The past couple of days I have been taking a look at my last seven months here in the Dominican Republic. Realizing that it is all coming to an end all to quickly has got me to thinking of all the fun times, hard times, and times where I have seen God work in me and through me, but most of all how much God has changed me this year. I never would have thought that coming and living here was ever a part of the plan but as I look back and take it all in, this was it, this was exactly where I needed to be.
I have done some things here that I would never have been able to say before if I had not followed where God was leading me. I have lived in another country for seven months, hiked down and back up a mountain (more than 5 times), swam at the bottom of a waterfall, meringue danced on the bank of a river, shared in deep discussions along the river, on the beach, and at waterfall edges. I have had more spirits lifted through laughter than I can count, strengthened and made new friendships, built relationships that will never be forgotten. I have fallen in love... with the children that I am with everyday, with this country and the people, and with life here. Leaving will be one of the hardest thing that I will have to do. I have been dreading it since even the first week I was here. As I look back it seems like just yesterday I was stepping off the plane into this country, not knowing what to expect or what God was going to show me in the process of being here.
A few weeks ago I would have said I was defiantly not ready to go home. It scared me to death to think about going home and what that would mean for me. What was I going to do and what was next was just not what I wanted to think about. But all my fear about it has just been taken away on little thing at a time. There is a path for me and God has been faithful to reveal it to me in His own time. I should know by now that He has everything in control and what He has planed for me will be revealed in good time. Although I am super sad to leave this place I am excited for what is to come. I am excited to tell all what God has done here and in my life and what that now means. He is faithful and will continue to be faithful.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Pieces of My Heart
So here we are a day into the last push of our summer here in the DR. What a summer it has been already. I know I always say that I am going to miss it here, and I am slowly coming to terms with that and what it will be like when I am home, but with each passing day and week the closer I come to terms of leaving the further away I seem to get as well. I walked into the school this afternoon after a long weekend away and was greeted by a Christine, Christine, Christine!!! Of course there is a little bit of an accent added to it that might be my favorite part. These kids! They have a piece of my heart that I am afraid is going to be left here in the DR.
I cant put into enough words everything that God has taught me and shown me here. I know I am going back to the States different in so many ways. God has shown me so much of his character, love and faithfulness, and patience. I knew all of these things but there is always new ways to experience them and being here all these months has just been the place for me. Every time I tell my testimony, I see so many more places in my life where God was pushing me to this place. As I look back I am amazed to see where I was even just a year or so ago and where I am now. I feel Gods presents so much more in my life and as I seek Him more in all decisions that I am making and not on others opinions or my own judgment but on His will for my life.
There are only two and a half weeks left where I will be able to walk into the school and be greeted by so many names, Christine (of course with that accent), Christina (as Jonathan says and as I respond Jonathona), Tin Tin (as Vladimir says and others have adopted). There are only so many more hugs and kisses on the cheek left and only a few more opportunities to hold them tight on the benches out front. I want them to be shown as much love as they have poured out on me these last seven months, and that may possibly be my goal for this time. That and just making the most of what God still has to show me here and to not forget everything that I have gained here.
I cant put into enough words everything that God has taught me and shown me here. I know I am going back to the States different in so many ways. God has shown me so much of his character, love and faithfulness, and patience. I knew all of these things but there is always new ways to experience them and being here all these months has just been the place for me. Every time I tell my testimony, I see so many more places in my life where God was pushing me to this place. As I look back I am amazed to see where I was even just a year or so ago and where I am now. I feel Gods presents so much more in my life and as I seek Him more in all decisions that I am making and not on others opinions or my own judgment but on His will for my life.
There are only two and a half weeks left where I will be able to walk into the school and be greeted by so many names, Christine (of course with that accent), Christina (as Jonathan says and as I respond Jonathona), Tin Tin (as Vladimir says and others have adopted). There are only so many more hugs and kisses on the cheek left and only a few more opportunities to hold them tight on the benches out front. I want them to be shown as much love as they have poured out on me these last seven months, and that may possibly be my goal for this time. That and just making the most of what God still has to show me here and to not forget everything that I have gained here.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Thinking...
I cant believe that I have been here for almost six months, on a seven month journey that I started in January. As I look back I have done a lot here and God has continued to show me more and more things about Him and myself. Being in full swing of our summer program, we are super busy working with teams and our ministry sites but it has been great. I have been coming to terms also with the fact that I am leaving soon and have been starting to prepare myself for that. Not such an easy task but one that I need to do.
I have so much running through my head right now, none of which I should be worried about, but you know its just a lot to think about. A lot of it has to do with going home and what is going to be there for me when I get back, but also a lot has to do with this place. Thinking about coming back is one thing but will it actually happen? Will I ever see some of these kids again, I cant promise them that I will but it is a big hope of mine. Just things like these that keep running in and out of my head and ideas that I have like possibly leading a team down next year and what that would look like, and coming on staff with SI and what that would look like. Just so much to think about.
Focusing on the here and now has been my goal for the summer, and will continue to be so. Like I have said before I have come to love it so much here and the people here, and just everything really, that I don’t want to miss a single thing. I owe a lot to the community here that has helped me stay focused on what I am doing and just really keeps me laughing and on my toes. I could not have asked for a better intern/volunteer/staff family. So on Monday our fourth out of five and a one week teams get here, and we will start the finally leg of our amazing summer.
I have so much running through my head right now, none of which I should be worried about, but you know its just a lot to think about. A lot of it has to do with going home and what is going to be there for me when I get back, but also a lot has to do with this place. Thinking about coming back is one thing but will it actually happen? Will I ever see some of these kids again, I cant promise them that I will but it is a big hope of mine. Just things like these that keep running in and out of my head and ideas that I have like possibly leading a team down next year and what that would look like, and coming on staff with SI and what that would look like. Just so much to think about.
Focusing on the here and now has been my goal for the summer, and will continue to be so. Like I have said before I have come to love it so much here and the people here, and just everything really, that I don’t want to miss a single thing. I owe a lot to the community here that has helped me stay focused on what I am doing and just really keeps me laughing and on my toes. I could not have asked for a better intern/volunteer/staff family. So on Monday our fourth out of five and a one week teams get here, and we will start the finally leg of our amazing summer.
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