Over the past two weeks, my squad and I have been helping H.O.P.E for the DR with their ministry in Lajas de Yaroa. H.O.P.E. (Helping Others Pursue Eternity) plants churches throughout the DR, provides meals and supplemental education to children within their children’s centers, and holds events and camps for children in Lajas. While at H.O.P.E. Mountain my squad and I have helped take care of the ministry site through manual labor and administration, gone on prayer walks and door-to-door house visits throughout the Lajas community, created skits and games for kids’ ministry, and helped at the children’s centers. However, some of my favorite moments in the Dominican Republic have happened outside of ministry.
One particular instance took place this past Tuesday when my squad and I were in Santiago for “adventure day”. After visiting some monuments and a museum, we headed to a restaurant to eat. Because of the size of our group, we ate outside along the street. Before long my squad was playing with kids who live in the neighborhood. We played games with them, raced them, and tried to have conversations with our broken Spanish. It was so cool to see how a few hours playing games with the kids could bring so much joy to them and to us as a squad.
At other times, some of my squadmates and I have gone to a basketball court in Lajas five minutes from where we are staying during our free time. We play basketball and volleyball, jump rope, and just hang out with all the neighborhood kids. It has been so fun to interact and get to know the kids while doing things I love.
Dakota and I trying to move the stump of a banana tree that was knocked down during the hurricane.
My team in between house visits in Lajas.
Me and a couple of kids from Santiago playing the timeless “Piedra, Papel, Tijeras!”
Some of the kids from Lajas that I have had the privilege of playing basketball with.
