Falling in Love with the DR

If I told you that this morning I colored and talked to God next to a waterfall would you believe me? Most people would not! But I did! We got to the Dominican Republic Monday around 5 p.m. after a long crazy journey. We had to get up at 2 in the morning after only going to sleep around 12 or 1. We got through security and checked in with one person throwing up and one needing a wheelchair, because she felt to weak to walk that far. To say the enemy was against us would be an understatement. However, that did not stop our desire and drive to make it to the DR.

The Dominican Republic is absolutely beautiful! We are so incredibly blessed to be staying on the mountain side. The drive up the mountain was very long and bumpy! Seeing all the houses and people on our way up was a real reality check for me. I knew that things would be different here. To what extent, I didn’t know. It has made me realize all that America has to offer. I started to get worried about what challenges I would face, the people I would meet, or how I could even start to bring them to Christ. The Lord is amazing and works in the absolute best ways. The people here are so cool! To hear them speak in Spanish non stop and to work from sun up to sun down (and even sometimes past that)! The Dominguez family is one of the greatest families I have ever met! They are even from Virginia, which is where I live right now! Their kids are so sweet and generous! It is so cool to see how they have learned the Dominican ways and how they are willing to serve others and the Lord.

We started our ministry officially on Tuesday. The first week of ministry has been working around the compound (where the Dominguezs live). We split into groups and had a different tasks to complete. One group had to clean out a closet in the house and separate sheets, towels, and comforters. The second group had to clean out a shed of trash and other objects. The third group had to clean trash from the hill and get it all into the big trash hole. That’s another thing that I did not expect, for there to be a huge hole full of trash that they light on fire every so often. The last two girls got to homeschool Soli and Star their school lesson for the day.

Right now as I sit here writing this blog, on a mountain side with an amazing view; with a waterfall close by where I can take showers and swim in! I cannot thank God enough for all the amazing things he has done in my life. I cannot even begin to grasp his amazing works and all that he has done for us. Most of all I am so thankful. Thankful that my parents are beyond amazing and can provide for me and our family. Also I am thankful that God has brought me to this amazing place that I am falling more and more in love with. I believe he is going to change my life in so many ways and we just got here Monday! Man I am blessed and very thankful!