I
guess I should start at the beginning when Phyllis first asked me to go
on this trip. Several months ago (before she left for the DR) she asked
if I wanted to go on this trip. She told me that I should really
consider going on a mission trip. "It will grow your faith," she said.
This was before the DR trip and while they were still going to
Honduras. I can tell you that I never, not once, had a desire to go. I
thought, "this is just not what God is calling me to do." Then, Phyllis
called and said their church was going to the Dominican and instantly I
thought, "Oh crap, I am going on this trip!" It was the first time
that she asked where I actually felt like I was going like it or not.
This trip God called me to go on. I can't lie, I was going kicking and
screaming. It didn't help that when I told Brent, my husband, he said, "Get
your life insurance in order. People go there and DIE!!!" For those of
you who know Brent he is Mr. Cool Calm and Collected. So this response
threw me for a loop. I kept thinking, "Okay, God, I know you want me to go,
this is all YOU!! You take care of it. I did NOTHING for several
months. When I say nothing I mean I didn't even get my passport. I did
attempt to get it in May, but when I got the list of things I had to do
to get it, I just put it off. This is what I do best. Put things off!!!
Drives Brent CRAZY!!! Anyway, with about two weeks before the trip, I
finally applied for my passport. I had it expedited, but still the odds
of it making it before I was supposed to leave was slim to none. Well
that is if is was up to me, not God. I told God the very day I applied,
when my anxiety about possibly having to tell Phyllis I am a total
slacker and I didn't get my junk together in time was at it's peak,
that if He wanted me to go that it would all work out. And work out it
did! My passport arrived 7 days later at 8:30 in the morning! It was
official, I was going to the Dominican.
The
hardest part about leaving, was leaving Brent and the kids. I had never
spent that much time away from all three of them. I have always
considered myself a pretty humble person. Maybe thinking I am humble is
the complete opposite of actually being humble! Haha! Nothing prepared
me for the next seven days. Just entering the country is an experience
in itself. These cities aren't like American cities. No beauty in even
the most populated city. Then we traveled outside the city to what is
referred to as a dump community because the community is literally
built around and on a dump. You can't imagine. These people know
nothing else other than living day in and day out on a dump. I found
myself many days just watching the kids play. Four little children
around the ages of 4 or 5 were outside there homes playing with a
broken box having the time of their lives. Seriously, not a care in
the world. Many of the children found materials from the dump and made
their own kites, tails and all. And, they flew!! One morning we arrived
while the school was serving breakfast. At every table there was at
least one child sharing their breakfast. This caught me by surprise
because this is all they get. I mean if they don't eat this it is
nothing till lunch and still they share. It just broke my heart. I am a
teacher so I am around children all day and have been for twelve years.
I rarely see this. Occasionally a child will share a snack, but it is
because they want something someone else has. Even my own kids! I am
not being critical. I love each and every one of these children, it is
just the difference between Americans and a 3rd world country. They had
this sad little playground for the school kids to play on. I mean the
equipment was probably older than me. I felt pity for them wanting to
raise money for a new playground, until someone said, " Dana, they
don't need a new playground. They need food!" She was right. I am a
total American. I want the biggest and best for these kids because we
think the best is what we need to be happy. All we need is the love of
our Lord and Savior.
He will provide.
These people literally rely on
Him for their daily bread.
I have never had to do that. Even though we
have it we should still rely on Him for these things. We just think we
are doing these things all on our own. Not true! I have done a lot of
worrying in my life and needlessly so. Give it to God and He will
provide. Maybe not in the way we want, but He will always provide. His
way is so much better than our way anyway! He knows what we need so
much better than we know what we need.
