Most
of all I just feel so incredibly blessed to have gone on this trip. The fact that many people from my hometown
saw my heart for missions and encouraged me financially and in prayer is truly
incredible. Their sacrifices for me show
just how amazing the body of Christ is.
The
Lord really protected my heart this week.
I think He knew if He let me, I would have given it away and never come
back to the states. The thought scares
me just a bit, but I know it holds a lot of truth as well. I’m so thankful that the Lord has given me
patience and endurance until I can finally fulfill my calling. More than that though, I am really excited to
get back to the states and really be bold for Christ daily. What happens in the DR shouldn’t stay in the
DR. If I can’t fulfill my role as a
daily follower of Christ now and in the place I’m in, why should he ever send
me somewhere later where it will be ten times harder? So I will follow him this
minute, this hour, this day until he leads me somewhere else.
I’ve
been made aware of many things on this trip, but one big thing is my
sinfulness. I like to think sometimes
that I’ve got it all together and have no reason to ask for forgiveness. After visiting the DR, I have discovered that
the sole fact that I’m an American should bring me to my knees in
repentance. We are constantly disobeying
God’s word in the way we live our lives. The way we spend our money, use our
time, and love other people. I can
assure you that the Dominicans have more of a knowledge of these three factors
than I ever will. However, seeing their faith
will forever make me think twice about mine. Not question my faith, because
thankfully it’s dependent on the always constant solid rock, but it will make
me think about the way I live it out. I
know I will never be the same after visiting the DR, and I hope and pray that
what I’ve learned reaches out to each and every one of you too. I can’t wait to reinforce this life change on
other mission trips until I am able to be more Christian than I am American,
and until I can truly love people and their lives more than I love myself.
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