Hi!! I'm actually starting this blog post while sitting in the airport waiting for my flight home! WOW! I cannot believe this trip has gone by so quickly. I'm feeling allll the emotions right now: joy for the blessings this past month has brought, sadness for the community I have to leave, and excitement to squeeze my family. I just keep crying and I can't even tell if they're happy or sad tears haha!
Anyways, I am so excited to share this last week with you all. While this will be my last update for my trip obviously, I want to publish at least one more blog about my trip. I think I'll focus primarily on the verses and passages that really encouraged me throughout our time evangelizing. I'll also include tips on evangelism and the best ways to approach sharing the Gospel. I'm also going to be writing an article with Anchored Passion on the urgency of evangelism. I'm very excited to be working with them again! (Here's the article I wrote last month for them on progressive Christianity: https://anchoredpassion.com/7340-2/ )
Ok, let's get into it!
P.S. sorry I'm posting this 9 days after I actually started it... life at home got a little lazy hehe.
Saturday 7/24: Santo Domingo
Today, we spent the day exploring the capitol city of the Dominican Republic: Santo Domingo! It was really interesting to see all of the historic buildings and learn some pieces of Dominican history. I can be a little bit of a nerd sometimes (most of the time), so I really enjoyed that part.
It's honestly a little hard for me to write a lot about this day because I was in a baddddd mood. Honesty is the best policy, right? It was my first day of really feeling homesick and I was just really struggling to be my normal self. A lot of things didn't go as planned, including getting POURED on, and I was just not having the best time. I think its important to acknowledge the hard days, too. People should know that just because you're on a mission trip and serving the Lord, life is not all sunshine and daisies. The Bible actually often says its the exact opposite:
[10] You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, [11] my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. [12] Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, [13] while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. [14] But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it [15] and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. [16] All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (ESV)
-- 2 Timothy 3:10–17
Obviously, in this instance, no human being was persecuting me for my beliefs. But the devil was targeting me. He was whispering lies of inadequacy, making my heart ache for home, trying to convince me my work here doesn't matter. But the Lord has equipped each of us to combat these lies with His Word. So that's why I think its so important to talk about the bad days. Because Christianity is almost never easy, but certainly always worth it.
Anyways, even though I was having a tough day, we got some cute pics :)
7/25: El Día de los Padres
On Sunday, it was Father's Day in the Dominican! It was really sweet to see families celebrating together. The church set up a cute little photo backdrop and also had a breakfast for all the dads! I told my dad that he must be a pretty great one because he got two Father's Days this year!
Pedro Juan did an amazing sermon on Matthew 9: 35-38, called "The Harvest is Plenty, the Workers are Few." I'm actually going to include my takeaways from this sermon in a separate blog post because I was so convicted by it. I. have a lot of things I wanna say about it!
After church, we went to Pedro Juan's parents' house to celebrate his father. It was really nice to get to meet his family and spend time with them. Olivia and I also spent a lot of time outside chatting and playing sudoko (our new favorite game).
Me and Olivia with Jonas and Amber. And their mom, Jenny!
7/26: The Fruit of the Spirit's Not a Coconut!
Today was our last day teaching the kids English and Bible lessons! I was so sad that today was our last day teaching them, but also a little relieved because being a teacher is certainly not the calling God has placed over my life.
Olivia and I thought it would be fun if we taught the kids the translations of the fruits of the spirit and then taught them the classic church camp song. The translation part went well, but I looked like a fool in front of the class singing the song by myself. Eventually, I told the kids I was just gonna keep singing it until I heard all of them doing the same, and I guess my singing was bad enough to convince them to all do it with me. In case you don't know the fruit of the spirit song, here a quick recap:
The fruit of the spirit isn't a watermelon! *act like a watermelon every time you hear watermelon*
If you wanna be a watermelon (*) you mind as well hear it, you can't be a fruit of the spirit!
WHY?!
Because... *initiate the hand jive* the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self controooooooool.
And then each time you sing it, you pick a different fruit and then get faster & faster. I highly recommend looking up the video if my rendition didn't do a good job explaining it. You'll learn the fruits of the spirit so quickly if you watch the video hahah. Anyways, it was quite an experience with the kids. But at least they know their food fruits and spiritual fruits in English now!
7/27: Work With Marisol
Today, we went with Marisol, who is a doctor specializing in mental health, to her work at a group home for orphans with special needs. Mental health and special needs truly have such a huge place in my heart and being at the group home made me so emotional. I loved getting to interact with the residents, learn about their ministry, and seeing how strategically God has placed me in that specific place. For those who may not know, I'm currently majoring in pre-law and my dream is to either become an adoption attorney or advocate for the rights of those with special needs. Last semester, I started really intentionally praying about my future career and my degree because I'm so scared I'll decide to change my major in a year or so (its a time sensitive track I'm on, so I really need to be sure this is what I want to do). I also even added a Spanish minor so I could potentially do international adoption. I've been anxiously awaiting confirmation from God that this is my path. And while standing in that group home, we were talking bout how many legal complications there have been trying to get these residents adopted. And it hit me. THIS is what I want to be doing. I don't have to choose adoption attorney or special needs, I can do both. I don't have to forfeit my faith and mission work for a career in law, God provides plenty of room for both. I felt so overwhelmed, and I just kept thinking THIS, this is what I want to do. This is who I want to work with and for. God has intertwined everything in my life to point to this moment of confirmation for me. He has intertwined all of my passions, all of my dreams, so that I may be able to glorify Him with my career. It was truly such a beautiful moment for me.
