Ecuador Mission Trip

This year I went somewhere new. I had been trying to figure out if God was wanting to go back to the Dominican Republic on mission trip. I really struggled with where God wanted me to go. I had been going to the Dominican Republic ever year since 2007. I really did not think that God was going to lead me to go somewhere else. I just had it in my head the Dominican was where God wanted me. He had there so long. And I had built relationships with the people and felt attached to them and their culture. I had always felt at home when I was in the Dominican. It had become a part of me and who I am. So this past November I had  just decided that I was to go back there. I had prayed. But had no clear answer. So I started to look at flights to go back there with the group I had usually gone with for the the trip in March. But something started to happen as soon as I did that. Things just started not working out with the flights and I could not get the money needed to go. And my husband did not want me to go again. It seemed every door just started to close. So then I decided to go talk with my Priest at my church to get some guidance regarding me and my mission work. As I was talking with him he had suggested that I go to Ecuador with them in June. This was something new. I just did not think God was leading me to go somewhere else. My Priest started to tell me "I think you should come with us" Then he started to tell me all that they had been doing in Ecuador. Then he kept telling me I think you should go with us. He even talked with one of the doctors to make sure that I was on the team to go. I was kinda shocked at what was happening. God was trying to lead me somewhere else? I really could not get it through my head that God was trying to open a door here. So I went home and prayed about it. Normally God had always given me a scripture to go on my missions trips with but not this time. Nope nothing. Just a feeling that I needed to say yes and my Priest insisting that I go. So I did. And so I starting preparing to go to Ecuador. Every door just flew open. It was so easy. God just provided everything I needed to go on this trip.

I was actually excited about this trip now. Something new and different. I really did not know what to expect though. A few weeks had past and I was at church and was talking with one of the doctors that was going. He was telling me about the upcoming meeting for the trip. He told me it was going to be at his house and that they were having Rudy's barbecue. I found that interesting because we had just at at Rudy's barbecue the day before with friends. It is a place we never eat at. So I felt this was my confirmation. I know it may seem a little silly that God would confirm to me to go on a trip using Rudy's barbecue but that is just how God speaks to me. I know His voice. In John 10:27 it says "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." Sometimes God has a sense of humor. I was expecting a scripture to go to Ecuador with instead I get Rudy's barbecue!

A few weeks later we had first meeting. And I got to meet some of the people going with us. I had already known one of the doctors that was going because I once worked with him. I also met a very nice lady who was a retired school nurse. Her and I became instant friends. I am also a school nurse. So we had a lot in common. And I requested to room with her on the trip. Every one was so nice and welcomed me. It was great meeting.

Then in June it was time to go. I was excited and nervous. So on the way there we carpooled. But before we left we got a surprise call from the Bishop that he wanted to give us all a blessing before we left.  So we stopped a the Cathedral before we left Corpus Christi. They said this was the first time that had ever happened. So that was quite awesome to receive a blessing from the Bishop. Then we

drove from Corpus Christi to Houston. It was storming on our way there. But the storms were on both sides of us but it did not storm over us. We just drove straight through. It was really unusual the way the storms were. It was almost as if God was telling us something. And looking back at some of the things we did experience there I can kinda see what it was God was telling us. It like He was saying you are going to go through storms there but you won't get hurt by them. You will go straight though the storm.

When we arrived in Houston we stayed the night with our hosts. We all split up and stayed in different houses in their neighborhood. Everyone offered there houses up for us to spend the night. It was awesome to see people do that for us. Then the next morning we headed out. When we arrived at the airport we they started to assign us our luggage. We took tons of medical supplies there.

 While we were doing all of that I was able to meet some more of the people going on the trip. And immediately I felt God start to speak to me at the airport. But those things He spoke I will keep in my heart. Just too personal to share. I just knew I was suppose to be there.

When we arrived in Guayaquil, Ecuador we stayed the night in a nice hotel. I was very exhausted when we got there. Just wanted to go to bed. My roommate was so very nice. She was one of the nurse practitioners with us. So I did something that I probably should not have done in the hotel. I brushed my teeth with the water there. I knew better than to do that but I was very tired and just forgot. I had gotten sick in the Dominican Republic before because I did that same thing. And my roommate told not to do that. I didn't the rest of the week but I still got sick towards the end of my trip. I was like really? Again? This can't be happening again. But I was more prepared this time. I had brought antibiotics with me and lots of other meds that I ended up using. Thank God I had them. I survived! 

The next day we had breakfast and headed to San Pablo. We arrived at the resort that we would be staying at and it was very beautiful. Our rooms had hammocks outside and I was so happy because I love hammocks! I was in it every night almost. And I had wonderful roommates. Really enjoyed my time getting to know them. 

