the dominican republic

I just got back from the Dominican Republic. 

The Lord really blessed our trip, and I learned alot about myself in ten days. 

My health was so awesome, I ran hard and exhausted myself every day but at night when I laid in my bed my heart would well up joy and I would smile looking toward the next day. I have so many stories and I keep trying to type them in a way that would make sense in paragraph form but I really can't so I will go one by one.

Meeting my sponsor child.

I got to hold the tiny worn hands of the child who colors me pictures and writes me letters. I saw her face to face and shared food with her. Although the language barrier was hard and the conversation was as strange as if it were an awkward first date,  It brings tears to my eyes just thinking back to that moment. 

Swimming in a damn. 

One afternoon, in the middle of our work week, we were taken on a "surprise" trip to the at damn in the middle of the mountains. It was the most picture perfect, steal your breath moment as I paused before jumping head first into the water. I swam my heart out, floating on my back just soaking it all in. I shot up prayers between splashes and screams thanking God for his creativity. 

Basketball and Rain.

I went with a few people from our team to a basketball game one afternoon, americans  vrs. dominicans. I have a new respect for sports, they bring people together. It was so cool to see our guys come together and play. On the way back Joe drove the guys in the back of the pick up around in the rain for an extra 15 min just to see them suffer in the ice cold rain. it was priceless = )

Huleo and the Snake. 

Even though I can't speak much spanish, I can draw pictures. So in the midst of a day of arts and crafts, I bonded with Huleo a 9 year old kid who laughed with me as I drew pictures of him in different situations (being swallowed by a giant snake, on a boat, being squished by giant stinky feet etc.). It was so great to finally be able to bridge language problems using a gift God had given me. *side note* my art skills were discovered along with my sharpie and I was deemed the missions tattoo artist, giving almost everyone some fresh ink. which many students decided to get them henna tattooed on later that week.

Doing dishes. 

I love doing dishes at home, so it's no news to anyone that I really enjoyed this part of the trip. I love to soak and scrub and chat about life, it's so much easier to get people to talk to you when their hands are busy, thats why I love kitchens so much. I will never forget my dish time. It makes me smile just thinking about it. 

Sorting Clothes. 

On our last night at the guest house, I sat on the floor in a huge pile of donated shirts and I sorted them by size and color. You may not think that was mind blowing and my sponsors may be asking why they even helped me go, but I want to say it was powerful to pray over those shirts as I folded. To know I was apart of something that would clothe a naked back was fantastic. It was also hilarious to talk about how I was apparently so much different than the other girls on the trip and hear kayla choose between shoes she was sorting. *side note* womens ministry collected and donated over 500 pair of shoes for the Dominican people. 

Ah, this was just such a wonderful trip. I truly adore missions, they will get the best of you every time. I wish I could turn right around and go back to the guest house, and I would too, if Joe and Shannon would have me (they were such great hosts, and great people).

It has been hard to adjust back to my life in the states. No little hands to hold, dishwashers (stink), Air conditioning (I am freezing and I hate it, but it is a blessing), water I can drink out of the faucet, toilet paper IN the toilets, taco bell instead of real rice and beans (which Joe would say is better, hah), english (I still say see and gracias at least 1,000 times a day), starbucks is baccckkk hah. 

I am sure I will be blogging about this for days to come. 

It was a powerful trip and I was changed for the better!

Blessings, 

Sarah