As I stop to think about this, I am so surprised that I have only two more weeks here. Looking back, this summer seems both long and short. It feels like I've been here forever, but it seems like I just got here at the same time. (I know, that probably makes absolutely no sense whatsoever...)
I am praising God for what He's done in my heart and my life. He's watched over me and blessed me so much.
There were several memorable moments this week that I would like to share. I got to see and work with a girls basketball camp. I had never done sports ministry here before, so that was a cool opportunity. I was asked to help translate for one of the drilling stations. This was my first time ever being asked by a staff person to translate - granted, there were no other people available and not very many words were necessary, but I was quite excited for the opportunity anyways. :)
Also this week, we interns got to do a little tour of HdY at night. Kirsy, one of the young ladies who works at the church there showed us around. I love that girl. She has been a major encouragement to me. She is faithful to the Lord even when it's difficult. She is choosing to wait for God's timing for a boyfriend/husband when just about all of her peers seem to be doing just the opposite. She's always smiling, always filled with the joy of Jesus. We trade lessons - I teach her English; she teaches me Spanish. It's been great building a relationship with her.
Third memorable little story...the team out there this week was so generous. Anonymously, someone or several people gave each of the interns money. How cool is that? One of the girls on the team also gave me her watch. It may not sound like a big deal, but it was so touching to me. I commented at the beginning of the week that I really liked bold sports watches though I don't own one now. So this morning, she gives me hers along with an encouraging note about finishing strong while filled with Christ's joy. So sweet.
Another huge blessing: I work with an amazing group. Yesterday, when we interns were shoveling gravel, it hit me how blessed I am to work with people who work so hard. Because they are motivated, I am encouraged to be more motivated. We get so much done with great attitudes. They have been great to get to know. Also, the lady I am rooming with, Jen, is awesome. She is on staff with G.O. She works really hard, is super patient, and never complains. I can't thank God enough for giving me such great people to be with this summer.
I am posting my departure dates and times now because I am not sure I will have time to post later. This week I'm going to be out in HdY. Next week, I'm not sure, but I could end up in the Bateys. (I know Mom, you are excited, but don't get too excited yet, cause I really don't know what will happen.)When you are praying for my return flights, please pray specifically that I catch my flight in Chicago...I'm a little nervous about the 50 minute layover, but think all will be fine since it's in the same terminal and everything.
Sorry...no pics today. I don't have my computer.
Flight 1 - Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Status :confirmed
Departure :08:50 AM - Santiago, Dominican Republic - Santiago Municipal
Arrival :10:55 AM - Miami, USA - Miami International
Airline :American Airlines AA894
Fare type :Coach
Aircraft : Boeing 737-800
Baggage :2 piece(s) per traveler
Meal :FOOD FOR PURCHASE
Last check in:information not available
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>Change of plane required. Time between flights = 3:30<
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Flight 2 - Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Status :confirmed
Departure :02:25 PM - Miami, USA - Miami International
Arrival :04:35 PM - Chicago, USA - O'Hare International, terminal 3
Airline :American Airlines AA1399
Fare type :Coach
Aircraft : Boeing 757-200/300
Baggage :2 piece(s) per traveler
Meal :FOOD FOR PURCHASE
Last check in:information not available
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>Change of plane required. Time between flights = 0:50<
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Flight 3 - Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Status :confirmed
Departure :05:25 PM - Chicago, USA - O'Hare International, terminal 3
Arrival :07:35 PM - Louisville, USA - Louisville International
Airline :American Airlines AA5070
Fare type :Coach
Aircraft : Embraer RJ140 - Operated by CHAUTAUQUA AS AMERICAN CONNECTION
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Taking it all in...
I know...I haven't been a faithful blogger. I have had time randomly to write blog posts and then other random times to actually use the net to post them. However, there's just been so, so, so much to take in. It's hard for me to describe. Certainly difficult to put the days and weeks into a meager blog post.
The gist of my life right now: Everything's going great. I'm still enjoying it here. (though increasingly battling homesickness.) God's teaching me so much. I'm learning so much it's hard to process it all. I'm growing in my faith.
The details, or at least a few:
This past week, I worked with the team on both construction and their medical clinic. I learned so much at the medical clinic. I'm really not talking about how a farmacia is organized - though I can tell you that our farmacia was very well organized for a suitcase operation. I'm talking about what I learned about the culture - the Dominicans.
We started the day in prayer and a devotion with the crowd gathered outside the clinic. Throughout the day missionaries would stop what they were doing to pray for different medical cases. It was awesome to see Christ being glorified like that.
