The Most Joyful People Alive

Today's devotion was done by Doug...Dr. Doug Boyette.  He's a wonderful, kind man from Shelby who is a Cardiologist. 


John 13:34-35 "“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

In Doug's devotion...it talked how the church is the servant society.  Christians are called to be servants.  To be in Christ is to be in the ministry.  Once we turn our lives over to Christ, then people become our agenda.  Our calling is to care about people-helping them to know the Savior, growing in grace, and face life's challenges.  Our happiness is related to pouring ourselves out for people.  That means giving up our privacy, schedules, monies, time, talents, and gifts....to make good judgements in relation to others.  The Lord puts people in our lives so that we can be to them what He has been to us. 

Today, Susan and I are going up the mountain with the clinic team.  Dr. Mike has told me it's a beautiful trip and he wants me to meet Darren, the missionary there.  He's from Columbia, S.C. and he just recently met him, himself.  The trip up was extremely slow starting...we had to make numerous stops around Barahona before FINALLY getting on our way around 10:15 or so...I think had we had this kind of delay and frequent stops in the states to leave for a trip, I would have been a basket case...but somehow today, I enjoyed it...tried to make the best of it by shooting some pictures and enjoyed the people on the clinic team...thinking about the people on the bus with me.


You see...these people, were the people who had become or are becoming the most joyful people alive...They are channeling the love of Christ to all those they meet.  Yes, it's still early and some are still finding their niche' on the trip...but they're all willing, able, and joyful.  All have already had a day of sharing in God's love...both to the people and from the people.  We can't care for others without some of the blessings spilling over onto us...My attitude always changes here.  I have said that it's easier to be 'the person Christ wants me to be here.'  It is...I don't have all the distractions, gadgets, electronics, my job....here I'm just me being me...the best of me.  I'm a better person when I'm being a servant to others...unconditionally. 

Life drags me down at home sometimes...responsibilities, making decisions...but while I'm here..the hard realities of daily life are replaced by joyfulness.  Are we tired at the end of the day, you bet...but as tired as you are during the day...you continue to move foreward...making a difference in the next life.  So often it's the little things we do for each other that matter the most...most often the little things is what makes someone else change...soften...come around.  If we can be a servant to others, it's easier for them to learn to be a servant themselves.  I can't say I would have the same attitude if I were here all the time...I've said before in this blog that "I'm not selfless enough" to do this...but my prayer is that each time, it makes a dent chipping away at my selfishness and materialistism.

Christ is calling us all to be servants, whether it's in your own home town or nearby state...or in a 3rd world country.   He calls us all to missions...to go serve.  Every year my goal seems to be to go home and never allow this experience take me back to the person I was...and at first that's not a problem.  My emotions stay so close to the service that I often have trouble adjusting to 'reality' of my life.  But...honestly within 3-4 months...LIFE as I know it, sucks me back in...back into a reality world, a materialistic world. 

Yet again, this year...I'll try yet again...to look at more and more opportunities to serve in Christ's name...whether it be in my neighborhood, my job, my church, within my sorority, or my family and friends. 

Today was a beautiful day.  There was only a small number that attended the clinic as the population around the clinic site was only about 200 people.  There was a truck load that arrived that probably came from across the border.  The majority of the patients had neck pain, back pain, high blood pressure...The one thing that struck Doug and I the most was the neck and back pain issue.  We asked how much one of the field workers, who works different crops,  makes a day...and were astonished to learn 200 pesos?  That's only about $6-7 U.S....I couldn't help but react as Doug and I just looked at each other.  I became emotional being reminded again who greedy I am...how I can spend that a day if I eat out for lunch...or Doug said that was 2 of his latte's...seriously!  Yet...they are joyful people.  I often think the happiest people here are the christians...the ones where when you say "Dios' La Bendiga"...they say "Amen."  It's the ones that when you smile at them...they'll smile back.  It's almost like you're looking at Christ at the same time. 


