This week has really been a week of
firsts. First day of classes (4 hours of Spanish and 2 hours of Bible Tuesdays
through Fridays), first time eating blood sausage and octopus, first time
riding the public bus, first time at a Spanish-speaking church, first time
reciting all the books of the Bible by memory, first time visiting some SCORE
ministries.
It was also the first time I saw a
child with a pot belly so round and body so sick because he was malnourished. It
was the first time I saw a child without any clothes on, because he was either
too hot or didn’t have enough clothes to wear. I didn’t become emotional at the
time, because I didn’t want to hurt. I didn’t want to feel for these people,
because then I knew that I would have to do something, something that would require
sacrifice.
A lot of Americans think that doing
something may include providing both food and clothing, or providing materially
in some way. Something I’ve heard the missionaries here say over and over again
is that providing food or handouts actually harms the community instead of helping
it. It creates a dependency to the point that whenever they see an American, they
think they’re going to receive something. Missionaries here have found clever
ways to use American handouts. For example, at “Josiah’s House,” a ministry that
takes boys off of the streets or off of bad family conditions, they’ve taken
all of the handouts to make a store. Whenever the boys behave well, they
receive fake coins. Depending on how many coins they want to spend, they can
buy different things at the store. It gives a use for the handouts, helps the
boys learn how to share, save, behave, and saves money for the missionaries. I
pray that I’ll also be able to find inventive ways to make a lasting impact
while I’m here, ones that will help and not hurt.
I don’t know if I’ll go into that
village again where I saw the pot bellies and naked children, heard a child
sing to us, and talked with some people who live there. God may be leading me
to work close by at a school called Emanuel House, but I am not positive yet.
All I know is that throughout this 9 month experience, my heart cannot become
hardened to the poverty in this country. I cannot become hardened to the
apparent voodoo and the people who do not know Christ. Emotions are good, because
emotion sparks action. Let me feel, let me be in tune with Him, let me say “yes”
when he asks me to do something.
3 Random Facts about the Dominican
Culture:
1. When a
Dominican wants to get your attention, they’ll hiss at you.
2. Dominicans
will drop the –s at the end of a word. (For example, instead of saying “cómo estás”
or how are you, they will say “cómo está?”)
3. It is not
normal to smile in pictures.
Prayer Requests:
1. Right now, we
currently do not have a grammatical Spanish teacher. Ever since last year’s
teacher resigned, SCORE has been interviewing numerous people for the position
and they just had another interview yesterday. Right now, one of our
missionaries is taking the place as a fill-in but SCORE is looking for a native
Dominican qualified enough to get us to a grammatically correct conversational
level by the end of the year. Please pray that God provides such a person in
His own timing, in a way that only He can get the glory from it.
2. Please pray
for our whole GAP group, as we are looking at the numerous ministry opportunities,
that everyone would hear God’s voice on where He would like us to serve this
year.
3. Please be
praying for my emotional level and my walk with Christ. The past couple of days
have been tough for me emotionally, wondering why I am here and what my purpose
is. Please be praying that I hear God’s voice throughout this trip.
