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.