When we arrived to the church I was just thinking how beautiful it was. The church is right on the ocean. In the times past when I went to the Dominican Republic I always had this feeling that I was suppose to be there. And the same here. I just had a feeling that this is where God wanted me. I just thought the ocean was beautiful. I stood outside for a while just taking pictures and taking it all in and wondering what God had in store for us. We then went to the church where we would be ministering to the community by giving them medical care. There were several doctors with us. They did eye and OB surgeries. There are operating rooms right in the church complex. The first day I just worked in the pharmacy counting pills. We had lots of drugs to count!

The surgeries had also started along with people being seen for general medicine, dentistry and pediatrics. I spent one day in triage just checking people in then the rest of the days I was able to go to some of the schools. 

This I loved doing. Since I work at an elementary school as a nurse. I love to be with the little children. I went with a couple other people and we took school supplies and some other needed items. We went to four different schools. But the schools were only open for one day while we were there. They were closed the other days due to lack of funding. And that is a sad thing. 
They were all out in remote areas. In the communities where these schools were it was just kinda desolate in a way. Just dirt roads, lots of concrete houses, very few trees and very hot!

On of the days we went on home visits. We went to three different houses. A small group of went with our Priest. We seen some very sick people. One lady had stomach cancer. She was only in her 40's and she was very, very thin and looked very sick. We gathered around her with her family and prayed for her. Her whole family was crying. It was so sad. This is the family in the first picture below.

 And it was the same with the other two houses. Just very sick people. The last house we went to was at the back of a bar. It was very, very hot inside. There seemed to be no ventilation. I did not feel comfortable in this house. And It was so hot in there. So me and another lady stepped outside. It is just mind blogging to me that people have to live this way. 

The second day that we were there we were told by the Minister of health that we could not do any more surgeries there. He did not want us there. So we had to stop all medical care. Then this minister of health set up tents right next to us and starting to give out free medical care. Just to prove his point. This is the first time I had experienced anything like this. In my trips to the Dominican Republic this never happened. So for a day and a half were kinda in limbo. But this delay also let us have a bit of down time. And we had little more time to get all the drugs counted and prepared. And also we got some time to build relationships with people in our group and that was really nice. During this time one morning we were able to go on a prayer walk on the beach. Just a group of us went and the one of the Priests that was with us. I absolutely loved that. We prayed the Rosary walking down the beach. It was just a beautiful morning to do that and just a God moment that I won't forget.

 And after a the day and a half we finally got the approval to do the surgeries. There had been many phone calls and meetings during that day and a half to get this approval. And also a lot prayer. It was very stressful at points. But God was with us and we actually seen more patients this time than last year even with the delay. We seen around 3800 patients. So God made up for the time lost. These are all the people waiting to be seen below.

Every night we would go back to the resort and have dinner and fellowship. I loved this time. Just to sit, eat and get to know people. A couple of the nights at  the resort people from the church gave us a party for their appreciation for us coming. It was so wonderful. Just fellowship, food and dancing! They also have wonderful soups there. They were so good except for the shrimp one. Not much of a shrimp person but the rest were amazing! We had soup everyday I think. But I am still in love with the food in the Dominican Republic and their coffee. But Ecuador has awesome soups. 

 And every morning we had mass outside by the pool. I loved this! I looked forward to every morning! It was so beautiful to have mass outside like that.

On the last day we had mass with all the school children. It was so awesome. I had so many emotions. And I just started to cry it was so beautiful to me. I was just in awe at what the Lord had done that whole week. 

This probably on the best mission trips I have ever been on. God surprised me this time. Really surprised me. There was lots of other experiences that I had on this trip but those are to remain in my heart. They are not to share. God was so faithful to me on this trip. So I plan going back next year God willing. I also got to thinking that all my mission trips have been in cities on the ocean. Santo Domingo and San Pablo both are on the ocean. And for whatever reason I thought to look up the meaning of the Virgin Mary's name. Where I found one of the meanings of her name is  "The Star of the Sea"  I thought that was very interesting. I did not know that was one of the meanings of her name. It blew me away! I feel that Mary has been with me all along. Guiding me and helping me. I remember the very first mission trip I went on. We stayed at a resort the last day. And the name for the resort was "All Roses hotel" and it just hit me on this mission trip that she has always been with me. Mary's presence was just there for me on this trip. And I feel God made this very clear to me. Just amazing to me.

I won't forget all I experienced on this trip. It was a life changing experience for me.

