Here are some photos from my last month here in the Dominican Republic!
Hanging out with the kids at kids club was always really fun. The team that came to Mission Of Hope from the states over the last month held a kids club and we had the opportunity to hang out with a few of them during our lunch breaks.
This is Reggie. He is one of the transports I have had the chance to get to know and befriend over the last 2 months here. He is a really awesome dude. Everything that he does is very international for the Lord through his heart for the Haitian communities here. And he loves The Office so that’s a plus. He is going to be an intern with Mission Of Hope this coming summer which is truly awesome! If you want to learn more about what that looks like for him you can check that out here: https://missionofhope.com/intern-details/intern-reginald-morusma
This is my family with my squad mate Landry’s family. We had the chance to all work together with Reggie while our parents were here.
Teaching English to the kids these past 2 months has been a huge blessing. I have learned just as much from them as they have learned from me. Even though we don’t speak the same language, love has been the common language and it has been really sweet to be a part of.
This is the part of my squad that had their parents come after we finished beating up on the parents in Volleyball. (Just kidding they beat us, but we gave it to them)
Our time working at our adult school to teach English was really cool. All of these students have some really awesome life stories where the Lord showed up and it was really encouraging. Our teacher, Ludjer (on the right side facing towards the camera), the CEO of the school is a really awesome guy who uses his love for teaching and languages to spread the Gospel.
Dancing with the little kids during recess is always fun. This little one came up to me because she “wanted to see Jesus”. I don’t speak enough Creole to tell her I’m not Jesus so I think she believes she danced with Jesus. Oh well. But if that’s what gets her to know the Lord even when she realizes I’m not Jesus, then I’m okay with that.
More little kids for the win, they are crazy. This one is to those moms and baby enthusiasts reading. That’s my redhead squad mate Ruth Ann holding the other small child on the right side of the picture. She is a blogging intern for the World Race and a really good writer, so if you get the chance go check out her blog here: https://ruthanncase.theworldrace.org
Teaching the adult class with Ludjer (almost out of frame on the left) was really fun. I was definitely his teacher’s pet and class favorite.
This is my new friend Logan. He was with one of the teams that came through Mission of Hope during the last month. He is from Georgia and works with an organization called Envision Atlanta which works with refugees in the Clarkson area. He is a super awesome man of God that I got to pour into and be encouraged by. If you want to go down the blog rabbit hole here is the website to the organization he works with if you would like to know more: https://www.envisionatlanta.org
More Reggie because he’s great! This is a post youth group pool party picture.
More Reggie, because why not? With my squad mate Landry this time!
Another cool man of God that I had the privilege of knowing these past 2 months. He is a really cool man with a big heart for Jesus!
The boys after a youth group one night. These men are really awesome people who have a heart to see both Haiti and the Dominican Republic change for the glory of God. It has been a privilege to jam out with them and to know them!
My team and I took a quick “man trip” down to the southern coast this past week for a week of rest in the wilderness. Pictured from left to right is: Josiah, Noah, Me, our MANtor Matt Blair, and Kobe. I love this group of men!
Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures from our times doing house visits. This is because it is often culturally inappropriate to have your phone out while talking to these people. Their security is very important because many of the people we talk to here are here illegally as I have mentioned before, however the memories will always be there. Due to this, I felt the need to share some puppy fever of the cute Husky that lives at the base with us to make up for the lack of house visit pictures. Enjoy! His name is Chance by the way!
As promised, this is the link to the website of the organization we will be working with in Nicaragua for the final 2 months of my race: https://reapgranada.org
Thank you so much to everyone that has supported me over the last 6 months spiritually and financially. As well as a special thanks to all of you who read these blogs! Bondye Beni ou! (God bless you in Creole)
