September 12 marks three years of me living and serving in San Juan!
I first came to San Juan on a mission trip in 2020. I joined a team without even knowing what Solid Rock was or what I was going to be doing. After college, what I thought I wanted to do fell through and I was bitter that the Lord was closing the doors of my dreams and only opening doors to exactly where I said I did not want to go – back to my hometown, working as a secretary at my old high school. But it was there that He surrounded me by strong women of faith who met me where I was in that season, walked with, prayed for, and encouraged me through it. And it was during that season, I had the opportunity to go to the DR on my first mission trip outside of the US. I used it as an excuse to get out of my hometown and travel for a bit, but it was the Lord’s plan all along for me to go. It was there that my worldview and faith expanded. I still can’t put into words the feeling I experienced that I was simply supposed to be here, that this was already my home before I could even begin to fathom moving here. So, when I returned home from that trip, I began to tell my family, friends, church family, bible study group, and everyone who would listen to pray for me because I felt this strong calling to go serve in San Juan full time.
I continued to lead mission trips with SRI and began to spend several weeks out of the next several summers in Adia and Monchy’s (my Dominican parents) home. Each time I would stay a little longer and everyone would always ask, “When are you just going to move down there?” After three and a half years of praying for the opportunity, I was finally asked to come down and serve for six months in a season of transition. I had just quit my teaching job with no backup plan and felt like this was exactly where the Lord was leading me. About a month into me being here, the Lord opened a door for me to stay and here I am three years later! When I prayed for this, I never knew how something could be so hard, yet so beautiful and sweet at the same time.
Now, the question is always, “When are you moving back home?” My answer is always, “I will be here until the Lord calls me elsewhere. I am open to following wherever He leads.” Lately, this question has really brought a lump to my throat. I absolutely love living here and I have no desire to move back to the States, but I also really miss my family and feel incredibly guilty for choosing to be here while my grandparents age and my family is doing so much to care for them and I’m not able to support them. I feel guilty for not being able to come home more often, especially around the holidays. I feel continually affirmed that I am where the Lord wants me to be in this moment, but it doesn’t take the hurt of being so far from family being away. So, I continue to pray and ask the Lord for His direction in my life and over my time here in the DR and my heart is open to follow Him wherever He leads me.
As I reflect on my time here, I can’t help but notice all of the things I have learned along the way like learning to drive stick shift or the way Dominicans say certain things, how to invent solutions to all kinds of issues both big and small, how to be extremely resourceful, and the list goes on. There have been unbelievably hard things that I have experienced in my three years here both in my personal life and in ministry – things I could have never even imagined walking through, let alone prepared myself for. But despite the challenges, the setbacks, the times of feeling like the needs here are far too great and it’s not possible for me to make a difference no matter how hard I try, I can look back and clearly see the Lord’s faithfulness. My faith has been stretched and grown through these experiences and seeing how He has been present and active in all of them. Now when hard things come, instead of asking why or for the Lord to change the circumstances, I ask, “Lord, what is it that You are teaching me in this? What is it that You’re calling me to do in this?” I can’t say that I’m even remotely close to simply accepting things that don’t feel good and just trusting the Lord. However, my perspective on how I view the hard things I face has definitely shifted and I am confident that He is present and has purpose in it all, even down to the smallest detail.
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September Highlights:
- I was able to spend a few weeks at home for my sister’s wedding! It was beautiful and I was able to spend some time with friends and family! I went and spoke about life and culture in the DR to my friend’s high school classes, made more pottery magnets to sell at the guesthouse with my mom (although they’re not ready yet), baked cookies with a friend, shared lots of meals with friends, met up with some of my high school friends, and worked a little to offset some of the costs of being home!
- Last week, Lucille Rupp Evangelical School celebrated their 70th anniversary with a week long celebration! I was able to participate in a few of the activities and it was just really incredible to see how the Lord used the obedience of Lucille Rupp for His glory and has continued to use it long after she passed. It brings me encouragement to not worry about what I can accomplish, but to give my obedience to the Lord each and every day as an offering for Him to multiply tenfold according to His purpose for His glory.
- Brayden is back and I’m so glad to have him here to help in whatever is needed! He truly has a heart for the Lord and to serve and I’m always encouraged by the example he sets.
- The guesthouse flooded for a second time after I got back from the States. We didn’t lose anything, but we are trying to take steps to prevent it from flooding again when it rains so there’s not so much to have to clean up.
- I have a new title! I’m no longer guesthouse host, but outreach coordinator! I will be working more closely with and supporting our schools in more ways than just the sponsor program and implementing strategies to deepen our impact throughout the year with VBS sites!
- I have started the first step in the process of the sponsor program updates and will soon be going from school to school updating sponsor student photos! As stressful as this time can be with all of the details of the process, I really enjoy it and really look forward to going to the schools!
Prayer requests:
- Strength, wisdom, and discernment in my new position
- Soul rest
- Joy in all seasons
- Health and safety for myself and my family back home
- As I continue into a new season of ministry, I’m praying that the Lord would provide 7 new ministry partners to support me monthly at $25 or more.