Am I one of the most joyful people alive...probably not. Most anybody that knows me, knows that I'm not a morning person...so joyful in the morning...definitely not.  But, I do love smiling into the face of a Dominican woman, man, or child and saying "Buenos Dia" or "hola" and show them some kindness.  In the morning...that takes effort for me, and as each one smiles back with a Spanish greeting...I wake up to the morning with Christ.

The day was filled with kindness, it had to be...and a lot of patience and grace on our parts.  We had multiple stops in the morning...was on the road to the location at least 1 1/2 hours...maybe more.  Once we got to the dirt road that took us to the clinic, we had to unload all the meds off the bus..transfer to a truck where 1/2 the team also joined in.  The bus was able to make the trip up the mountan but it was very slow....again, a reminder that the pace of this journey is not up to us...so walk away.  It also goes much smoother if you still objective and joyful.  I loved snapping pictures of the houses, the people sitting outside their homes.  The wild Poinsettas, Inpatience, Wandering Jew, and other plants & trees.  The mountainside of coffee...and a reminder of how big this world really is, if I can begin to even comprehend it?


On our way home our bus had a blow out...it's a long story but we ended up coming down the mountain with 1 left rear tire blown out on a double axel bus....we went slowly, Praise God.  But, we laughed and reminded ourselves of the slow start this morning, the late start getting going wiht the clinic...and the flat blownout tire this evening.  How all of this would etch a memory of this day in our minds for this trip...and through it all we were the most joyful people alive and were blessed.

Blessings!

Time to Get Started on the Reason We're Here! (Monday, January 24,2011)

At this point...I'm feeling like I've been on vacation...and a little guilty.  It's time to work...time for the reason we came.  We began with devotions from Carol Turner...devotions is always wonderful way to start any day...but especially here.  To remind us why we're here and that it's not about us. 

The new members of the team must be a little apprehensive at this point...we've fellowshiped and have gotten to know each other a little better but now starts the work...and although crazy at times...there is somewhat of an organized chaos to the days. 

"And all of us, as with unveiled face (because we) continued to behold (in the Word of God) as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree to another; (for this comes) from the Lord (Who is) the spirit.  - 2 Corinthians 3:18

This piece of scripture came out of my devotional book I took with me to the D.R....it seemed only fitting to apply it to Mondays work day...the beginning of the week.  A week of sore backs, legs, weariness as the week progresses...but today...we are here to empty ourselves and shine the light of Jesus to all that we meet...even each other.  It's been a wonderful couple days getting to know each other.  Some of us shared in 2 worship services together on Sunday.  We strengthen bonds with old friends and begin to start with new ones. 

But on this day...those non-medical will find their niche' in the mission...those that are medical...will also shine the Light of Jesus in ways that have nothing to do with their trade.  It's about gifts of the heart, the spirit, and the soul.  It's about looking into the eyes of these people...seeing their fear, seeing their pain, and understanding they are our sisters and brothers in Christ.

For some people...well, they're stepping way beyond their comfort zone.  They'll probably realize things about themselves on this trip they never would have thought...things about where God is?  What they believe?  They'll realize....that we are so bold to think we're "doing" for these people and WE are bringing Christ to them...when all along...He's already there and through their eyes, we'll encounter Jesus Christ.

I leave with so much more than I give every year.  I leave with an empty heart full of love.  A realization of how my life in the states is full of clutter and non-essential 'stuff.'  I think I've said it before...Here...I feel I am the person Christ calls me to be.  You either humble yourself...or you're miserable among the heat, work, and missing home.  You have to look beyond all that and find beauty, simplicity, and all the things that are good in the world.  You truly get to spend intimate, personal time with the Lord. 

The work of the day takes away the cleanliness of the morning shower, with the deodorant, powder, make-up...the work of the day, brings about raw sweat....body aches like you don't know...and through it all...once you've stepped beyond that selfishness person you are...you stand on equal ground with these children of God.  They laugh as you make a mockery of trying to speak their language...but are appreciative and help you.  There are so many similarities in our lives it's scary....it's when we lay it all aside...that we truly see Him, through them...looking at us.  I only hope and pray that I show them Christ as much as they do me.

