That heart racing, mind blowing, fearless kind of feeling has captivated me.
This is day 1 of the World Race. I’m in Lajas, Dominican Republic taking a 5 hour bus ride into the mountains where we will be staying with our first ministry hosts, Hope4theDR.
I’m excited and nervous. All I want is for God to use me. I’m already blown away by the difference in culture. It is one of the most beautiful and thrilling things I have ever experienced.
It’s the middle of the night and we can finally place our feet on solid ground. I look to my left and in the distance I can see a very pregnant goat, tied to a tree, full on staring at me.
“Where am I?”
We end up taking our 50 pound backpacks down a long flight of uneven cement stairs. We open the door to find rows and rows of bunkbeds. God truly blessed us this month. Hallelujah!
After I found my way to my new bed, I started to unpack my travel size pillow and mosquito net. Just as I began to lay my head down I look up and see a huge visitor chilling in the corner.
This spider was the size of my thumb, as I pierce closer I noticed that it was harvesting two huge sacs of spider eggs. I took one look at it and decided to just face the other way. I was way to tired to do anything about it. I fell asleep under a real life Charlottes Web.
The next morning we began a prayer walk through the town. Every few feet there are bright colored houses. They flow with the pattern of the mountains, assuming a non disturbing presence, almost like they have always been intertwined within the mountain.
Between every three houses or so lay little in and out shops selling the most random of things. With the very little Spanish that I have picked up, I say “Me gustaría comprar 3 tarjetas de wifi por favor” meaning, I would like to buy 3 wifi cards please.
Every person I pass sends out a friendly and very drawn out HOLA!
It’s a simple and sweet life here and I am enjoying every second of it. Even the beans and rice we eat for every lunch.
Where we are staying is absolutely gorgeous. I can feel the presence and peace of God here. He’s working in this mountain and in its community. I can see it in the eyes of its people.
Spiritually this past week has been hard. My heart has been aching for home. Even though I love it here and my squad, it has been very challenging being away from familiar faces, friends, and family. Thursday night I was able to talk to some of my people from back at home. I thought it would help me, but instead it broke my heart. I ended our conversations in bitterness and tears. Of course it is ok to miss comfort and people, that is a natural feeling, but the pull from home should not be so intense that I am unable to be present in the here and now.
Thankfully my team surrounded me and suggested that I get real with God and pray over every single one of the people that came to my mind. It was one of the hardest things, but they supported me and allowed me to pray vulnerably over my soul ties that I had created. It happened in an instant. I felt free from the pain of heart ache. Just because I asked God, in my most sincerest way, to heal that part of my heart, He did.
How you can pray for me this week:
We are put in charge of planning a children’s vacation bible school (which I will tell you more about later) just pray everything goes smoothly and that the children are receptive.
Also,
Pray peace over me.
Physically, spiritually, and financially
Fundraising!:
I still need $2,900 for my next deadline
Please be praying about that!
Love you guys.
Thank you ??
