6/17/2011
Today, the plan for the team was to get up early, eat breakfast, and head out to the DTC for a full day's worth of work. However, I am learning that the D.R. runs on it's own time schedule. Unlike the US, the D.R. is not ruled by time management or the clock. Life here reflects a much more laid back approach and the mentality is "I'll get to it when I get to it." This was certainly the case this morning.
The team got up early as planned and ate breakfast. Honestly, we were right on our time schedule. Then Jim and Adam realized they needed some things from the hardware store called Ochoas. To get a mental picture of this place, just imagine a Home Depot or Lowes store. Ochoas is very similar. Although very similar to our hardware stores, this place is incredibly slow to receive service. I believe Jim and Adam were gone about two hours before returning back home.
We loaded up the materials in the back of the pickup and were on our way to the DTC. We were all laughing and carrying on in the back of the truck. Christa would smile and wave at kids, saying, "hola!" I would also wave and smile at people we passed. I believe the team was so happy to finally be in the Dominican, that all of us were on cloud nine!
We arrived at the DTC and instantly went into work mode. It was a little chaotic at first because we all dove right in and didn't have a clear direction. Our first assignment was to remove wood, steel, and concrete from the warehouse. I am sure this sounds pretty much like typical work, but it was not easy at all. The warehouse is located on the second story of the DTC, so this involved carrying these objects up and down the stairs. Did I mention that the planks of wood we were moving were huge? It was a difficult task to maneuver these over and under the stairs. This was the same for the sheet metal we had to move as well. We ended up sliding the metal through the stairs to the ground below. We also removed concrete cinder blocks from the warehouse and took those down stairs.
These tasks were quite humbling for me for a couple of reasons. I have always taken pride in my work ethic knowing that no matter what I will get the job done. However, these tasks really challenged me physically because I was not used to moving large, heavy objects- let alone up and down a flight of stairs. I remember looking at Whitney as she was carrying two cinder blocks down the stairs and saying if she can do it, so can I. So I rolled up my sleeves and grabbed two blocks. I am not going to lie to you, it practically killed me. As I was carrying these blocks, I couldn't get the vision out of my head of me tumbling down the stairs and breaking my neck. When I made it safe to the land, I made the executive decision to never do that again. I would take it at my own pace and on my own level. Even though I knew better, I realized how important it is not to compare yourself to others. There will always be someone who is better than you...always. What is important is to do the best that you can do. As long as what I am doing is unto the Lord and I am doing the best that I can do, I am certain that brings glory to God.
I think I need to remind you of where we are at, as well. The Dominican is pretty close to the equator, so we are not talking about a nice summer day in Indiana. It was HOT and sticky. I could look at everyone and we were all dripping sweat. Not to be gross, but seriously I think all of us were sweating in areas that we didn't even know could sweat. Again, a humbling experience for me because I don't like for others to see me sweat. I just don't think it's lady like and I find it rather disgusting. After about twenty minutes, that all went out the window as I could see my pants saturated with sweat and there was no hiding it. I really had to suck it up so to speak, because I was here to work, not to win a hygiene award.
Once we had removed everything from the warehouse it was time for lunch. We had packed some sandwiches, chips, fruit, and juice to enjoy. We loaded up the truck and drove down the huge hill to a gazebo on the grounds. This place was beautiful. The roof resembeled that of a hut that you may have seen on Gilligan's Island. It was made out of grass looking material, packed together in mud. (At least that's what it looked like. It may not have been grass or mud.) There were no walls which invited the day's breeze to comfort us in the shade. Stefanie was the first to point out a lizard on the roof of the gazebo. Sure enough as I looked there was a tiny green lizard staring at us enjoying our meal. I began to shift my eyes to the ceiling and discovered there were several lizards coming out to see the newcomers. It was really neat to see and all I could do was take it in.
Somehow during our lunch, the topic of spiders came up. Christa is terrified of spiders and I noticed her eyes shift to the ceiling of the gazebo. She began to look this place up and down being ever so vigiliant to spy anything suspicous. It probably didn't help that Nathan and Daniel were talking about the tarantuals that were out on the grounds. Oh yeah, and then Daniel pulled out some pictures he had of one on his arm that was the size of a softball. Real smoothe, gentlemen. Real smoothe. Poor Christa looked like she was going to get sick.
After lunch we headed up the hill back to the DTC. The goal for the rest of the day was to get the inside and outside of the DTC primed and ready to paint. Stefanie and Christa volunteered to paint the outside. I really admired them for this because they had to stand on a scaffold which consisted of a plank of wood between two ladders. I definitely didn't look safe to me! The rest of us began to pick up paint brushes and rollers and set out to prime the warehouse. I began to do the trim along the bottom of the warehouse. I really enjoyed this time. It didn't really involve a lot of mental work, actually pretty much no mental work, so I was able to spend the time talking and fellowshipping with God. Unaware, I would start to hum and sing to Jesus and really began to shift my focus to Him. I would stop humming occasionally to pray and Nathan would ask me to start singing and humming again. I didn't realize I had invited others to join in my worship, but I was thankful that he was enjoying it.
