Construction: not just building walls, but building relationships

There have been a few teams that have cancelled/postponed their trip to the D.R. so that means we get to do various projects during the weeks before groups start coming. This week we had the pleasure of helping out with construction on the Central Church. This building is going to be amazing for the ministry once it is completed. I have helped carry block, chisel floors, sand walls, mix concrete, carry buckets of concrete, etc. At this one particular construction site there has to be atleast 70 people there working on this building. It's incredible to see Dominicans, Haitians, and Americans all coming together to serve one another and get this building built! It's been a blessing and a privilege to help out.

Here is a picture of some of the people who are helping with construction. Also while helping we became friends with some women from Haiti that will be attending this church when it is finished. (they currently meet in another building) They are sooo curious about the English language, American culture, and just wanting to get to know us. They have been a joy.

What transpired on Thursday afternoon at the construction site is exactly why I love G.O. Ministries. We began doing construction together as a group of women...we left that day as friends. We put down our tasks and built relationships with one another. This life is about building relationships, sharing Christ with those who don't believe, encouraging those that do, and fostering a relationship that will challenge, transform, and sharpen one another. This is exactly what G.O. Ministries does! Yes, they have tasks, goals, and a clear vision but within that is all about building relationships and changing lives through Jesus Christ. Changed hearts is what will last for eternity!

Pictures

Haitian community in Santiago.

"the Hole" - Community that is essentially a dump. G.O. Ministries has a prescence in this community and there is now a church and feeding center built here. This community needs a lot of prayer! Pray for Pastor Felix who is leading the charge to change lives and hearts through sharing Jesus with the people in the hole as well as meeting their basic needs.

Precious girl who lives in "the hole"

she arrived - LOTS of questions

yay! my lost suitcase has been found and delivered. (this is WAY quicker then I expected!) AND what that means is I have shampoo and conditioner and bug spray!!! yay!!!! ;)

I actually was doing pretty great without it, so the Lord was very gracious in allowing me to have just what I needed. He's pretty good at that! :)

Today was kind of a random day...had some time to go for a walk in the city park this morning...it was AWESOME! I can see this spot being an oasis of sorts for me! I am very much looking forward to going and exercising and also going to just have some down time. I was pleasantly surprised to see this in the middle of the city. Thank you Lord for sweet blessings like that! After that, we went on a lil tour...saw the future main building for ministry in Santiago. It's currently under construction but boy is it gonna be an amazing building once it is done! They will be able to do ministry more effectively with what they are building.

Had lunch, Dominican style...rice and beans!!!!! To be honest, they are actually really good. I'm sure after 90 days of eating them I may think differently but it is a nice change of pace from the normal junk i put in my body! Then had a siesta...which I spent in the Word and journaling. Very refreshing! AND THEN, we went to the mall to get cell phones. I actually wasn't going to get one, but I think they will help me to be more effective here...all the staff have them and it just made sense to get one. PLUS it was super super cheap...like $11 cheap!

The bad part of the day was that...going to the mall. No matter the country, I am still SHOCKED when I see things like the mall we went to that is in the middle of a city where people are starving...can't find work...prostitution and drugs run rampant...people, this was a mall like we have in the states. The food court included KFC, Pizza Hut, Baskin Robbins, Burger King, etc. The stores in the mall were Ralph Lauren, Beneton, Serta Mattress store, high end jewelry stores, Addidas, etc. This just makes me angry. No joke...like a block away is housing where you wouldn't want a relative to live there...it just doesn't make sense.

I feel like my anger is looked down upon...that it is what it is and we can't change it. I can't stop there.....when I see children starving, jobless people trying to just get through the day, beggars, etc. it just doesn't seem right that malls like that exist in the same part of town. Does this bother anyone else. I know that we have poor people in the states, but seriously....they are rich compared to the poor here. Why is this happening? Why does it touch my heart this way? Should I be bothered by it? How can it change? Is this really ok? Acceptable?

I dunno...I guess I just don't understand it. I read verses about the poor in the Bible. They are truly blessed. (I have seen it with my own eyes when I visited the DR the past 2 short term trips) But i just don't understand why people are still living this way in the world. Will it always be like this? Will it get worse?

Sorry...just processing through it all and I have no answers. I just know that no matter how much I see it and know that it's happening all over the world, it makes me upset/angry/frustrated.

sorry that this post isn't more uplifting...just in a processing kind of mood.

I'm HERE!!!!

Well after an eventful two days, I have finally made it to the DR! Day one of traveling started off GREAT...got to the airport in the burgh in plenty of time...got to Chic-a-go with plenty of time...THEN enter plane trouble...My flight leaving Chic-a-go to Miami was delayed by over 2 hours....I ran to try to make my flight to Santiago...i could seeeee the plane, but the gate was closed and all i got was a heading shaking NO when I asked if I had made it. SOOOOOO...First can I say that this is like my BIGGEST fear...being in an unfamiliar city, all alone, and stuck without housing, food, clothes, etc. HOWEVER, what I have learned from this experience is this: the Lord is gracious...kind...the KING of all providers...and He can get you through just about anything and everything. I have also learned that missing a flight really isn't THAT big of a deal. After I got my flight rebooked for the next day I headed to my free hotel stay, with free transportation, then with free food vouchures which I promptly used for room service (hehehehehe...never had that before!), then a HOTT shower, watched Biggest Loser one last time, and then an early bed time on a king size bed.

