Good Byes

It seems like there are good-byes at every step of the road.  And none are easy.  Good-bye to family.  Good-bye to friends and church family.  Of course, there is a hello on the other end as I arrive at volleyball camp or the DR or wherever the place of ministry might be.  But then eventually there is good-bye to those to whom I have had the privilege of ministering.  No matter when or where, I’ve learned that good-byes are not my favorite. 

But I have learned a few things that have helped me tremendously as I begin to adjust to this life of constant hellos and good-byes. 

1.       God never calls us to more than we can handle.  His grace has proved sufficient in times of homesickness and struggle. 

2.       It is a hundred times easier to say good-bye when you know that you are being obedient to what God has called you to.  I have said good-bye, still doubtful if I was doing the right thing, and I have said good-bye 100% confident that I was right where God had called me.  In the former, I stepped out in fear, terrified of what was to come; in the latter, I stepped out with confidence, knowing in whom I had believed and in whose hand the future was held.   Both types of good-byes held tears, but one of fear the other of momentary sadness.

3.       And last, but not least, good-byes are not forever.  For the most part, I will see all those precious faces again in a few short months after saying good-bye.  But if not, this life is not the end!  What a joyous reuniting that will be one day in Heaven!

All-in-all, I can’t say that I like good-byes; but I am learning to stop dreading the good-bye and the times that will be missed and to start treasuring every moment to the fullest – enjoying the laughs and good times with family and taking advantage of every opportunity to share the Gospel, not knowing if it might be my last.

As I said good-bye last week to those I have grown to love so much in Concho Primo, there was still a twinge of sadness, still a few nagging thoughts of “I wonder how big Yariel will be when I get back. . .” and “Will I be able to pick up right where I left off with Isabela and Leidy when I get back?”  But right behind those thoughts, was the calm assurance that I am simply obeying the Master’s commands.  It is in His hands.  He knows exactly when I will be able to return and what the ministry will be like when I do.  Nothing surprises Him.  I am so thankful for yet another demonstration of His overwhelming grace in my life.  He daily gives me more than I deserve, and in this case, it comes in the form of peace – peace that passes understanding.  He doesn’t have to give it.  He just does because that’s His nature: He is good.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

Mother's Day

Sunday, May 25 was Mother's Day here in the Domincan Repulic. We invited all the mothers to come to our Sunday service so that we could honor them and we held a "Spa Day" the Friday before to pamper them just a little bit (and give them a bit of rest from their work).

These women lead a hard life caring for their families. First of all, there is no running water or electricity in Batey Concho Primo, so every day chores are a lot of work! They spend hours washing clothes by hand, with water that has been retrieved from a nearby pump. Every day, two to three times a day, they cook over an open fire outside of their house. Then, when it is time to clean the dishes, someone has to get more water to clean those! (It is a good thing they train the kids to help from a young age!) In addition to the chores, however, relationships are a struggle too. With the exception of a few, you will not find a father leading any of these families. Several of these women are grandmothers. It is very common here for the grandmothers to care for their grandkids because the parents are either unable to provide for their children or have chosen not to fulfill that responsibility. 

Needless to say, the women loved the idea of a break from the routine when we announced the “Spa Day.” We had about a dozen women come. It wasn’t quite as big of a turnout as we had expected, but it was a great opportunity to get to know these women better. (Sometimes smaller is better). Annie shared a few truths from God’s Word, before heading into the manicures, pedicures, massages, and makeup time. The spa day was nothing profound or extraordinary (Annie, the teenage girls of the batey, and I worked each of the stations, and we are by no means “professional” :)), but it was a great time of relaxation and relationship building. 

One of the most interesting parts of the day, was actually our icebreaker activity. I put a list of “Mom” questions on the board, then we passed out some jelly beans (thank you Pastor and Mrs. Wright for sending the jelly beans:)). Each woman was to choose a question, corresponding to the color of one of their jelly beans. The question that majority chose to answer was: “What is something that you want for your child that you never had?” Their answers were enlightening: every single mom who chose this question said happiness. Wow! I was floored by their honesty (I really had thought that their answers would be something material), and saddened by the fact that, though they all appear so happy on the outside, they are missing out on the joy of knowing Jesus. My prayer request is that we will be able to follow up with these women and see them come to know true happiness. 

On Sunday, we had 15-20 moms and grandmas show up for the Mother’s Day service!  We gave each one a rose, and had the kids deliver cards that they had made for their mothers the day before in our kid’s club, “Niños para Cristo.” It was a great time for them to attend a church service in a "non-threatening way and also to see what their kids have been learning every Saturday and Sunday. (I have to say, though, I think that since the kids have been attending regularly, they are quieter and can still sit still longer than their parents!)

Please pray for wisdom as we try to follow up with these women. And pray that some will come back to church another week. (Imagine what a change we will see in a family when the mother comes to know Christ. Each mother has such a strong influence on their child’s life, imagine what would happen if one mother chose to influence her children in a God-fearing and loving manner!)