On this day...our real work begins...the reason we're here. 

Blessings!!

Brandon Heath: Give Me Your Eyes

This is Karen, she received one of the prayer blankets from our church at Jackson Park UMC.  Our youth/kids tied the knots and prayed over this blanket.



Giving up control.........

"Letting go doesn't mean giving up, but rather accepting that there are things that cannot be." Unknown
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As you can see from the date, I'm posting these upon my return from the Dominican.  On Sunday night after being in church all day...I began to realize my focus was so intuned to keeping others informed of what was going on over there that I couldn't focus on what I was truly to be doing and how God would use us.

I had persuaded my supervisor to allow me to work a little, checking emails, responding with information the nurses would need, etc.  I stayed up very late a couple of nights in order to get just 4 hours of work done...WiFi connection was horrible and it would take multiple tries to stay on the internet.  I was so frustrated that I could see satan using it to defer my thoughts and attention.  So, Sunday night I made the decision to walk away from work committments and emailed my supervisor. 

Because of the schedule, being so tired in the evening....and having difficulty getting on-line.  I decided to also walk away from feeling like I had to  post a blog every day and instead kept notes and would do it when I came home. 

The next day...it became easier just to share with my family through IM'ing on Skype and no doubt in my mind...God eased that burden because I let my control issues go.  He allowed me just enough connection to at least be able to check in with them both each day.

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Faith

What is your faith level?  (Sunday 1/23/11)

We started today headed to LaHoya to attend Connie’s church.  This church has just been built in the past year, and they’ve already started on the 2^nd floor.  It’s mainly youth….but as I blogged earlier…God is truly working there.  It was so evident to me today. 

The church sits in this batey of about 1500-1700 people…the kids are walking or riding their bikes up and down the street.  There’s a couple horses walking up the sidewalk…yep, you heard me right!  People of the village, wave as we ride through on the bus…riding through here reminds me of how amazing Connie is, and the work she is doing and is inspiring others to do.  She and the leaders of the youth have prepared a special service today.  It is a celebration of the teams that have come to help in LaHoya & Bombita, and in all their honor, they will celebrate our team.  I have heard Connie share numerous times of how the church was built…how they would come upon things that had to be done, like clearing the land, and doing the footings…then putting up the walls.  She says it seems that everytime there was a question…she would say “I’ll let you know in a few days” and in a few days God would send someone to do whatever needed to be done.  I think if we have faith enough to ask God for something…we’ve got to have faith enough to realize and see when he’s going to make it happen.  What is going on in that community is absolutely God at work.  Connie wanted to build a church…a man in the village wanted to buy an old truck that belonged to COPA…and he traded her the land for the track.  He listens and he provides…what’s your faith level?

We arrive and the children are in sitting on the pews…Connie isn’t there yet but one of the children’s leaders is leading a prayer…several rows of little kids with their heads bowed.  You can sense that this is a safe place.  A place of happiness and great things going on in the name of Jesus. 

The church itself is still undergoing construction as the upper floor now needs to have scaffolding built and then the walls stucco applied.   There are some things still to be done downstairs but the things that have been accomplished, donated by teams, churches, people.  The tile was just recently finished & laid by Aldersgate UMC in Shelby, NC.  This is the church of several of our team members and they came down in November for a clinic trip as well as a few people from that church to do building.  The floor is absolutely beautiful.  There have been pews built as well.  It’s nothing fancy…but when you think about what you need to worship the Lord…it’s just perfect!

The church in LaHoya

The youth provided 3 skits/dances beautifully and several special songs.  We sang some of our contemporary worship songs in Spanish and they sang some of them in English.  It was pretty cool and Connie said they love some of the English versions better. 

In my earlier blog, I talked about Gracie and how I so wanted to get her here to be exposed to this culture, the simplicity…to both realize all the things that aren’t necessary in our lives but mostly to realize all that is…..