Something else I learned this week: Yesterday we went door to door evangelizing through prayer and inviting people to the church. (still in La Mosca) When talking to someone who would likely have children, we'd also mention that we'd be doing a VBS program for the kids in the afternoon. While the young Dominican was inviting one woman to bring her children to the VBS, I noticed that her entire demeanor changed. I said, do you have children? She said no. It is very supported here to have lots and lots of kids. It is considered almost shameful and definitely sad not to. The young Dominican evangelizing realized that this hurt her and quickly changed course. Later when meeting with another woman, he asked if she had kids before he told her about the VBS. She too had a complete change in demeanor - a change towards sadness. I found this intriguing, because, here they are, living as squatters on top of a landfill, their jobs consist mostly of sifting through the trash to find metal to sell, they barely earn enough to put food on the table for just themselves, they live in shacks, and yet, they want to have kids. I guess I still don't quite know what to think of that or how to process it. It was just an observation I wanted to share.
VBS was great. There was literally no room in the church to house everyone. It was wall to wall people. Outside, another 40 or so kids could be found. I think pretty much every one of them got to do a craft. It was chaos and absolute madness - at least once the craft started. They did listen pretty well to the Bible story drama. Another 150+ children touched by Jesus through a team.
Below are a few pics I stole from the photographer intern...being the techno goof that I am, I accidentally deleted my entire week's photos. I know. good one.
Picture 1: Entienne (Haitian worker with GO - awesome guy, always happy) working with Jacqueline (team member) as an interpreter. They are writing this woman's name and age on the paper bag that she will bring to the doctor to get her prescriptions written on, then filled.
Picture 2: Devo and prayer session with the crowd gathered outside the clinic.
Picture 3: Picture of the river and landfill - yes, the entire "mountain" in the background is all trash...it goes on and on way out of the picture's view.
Picture 4: I just loved this photo because this little girl was so adorable. She was in line at the clinic.
The gist of my life right now: Everything's going great. I'm still enjoying it here. (though increasingly battling homesickness.) God's teaching me so much. I'm learning so much it's hard to process it all. I'm growing in my faith.
The details, or at least a few:
This past week, I worked with the team on both construction and their medical clinic. I learned so much at the medical clinic. I'm really not talking about how a farmacia is organized - though I can tell you that our farmacia was very well organized for a suitcase operation. I'm talking about what I learned about the culture - the Dominicans.
We started the day in prayer and a devotion with the crowd gathered outside the clinic. Throughout the day missionaries would stop what they were doing to pray for different medical cases. It was awesome to see Christ being glorified like that.
As soon as the people began filing in, I just felt this overwhelming sense that this was exactly why we are here. We are here to be the hands and feet of Jesus – to take care of the sick and hurting. I thought of the story found in one of the gospels (John 5: 17 and surrounding verses) of the paralytic man who always wanted to get into the pool at Bethesda, was it? It was said that whenever the waters were stirred, the first person to get in would be miraculously healed. He never could get in first because he had no one to help him, but with one statement, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk", Jesus healed him. God reminded me of this parable because we were there to provide the medical assistance they cannot afford or even attain. God does the healing.
Something else I learned this week: Yesterday we went door to door evangelizing through prayer and inviting people to the church. (still in La Mosca) When talking to someone who would likely have children, we'd also mention that we'd be doing a VBS program for the kids in the afternoon. While the young Dominican was inviting one woman to bring her children to the VBS, I noticed that her entire demeanor changed. I said, do you have children? She said no. It is very supported here to have lots and lots of kids. It is considered almost shameful and definitely sad not to. The young Dominican evangelizing realized that this hurt her and quickly changed course. Later when meeting with another woman, he asked if she had kids before he told her about the VBS. She too had a complete change in demeanor - a change towards sadness. I found this intriguing, because, here they are, living as squatters on top of a landfill, their jobs consist mostly of sifting through the trash to find metal to sell, they barely earn enough to put food on the table for just themselves, they live in shacks, and yet, they want to have kids. I guess I still don't quite know what to think of that or how to process it. It was just an observation I wanted to share.
VBS was great. There was literally no room in the church to house everyone. It was wall to wall people. Outside, another 40 or so kids could be found. I think pretty much every one of them got to do a craft. It was chaos and absolute madness - at least once the craft started. They did listen pretty well to the Bible story drama. Another 150+ children touched by Jesus through a team.
Below are a few pics I stole from the photographer intern...being the techno goof that I am, I accidentally deleted my entire week's photos. I know. good one.
Picture 1: Entienne (Haitian worker with GO - awesome guy, always happy) working with Jacqueline (team member) as an interpreter. They are writing this woman's name and age on the paper bag that she will bring to the doctor to get her prescriptions written on, then filled.
Picture 2: Devo and prayer session with the crowd gathered outside the clinic.
Picture 3: Picture of the river and landfill - yes, the entire "mountain" in the background is all trash...it goes on and on way out of the picture's view.
Picture 4: I just loved this photo because this little girl was so adorable. She was in line at the clinic.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)