Experience & Growth !!

The following is a compilation of excerpts from my journal over the time that I have been living in the Dominican Republic. I have chosen sections that reflect my experience and growth while here.  The experience has been invaluable to me and this is just a glimpse of what I have experienced and what God has taught me through this time.

Dominicans are so generous; I told this little fifteen year old girl that I liked her earrings and she took them out and gave them to me and I told this lady at church that I liked her eye make-up and she walked me across the street to her house and gave me one of her eyeliners. It amazes me how they can have so little, but can be content and willing to give. The people here are so sweet and caring and always share everything that they have even if it is just a little bit.

During my time in the Dominican I have been challenged to serve: whatever God wanted, whomever He prepared for me to reach, whenever He asked, and wherever He sent me.

God is working in ways I don’t understand right now in my life. God is so much bigger than my little world. He is calling me to step outside myself and trust in His power and goodness.

 

I love hearing God being worshiped in another language. It totally makes you realize how big God is. He understands and loves us all.

 

 

 

Captivating Book !!

I have been taught to find something that you can’t NOT do and do it as your career. Well, I truly cannot imagine NOT working with the people I have come to know and love in the Dominican Republic. I have had the opportunity to work with kids through VBS, teens through sports camps and youth studies, adults through revivals, engineers through installing solar panels, and all ages through teaching English classes. One of the passions I have felt stirring in me is the passion to work with the teenage girls and young adult women. There is such a need for these women to find their self worth in Christ. I was asked if I could teach cooking or sewing classes and those of you who know me are already laughing because you know that is not my area of giftedness! I am way more comfortable with a basketball or shovel in my hand. So originally, although I knew it was a need, I was afraid that I couldn’t really do a women’s ministry here. But, the Lord has laid it on my heart to teach the teenage girls sexual purity classes so they can realize that their beauty comes from Christ and they can be pure for their future husbands. I want to teach the young adult women that they have self worth and can use their talents and abilities for the kingdom in the home as mothers or wives or in the workplaces. I’m not the one to teach cooking and sewing, but I do believe God can use me to help them see their inner beauty.

Work Projects !!

I have gotten to experience several work projects throughout my time in the Dominican. We have worked on building houses, pouring concrete, running pipes, and stacking cinder block. We have also spent time in several of the area churches painting and doing miscellaneous repair jobs for the buildings.

We had a team of engineering students from Lipscomb University come and install solar panels and lights and analyze the septic system at Camp Canaan. It was great to see so much accomplished at the camp in such a short time. As we were there, I began to realize the significance of the work that we did at the camp. It will not only allow more people to use the Christian camp and experience God’s kingdom on earth, but it will also increase the income for the local churches. The offerings at the churches just aren’t enough to pay the preachers, so renting out the camp to various groups brings income that helps in so many ways for Christ’s church to have a presence in the Dominican.