I sat there watching Amy, and the other girls with COPA being examples for these kids and I became very emotion thinking of my Gracie working with our  youth at church and how this would link her to them as well.  The last skit they did, well…it was the cake topper.  Gracie and our youth have done a skit at church to a song that Lifehouse sings.  If you go out on Godtube.com or Youtube.com, you can find it by just searching for “Lifehouse skit.” I won’t tell you the whole thing but it’s basically as a person, or a young person…the temptations in life that are faced…heck, it doesn’t have anything to do with age.  No matter what age I am…I am tempted by some of them.  There’s sex, money, drugs/alcohol, materialistic things…like focus on appearance, and evil…self mutilation…suicide.

I can’t get to the end of if without sobbing and thankful for the choices Gracie has made.  Knowing all too well, the temptations are out there for her even now. 

LaHoya wasn’t a Christian batey…it is so evident that God, through Connie is changing all of that.  At the end of her sermon she called out the names of all those who had newly accepted Christ since the start of the church…I couldn’t count everybody but there were at least 20 people.   Connie said it even choked her up as she read the names in realizing what God has done….

What’s your faith level?  Do you believe in miracles?  What’s a miracle to you?

Connie’s message was on the feeding of the 5000…also known as  the miracle of the five loaves and two fish.  In John 6:5-15. The story tells that this was the 1^st miracle by Jesus. All these people came to hear Jesus and there wasn’t enough food to feed them. 

“The crowds followed Jesus on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food."

Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."

"We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered.

"Bring them here to me," he said.

Jesus directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Connie told the story but then posed a question…When did the miracle happen?  Was it after he blessed the bread & fish?  Is that when they multiplied with more than enough to feed everyone?  The miracle occurred when the disciples accepted the baskets and, in faith, turned to go feed the people.  The fish & bread wouldn’t have been enough had they not had faith enough to “turn and go.”

This struck me, in that all of us on the team have things going on in our life.  I honestly didn’t know the week of Thanksgiving if I would be here or not.  My step-dad was seriously ill and we were told he wouldn’t make it until Christmas.  I knew I would soon have to make a decision to stay or to “turn and go.”  God has blessed me with 2 wonderful men in my life as father figures…both have had health issues in the past couple of years.  Several years ago my mother-n-law had a massive stroke while I was here in the DR.  It was terribly difficult to be here knowing my husband was in so much pain.  So many of the team members have job issues, or issues within their family…people that are dealing with many things in their life…and yet, they’re here.   Not that this is any comparison to the loaves and fishes miracle and what was taught in that day to the disciples, but we do have to step out on faith so much in our lives to do things out of our comfort zone…totally relying on God.  Although, Barahona and this mission feels very comfortable to me…us.  We are all stepping out of our ‘normal’ routine or life to come do what we’re suppose to do anyway…to spread the love of Jesus.  We’re not doing anything in Barahona that we shouldn’t do at home.  To love and care for each other regardless of our language, skin color, or socio-economic status.  It’s easy to be here for 12 days…but could I step out and be here longer like Connie, Olivia, Amy?  I don’t know…am I selfless enough?  No…not yet, and not sure I will ever be…but I do know that every year here makes me want to be a better person…and every year I go home just a little bit better, although I fall way short.  I truly understand and have witnessed God’s Grace and Mercy in the lives of these people.  We are so bold to think we’re sharing the love of Christ with them….when THEY are what God is using to teach me, mold me into the person He wants me to be.  I still have a long way to go….but it’s a journey, not a destination.

Blessings!

children of LaHoya



Bethpage United Methodist Church Sunday School class...I want you to know that $140.00 of your donation went to LaHoya's church.  I know it will be spent to grow the church and provide more ways to spread the word of God just as it has already.  I loved the way they do their offering.  One person stands in front of the church and during song...you bring your offering up and put in the jar.