If you are interested in supporting this ministry or even sponsoring one of their residents, you can visit https://www.lcms.org/givenow/palmar-arriba-hlbp or email hogaresluteranosbp@gmail.com for more information.
7/28: It's All Fun and Games Until the Water Balloons Come Out
On the last day with the kids, we played water games! We had a lot of fun doing relay races and playing a version of duck duck goose with a bucket of water. We had a lot fo fun... until the water balloons started being thrown. Then, absolute chaos. Hahaha.
On Wednesday night, Pedro Juan preached about another great missionary and the work she has done to glorify God in Asia. July was missions month so each sermon he gave really focused on individuals people and their efforts to spread the Word. It was really inspiring to see how people from the late 1800s and 1900s are still affecting missions today. You never know how your obedience to God will affect people, even centuries later. Wow. What a reassurance for when we feel like our works rooted in faith are futile. Friend, they never are. God is working whether you are able to see it or not.
At the end of the service, Pedro Juan invited Olivia and I up to the front of the church. All the kids came up and started saying why they were thankful for us. I started BAWLING in front of everyone, partly because of the joy these people have given me and partly because I knew how much I would miss them. It was such a sweet moment.
After the service, we all had Dominican tacos! I will shamelessly say I ate four (and a half) because I knew I would miss having them. Also, they always put ketchup and mayo on their tacos. I know it sounds weird, but seriously it tastes SO good. 10/10 recommend.
7/29: Dominicans Hate the Sun
On our last day, we went to the country club with Alondra and her family. We spent the day at the pool! Olivia and I laid out in the sun, but Dominicans HATE the sun. Alondra was sitting in the shade with a hat on and a towel over her head. It always makes Olivia and I laugh because all Dominicans are like this! And they really can't understand why Americans like being in the sun so much.
Olivia and I were able to talk a lot about what we've learn on this trip. We talked about our favorite parts, our hardships, our hopes for home, and just about everything in between. I need to get sappy about Olivia for a second because wow-- she has truly been one of the most constant, intentional, caring, and loyal friend I have ever known. She always pushes me in my faith. She holds me accountable and she inspires so much of my spiritual discipline. She lives for Jesus each and every day and her joy through Him is SO evident. She also is one of the funniest people I know. And her laugh is just contagious! Livers, thank you for being the most amazing person to spend a month in the DR with. I MISS YOU!!!
7/30: Home
Saying goodbye today was really hard. I cried at the house, I cried in the airport, I cried on the plane, and I cried a little more when I got home. They were a mixture of joyful tears for the experiences God has blessed me with but also tears for leaving a place I felt at home in.
Before we left, Pedro Juan and Alondra took us out to pizza and we were able to have a really good conversation about the work God had done in our time there. I never imagined serving others could be such a blessing to myself. I never knew walking in obedience despite the fear and anxiety would lead to such transformation. Our Lord is so faithfully abundant and abundantly faithful (my motto for this trip). He has proven that to me again and again and again. And then some more.
Traveling through customs was an EXPERIENCE, but Olivia and I got to Miami just fine. I got dinner and I was placed up at the bar since I was by myself. Since I was sitting there, I actually met an older couple that was coming back from their honeymoon and I had the opportunity to tell them about my time in the Dominican and got to witness to them. God works at the bars, too! In the days leading up to leaving, I had been praying that God would give me the courage to evangelize to people in the States just like I was able to do in the DR. And not even four hours after I left, God was answering that prayer.
When I landed in Memphis, my amazing family and boyfriend were there to meet me. They are the sweetest! It was such a joyful reunion andddd I cried again. It was just a very emotional day for me haha.
I can't believe I'm closing out my last blog update for my time in the Dominican. I honestly think I've been putting off finishing it because I don't wanna admit it's over. Yes, I know that's cheesy but in the fifteen minutes it's taken to finish this, the tears have just kept flowing. Wow. I'm in awe of the Lord. I'm in awe of how He works. I'm in awe of His people. I'm in awe of His creation. I'm just... in awe.
I don't know what the future holds or when I will be able to go back, but I do know I will return to the Dominican Republic. In many ways, they feel like a family to me. Despite all the weird quirks and cultural adjustments, it feels like home. I miss the people dearly. I love the people dearly. I pray I will be able to pour into them one day just as much as they have poured into me.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. I will never be able to tell you how much your support means to me. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful community surrounding me.
All my love,
Emory B.
Prayer Requests:
- For all the residents at the group home. For Junior, Ramona, Francis, Randy, and Moíses. Let them know how loved they are. And for the aunts and uncles who care for them. Let their care be guided by the Lord.
- For the kids at church. Pray they will continue in their relationships with the Lord. And a prayer of gratitude for all the love and laughs they have blessed me with.
- For me, that I may continue evangelizing here at home, even when it somehow seems even more daunting.
- For Pedro Juan and his church, may he continue leading them with grace. May the church continue reaching out to the community with so much love and conviction. Also a prayer of gratitude for all they have done to make me feel welcome.
- For yourself, may you feel the fire to spread the Word. Go out. Be fishers of men. Fulfill your calling and commandment. Pray for courage, for discernment, and for passion.
Since you made it to the end, here's a bonus picture of Pedro Juan in the shirt Olivia and I got him to say thank you:
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