Week 1 in the DR

¡Hola Amigos de LIFT! (Hello friends of LIFT!)

Today was our second full day of serving at our ministry sites in the Dominican Republic. Even though we’ve only been here for four days, it feels like we’re getting the hang of things. We have been learning so much here, silly things like how point with your lips in order to indicate where an object is, and serious things as well, like how deeply God loves the people of the Domincan.

In our Missions Practicum Class last night we discussed some of our observations of the culture and our responses to it. We see a lot of brokenness, and it reminds us that the D.R, just like the United States, needs Jesus. We are amazed by the men and women who serve here full-time as missionaries and are lights for Jesus in the communities of Jarabacoa. They are fathers, mothers, and wise-counselors to the people who live here. We are honored to watch them work, and to serve and encourage them in any way possible.

One way that I have been able to serve my site leader is to help teach lessons at the Preschool in Mata Gorda. We have helped with homework, math, English, and Spanish lessons. Today I taught students a song that helped them learn the names of four colors in Spanish and in English! Later in the day, we were invited to eat dinner in the home of one of our students. After the delicious meal, I overheard the preschooler singing the color song while she played! I think that we are learning just as much as the preschoolers are.

            Thank you so much for all of the prayers you are sending our way. In addition to the previous prayer requests, please pray that:

1. We would learn to value ALL people more and more, because people are the nearest and dearest thing to God’s heart. We are made in his likeness!
2. Our love of others would proclaim the name of Jesus to the people we interact with in the Dominican, that HE would receive all the glory.
3. Our understanding of what it means to be a servant would deepen as we serve with joy at our ministry sites.
    

You can keep up with things through this blog which will be updated by LIFT students every other day as well as on the “LIFT Discipleship Program” Facebook page.  Also be sure to check out the interviews of LIFTers that will soon be posted by the SI media staff (Clint and Amy) on the “SI-Republica Dominicana” Facebook page.

With joy,

Lindsey