Offering at LaHoya



Open The Eyes of My Heart Lord

We sang this song at LaHoya's church today.
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Abre mis ojos, O Cristo

Abre mis ojos, O Cristo
Abre mis ojos, te pido
Yo quiero verte
Yo quireo verte (2 x)

Y contemplar tu majestad
Y el resplandor de tu gloria
Derramame tu amor y poder
Mientras cantamos
Santo, Santo, Santo (3 x)

Yo quireo verte (2 x)

Listen:
Open The Eyes of My Heart - Spanish


Open the Eyes of my Heart, Lord

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart,
I want to see you (2x)

To see you high and lifted up.
Shining in the light of your glory
Pour out your power and love.
As we sing
Holy, holy, holy (2x)

I want to see you (2x)

Day of Prep (Saturday 1/22/11)

This day begins with breakfast & devotions…then we’re off.  Saturday set up day is a big day!  I can’t begin to tell you how many boxes are waiting for us when we get to the hospital but it’s a bunch!!  These are medical supplies that have been shipped ahead and used for our week here.  Anything that we don’t used, is left in a locked room for the next team or we donate it to the hospital here.

The clinic’s day consist of going to the Good Samaritan Clinic and setting up all the meds.  This group travels from Batey to Batey, but always begins on Monday at the clinic there in Batey 7. 

The day is probably best described as ‘organized chaos’…if you’ve been before then you know what needs to be done and just start directing people what to do.  It doesn’t take but a short while until everybody is sweaty, dirty, but moving along in the set up process.

Where we started....

getting creative with crutches, blue pads, and duct tape to make broomes

all organized in pre-op

organized for the door hanger

The process is to go through the boxes, send items to the O.R. rooms, the CRNA’s set up their rooms for the week…we clean up this room and begin putting aside our supplies needed.  This room, as you can see, has the open blinds…sometimes there is air on and sometimes not.

Patient’s come out of the O.R. on the stretcher and we Post-op them from there.  We used to transfer them to beds and it was just too hard and the hospital had this stretchers in here.  

We got a little creative using old crutches, with incontinent chux duct taped around them to sweep the floor.  It’s difficult to get someone to come sweet and mop the floor for us.  We ended up asking Boyd to go to the store and he picked us up a broom and mop.

We got a little creative using old crutches, with incontinent chux duct taped around them to sweep the floor.  It’s difficult to get someone to come sweet and mop the floor for us.  We ended up asking Boyd to go to the store and he picked us up a broom and mop.

I tried to post some pictures...but unsuccessfully, so as soon as I can I will add to this day

At days end…we get it all done.  We’ve bonded with each other.  New folks get to know the seasoned members and the process of forming a bond begins.  It’s amazing that every year, we gain new friends and pick up with old friends like we just saw this yesterday.  I love this group of people!

Blessings!

A Day of Emotion and Listening........

I’m not going to lie to you…today was emotional for me for many reasons.  Susan and I are trying this ‘skype’ thing here at the hotel.  I’ll be honest…It’s impressive and free but doesn’t work good at Playazul.  I could hear enough of my sweet girl Gracie this afternoon saying “hey Mommy,” that it made me a little homesick.  I don’t think she could hear me and I imagined how she must feel to know I was there but she couldn’t get to me...I know, I know…silly.  But it was real to me.  I think it was honestly God’s way of preparing me and showing me that He wanted me to focus on Him and not “worry” about home.  I knew…know she’s in good hands but it was a momma thing…a parent thing. 

I sit here typing this now thinking…how often does God feel the same way…when He’s calling out to us…but we either can’t or don’t answer Him back?  Does He feel as I did when I could hear my child’s voice calling me when we don’t respond to His calling us?

There is relevance to this…I promise.  All this happened after an afternoon of sitting, talking, and catching up with Connie and Olivia.  Connie, as I have mentioned before is a Methodist Missionary and so is Olivia.  They both work for the COPA organization here in the Batey’s of Bombita & LaHoya.  I SO wished I could relay to you the excitement in Connie’s voice as she tells us that the team will be coming to LaHoya for church Sunday morning.  We’ve never been to this church because it’s new…and still in the process of being ‘finished.’  Connie and I stay in communication together throughout the year and she keeps us updated on the happenings and wonderful changes that are being made in the villages.  But to hear her speak of what God is doing in this new church is inspiring…and how she humbly allows God to work through her to do His work…well, it’s selfless.  As you can tell…I love her. 

