minutes, these kids had already brought us to their soccer field, split us into teams, and started a game of “futbol.” While we were playing the game, two of the little girls ran up to me and pulled me to the side of field. One of them started braiding my hair, while the other took my phone and started taking selfies of all of us.
Throughout the week, whether on campus making meals, tending the garden, or simply hanging out with the kids (and chasing the wild goats!) or returning from the work site where we were helping rebuild the house of one of the caregivers, every time I saw those girls, they would hug me and hold my hand and ask me to hangout with them for as long as I could. Eventually, they made me a friendship bracelet so that we could be friends forever.
At the end of the week as we were about to leave, I had a conversation with one of our hosts about how NPH actually works. She told me that these kids have the opportunity to go to school from kindergarten through high school, receiving sacraments along the way. Once they graduate high school, they are able to make crafts and fundraise enough money to attend the university in Santo Domingo.
But, most importantly, she told me that none of what they do would be possible without the help of volunteers like us. I remember standing on the soccer field that first night at Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos, barefoot, wearing a bright pink maxi skirt, playing soccer with a basketball, realizing that God was working through us and these kids, giving us the grace to break through barriers and to realize our blessings. This trip confirmed my desire to participate in the World Race, and I am beyond excited to start this journey.
Please continue to keep me in your prayers and training camp starts in less than three weeks and thank you for your amazing support!!
p.s. I’m selling T-shirts now!! If you’re interested, check out my facebook page!