I looked around at eveyone being so diligent and it brought a smile to my face. I could see Rachel, Adam, Daniel, and Nathan on ladders priming the rafters of the building. I would chuckle as Rachel teased Daniel about the paint blobs he would leave and smile as Amy hummed a sweet song. I gazed at Whitney, roller in hand, focusing on priming the walls the way Jim had shown her. I couldn't help but wonder if this brought a smile to God's face as well. Was he pleased with the unity and the work being accomplished. I know He was right there with us, but did He feel welcome there?
It was time to leave for dinner and since we got such a late start, we were not able to get everything primed like we had hoped. We knew would have to make up for that lost time tomorrow, but for now we were satisfied with the day's work. We loaded up the truck and piled in. I looked at my team, speckled with white primer and the smiles on their faces. Today was a good day. We arrived back at the house to be greeted with a wonderful meal. We had a little time to grab a quick, cold shower and change into some decent clothes before we ate.
After dinner, there was a little free time to relax. Several of us decided to jump in the pool and take an evening swim. The water felt marvelous! Not too warm, but not cool at all. Whitney, Nathan, and I began to play a game of keep away with a little ball we would throw to one another. It was a welcome ending to a hard day's work. Today's low: nothing. Today's high: where do I start?
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Feels Like Home To Me
June 16, 2011
The day began early, leaving Rachel's place around 2:30 in the morning. Groggy-eyed, the two of us piled in my Explorer bags packed, with the Dominican in our sights. Neither of us were able to sleep, each for different reasons. I was excited, nervous, anxious, and afraid that if I did sleep, I would not wake up in time to catch our early morning flight. My mind would not be still and all I could do was rest my head on the pillow watching the time quickly pass by. I couldn't tell you what was going through Rachel's mind, but I am certain we shared some of the same anxieties.
We had to intercept Amy on the way, so we would be together when we met up with Whitney and her parents. When we arrived to pick up Amy, we were suprised to see Amy so up and adam. Her hair was done and she had makeup on, while the bags under my eyes were as heavy as my packed luggage. Rachel and I joked with her commenting on how put together she looked. Amy is a beautiful woman- it doesn't take much effort for her beauty to be seen.
The plan was to meet up with Whitney and her parents in Shelbyville, and they would take us to the airport to drop us off for our flight. We met up with the family and were on our way to the airport. Like I mentioned earlier, it was very early. The conversation remained light, and honestly my mind was not focused on the topics of discussion. My mind was already in the Dominican Republic and the assignment God had called me to. Quietly, I began to pray to God and carry on my own conversation with Him. "God, I don't know what's ahead of me, but please let me bring glory to your name." I felt a lump in my throat as tears began to swell up in my eyes..."don't cry", I told myself. I knew God would search my heart and know the overwhelming feeling of emotions I was trying to contain. Even if I couldn't find the words to pray, God knew exactly where I was at.
We met up with the rest of the gang at the airport. We checked in and after we checked our bags, we all gathered as a group and prayed. That was a huge highlight of my morning, because our mission is about God, for God, and to God. I can't imagine not inviting Him to dwell with us as we go out to do His work. After an emotional goodbye from Whitney's parents, we were on our way to the security check point. Nathan was leading the pack, obviously on a mission and using his prior mission experience to pave the way. I followed close behind, like a dog who doesn't let their master out of their sight. I didn't want to be left behind.
The plane we boarded was TINY!! Honestly, after seeing the size of it, I placed my hand on it as I boarded and said, "In Jesus' name, let this be a safe flight." Christa is very afraid of flying, so I put on my game face for her, but this plane was so small. I spent most of this flight in quiet prayer and trying to encourage Christa to remain calm. I was thankful for the window seat I was assigned. For those of you who don't know me, I am a very visual person, so seeing the sights from the air added a sense of comfort to my uneasy nerves. I pulled out my ipod and began to journal in the air. I didn't want what I was feeling and thinking to fade away as time went on. I wrote, "sitting on the plane reflecting on the glory of the Lord. I see the beautiful sky and the fog that has rolled over the valleys and my heart is in awe. The same God that created all of this knows me by name. I am so insignificant in the entire scheme of things, but God has chosen me to be a vessel to be used to glorify His name. Father, I pray that I would honor you in every thought, work, deed, action, and purpose. Not only for this trip bur for all my life and all eternity. Please draw me closer than I have ever been to You, revealing who You really are and opening my mind, eyes, and heart to receive such revelation. I give this trip to You and lay every anxiety, worry, burden and weight that would hold me back from what I believe to be Your magnificent calling in my life. I ask that Your will be done in all things and that lives will forever be changed on this journey. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."