Every year, I say…”I want to bring Gracie here so bad.”  Every year…it doesn’t happen…but today.  I audibly heard God say…”Do it.” 

Connie began telling us about the youth at the church…how it’s their idea to have a “Mantutina” – early morning service…once a month they come to the church at 5 a.m. and PRAY.  They pray for about a half hour then go home and go back to bed.  Can you imagine?  This wasn’t Connie’s idea…but theirs.  Thursday nights is their Praise & Prayer Night…30 minutes of praise music and then 30 minutes of prayer.  They usually have about 30 youth that come and just last night three 11 year old girls accepted Jesus Christ.  Saturday night is a youth service and then Sunday worship.  It is so evident and real that God is blessing this church and all those that walk through the doors by all that is happening.  She is starting up an Adult Literacy program soon.  This summer they took a group of kids from the Batey up the coast to a week long camp….there’s so much more but I couldn’t make notes fast enough….

I sat there listening and all I could hear was “Do it….”  Gracie is a senior at Wingate University.  She’s a religion major, and is at a point where she’s saying, “ok, what now?”  She admitted a little while back that she’s been praying a lot lately…know others are praying for her, but maybe it’s time for her to listen.  She’s a wise young Christian in her journey…much wiser than I was at almost 22 years of age.  She’s contemplating going into the seminary and is actively pursuing starting this process with visits to some schools soon.  She loves the youth at our church and has actively been a part of our youth group since 5^th grade and now actively helps to lead the group.  Going on trips, planning bible studies, lessons, helping with VBS, teaching skits, and even giving them counsel,  guidance, and not being afraid to be ‘real’ with them with hard questions.  She has become a mentor for many of our young youth in our church and I just sit back and am so amazed at her gift.

I feel so led to bring her here to the Dominican to allow her to share in this newness in the lives of these youth.  To allow her to share HER knowledge and leadership with them…while allowing the experience to broaden her thought process of where God is…and to witness and feel His presence through the eyes, motions, language, and expressions of people that don’t look like her, speak like her…yet are children of the same God.  You truly don’t understand it…until you’re exposed to it…in my opinion.  Until you hear a contemporary worship song that you love and sing….being played with the sweetest sounds of Spanish singers…knowing the hand motions…realizing THEIR Dios, is OUR Jesus.

So, filled with this emotion…I attempt the Skype…I can’t reach her but I could hear her voice.  God allowed me to hear her voice, then hear His…”Do it.”

I don’t know when it’ll be…but my plan is maybe by end of summer…to bring her to the DR for a weeks visit.  To allow this time to meet Connie and let her see how God works through simple means…in large ways.  This is my accountability….putting it out there.  I know what you're thinking...what about what Gracie wants...well, she has to follow where God wants her to go as well, but I can't wait to talk to her and share all that is going

I close with today’s devotion out of Joyce Meyer’s New Day, New You.

How to Live a Holy Life

“Holy living begins with getting rid of selfishness in your life.  The paradox of happiness is that it comes when you forget about yourself and live to help somebody else.  I found out that you can’t be happy if you have yourself on your mind all the time…”

I love you Gracie.  God blessed me with you for so many reasons…but in the past 5 years, you’ve helped me to learn so much about myself…by watching you grow up to be a young woman.  I saw you 4 years ago become a high school graduate, moving to college…realizing you had needed me for 18 years and it was only then that I realized how much I needed you.  You inspire me as I watch you follow God’s path in your life…and to realize for yourself, when you’re doing more talking…than listening.  I have always told you that I can’t wait to see what God will do in your life…all the while, standing on the sidelines watching Him do it right now.  – I love you, I love your heart!! Mom

Face to Face With Jesus

My husband shared an email with me.  He leads Disciple 4 Bible Study this year at our church and I am blessed to once again partake of his great skills as a group facilitator and his knowledge of the Bible.  I thought about it a great deal today…in the email he talked about Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman at the well.  The theme of Wednesday night’s lesson was being New Birth, or being Born Again. How we automatically associate Nicodemus with the Born Again story, since Jesus told him that’s what he had to do. He thought of the Third Day song “Born Again”, and how it applies so much more to the Samaritan woman. She was ostracized and alone, probably with no friends or family, and I imagine not much self esteem. But then she met Jesus, and what a change it made in her life…..and the words to this song just ring true. I can picture her before she met him and then afterwards, and what a difference it made in her life……truly she must have felt like she was Born Again.