One day the ball
they were playing basketball with was flat. Not a little low on air,
FLAT! and they still played basketball with it. Happily!! These kids
smile all the time. They are so happy to be there. Being there and
seeing that they are so happy with so little made me so sad that I have
ever, ever complained a day in my life. I have food, clothing and
shelter for my family. We aren't rich by American standards, but by
worldly standards we are. I never have to worry about how I am going to
feed my kids. They never have to worry about when they are going to get
their next meal. This trip made me so much more humble and thankful
than I every was before. Even if you are not called to the mission
field full time, everyone should go at least once to experience the
other side of the world. You know it goes on. You see it on T.V. hear
the stories, but to see it up close and personal will change you in a
way that only seeing in person can.
I reread a wonderful book called
Crazy Love (also God calling me to do so right before my trip and
finishing while there).
The author in the last chapter reminds us that
we will all stand before God and account for our lives. What did we do
with what He gave us? It reminded me that I don't do nearly enough with
the gifts He has given me. I don't feel God is calling me to do mission
work in 3rd world countries, but I feel heavily in my heart that He is
calling me to do it right in my backyard. I have thought about doing it
for to long I need to take action. Rereading this book while on this
trip has had me listening to God about these things. It is easy to talk
yourself out of what God is calling us to do. I am the best at it. I
have great intentions! But when I meet God do I want to tell him I had
good intentions or that like Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought
the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. I pray
everyday that this trip did not change me for the moment, but forever!
I
will end with the church service on the Sunday before we left. I have
attended many churches in my life. I grew up in church. Attended
churches of friends. Went to different churches while in college even
attending my husbands church in his hometown over the years. But not
ever in my life have I experienced the Holy Spirit like I did in that
little church built with four cement walls. Lined with flimsy plastic
chairs to sit in with a hand painted banner hanging up at the front of
the church that read The Messiah is the Reason. Loosely translated
because my Spanish is no good!! Haha!! I understood none of what the
pastor was saying or the words being sung by the beautiful women
singing God's praises, but I still felt the Holy Spirit so clearly I
was in tears the entire service. I know for those of you who know me
isn't saying much because I cry all the time, but not like I do when
the Holy Spirit is concerned. When they brought out the tithing basket
and put it at the front of the church and these people who have nothing
gave all they had, I was moved like never in my life.
We complain, and
yes we all do it, about giving ten percent to church. Always finding
reasons why we can't or don't have it and these people have nothing and
gave it all!! Wow!! There aren't words. I just can not explain in words
my emotions at that time. These people literally have nothing we would
consider reason to praise and thank God and yet they do. Just more
affirmation that we don't need a single earthy possession to praise God
and be happy doing it. P.S. I still really love my clothes and house
and food. Haha!! God just reminded me on this trip I don't need them to
be happy. I just need Him!! And so with that I thank and praise Him
with such joy in my heart!! I know that no matter what crappy things
happen in this life that we have eternity to enjoy with Him in heaven!!
I
also want to add that I miss my dear friend, Phyllis!! I love you and
miss seeing you whenever I want. But mostly I miss our Jesus talks!! I
love you and thank God for you everyday!!
(Dana and I had a little cry fest church morning. We pretty much wailed in the hallway alone because we couldn't breathe through the tears. Our friendship bring glory to the Lord, why do we have to separate this much, we asked each other! I learned what it means to surrender friendship. I had never considered it until my bff mentioned it. Dana is the most Godly woman I know. She has always been my Jesus BFF, since the first day I saw her write "In Him" on a card when we taught kindergarten. She understands every-single-thing I say about Jesus and my love for Him without thinking anything is crazy about it, because she knows the feeling of the Spirit consuming feeling, too. I have grown so much in the Lord with her since the first day I met that girl!! I miss her dearly. I miss talking to her about Jesus whenever we want. Shooting texts about how awesome Jesus is and what He did that day. A quick call to tell a cool story. Done. I hate not being able to go for lunch and chat for 2 hrs straight about our Lord.
I learned that I need to just take it all to Jesus. He let us be friends and that we will thank Him for!! I may miss Dana's spiritual guidance and wisdom, but it is okay. I always have the Lord to run to when I need to talk.)
No comments:
Post a Comment