Day 16: The Biggest Need

Emily, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Greetings!

     The past week I have spent meeting all the people from the different communities I will have the chance to work with.  I have met many adults and children varying in their relationship with God.  I came here knowing my love for children and seeking out opportunities to do that.  As I spoke more with the communities, I realized that that was not the need right now, the biggest need the people have here in Santiago is a lack of role models for young men and women.  

     As citizens of this earth we are obsessed with relationships.  Most of us love to love.  And if that is your parents, your friends, or your significant other, we love to be loved by other people as well.  As in much of America, the people of Santiago don't know how to go about this thing called relationships.  How do I go about it?  How do I learn to sacrifice?  How do I show them I love them? How do I know if they love me?  These are all universal questions that we all face.  For young women, if we are not molded by good role models, these questions can do much damage to our character.

     In every single community I visited, there was a need for a girls bible study.  There is a need for young girls to know that they are loved by someone who will fulfill their longing heart fully.  There is a need for them to know that they can stop searching for a man that will tell them that they matter bc there is already a man who has been saying that since creation.  God will fulfill our longing hearts together.  

     I ask that those of you back home will be praying for the young girls that I get to meet with and share with.  This is a stretch for me but also something that is of high importance in God's eyes.  I am already falling in love with these young women and can see how God is moving here.  God is real and God has not left us, believe that.

Until next time from the beautiful beaches of Isla Saona,

Emily

La Otra Banda Community

Day 10: Consider Him Who Endured Much

Puerto Plata, Republica Domincana

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run win perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on JESUS, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning it's shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider HIM who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Hebrews 12:1-3

     Last week, my first week here, was hard and I felt like each day was just a scratch off on the calendar telling me I was one day closer to home.  I didn't like that I was doing that but I couldn't find any sense of comfort.  There are a lot of things in the Dominican Republic that are similar to the United States, but a lot of things that are very different.. The food for one is very different, the language, the way men treat women when walking places, and the lack of air conditioner!  I realized that my prayers sounded more like "God give me strength to get through this" rather than "God give me strength to pour into this."  

     I came across this verse yesterday and was amazed at the words it spoke.  Jesus endured everything that we previously, presently, and in the future will endure.  He knows our pain that we feel because he endured it all himself, and ultimately paid the price for our sins.  I think of how he never gave up on his purpose even when so many people turned their backs on him, all for my sin, not even for his own gain.  That is someone I look up to; that is someone I am okay with being in love with.

     As I go through the rest of this week, I will remember this verse. And as I meet with young girls tonight who come from a place where having a man is seen as the only successful life, what a great thing for them to know that our father in heaven endured so much for us so that we can live our lives in freedom from the things of this world and not grow weary or lose heart. 

At the ISA office

Day 4

"As for God his way is perfect;

The Lord's word is flawless;

He shields all who take refuge in Him.

For who is God besides The Lord?

And who is the rock besides our God?

It is God who arms me with strength

And keeps my ways secure."

Psalm 18:30-32

     I truly believe that there is no way to live apart from God.  He is in everything and extends his hands to everything.  The things of this world are too interconnected and too many things came from a one in a million chance to not believe that.  Some might look at me and say, oh all this talk about God giving her strength is just a religious way of saying she is growing up and is learning how to make it on her own.  I will tell you why they are wrong.  

     There is a human characteristic in all of us that wants to satisfy ourselves and to stay comfortable.  We enjoy living our life in the places we want, with the people we want, and in the manner we want.  That is all okay, unless there is an outside force that you were specifically designed to work for, not 9-5 work, but life giving, eternal work.  I explained earlier in a condensed way that I believe in this outside force; therefore I cannot live in a way that only satisfies myself but in a way that honors my maker (the same way we long to honor our parents).  

     What I want readers to understand is that this trip is against my will and against my human characteristics of wanting to be comfortable.  No that is not something I enjoy saying but I want people to see that this is how far I would go for something that is true; you need to see the truth in this.  God is real, and yes God is the one giving me the strength to do this so that I can do good work here.  He is a good God who, yes, might make one person feel uncomfortable in order to make dozens more experience the freedom and goodness of living in Him.  I guess that is why I risk my comfort, that's why I cut all securities.  I want everyone to know this Truth, because it is true, the truth will set you free...