When I hear the words “born again,” I think about the night when I walked the isle at a youth revival as a middle schooler.  The song playing was “Just As I Am” and the emotion was so raw and real.  One of those times where I had to go to the altar or bust.  But as I sat today in the sunshine of the Dominican…I’m reminded of all the times in my life since then that I have been “born again”….all over again!  I believe it’s called Sanctifying Grace.  The Grace of God sustaining us over and over and over.  Because I’m Methodists, I’ll quote John Wesley’s theological thinking of this. Wesley believed that, “after we have accepted God's grace, we are to move on in God's sustaining grace toward perfection. Wesley believed the people could ‘fall from grace’ or ‘backslide.’ We cannot just sit on our laurels, so to speak, and claim God's salvation and then do nothing. We are to participate in what he called "the means of grace" and to continue to grow in Christian life.”

At Santo Domingo airport with Rolando, who will be taking us to Barahona

This trip is so much of that for me.  Susan, Kim, and I started last year coming 2 days early.  Just to relax before the week starts.  It’s a hard week…I won’t lie.  Each evening, you’re tired, hot, and missing your loved ones.  Today, we did sit in the sun a little…talked about the new members coming, our friends that were returning and wondering if the new folks would ‘love it’ as much as we do.  We talked about the gifts of everybody and while we’re here, we’re all collectively members of Dream Ministries and a visitor in this country.  Our roles in the states don’t totally define who we are and what we do here.  I say that and mean it from the doctors on down….Yes, they are the only ones who can perform the surgeries…but there’s not one of the three that will be here that won’t stop and help me pull someone up in the bed, or start an IV if I can’t find a vein.  We’re all here to serve these sweet patients that God has put on the list this week.  That is represented best, I think when our “docs” become “us” on first name basis.  Two young nurses were new last year and both work with Mike & Doug at Shelby Regional.  We were unpacking boxes on Saturday and separately I heard each of them call both of them Dr. Barringer and Dr. Hobson…and both docs replied, “I’m Mike here” and “I’m Doug here.”  To me, that speaks.    By the end of the trip, I’ll be able to share with you better…the hands, feet, eyes, ears of the team…the body of Christ each person plays.  But, if you come here more than once…you’ve got the heart.  Every time I come, I hopefully leave a part of me here…and absolutely take these people back with me.  It changes you…it reminds me of that “working toward perfection” that John Wesley speaks of…that’s why I have said that “here, I am the person God wants me to be.”  Unselfishly and without hesitation giving…

Today, Susan, Kim, and I are going into town.  Jorge (Good Samaritan Clinic doctor of Batey7) has arranged to have someone from Pedro’s church to come take us and help interpret.  We’ll begin to buy lunch groceries for the week.  So, while Thursday was rest and to a large degree, and so will today…but we are beginning to shift our focus to why we’re here.  The remaining 33 members of the team will arrive this evening, hopefully around 6:30 or 7:00 pm…the meeting of new people begins and the “picking up where we left off” of old friends begin. 

chips, drinks, cookies for both teams for the week

Saturday morning will begin our work…as part of us go to the hospital to unload a ton of boxes, set up the OR’s, Pre-op, and Post-op work areas, and the clinic group will go to Batey 7’s Good Samaritan Clinic to get the the boxes of drugs unboxed, and begin counting pills & putting in ziploc baggies.  With a devotion each morning before we leave the hotel…it keeps us mindful, especially as the week goes and we become tired…it keeps us mindful about why we’re here.  For some of these people, we may be the only Jesus in their life…and for many of them…at least to me…they are Jesus in mine. 

