I could write about this trip forever, and I believe I can speak for everyone when I say we all had a life changing experience. I wish I could tell you about every moment of everyday. The moments we spent together in worship, the moments we spent crying, laughing, and falling in love. Falling in love with the Dominican Republic, the people, the children, the language and most importantly falling in love with Jesus. If you read the last blog post, you know a little bit about what we did from day to day. Each day we visited a different village, and there is one village specifically I would like to tell you about—
Village 50.
First, I want you to imagine you are standing in your kitchen. What do you see? A sink, an oven, a dishwasher, a table, etc. Now open up your refrigerator- milk, juice, soda, lunch meat, pizza, etc. Now imagine walking into your kitchen and feeling dirt and rocks under the thin soles of your shoes. From inside the door way you extend your leg and touch the opposing wall with your foot. To your left you see a table made of rotten wood and covered in soot. There is a place for a fire in the corner on the dirt ground and if you’re lucky a broken knife or machete and a single pot used to cook your food. You inhale the scent of stale fire and rotting wood mixed with the leftover scent of cooked chicken. The only light shining in is the light that sneaks through the cracks of the wall and when it rains it is those same cracks that drown your fire and drench your only set of clothes. When you exit you turn and look around at what appears as though it should be an animal stall. The outside walls are made of used up, old, rusting tin. This is the kitchen you cook breakfast, lunch and dinner in every single day.
Village 50 was the last village we visited on our trip. All week we had been warned by what we were going to see in this village, but there is nothing that could be said that could prepare one’s eyes or heart for what they were going to see and experience. Because a medical team had been there the previous week, only VBS stayed to do activities with the children and the medical team moved onto another village where we would meet up with them later on in the day.
One of our VBS activities was a sack race. There wasn’t much open space so we had the children line up on one end of the road and a couple of us stood about 30 feet away. They were directed to hop towards us, give us a high five and then return to the line and give the next person a turn. The children were all smiles, even if they fell down, they just got right back up and kept on hopping. Next thing I know the adults and parents are and stumbling towards me in the sacks. I have NEVER seen an adult have so much fun in my whole life. I think they may have even enjoyed it more than the children did. I was surrounded by sunshine and the smiles and laughter of complete strangers and I don’t think I’ve ever felt so much joy around me. They have nothing except the clothes on their back, their families, and few worldly possessions. Yet, they were filled with such joy and happiness. What is it that keeps us from experiencing this joy?
Our visit to village 50 was heart-wrenching, joyful, heavy, sobering, priceless, fulfilling and it was reality.
I wish I could’ve captured and held on to every single moment of that week, the good and the bad. I’m so grateful that I was given the opportunity to share this staggering, amazing, inspiring experience with 5 of my best friends. It has almost been a week since we’ve returned to the bipolar, arctic tundra known as Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I can tell you that this past week was definitely not one of the easiest weeks, but we found comfort in knowing that we didn’t have to face it alone. I believe God brought each of us to the Dominican Republic for a specific reason and had something marvelous planned for each of us.
The life I’ve been living, decisions I’ve been making and the person I have been lately is nowhere near what God has intended for me. That is something I have known deep down all along, I just haven’t had the courage to make a change. Over the past two weeks I have learned that I cannot change myself, the battle is every day, and God does have a plan for me I just need to give him permission to take control of my heart, mind and soul
Saved once, surrender everyday.
You will never be truly set free until you let go of your guilt. We can’t be free if we are hiding our trash from God. He truly becomes the Lord of your life when you say, “Jesus, I give it all up.” And we pick up our cross and follow him.
Through this trip I have seen God work on my heart, and I have seen him work around me and through me. I cannot begin to express how blessed I am with people He has put in my life and the experiences He has given me. As I continue to press towards the abundant life I pray that I will be given the strength to have a heart like Jesus. Isn’t that how we are called to live, like Jesus? Thank you so much for being a part of my journey!
Much love,
Hannah
(On a side note, I have plans to return to the Dominican Republic for TWO weeks with my little sister this summer. So please pray for us as those plans begin to fall together.)
**If you would like to see more of what God is doing in the Dominican Republic, please check out the Heinrich's blog as they fulfill God's call to serve His people in Hato Mayor!
http://dominicanmgmandtheheinrichfamily.blogspot.com
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