they will know us by our love...

I want to tell you a little about how the majority of people live here in the DR.  Most people who come to this beautiful island in the Caribbean do not get even a glimpse of what life is like for the majority of people here.  The area we had the opportunity to see this past weekend, most missionaries living here for 18 years haven't even seen and the middle and upper classes in society fear. We went to La Zurza, which is one of the poorest areas in Santo Domingo.  It is a community by the river on a hill, with houses almost on top of each other, and others literally hanging off the slopes so that if one storm were to come by people living in them would fall down the hill, losing their homes and most likely their lives.  This place reminded me of Africa; the poverty, the smell with trash everywhere, the market place where everyone talks about "Las Americanas", and the wonderful smiles of the children who have hope in their heavenly Father.

Henry and Yolonda, a couple who were our contacts in the area, head up the children's program.  They were absolutely wonderful! Henry radiates love.  Love for God, love for his wife, love for the children, and even love for their dog!  This man was so full of love and it was so obvious it was humbling to me. Yolonda also has such a huge heart for the children, and is such a support for her husband.

Henry and Yolanda with their kids

We were able to meet these kids and youth group.  They sang some songs for  us, we heard some of their testimonies (which were heart breaking), Alyssa and I shared about ourselves and sang with them too.  After all that we gave them some sandwiches and brownies, and they gave us a tour of the area.  The further down the hill we went the more impoverished it seemed to be.  By the time we got to the bottom or the hill by the river we were seeing people who have rarely seen white people (like I mentioned before most missionaries don't even go to the bottom of this community, much less anyone else who lives in or visits the country).

As I walked around this community, the more I saw the more my heart broke.  It broke for the people who live in these circumstances, it broke for the violence and the lost among this community, and it broke for the better off people who have no idea they live like this. It would be easy to look at a community like this and think that there is no hope and they are too far gone, but when I see this children's ministry I am reminded that God can do anything, including changing lost lives, poor lives, and hopeless lives.  I am also reminded of how much people can be impacted by love from just one couple who have a relationship with God.

I'm sure this river used to be pretty! Yes, that's all trash.

So if ever you think of it please pray for this couple, the children, the ministry in general, that the community would open up, and for all of their safety, especially the safety for the women and children.

give.live.love.

no growth in a comfort zone and no comfort in a growth zone

Well, I can definitely say I'm in a growth zone! I am having an incredible time, but am out of my comfort zone for most of the time! I just want to update you a little bit on my last week or so...

first ikea trip ever! we ate breakfast there overlooking the city :)

 school: so far so good, thankfully! I could get used to doing my schooling this way...it is really great! It is more flexible and originally I thought that was going to be a hindrance, but praise God it is working so nice! I seem to be more efficient this way.  Before leaving, this was one of my worries, so thanks for your prayers and pray it continues! 

life as i know it in the DR: sometimes I feel like I'm in Atlanta and other times i feel like I'm in Africa! the electricity goes out at least once a day (along with the internet), we didn't have water for 6 days and our reserve water almost ran out completely, my computer power chord died so my computer was dead for 2 days until we were able to buy another one (praise God we were able to find one down here, though!), constant activity and noise almost everywhere we go, meeting many great people, attempting to use my broken Spanish!...etc. Life has been very busy to say the least! Between school, church and ministries with that, meeting people, running errands (which takes probably at least 3 times as long here than in the States), and a little bit of sight seeing, we have been going almost non-stop!  It has been great, but pray we stay healthy and don't get too overdone!

It is kind of hard to put in words what exactly i am experiencing (though it is great)!  It is different from any other i have had in my life.  I've been overseas several times, but this has a much different feel.  It's different from short term missions, because those have a daily schedule (for the most part) and a goal for the entire trip. I don't have a specific "role" on a team, we aren't building something (necessarily), etc.

Living here for the semester still has a goal, but it is much broader; it is to experience the culture of the DR, help out with ministries at church, and get a little taste of what it will be like to live life in another culture...oh and school is thrown somewhere in there!  Some days we don't go out much and focus on school (what some may call a day at the office), other days we're out all day and feel we've gotten nothing accomplished (but get to experience Santo Domingo and its people at its fullest :)), while others are spent cooking with our maid (who's Dominican) and trying to catch a word or two of what she's saying!

fiesta after cell group, yum! (us with the pastor's wife)

I guess the main reasons I've been out of my comfort zone is because I don't speak Spanish very well, and also we have been asked to talk/give our testimony in front of churches which is always hard for me! I've always known this, but I'm definitely experiencing this to its fullest, that being flexible is the key! 

give.live.love.