We landed in Miami to catch our connecting flight to the Dominican. Thankfully, that plane was huge and felt more secure than the previous plane. As we prepared for take off, I looked at the group of people that had become my closest friends wondering the thoughts that were going through their minds. I took a deep breath and began to reflect as I looked out the window. As we got closer to the Dominican, the scenes outside my window were breath-taking. I will try to include pictures of what I was able to witness, because honestly, words would not be able to bring justice to the beauty that captivated me.
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I had to try to put everything into words, so again I pulled out my ipod and began to write. "On the plane to the Dominican!! Yay!! I feel like a little child struck with wonder! I can't seem to peel my eyes from this window seat. The view is so indescribable. I look at the different shades of aqua, teal, light beige, and the most piercing blue I have ever seen. I reflect on my friends sitting beside me. One trying desperately to catch some much needed sleep, the other laughing at the silent show that is played on the flight. How can they not be taken by this beauty? How can they carry on while the portrait of God surrounds this plane? Maybe my wonder comes from new surroundings. Afterall, I have never done this before. Perhaps it's because I was blessed with a marvelous window seat (that I had secretly prayed for), but somehow to my heart, it screams of God's beauty and love. Many thoughts have gone through my head. Seeing the sandy beaches, I am reminded that God's thoughts for me are so much more that the sand I see. Really it is unfathomable...to wrap our minds around the depth of God. I know I am nowhere close to understanding who the God of this universe is. However, this truth will not cease me from pursuing my true heart's desire."
As we landed in the D.R., I felt a sense of great belonging. In fact, as we were pulling up to the airport, the thought, "I'm home" came in my heart. I don't know God's plan or His timing, but I certainly pray I am called to this place.
As I was reflecting, the song "Power of Your Name" by Lincoln Brewster came up in my heart. The song is phenomenal! The lyrics are so true to what Christians need to be doing. This life is not about us...period. Jesus did not say that we are to have great, wonderful, easy lives. In fact, he told us to be servants, which actually translates SLAVE. We need to be the ones reaching those who are hurting, broken, and lost. We are called to be the hands that reach out. We do this because it is what our master expects and that should be the primary reason. Not for a feel good story to share with others. This is what I have been called to.
We landed and getting through customs was a lot easier than I had expected. Maybe it's because we all had matching t-shirts, so we were less of a threat! Either way, I was thankful to be on our way. We were greeted by the Whites and two vehicles. We loaded up all our luggage in the back of the truck and most of the team piled in the Jeep. Nathan and I chose to ride in the back of the pickup truck because I didn't want any scene to escape me.
Let me just say that driving in the Dominican is NUTS!! There aren't really a lot of driving laws, so you kinda have to fend for yourself. Tailgating is expected as well as illegal passing and the marks of a seasoned driver include laying on the horn at least 20 times during your drive. Later, I found out that Jim explained to the girls in the Jeep that "you're not too close unless your mirrors touch"! Perfect, I was in a country that had no regard for my safety, but secretely I loved everything about it! Also, there is really no road rage there, which is suprising because we had a lot of "almost" accidents, but everyone honks and smiles, even if you cut them off. That's a far cry from our country which curses you for not going 5 miles over the speed limit!! I will try to include some video so you can see the craziness that I grew to love!!
After we arrived at the White House (hahaha), we settled in and met with Jim and Teresa. After a short introduction and rules, we headed off the the Discipleship Training Center or DTC for short. As I mentioned earlier, there are no driving rules really, so it was not even questioned when we all piled in the back of the pickup truck. Here we were, 8 white Americanos in the back of a Dodge pickup truck, trying not to draw attention to ourselves. Right! It seems everwhere we went we were being honked at, waved to, hollered at, and smiled at. Not the reaction I was expecting, but honestly it was a welcome reception. Keep in mind, that most of the group consists of women so it was not uncommon for the men of the D.R. to holler at us and blow us kisses. We tried to blow it off. A couple of times to dissipate the awkwardness of the situation, I would joke with the girls and Nathan about the warm welcome we were receiving. Later, we discovered that when they blew us kisses, it was not a friendly gesture, but that of a sexual connotation. Needless to say, whenever someone blew us kisses, we kindly looked the other way.