What God spoke to me in the Dominican Republic

What God spoke to me in the Dominican Republic

This was my fifth trip to the Dominican Republic. I have been going there since July 2007 on medical missions. God has always seemed to have some words for me there when I go. I try to listen to see what He was wanting to speak to my spirit. This time was no different. As soon as I got on the plane in Miami to Santo Domingo He started to speak. This time I sat next to a nurse. She was also on her way to Santo Domingo on a medical mission trip as well. She was meeting a group there to minister to the people in prison there. She was an older lady. Old enough to be my Mom. God always seems to put a mom figure in my life some way or another. Since I don't have the best relationship with mine. This lady was very kind and very sweet. As we talked she told me she had just gotten through with her chemo just before this trip. She told me she had stage four bone cancer. That is was just in the bones and not in the lymph nodes yet. I was amazed that she was going on a mission trip to a different country just after having chemo. What a brave women. As I spoke more to her her faith just shown through. That she believed that God was calling her to go. At one point she stopped and said "oh I have to take my medcations. I am so embarssed because there are so many I have to take." I told her I did not mind. That I understood. But you could tell she did not like taking them in front of me. After that I asked her if I could pray for her. She said yes I could. I explained to her that I believed God that could heal. I told her that I was also invloved in a minstry that believed that God can and still does heal. She told me that in the past she had been on mission trip to Haiti and had seen people healed there. She said that she seen someone pray for a women who had been in a coma for quite sometime. And after they prayed she woke up and wanted to eat.
She said I do believe in healing. 
 I went ahead and told her that I was Catholic. She was Baptist. But it did not seem to matter to her. So I went ahead and prayed for God to bring healing to her. We prayed right there on the plane. Just very quietly. Then she just held my hand. After praying for her she got my information and said that she would contact me after she got back from the trip.
So after I got back I received and email from her. She said that the whole week in the Dominican she had enough strength to do her part with out any help from anyone. I believe God gave her the supernatural strength to do what she needed to do there. And I just got word that there has been no activity with her cancer. Her test are showing no activity! Praise God. What an awesome God we have!
I am just amazed that God would sit me next to someone else going on a mission trip to the Dominican when there were so many Dominican's on the plane I could of set next to. I believe it was a divine appointment. I am continuing to pray for her.

One of the other things God did while I was there was to let Me know that His Mother Mary was with me. So how did God let me know this? Well when I opened my suit case with the Vacation bible school stuff in it there was a miraculous medal that I had bought sometime ago sitting right on top of my stuff. Now I know that I had bought this medal. I did not remember where I had put it though. There was also twenty one cents sitting right next to it. I felt like God was reminding me of Psalm 121.
Psalm 121

1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
8 The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore. 
He has always given that Psalm to me when I have gone to the Dominican. But these items should had been at the bottom of my suitcase. They were small and the suit case had been tumbled around and gone through customs. They should have been at the bottom. But they weren't. I really believe God was letting me know His Mother was there with me. And this would not be the only time that He would let me know that.

The next morning devotion time was about the beatitudes. God had always given me Matthew 5:8. "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." So I feel God was talking to me here again. And I have researched this scripture many times. To figure out what God was trying to tell me. Who are the pure in heart? What does it mean to have a pure heart? These are questions I constantly ask myself. I constantly have this scripture on my mind.

  
 Another way God let me know that Mary was with me was that on our way to one of the Clinic's I saw I huge sign that said MARY all in capital letter's. It was at fruit market I believe. Probably the persons name who owned it or something. But what I felt was God letting me again know that MARY was with me. I just kinda smiled when I seen her name.
The next day on the way to another clinic I was praying the Rosary. I was listening to it on my mp3 player. I was with a Baptist group so I did not want to offend them by me praying this out loud. I really felt I had to respect their beliefs. But I still prayed it silently. Right after I got through praying the Rosary I noticed a car pulled right in front of with a picture of the Rosary on the back of it. Again another reminder that Mary is with me. The small circle on the back of the car was the picture of the Rosary.

On the last night there when went to eat in one of the church member's homes. We divided up into groups and we were assigned which house we would be eating at. My group was the last group to get dropped off. It was a very difficult road to get down with our huge bus. Just a rock road with lots of holes in it. Lots of dips and hills. It was pouring down raining that night. We finally got to as far as we could go down the road. We had to park the bus beacuse it would not fit the rest of the way. So we got out in the rain, mud and the darkness and walked a good ways to the peoples house. I had flip flops on. Not the shoes you want to wear in the rain and mud! And no umbrella either. We were just not prepared at all. And  I could hardly see where we were going. We finally reach the house. And the family was so glad to have us. They had no electricity. So we ate by candle light. The father of the family had gone in the pouring rain to find us cokes to drink. You can not drink the water there. They fixed a very nice meal for us. Dominican spaghetti. It was fixed with corn and olives. And we also had fried plantains. When I got in the house I noticed a picture of a tree on their back wall. One of the girls with us had a necklace on that was an olive tree. I had asked her about this necklace a couple of days prior. She said that it represented her favorite verse Psalm 52:8 "But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God. I will always trust in God's unfailing love."
So when we both noticed the picture of the tree in their house we both knew we were suppose to be at this home eating with these people. I also have a huge olive tree in my back yard covering my house. I really felt God speaking to us with the olive tree. And the picture in their house really looks like drawing of a olive tree!

