These are my Confessions Reflections (10/01/12)
The DR! I am mourning it in so many ways. I could not have picked a better place to begin this journey. There are so many things that I will miss and will treasure for the rest of my days. Here are some to name a few:
The town– Padre Las Casas, the little pueblo town tucked away in the mountains. It is such a small place that after walking around the town a couple of days you start to recognize faces. In turn they also began to recognize the Americanas as well. In town, I will miss the park and its giant marble gazebo, the walk to church, Juan Carlos’s famous empanada stand and the giant mountains that looked as if they went on for miles and miles.
The language – The primary language spoken in the Dominican Republic is Spanish, but it is a form of Spanish all its own. I was able to communicate somewhat with my rusty, Argentinean accent, which the kids found comedic and amusing. I often found it frustrating because I couldn’t remember certain words or phrases but those who I spoke with were so kind and gave me so much grace. The Spanish language itself is so beautiful and my hope is to continue learning the language.
The kids – I have never considered myself good with kids, but I have to say that the DR sparked something new. While working with Compassion International we worked with kids the majority of the day. I really enjoyed their excitement and their zeal for life, which often gave me the energy to teach class. During our last days in the DR the kids pleaded with us and did not want us to leave. It was very touching. I have nothing but hope for these children and know that each one of them is going to do great things for the Lord.
The mountains– Who knew the DR had mountains. I honestly thought it was a flat island with a ton of sandy beaches. Wow, was I surprised and blown away. They were so beautiful. We had the pleasure of visiting a small town further north, where we were able to climb several mountains. One particular morning a few of us woke up early, climbed the closest mountain and watched a breathtaking sunrise. It was such a lovely morning in which the Lord’s presence was so tangible.
The church– The Church we worked with was called La Fuente de Paz, which in English translates to fountain of peace. I absolutely loved this place. Even though at times I had no idea what they were saying I could just feel the presence of the Lord. The worship was so wonderful. The band with its eclectic instruments, the congregation clapping wildly, and the constant cry of Santo Santo Santo (holy, holy, holy) or Gloria a Dios (Glory to God) made it such an inviting place to press into the Lord and see the Spirit move.
The people- The Dominican people were so fantastic. They will always greet you with “buen dia” and a smile. They are all so colorful and hospitable. For a country that has nothing, they are so fast to give you whatever they have. We had people constantly inviting us into their homes to feed us and to spend time with us. I will miss the people of the DR but will forever remember the impression they left on me.
Mayi– Words cannot describe how much I love this woman. She was so much more than our translator but the seventh member of our team. During our first month we were learning to grow as a group and she was a vital part of the process. It was so sad having to leave her in San Juan but I am excited to see how the Lord will use her for his glory.
Meco– I am so thankful for this man. He was not only our pastor but a true example of someone who walks by faith, giving complete control to the Lord. He is such a passionate pastor, always preaching with such enthusiasm. I believe the reason why he is so blessed is because he is such a blessing to others. Whenever we had the slightest problem or needed anything, Meco was there to help us. He drove our team to San Juan, where we were meeting with our other squad mates. It was so difficult saying the inevitable good-bye. With tears in his eyes he said that he was so proud of us and if we do not meet again in this life we will meet in Heaven one day. At that point I think we were all in tears.
At that moment I realized we will have to do this ten more times. We will have to say goodbye to our contacts, rich cultures and the specific people that touch us along the way. I am extremely thankful for our month in the Dominican Republic and hope to revisit in the future.