The ride the the DTC was just as breathtaking as the flight. Palm trees paved the roads that soon became dirt roads filled with holes. After we left the city, the scenery changed to something you would see in a movie. In fact, I remember commenting to Nathan that I half expected a velociraptor to jump out of the thick brush. It seriously looked like the scenery from Jurassic Park. The trees and vegetation were so thick, and the land was so uneven. Hills, valleys, and mountains could all be seen on our drive. It was beautiful! The roads were quite bumpy and in the back of that truck you felt every bump. Throughout the week, the bumps became the topics of discussion as well as our bodies being covered in bruises, but honestly, I grew to love our pickup truck rides. After a brief tour of the DTC and the land around it, we piled back in the truck and headed back to the house.
The Whites have a thing where you mention your highs and lows for the day. I really grew to love this time of sharing. I remember sharing that my low for the day was all the anxiety I had been experiencing prior to the trip and even on the plane. However, my high was the peace that instantly came in my heart the moment we landed in the Dominican Republic. After sharing we all got ready for bed, we had an early morning ahead of us and a lot of work to do at the DTC the next day.
The day began early, leaving Rachel's place around 2:30 in the morning. Groggy-eyed, the two of us piled in my Explorer bags packed, with the Dominican in our sights. Neither of us were able to sleep, each for different reasons. I was excited, nervous, anxious, and afraid that if I did sleep, I would not wake up in time to catch our early morning flight. My mind would not be still and all I could do was rest my head on the pillow watching the time quickly pass by. I couldn't tell you what was going through Rachel's mind, but I am certain we shared some of the same anxieties.
We had to intercept Amy on the way, so we would be together when we met up with Whitney and her parents. When we arrived to pick up Amy, we were suprised to see Amy so up and adam. Her hair was done and she had makeup on, while the bags under my eyes were as heavy as my packed luggage. Rachel and I joked with her commenting on how put together she looked. Amy is a beautiful woman- it doesn't take much effort for her beauty to be seen.
The plan was to meet up with Whitney and her parents in Shelbyville, and they would take us to the airport to drop us off for our flight. We met up with the family and were on our way to the airport. Like I mentioned earlier, it was very early. The conversation remained light, and honestly my mind was not focused on the topics of discussion. My mind was already in the Dominican Republic and the assignment God had called me to. Quietly, I began to pray to God and carry on my own conversation with Him. "God, I don't know what's ahead of me, but please let me bring glory to your name." I felt a lump in my throat as tears began to swell up in my eyes..."don't cry", I told myself. I knew God would search my heart and know the overwhelming feeling of emotions I was trying to contain. Even if I couldn't find the words to pray, God knew exactly where I was at.
We met up with the rest of the gang at the airport. We checked in and after we checked our bags, we all gathered as a group and prayed. That was a huge highlight of my morning, because our mission is about God, for God, and to God. I can't imagine not inviting Him to dwell with us as we go out to do His work. After an emotional goodbye from Whitney's parents, we were on our way to the security check point. Nathan was leading the pack, obviously on a mission and using his prior mission experience to pave the way. I followed close behind, like a dog who doesn't let their master out of their sight. I didn't want to be left behind.
The plane we boarded was TINY!! Honestly, after seeing the size of it, I placed my hand on it as I boarded and said, "In Jesus' name, let this be a safe flight." Christa is very afraid of flying, so I put on my game face for her, but this plane was so small. I spent most of this flight in quiet prayer and trying to encourage Christa to remain calm. I was thankful for the window seat I was assigned. For those of you who don't know me, I am a very visual person, so seeing the sights from the air added a sense of comfort to my uneasy nerves. I pulled out my ipod and began to journal in the air. I didn't want what I was feeling and thinking to fade away as time went on. I wrote, "sitting on the plane reflecting on the glory of the Lord. I see the beautiful sky and the fog that has rolled over the valleys and my heart is in awe. The same God that created all of this knows me by name. I am so insignificant in the entire scheme of things, but God has chosen me to be a vessel to be used to glorify His name. Father, I pray that I would honor you in every thought, work, deed, action, and purpose. Not only for this trip bur for all my life and all eternity. Please draw me closer than I have ever been to You, revealing who You really are and opening my mind, eyes, and heart to receive such revelation. I give this trip to You and lay every anxiety, worry, burden and weight that would hold me back from what I believe to be Your magnificent calling in my life. I ask that Your will be done in all things and that lives will forever be changed on this journey. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."
We landed in Miami to catch our connecting flight to the Dominican. Thankfully, that plane was huge and felt more secure than the previous plane. As we prepared for take off, I looked at the group of people that had become my closest friends wondering the thoughts that were going through their minds. I took a deep breath and began to reflect as I looked out the window. As we got closer to the Dominican, the scenes outside my window were breath-taking. I will try to include pictures of what I was able to witness, because honestly, words would not be able to bring justice to the beauty that captivated me.
