Thanks to the wonder of modern technology, I’m able to type this on the bus on the way to the orphanage for our FIRST DAY of VBS. We’re all really excited about getting back to the boys and girls we met for the first time yesterday. Our intro to the reality of life in Dominican Republic has been pretty gradual. We went from our hotel, full of foreigners, to the city of Puerto Plata where we saw the life of the “rich.” (and got to eat a rich person’s meal that cost the equivalent of $3 american). From there we drove through a neighborhood of tightly packed houses – many of them unfinished, and almost all of them tiny. This is the kind of neighborhood that most Dominicans live in. To us, it’s the slums. We drove up to the orphanage with 8 year old boys racing the bus, all smiles, so excited to meet us. And then we arrived at what was, without a doubt, the highlight of everyone’s trip - Casa de Tesoros de Dios. Yesterday we were only there to meet some of the neighborhood kids and the orphans that live there, so it should have been a short stay. A lot of us can’t speak Spanish, and therefore can’t really understand what these precious children are yelling at us with so much excitement, but to a most of these students and leaders it just doesn’t matter. These kids can’t get enough love, it doesn’t take any word to bang on an overturned bowl or turn your arm into a snake in the sand. The time flew by and we had to leave too soon (but seriously, it was like 2:00 and we hadn’t eaten since breakfast).
To many of us it already feels like we’ve been here for a week at least, but in a good way. Its hard to believe that we get to spend 5 more whole days here. The Lord is really taking care of us. I mean, I’m not even getting carsick right now and I’m typing in the back of a bus on third world roads. We’ve already fallen in love with Harry, the missionary from Uganda by way of Canada. His life and words have reminded us how real the gospel is, and his faith in God’s perfect plan has convicted most of us of how little we depend on Him (which, by the way, if you don’t want to be convicted of things, don’t go on a mission trip). One teenager has already asked if she can marry this man. I told her not until she’s 18.
Thank you so much for all of your prayers – we couldn’t be here without them. Pray for our hearts to continue to be change by the gospel, pray for these students as we talk about God’s creation in VBS today. Pray for continued safety, and that our bodies will continue to adjust well to the food we’re eating and the ridiculous heat and humidity we’re working in. And yes, we’re keeping sunscreen and bugspray on our skin and LOTS of water in our bodies. Oh, and we’re laughing a lot thanks to James and Kate, and isn’t that supposed to be good medicine or something? Sorry this got so long, there’s so much more to tell, but that will have to wait. Dios es muy bueno. Todo la Gloria de Jesus Christo.
To many of us it already feels like we’ve been here for a week at least, but in a good way. Its hard to believe that we get to spend 5 more whole days here. The Lord is really taking care of us. I mean, I’m not even getting carsick right now and I’m typing in the back of a bus on third world roads. We’ve already fallen in love with Harry, the missionary from Uganda by way of Canada. His life and words have reminded us how real the gospel is, and his faith in God’s perfect plan has convicted most of us of how little we depend on Him (which, by the way, if you don’t want to be convicted of things, don’t go on a mission trip). One teenager has already asked if she can marry this man. I told her not until she’s 18.
Thank you so much for all of your prayers – we couldn’t be here without them. Pray for our hearts to continue to be change by the gospel, pray for these students as we talk about God’s creation in VBS today. Pray for continued safety, and that our bodies will continue to adjust well to the food we’re eating and the ridiculous heat and humidity we’re working in. And yes, we’re keeping sunscreen and bugspray on our skin and LOTS of water in our bodies. Oh, and we’re laughing a lot thanks to James and Kate, and isn’t that supposed to be good medicine or something? Sorry this got so long, there’s so much more to tell, but that will have to wait. Dios es muy bueno. Todo la Gloria de Jesus Christo.
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