Back in America again

I'll warn you that this post is a little longer than most...

So we all made it safely back to the US last night around midnight. The entire team experienced some kind of stomach bug, probably something we ate the last day, while traveling back home. Those that weren't sick yesterday while we traveled, woke up to the horrible thing I experienced with most of the group yesterday. We all wore really bright orange Vision Trust shirts yesterday so it would be easier to find one another through custom lines, baggage areas, etc. I'm glad we did that through Atlanta especially where it was crazy. We all were one big orange family by the last day! I was so thankful to get sleep in my own bed last night although I didn't sleep a whole lot again. It is so hard to explain how I feel after this trip. I am so thankful for the opportunity to have gone. So many prayers and many servant hearts made it possible for me to leave my busy schedule, family and sheltered life to go. And for that I am truly grateful as well as for the many, many lessons and truths I have begun to learn from the trip.

I have to be honest that I am still deciding how to express what this trip meant to me. It was eye opening to be in another country. I feel for the people there. They have so little by our standards. They don't have sturdy housing, clean water, electricity most of the time, a lot of clothes, or food. But the children at least, are so happy and content with what they have. They know nothing else. Their Christian school that we served at is alot like our private school here. The building isn't wonderful, but the teachers are Christians who are devoted to the children that go there and desire so strongly for them to know God while getting their education. They are learning from the same truths that mine are, and most of them don't know if they will get another meal after school when they get home. They are all sponsored by people (mostly Americans) to attend the school there. Most of the children around Hererra that don't go to this school can't afford school and never get to go. I am happy that I got to hug and talk with many of the children there. They are so relational there. Things don't matter. Family and affection is so important. They hug and kiss you like they might never see you again. It is sincere. They are content with what they have and have only known. They don't have long term goals like we do here (college, jobs, etc) they are just looking toward their next meal.

So the first impact this trip has made on me personally is not only to continue to work on my contentment, but also to love. I want to be more relational with my children, husband and my friends. I want to know the love that Christ has for me and I want to show that love to those in my life like the Dominicans do. I want my kids to learn how to love like that now. I want to be the one to teach them and show them that love. I am going to pray and try to live this out daily while I am home. Even if the "things" in my life get in the way. They are just things and this reminder came at just the right time in my life. I was seeing an adjustment with my time and priorities that I have not been so proud of lately.

I also want to know God's Word better and remember it now. I think I have been going through the motions too much these past few years and while I was on this trip was reminded that His Word is not only active and living, but the truths that I need to follow and live by. Not America's. I want to make that a priority in my life. There were multiple conversations I had on this trip that just really reminded me of this truth. I can definitely see God's hand on this trip and the people that were all there with me on my team. He used each and every one of them to show me things and convict me of things I hadn't seen before. We were all orchestrated to be there at this moment and I am so thankful for each of the friends I have been given from this trip.

I have heard many times before how people who come back from a trip are determined to change everything about their life and it only lasts about a month and things go right back to their old ways soon after. My prayer is that I won't. That I will persevere on this journey and that Christ will help me in this sanctification process. I encourage all of my friends and family to go on at least one short term mission trip in their life. It is so different to see a culture and be in the middle of the language and poverty than to see it on the news or read about it. It is indescribable. We are a nation that is completely unlike any other. I am certain that if the Dominicans came over to America and we switched lives completely, they would end up just like me. Wanting more, and relying on Him less for the comforts and things that are just given here without any thought or work practically. The truth is, the WORLD needs Christ. Not just America and the Dominican Republic, but everyone. And I know not everyone will know Him. But everyone will meet him one day and I pray that when He meets those that I was able to meet this past week, he will not tell all of them, "I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness." I am so thankful that our team not only went on this trip for the physical needs of those children (dental work), but also spiritual needs. We shared the gospel with about 300 children in a week and I pray that that God will use us as a source to Him. I will share pictures soon and probably more insights from the trip as I am able to write it all down.

I will also be sharing some of the fun that John and the kids had while I was away...there are a few funny stories that I have heard already. Sorry for the long post today...