Ummmmm....I am not complaining! :)

However, the desire to just get to the DR was still in my heart, so at first I was frustrated and nervous but quickly was ok with it all. (especially when my room service arrived) :) So I ended up getting to the DR a day later than I originally hoped, and without my big suitcase, but all in all I am sooooooo super stoked to FINALLY be here!!!!!

The first few weeks will be more relaxed than normal...there are no groups scheduled (they had some cancel). BUT what this means is that I will get more of a feel for the day to day things about living in the DR. It will be nice to get glimpses of that and get acclamated to my surroundings before the craziness starts.

Thanks for all your prayers and encouragement. I know that I have been saying that A LOT but I really mean it. Without you I wouldn't have the blessing of the next 3 months to fall more in love with my Savior by serving and loving Him and the people in the DR.

So until next time...know that you are in my thoughts and prayers daily.

Packing

If ONLY I could use this many suitcases....I have spent the majority of the day packing and unpacking for my trip. I'm EXHAUSTED! I'm usually a pretty good packer, but I have NO IDEA what it is I will need for 3 months overseas......

HELP ME!

I can't quite grasp what I will need. Plus I have a ton of stuff to take to give away! I imagine what will happen is I will get to the airport and my large bag will be over the weight limit....then what???? ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I am praying that someone there will really need stickers, sidewalk chalk, deoderant, or some other large item that is at the top of my bag. *sigh*

I still can't believe that I am leaving in 2 days. I'm excited for this journey to continue...it's going to be an amazing experience that I pray leaves an indelible mark on my life and heart! Thank you Lord for giving me the privilege and blessing of going!!

(pray that my suitcase mysteriously shrinks overnight...k?!?!?!?!?!) :)

welp, it's about THAT time....

whoa.....I leave in 6 days! I can't believe it!!! It seems like this journey has been this unreachable desire and now it's finally here! This season of my life has stretched me in so many ways. My faith, trust, patience, flexibility, willingness to go, willingness to surrender...that's a lot of stretching and growing for me! It has been quite a journey, but I have seen the Lord's hand in it every single step of the way. Even in the midst of my questioning & hesitation He has provided truth to allow me to step out in faith and trust that He lead me on this journey if it's what He desires...well, folks, He is leading indeed!!!

Thank you for all your prayers and encouragement...wouldn't have been able to take this step of faith without you all!

I am very excited to see my Dominican family again...to see the Lord show up in HUGE ways in people's lives and hearts...to see Him change me in whatever ways He desires...to eat beans and rice (ok well not really, but the spaghetti is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G there!)...to serve in whatever way He calls me to serve...to be overwhelmed by not knowing the language...to fall more in love with my Savior!

Great Reward

Jesus, You're my Great Reward
You are my portion, Lord
and while in heaven you plead for me
draw my every thought to Thee

I love you Lord
Jesus my King
I want to love You more
my Great Reward

I have this treasure in a jar of clay
All Your glory on display
I'm a sinnner who was saved by grace
You have made me a dwelling place

You are all I'm living for
I'm moving toward the prize
One thing I ask
And this I seek
to gaze into Your eyes

-Shane & Shane

Surprise Party

hahahahahahahahahahaha....sooooooo I decided I would host a game night for some friends (we have game nights every now and again) so I could make sure to see them before I leave. So I had fun getting lots of food ready and gearing up to be a hopefully pleasant hostess (which let's be honest, I love hosting things for people) and to my surprise my friends had a lil somethin' somethin' up their sleeves. One minute there is a few of us gabbing, then next minute a super awesome song (Hands & Feet) began on my stereo with people coming through my door with balloons and a cake and whoa...i was really surprised. I had NO IDEA!!!! THEN there was laughter, more balloon action, smiles, camera flashes, then the suitcase full of awesome things to take to give away to people in the DR, and then prayer....

I was slightly overwhelmed and definitely caught off guard.

Once I realized what had just happened I was overwhelmed with emotion. I know it may seem silly but I have cried several times since when thinking about how caring it was for them to do that...that they thought enough to buy things for me to take, a suitcase to take the goodies in, and then prayed for me before leaving. I am truly truly blessed to have an amazing group of friends here in wv.

Suitcase full of sidewalk chalk, bilingual children's books, beads, clothes, etc etc.

I am incredibly thankful for the amazing friends and family that the Lord has given me. It's a joy, blessing, and privilege to know the people that I know. And here are some of my favorite gals who I will miss dearly while I am away.

Know that I will be praying for you daily, thinking of you often, and will be eagerly anticipating seeing you when I return. Love you and pray that the Lord works mightily in your lives and that you continue to seek Him in all things in every circumstance and trust Him completely. I look forward to hearing all of your many fun stories I will miss, hearing how He has met needs above and beyond what you expect, and I look forward to seeing each of your journeys the Lord has you on continue to move in exciting ways...

Love you!!!!!!