Day 2 of our ministry in the Dominican Republic, 2 of my teammates were taken to visit a little girl named Yakaity who had been severely burned. She broke their hearts and mine as well as we helplessly watched her cry out in pain. Over the next 3 weeks we saw her transform as we helped provide her with medical care and visited her every day. On our last day of ministry, she was no longer a helpless victim in constant pain, but a smiling little girl full of spirit. Because my teammates responded and God provided us with a translator who was training to be a doctor we were able to show the love and compassion of Jesus to this little girl and her family.
On what was our last full day in the Dominican Republic, 6 of our 7 teams were spending time in the house we had been staying at. Suddenly, we realized the house across the street was on fire! Everyone quickly jumped into action. 4 children under the age of 5 were trapped inside, and one of the guys on our squad pulled them out. More of our squad members grabbed our 3 jugs of drinking water, which miraculously put out the flames. Myself and several others stayed with the children, who were shocked and frightened. Another group went to clean out the house once the smoke had cleared and still more of us were in the kitchen cooking food for the children. As they devoured the food, we watched them transform from terrified children to happy playing ones. Because my squad was there we were able to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and God provided in the midst of the chaos.
The entire month in the Dominican Republic was about me figuring out who I am in God. I had to burn away all the lies I have been told and believed all my life and allow God to speak truth into these broken places. It took some screaming in the field, but my squad mates have watched me transform from a quiet, timid girl to a woman unafraid to dance in the streets, sing loudly to iPod worship, and scream out God’s truths in to the mountains.
While January back home was marked by snow and ice, my month in the Dominican Republic was marked by fire. Fire is a transforming agent that purifies gold and changes whatever substance is put inside it into a new one.
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Holy fire burn away my desire for anything that is not of You and that is of me.