As we landed in the D.R., I felt a sense of great belonging. In fact, as we were pulling up to the airport, the thought, "I'm home" came in my heart. I don't know God's plan or His timing, but I certainly pray I am called to this place.
As I was reflecting, the song "Power of Your Name" by Lincoln Brewster came up in my heart. The song is phenomenal! The lyrics are so true to what Christians need to be doing. This life is not about us...period. Jesus did not say that we are to have great, wonderful, easy lives. In fact, he told us to be servants, which actually translates SLAVE. We need to be the ones reaching those who are hurting, broken, and lost. We are called to be the hands that reach out. We do this because it is what our master expects and that should be the primary reason. Not for a feel good story to share with others. This is what I have been called to.
We landed and getting through customs was a lot easier than I had expected. Maybe it's because we all had matching t-shirts, so we were less of a threat! Either way, I was thankful to be on our way. We were greeted by the Whites and two vehicles. We loaded up all our luggage in the back of the truck and most of the team piled in the Jeep. Nathan and I chose to ride in the back of the pickup truck because I didn't want any scene to escape me.
Let me just say that driving in the Dominican is NUTS!! There aren't really a lot of driving laws, so you kinda have to fend for yourself. Tailgating is expected as well as illegal passing and the marks of a seasoned driver include laying on the horn at least 20 times during your drive. Later, I found out that Jim explained to the girls in the Jeep that "you're not too close unless your mirrors touch"! Perfect, I was in a country that had no regard for my safety, but secretely I loved everything about it! Also, there is really no road rage there, which is suprising because we had a lot of "almost" accidents, but everyone honks and smiles, even if you cut them off. That's a far cry from our country which curses you for not going 5 miles over the speed limit!! I will try to include some video so you can see the craziness that I grew to love!!
After we arrived at the White House (hahaha), we settled in and met with Jim and Teresa. After a short introduction and rules, we headed off the the Discipleship Training Center or DTC for short. As I mentioned earlier, there are no driving rules really, so it was not even questioned when we all piled in the back of the pickup truck. Here we were, 8 white Americanos in the back of a Dodge pickup truck, trying not to draw attention to ourselves. Right! It seems everwhere we went we were being honked at, waved to, hollered at, and smiled at. Not the reaction I was expecting, but honestly it was a welcome reception. Keep in mind, that most of the group consists of women so it was not uncommon for the men of the D.R. to holler at us and blow us kisses. We tried to blow it off. A couple of times to dissipate the awkwardness of the situation, I would joke with the girls and Nathan about the warm welcome we were receiving. Later, we discovered that when they blew us kisses, it was not a friendly gesture, but that of a sexual connotation. Needless to say, whenever someone blew us kisses, we kindly looked the other way.
The ride the the DTC was just as breathtaking as the flight. Palm trees paved the roads that soon became dirt roads filled with holes. After we left the city, the scenery changed to something you would see in a movie. In fact, I remember commenting to Nathan that I half expected a velociraptor to jump out of the thick brush. It seriously looked like the scenery from Jurassic Park. The trees and vegetation were so thick, and the land was so uneven. Hills, valleys, and mountains could all be seen on our drive. It was beautiful! The roads were quite bumpy and in the back of that truck you felt every bump. Throughout the week, the bumps became the topics of discussion as well as our bodies being covered in bruises, but honestly, I grew to love our pickup truck rides. After a brief tour of the DTC and the land around it, we piled back in the truck and headed back to the house.
The Whites have a thing where you mention your highs and lows for the day. I really grew to love this time of sharing. I remember sharing that my low for the day was all the anxiety I had been experiencing prior to the trip and even on the plane. However, my high was the peace that instantly came in my heart the moment we landed in the Dominican Republic. After sharing we all got ready for bed, we had an early morning ahead of us and a lot of work to do at the DTC the next day.
An Introduction To The Team
Let me just preface this by saying I have never blogged before, but I desire to share with everyone what I experienced during my mission trip to the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Welcome to the randomness that is me and I hope to include you on the journey that has changed my life.
Before I begin, I think it is a good idea to give you a little background on the team that I accompanied on this trip. We are called "Serving the Purpose" or "STP" for short. The mission of our team is taken out of Matthew 25:35-36. "For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me." It's pretty self-explanatory, but our goal is to reflect Jesus to the world and reach out to everyone with arms of love, serving and putting others' needs first. Did I mention that we are all from different churches? We desire to be the unified body of Christ, regardless of denomination. Afterall, I can't recall the bible singling out any denomination to carry on the gospel of Christ. In fact, it was when the body was unified that God's power was made manifest.