If you look to the right of my blog on the page…there’s a picture of a little boy…close up picture.  Everytime I look at this child in this picture, I see the face of Jesus through his beautiful brown eyes.

There were be many opportunities I pray this week for God to show me and sustain me with signs of His existence in our week ahead.  I think I’ve said before…we always have a plan, a list of patients…but inevitably it changes.  I’ll be real…it’s frustrating at times, when the time schedules don’t go together…when the transporter we pay for the week can’t find the patient’s or brings the wrong ones…but at weeks end...who is suppose to be seen…is seen.   My prayer each morning is hopefully through my eyes, my smile, my bad attempt at speaking their language…they can see a little of Jesus.  I pray through my…our love and care this week…we will sustain these sweet people in Jesus…show Him to them for the first time, or just to reaffirm…that He’s realizing their needs by having them be seen by the doctor at the clinic or undergoing a surgery.

I know this has been long…and I hope it all relates & ties together.  Sometimes I have so much on my heart and mind it mingles…but I close with a favorite quote of mine.

“Live your life each day so that those who know you but don’t know God, will come to know God because they know you.” –Unknown



Blessings!!

"In My Own Little World" Matthew West

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvSwcMp9vU4

In my own little world it hardly ever rains
I’ve never gone hungry, always felt safe
I got some money in my pocket, shoes on my feet
In my own little world
Population: me

I try to stay awake during Sunday morning church
I throw a twenty in the plate, but I never give ’til it hurts
I turn off the news when I don’t like what I see
Yeah,it’s easy to do when it’s
Population: me
What if there’s a bigger picture?
What if I’m missing out?
What if there’s a greater purpose
I could be living right now
Outside my own little world oooh

Well, I stopped at a red light, looked out my window
I saw a cardboard sign, said “Help this homeless widow”
Above that sign was the face of a human
and I thought to myself, “God, what have I been doing?”
So I rolled down the window and I looked her in the eye
I thought how many times have I just passed her by?
So I gave her some money then I drove on through
And my own little world reached
Population: two
What if there’s a bigger picture?
What if I’m missing out?
What if there’s a greater purpose
I should be living right now
Outside my own little world yeah, yeah
My own little world oooh

Father break my heart for what breaks Yours
Give me open hands and open doors
and put Your Light in my eyes and let me see
That my own little world is not about me

What if there’s a bigger picture?
What if I’m missing out?
What if there’s a greater purpose
That I could be living right now
Well I dont wanna miss what matters
i wanna be reaching out
showing the greater purpose
so I could be living right now

Outside my own little world oooh

My own little world yeah

My own little world oooh

Suitcases packed with love....and just a few clothes!

Matthew 6:3-4
But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.

********************************************************************************************************

Last year when we came home from the DR...the emotion level was so high because of what we what we had emotionally seen...we shared our stories, our heart...and the result is every one we talked to wanted to do...to send...to share a part.  Everything from money from individuals in our lives, a Sunday School class from Beth Page, just to take over and use 'wherever it's needed' and there's always needs that come up...to Beanie Babies for the kids, homemade hair bows for little girls...little footies for the pre-op patients, soaps, lotions, stickers, little cars, little boy undies, clothes, heart necklaces, silly banz, prayer blankets from our childrens program at church...and did I mention beanies...LOL!!  However insignificant others may think these things are to these people...the hearts that donated them...well, the hearts of these people aren't doing it or didn't do it for any reason other than to share the love of Christ.  I am so proud to have almost 2 suitcases full of love.  I have had to remove clothes 4 times to make more room...and it's so worth it.

Most of all...the emails, texts, and phone calls today have been overwhelming.  Susan and I never feel apprehension about traveling to the DR...like I've said in previous blogs...it's home.  But, things can and do happen...so prayers are always welcomed and coveted if you feel inclined.

Depending on how well we can connect to the hotel WiFi as to how often I can blog here and Facebook...but I'm optimistic.

Those who are following the blog...thank you!  It has really helped me to prepare my heart, and keep my mind focused on the reason we're going and keep my anxiety about all the 'stuff' to do before we leave in check....

In His Grip!!