Day 2: Old Feelings

     Today was my second day in La Republica Dominicana.  Lets just say my body has a lot of adjusting to do.  There probably wasn't one minute in the day where I wasn't sweating or fighting off the millions of Mosquitos!  There is something about this island though that draws me in.
     To be honest, I am pushing through those old feelings again.  The feelings of wanting the ones I love and not being able to have them.  I am holding it together though, I am trusting in God's plans.  I just have to believe that He wants me right here where I am.
     So God, please continue to provide me with strength to do this.  I am so scared of failing you again.  Help me to remember the love and courage you poured into me these previous weeks so that I might fulfill this call. I need you God and cannot do this on my own.  This is not about what comforts me, this is about obeying you and that is what I am going to do.  Amen.

Day 1: New faces, New Places

I arrived and I am safe.  Besides that my tired body will be resigning for the night.

Mi nueva familia.

La ciudad Santiago.

Departure: TOMORROW

Today is officially my last day here before I go abroad and learn a whole new culture for 42 days!

>>GRATEFUL.  More than anything right now I am feeling grateful.  I am so thankful to even get a chance like this.  Most people my age don't get to do things like this, but with so much support from so many people it was made possible.

>>PROTECTED.  I feel weirdly at ease about all of this.  I thought this week would be hard because I had to say bye to all of my friends, but more than anything I feel covered in prayer.  Thank you everyone who is praying for me, because honestly I feel it 100%.

>>FEARLESS.  Initially I wanted God to speak to me in big ways this week pouring wisdom into me and filling me with guidance..  None of that happened.  What did happen was God's beauty was revealed.  All he did was show me his beauty in the everyday things around me reminding me that His presence was the only thing I needed.  I didn't need more words to satisfy my inner soul.  I needed my maker to show me he is with me still.  For me that looked like watching the sun set in the sky and enjoying laughter shared with my beautiful sister.  Those things were glimpses of God's presence to me.  I am feeling full of happiness that could only come from God and ultimately fearless knowing that the same God who creates sunsets, is creating my story all the while.

The Voice of Truth

     For some reason running has always been a spiritual thing for me.  It's either think about the pain that is jolting through my calves or try to use this time for prayer and thinking.  In most cases I tend to chose the latter option because, well that option sounds more delightful!  Being back home, I have stepped back into the grove of going running every once in a while down some streets by my house.  This actually does wonders for my relationship with God.  I love seeing wide open fields with rows of corn, herds of cattle roaming through tall, green grass, breathing the fresh, crisp air, and most of all... the moment a cloud barely moves away and the sun has full reign over the entire sky, like God is saying "bask in my beauty, if only for just a moment!"
 

     I was running just the other day and the song "Voice of Truth" by Casting Crowns came on.  The chorus says:

But the voice of truth tells me a different story.  The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"  The voice of truth says, "This is for My glory."  Out of all the voices calling out to me, I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth.  

 If you have read any of my other blog posts you might could guess why this song spoke to me so much.  This song talks about when Jesus called out to Peter to walk on water.  "To step out of my comfort zone, into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is, and he's holding out his hands."  It was the moment when Peter had to trust Jesus, when there wasn't the boat to hold him up anymore or sail to keep his direction.  In-fact, it was even worse than just losing all objects of stability, it was stepping out into stormy waters with crashing waves, and dark rumbling clouds.   I imagine myself being Peter and physically being able to reach out for Jesus' hand and grab hold of it.  How beautiful a scene of what trust in Jesus is supposed to look like.

     So as I was running and the song was growing more powerful, and I felt the actual voice of truth seeping into my thoughts, the grande finale came.  As the words "Do not be afraid" rang into my ear buds with power, the clouds separated in the sky and the sun shone through them like great golden rays in that very instant.  That is God.  You look at something as beautiful as the sun peaking around white clouds in the open blue, country sky and you will believe that there is a God.  One that fills you with strength and builds you up in courage.  One that won't call you out onto the water without already being one step ahead with an outstretched arm.  Out of all the voices calling out to me, I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth.  I think that voice of truth is telling me, I am strong and I am ready.  What is it telling you?