Our leader is Adam White, a young man who loves the Lord with all his being. Adam has somewhat of a black and white view of life, and has challenged many of us in our Christian walks. There are no gray areas concerning the Bible in his mind. What's written is what stands. I think it's great to have him as our leader, because as I mentioned above, he challenges my walk with the Lord. He truly has a servant's heart and really strives to reflect the life of Jesus. Another characteristic of him that I greatly admire is his humility. Like I said, he is usually pretty black and white, but definitely tries to seek out the ultimate truth that is in the bible. If he is incorrect, he is not afraid to admit it. Afterall, we are all growing in our walks and who really has it all together?
Whitney Thomas is another member of our team. Whitney reminds me of Stephen from the bible. She has such a quiet personality, but a depth that most could never fathom. Her heart for the Lord is enough to make one jealous. She possesses such a quiet strength and zeal that is contagious. She is the type of person that you listen when she speaks, because ususally what she says is profound. Did I mention that she has such a sweet countenance and her smile brings peace to others?
Another member of the team is Nathan Lechien. How do I describe Nathan? To me, he reminds me of the little brother you always wanted. Not in an "awww...he's so sweet" type of way, but more like he is the one I would protect over anything. Not that he can't fend for himself, because he totally could, but he has a very innocent quality that is very endearing. Don't be fooled by this description though. His humor is magnificent! He is the person who waits for the perfect time to crack a joke and his delivery adds even more to the humor. Nathan is a young man who loves the Lord and is very transparent in his walk with the Lord. He has such a tender heart and I know that when he prays, God is wearing an ear to ear smile. Nathan truly is a man after God's heart and continually strives to live a life that is an example.
Amy Dorn is an amazing woman that joined us. Amy is a music teacher and has a smile that lights up the darkest places. She has the typical "sweetness" that most music teachers possess, but she is far from typical. Amy is a woman who is talented in so many areas that it's hard not to compare yourself to her and come up lacking. Amy is the ultimate package: smart, beautiful, joyful and her love for Jesus is contagious. Amy has such a sweet personality and invites conversation with ease. Even if you have just met her, she makes you feel like you have known eachother forever. Amy also has an awesome sense of humor and willingly shares stories filled with humorous characters and situations that will have you rolling. Just ask her about her Grandma Dorn and the cops!
One member of our team who has challenged me the most is Christa Stalets. Christa is not even twenty years old, and her spiritual maturity is quite convicting. She reminds me a lot of Paul from the bible. She has such a zeal for the Lord, and her zeal is not concealled at all. In fact, this woman possesses a fierce boldness to proclaim the gospel. She has such a compassoinate heart for the lost and a genuine sincerity for souls that are condemned to hell. She also has such a hunger and understanding of the Word of God. She definitely uses her bible as her sword to fight the darkness that engulfs this world. Christa also has an innocent quality about her, but this is overcompensated by a great mischievous side. She always has a smirk on her face and that's because she is usually up to something. She is an amazing woman of God with a huge calling on her life. Missions is her heart, but she will be the first to tell you that you don't have to go to another country to do missions. There is a huge mission field in each of our lives and we should reach out to others just as we would in another land.
Another valuable team member is Stefanie Barnes. Stefanie is a very analytical person and usually waits to process information before speaking, a girft I greatly admire. Stefanie has a very easy going personality and instantly makes one feel at ease. Her laugh is contagious and her strength is undeniable. She is not afraid of anyone and is not afraid to speak her mind. I especially appreciate this boldness when it comes to sharing the good news with others. Stef also has a very tender heart and is really great with children. Stef is also the planning sort of person, the one that has the organizational skills that would make any CEO jealous. To put it bluntly, if I had a business, I would put her in charge of everything because I know it would be done the right way without any detail being overlooked.
One key member of the team is Rachel Detamore. It is so hard to describe Rachel because I have a great affinity in my heart for her. She is from Texas, so has that southern drawl but also the sassiness of a country girl. She is a woman who can take care of herself, but has a tenderness that takes time to unveil. I may be bias, but Rachel is a kindred soul. She feels like home and conversations can and will go to a great depth. This girl has an amazing view of life and such a wealth of knowledge of the Word of God. She has a gift of making biblical characters come to life and putting you in the time and situation that each character faced. She addresses the emotional side of the characters and what they may have been experiencing. She has a great teaching gift, as well as a powerful intecessor. She is also a great encourager to others, revealing giftings that may be overlooked by others.
While we were in the Dominican, we stayed with Adam's parents, Jim and Teresa White. Words cannot describe these two, but I willl try to paint a word picture to you. Jim is a man that automatically commands your attention. Not because he is loud, domineering, or trying to make his presence shown. In truth, the total opposite is what is so commanding about him. Jim posesses a quiet strength and is not quick to speak. I think of him as a quiet observer, taking everything in and watching. Jim is a strong man in the Lord with great wisdom of the scriptures. Jim was unjustly kicked out of Haiti because of government corruption, but is a great example of being persecuted for Christ. I am sorry that it happened to him, but his story is a great encouragement of standing when everything else is coming against you. I will be honest, Jim kinda intimidates me because of his quietness. I can't help question what thoughts are going through his head when I am around him...it drives me crazy!!
