His big heart

It would be easy for a group of Americans to come to this children’s home and see these kids as so needy. I know. That’s what I thought my first week here. That’s what I hear mission group after mission group say as they come spend afternoons with the kids. But what does a child really need?

These children need shelter. They have that. They need food and clean water. They have that. They need hugs and kisses. They have that. They need adults in their lives who love them and love God. They have that, too.

Sure, they like soccer balls and ice cream and selfies. But they have those too, some of the time. So do not think you are serving people because they need you. They have God. They don’t need you. Remember that you are serving because God has asked you. That is it. I am trying to remember that too.

All this is not to say that we can’t be blessed. After three weeks without fresh fruits or veggies, I felt very blessed with I was driven to the grocery store. (This week, I was able to buy apples and bananas.) This home is very blessed when visiting groups bring resources and even more blessed by financial donations.

I guess what I’m trying to say is don’t have pity on the kids here or on people you serve anywhere. And be humble in your gifts. Be thankful that you get to take part in God blessing his children. I am trying to be thankful every day as I eat my rice and beans, teach my students English, and cuddle lots of cute children.

A group of kids and one worker climbing the pile of logs in one corner of the property.

All in all, things are great here. Today, two different people complimented me on my Spanish, so I think that’s a good sign. Teaching is coming along. A few days ago when I told one of the girls I wasn’t going to give her any gum, she looked at me, stuck out her lip, and said, “I’m sad,” in perfect English.

A few prayer requests:

I teach the youngest kids in three groups for 45 minutes. These kids are ages 2-6 and by far my most difficult classes. Please pray that I will be filled with patience, wisdom, and kindness daily.

In the next few weeks, several Americans are coming to the foundation. Please pray that their travels and transitions are great and that they fit well here.

The longer I’m here, the more I am wondering how I can make these kids a permeant part of my life.  Please pray that if God has a future for me in the Dominican Republic long term, I will be able to see it clearly.

How can I pray for you?

Toda la gloria a Dios.
All the glory to God.

Praise the Lord, I made it here completely safely! There were a few slight delays in the airport, but I think that's to be expected. I spent the first few nights in the Dominican Republic at the homes of the Foundation workers. (Here, they call the children's home "la Fundación" or "la Casita," which means little house.) On Sunday, I met the kids for the first time, and I moved into my bedroom here on Monday. Tomorrow I will start to teaching the kids in English classes. Construction workers are wrapping up work on the computer room, but when they are done, I will teach computers too.

One answered prayer: A few days ago, I found out that the Fundación had very few English teaching resources. I had no idea how I was supposed to teach these kids English when I speak so little Spanish. Then on Monday, a church group on a mission trip visited the fundación. Without being asked, they brought with them literally hundreds of English textbooks. I spent over an hour this morning sorting them by publisher and level. They will definitely be helpful as I try to teach these kids some English.

One thing to pray for: Patience, especially when it comes to a language barrier. I have definitely struggled with language more than I expected. My whole life, communication has come pretty easily to me, but here, I have to ask the kids to repeat nearly everything they say, and often I still have no idea what they are asking. Things are certainly improving. For instance, I can conjugate some verbs much better now. But the communication barrier can make me feel isolated and unhelpful. Please pray that I will learn Spanish better, and have more patience in my limited communication now.

Some phrases I use all the time that I never learned in Spanish class.

Hola! This is a story about a little girl with a small piece of her Father’s big heart. This little girl lived her whole life in mild Indiana in the United States, a place where the winters are somewhat cold, the summers are somewhat hot, & the land is somewhat flat. This little girl was blessed because she grew up in a family that loved God, & they taught her to love Him too.

Meanwhile, the little girl started to grow up. She grew busy with things like SAT scores & college application essays. She spent lots of time thinking about her career & her future & less time thinking about how to love God’s people. She continued to love God, as she had been taught, but she loved Him with part of her life. She forgot that He gave to her an entire life only so that she could love Him & His children. She forgot that her career was to work in His service & no one else’s.

went to college.

The girl was always thinking about her next steps, & during her first few months of college she thought about what she should do that summer. That is when God began to whisper to her about a small piece of His big heart. He began to tell her that His children were hurting & that she could help.

The girl began to wonder if God wanted her to take a break from focusing on her career. She began to wonder if He was asking her to take the summer to learn how to better serve Him & His children.

But the girl had not practiced listening to her Father very often, & so she wondered if she was mishearing him. She applied for two jobs in the summer. The first job paid a lot & was at a new company with a well-known CEO that the girl knew could help with her career. The second job would cost her money & was in a country far away with people who she’d never met & she didn’t know their language.

Guess which job her Father gave her.

Now that girl is getting ready to go to the Dominican Republic. She will stay there for nine weeks, loving God & serving His children. She doesn’t know how the trip will help her career, & she doesn’t know why her Father asked her to go there. She does know that her Father wants her to go to the Dominican Republic, & she does know that her Father loves her. She trusts that her Father had things He wants to teach her that she can only learn there, & she prays every day that He will give her the wisdom to learn them well. This girl is me.

Toda la gloria a Dios. (All the glory to God.)

"I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works."

1 Timothy 2:8-10

"An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side and said to them, 'Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.' "

Luke 9:46-48