Once again, I find myself relocated to a new home. On June 7th, I arrived in the Dominican Republic with 38 lbs of belongings, a team of 18 girls (including myself and my co-leader), and an incredible excitement for the coming month.
In our first week here, I have hiked through the steep mountainside, showered in a waterfall, spoken my broken Spanish with the Dominicans, and eaten rice and beans multiple times a day. My legs are covered with bug bites and my body with sweat, but my heart is full of joy and love for my team and the people here.
My team and I have spent this past week completing work projects for HOPE 4 the DR, the organization we are partnering with. HOPE is working to bring the light and love of Jesus to the DR through church planting and caring for hurting children and their families.
HOPE is in an amazing stage of growth in their ministry, and we as a team have been able to bless them by working on their property to prepare it to further bring the Kingdom of God to the Dominican.
For us, this has meant long days of painting, raking, cleaning, mixing cement, and clearing land on the side of the mountain on which the ministry is located. We have been drenched in sweat as we work under the hot Dominican sun. We are exhausted, sunburnt, and have bites from bugs we’ve never seen before. But each night, we go to bed with peace knowing that God is at work in this place.
The need here for God’s love and provision is great. As we have gone on prayer walks in the community and reached out to a few households, we have seen many people living without hope. Depression, drugs, alcohol, and suicide is as real a problem here as in the States.
Yesterday I visited the family of a young girl who recently attempted suicide, and it was a very tangible reminder of why I am here. It revealed to me once again what I have that many of the people here don’t have. It isn’t money. Or education. Or success. It is simply HOPE. A Hope found in Jesus Christ that gives my life purpose. A Hope in God and His provision that brings me joy and peace. HOPE.