Teresa is the complete opposite of her husband in many aspects. She has a very, very sweet personality. Her smile is so inviting and you instantly feel welcome when she is around. Teresa is also very strong, and you can sense this in the first five minutes of meeting her. She has such a strong relationship with the Lord and you listen when she speaks. Her wisdom is flavored with the salt of God's word and she commands respect wherever she is at. She has a gentle spirit and a heart dedicated to worshipping our Lord. Teresa also posesses a deep humility that I greatly admire. Honestly, I pray that I become a woman of God that shares many of her characteristics, she truly is the proverbs 31 woman.
We also met an intern while we were there. His name is Daniel Dortch and I am so thankful he joined us. Daniel is an awesome man of God. His facebook profile says he is fluent in sarcasm and I couldn't agree more! It was always an adventure being around him and you couldn't help but smile in his presence. From stories about tarantulas to his witty jokes, Daniel instantly fit in with our team. One thing about Daniel that I observed and greatly admired about him was his servant heart. Rachel compared him to the farmboy in "The Princess Bride" and I couldn't agree more with that analogy. If you have seen the movie, you know what I am talking about. Whenever something needed to be done, the farmboy would simply say, "as you wish" and perform the task at hand. This is very similar to Daniel, although most of the time you wouldn't even have to ask him to do something. He would already be in the process of doing it. I found this to be one of Daniel's greatest strengths and he accredited Teresa for his servanthood.
I am sorry this is so long, but in order to understand all the events of the trip, you have to understand we were a team. The events didn't just happen to one of us, but all of us. If I didn't introduce you to the team, you would have no idea of what happened. There were two other members that joined us on our Haiti adventure, but I will introduce them to you later.
Before I begin, I think it is a good idea to give you a little background on the team that I accompanied on this trip. We are called "Serving the Purpose" or "STP" for short. The mission of our team is taken out of Matthew 25:35-36. "For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me." It's pretty self-explanatory, but our goal is to reflect Jesus to the world and reach out to everyone with arms of love, serving and putting others' needs first. Did I mention that we are all from different churches? We desire to be the unified body of Christ, regardless of denomination. Afterall, I can't recall the bible singling out any denomination to carry on the gospel of Christ. In fact, it was when the body was unified that God's power was made manifest.
Our leader is Adam White, a young man who loves the Lord with all his being. Adam has somewhat of a black and white view of life, and has challenged many of us in our Christian walks. There are no gray areas concerning the Bible in his mind. What's written is what stands. I think it's great to have him as our leader, because as I mentioned above, he challenges my walk with the Lord. He truly has a servant's heart and really strives to reflect the life of Jesus. Another characteristic of him that I greatly admire is his humility. Like I said, he is usually pretty black and white, but definitely tries to seek out the ultimate truth that is in the bible. If he is incorrect, he is not afraid to admit it. Afterall, we are all growing in our walks and who really has it all together?
Whitney Thomas is another member of our team. Whitney reminds me of Stephen from the bible. She has such a quiet personality, but a depth that most could never fathom. Her heart for the Lord is enough to make one jealous. She possesses such a quiet strength and zeal that is contagious. She is the type of person that you listen when she speaks, because ususally what she says is profound. Did I mention that she has such a sweet countenance and her smile brings peace to others?
Another member of the team is Nathan Lechien. How do I describe Nathan? To me, he reminds me of the little brother you always wanted. Not in an "awww...he's so sweet" type of way, but more like he is the one I would protect over anything. Not that he can't fend for himself, because he totally could, but he has a very innocent quality that is very endearing. Don't be fooled by this description though. His humor is magnificent! He is the person who waits for the perfect time to crack a joke and his delivery adds even more to the humor. Nathan is a young man who loves the Lord and is very transparent in his walk with the Lord. He has such a tender heart and I know that when he prays, God is wearing an ear to ear smile. Nathan truly is a man after God's heart and continually strives to live a life that is an example.
Amy Dorn is an amazing woman that joined us. Amy is a music teacher and has a smile that lights up the darkest places. She has the typical "sweetness" that most music teachers possess, but she is far from typical. Amy is a woman who is talented in so many areas that it's hard not to compare yourself to her and come up lacking. Amy is the ultimate package: smart, beautiful, joyful and her love for Jesus is contagious. Amy has such a sweet personality and invites conversation with ease. Even if you have just met her, she makes you feel like you have known eachother forever. Amy also has an awesome sense of humor and willingly shares stories filled with humorous characters and situations that will have you rolling. Just ask her about her Grandma Dorn and the cops!
One member of our team who has challenged me the most is Christa Stalets. Christa is not even twenty years old, and her spiritual maturity is quite convicting. She reminds me a lot of Paul from the bible. She has such a zeal for the Lord, and her zeal is not concealled at all. In fact, this woman possesses a fierce boldness to proclaim the gospel. She has such a compassoinate heart for the lost and a genuine sincerity for souls that are condemned to hell. She also has such a hunger and understanding of the Word of God. She definitely uses her bible as her sword to fight the darkness that engulfs this world. Christa also has an innocent quality about her, but this is overcompensated by a great mischievous side. She always has a smirk on her face and that's because she is usually up to something. She is an amazing woman of God with a huge calling on her life. Missions is her heart, but she will be the first to tell you that you don't have to go to another country to do missions. There is a huge mission field in each of our lives and we should reach out to others just as we would in another land.
Another valuable team member is Stefanie Barnes. Stefanie is a very analytical person and usually waits to process information before speaking, a girft I greatly admire. Stefanie has a very easy going personality and instantly makes one feel at ease. Her laugh is contagious and her strength is undeniable. She is not afraid of anyone and is not afraid to speak her mind. I especially appreciate this boldness when it comes to sharing the good news with others. Stef also has a very tender heart and is really great with children. Stef is also the planning sort of person, the one that has the organizational skills that would make any CEO jealous. To put it bluntly, if I had a business, I would put her in charge of everything because I know it would be done the right way without any detail being overlooked.
One key member of the team is Rachel Detamore. It is so hard to describe Rachel because I have a great affinity in my heart for her. She is from Texas, so has that southern drawl but also the sassiness of a country girl. She is a woman who can take care of herself, but has a tenderness that takes time to unveil. I may be bias, but Rachel is a kindred soul. She feels like home and conversations can and will go to a great depth. This girl has an amazing view of life and such a wealth of knowledge of the Word of God. She has a gift of making biblical characters come to life and putting you in the time and situation that each character faced. She addresses the emotional side of the characters and what they may have been experiencing. She has a great teaching gift, as well as a powerful intecessor. She is also a great encourager to others, revealing giftings that may be overlooked by others.
While we were in the Dominican, we stayed with Adam's parents, Jim and Teresa White. Words cannot describe these two, but I willl try to paint a word picture to you. Jim is a man that automatically commands your attention. Not because he is loud, domineering, or trying to make his presence shown. In truth, the total opposite is what is so commanding about him. Jim posesses a quiet strength and is not quick to speak. I think of him as a quiet observer, taking everything in and watching. Jim is a strong man in the Lord with great wisdom of the scriptures. Jim was unjustly kicked out of Haiti because of government corruption, but is a great example of being persecuted for Christ. I am sorry that it happened to him, but his story is a great encouragement of standing when everything else is coming against you. I will be honest, Jim kinda intimidates me because of his quietness. I can't help question what thoughts are going through his head when I am around him...it drives me crazy!!
Teresa is the complete opposite of her husband in many aspects. She has a very, very sweet personality. Her smile is so inviting and you instantly feel welcome when she is around. Teresa is also very strong, and you can sense this in the first five minutes of meeting her. She has such a strong relationship with the Lord and you listen when she speaks. Her wisdom is flavored with the salt of God's word and she commands respect wherever she is at. She has a gentle spirit and a heart dedicated to worshipping our Lord. Teresa also posesses a deep humility that I greatly admire. Honestly, I pray that I become a woman of God that shares many of her characteristics, she truly is the proverbs 31 woman.
We also met an intern while we were there. His name is Daniel Dortch and I am so thankful he joined us. Daniel is an awesome man of God. His facebook profile says he is fluent in sarcasm and I couldn't agree more! It was always an adventure being around him and you couldn't help but smile in his presence. From stories about tarantulas to his witty jokes, Daniel instantly fit in with our team. One thing about Daniel that I observed and greatly admired about him was his servant heart. Rachel compared him to the farmboy in "The Princess Bride" and I couldn't agree more with that analogy. If you have seen the movie, you know what I am talking about. Whenever something needed to be done, the farmboy would simply say, "as you wish" and perform the task at hand. This is very similar to Daniel, although most of the time you wouldn't even have to ask him to do something. He would already be in the process of doing it. I found this to be one of Daniel's greatest strengths and he accredited Teresa for his servanthood.
I am sorry this is so long, but in order to understand all the events of the trip, you have to understand we were a team. The events didn't just happen to one of us, but all of us. If I didn't introduce you to the team, you would have no idea of what happened. There were two other members that joined us on our Haiti adventure, but I will introduce them to you later.
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