Our last devotion night that we had we just did some popcorn sharing. Just about what God had done or spoken to us while we were there. One of the young men shared a scripture that he had read that week. It was Psalm 20. This was interesting that he shared this particular Psalm. For quite sometime now  I have been praying about a certain situation. I had been praying about not having the support that I need with something in my life. And in this Psalm verse 2 speaks about having support from Zion! Amazing. It was the exact words I have been praying to God. Also the day before I left My husband had a dream about taking me to the airport. He dreamed I was riding a horse and the airport people would not let me take my horse. And I said "but I love my horse it is my pet." I was baffled at this dream. I was asking God all week what it meant. Well verse 7 in the Psalm speaks about "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God!" Wow. I now know what God was telling me. To just trust him with all my concerns. All that I have been praying about. What an amazing God we have. He know the details of our lives. I was so overwhelmed at what God had spoke to me here. From a young college student. I told him that God had used him to speak to me. He just had a smile on his face. This was an amazing trip for me. God spoke so much to me. I will never forget it.

             Psalm 20

20 May the Lord (A)answer you in the day of trouble!
    May (B)the name of the God of Jacob (C)protect you!
2 May he send you help from (D)the sanctuary
    and give you support from (E)Zion!
3 May he (F)remember all your offerings
    and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah

4 May he (G)grant you your heart's desire
    and fulfill all your plans!
5 May we shout for joy over (H)your salvation,
    and in the name of our God set up our (I)banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!

6 Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;
    he will answer him from his holy heaven
    with (J)the saving might of his right hand.
7 Some trust in (K)chariots and some in (L)horses,
    (M)but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
8 They collapse and fall,
    but we rise and stand upright.

9 O Lord, save (N)the king!
    May he answer us when we call.

A Time for Everything

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

A Time for Everything

After my second trip to the Dominican Republic I felt God leading me to sponsor a child in the Dominican Republic. I was going to sponsor a little boy but they told me he had just gotten sponsored. So they told me that this little girl named Heidy needed a sponsor. So I sponsored her.
After sponsoring her I found out that she was really sick. She had a bad skin infection on her arm. They thought that she may lose her arm. So with the help of God I was able to get her the medicine that she needed. And had it sent down there with the next mission trip team that was headed there the next week. Her arm healed and she regained use of her arm. It was a miracle in itself. All of the circumstances surrounding the timing that I sponsored her. God knew she needed medicine. 

Every time I have gone to the Dominican I have gotten to spend time with her and her family. I was able to eat with her in her two room  home with her family. And go to church with her. I had grown attached to her. She was a very shy, sweet and very pretty. 
Over the last six months she developed a lung infection. Possibly pneumonia. She had been in out of the hospital. When I was down there in March I was able to see her. I was so glad to see her. When I saw her my heart went out to her and tears welled up inside of me. I had been praying that she would be healed of this lung infection. And she seemed to be doing much better. I gave her a big hug. And her Mom also. I got to spend a little bit of time with her there. And I was so grateful for that time. Because little did I know it would be the last time I got to see her. Soon after I got back from the Dominican she relapsed. They put her in the hospital. A children's charity hospital. With limited medical care. Everyone was praying for her. And she started to do better. She started to respond to the medication they were giving her but it was only for a couple of days. On June 14th I got a knock at my door. It was someone from the children's home where I sponsored her through. I knew before the lady opened her mouth she was there to tell me she did not make it.  I was so sad and my heart sunk. I really thought she would make it. I did not know what to think or say. I felt so sorry for her mother. Her mother was just a sweet person. They both have a sweet spirit about them. 

On the day that Heidy went to be with the Lord I sent an email to one of the people from the children's home who is in the Dominican right now. In that email I spoke about the scipture in Ecclesiastes 3 which says:

A Time for Everything

 1 There is a time for everything, 

   and a season for every activity under the heavens:

 2 a time to be born and a time to die, 

   a time to plant and a time to uproot, 

 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, 

   a time to tear down and a time to build, 

 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, 

   a time to mourn and a time to dance, 

 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, 

   a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 

 6 a time to search and a time to give up, 

   a time to keep and a time to throw away, 

 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, 

   a time to be silent and a time to speak, 

 8 a time to love and a time to hate, 

   a time for war and a time for peace.

Later that day my husband and I were in Mardels. I had told him I was wanting a new desktop calender. They had a whole rack of them. So many it was hard to chose one. But then he picked up the one by Stormie Omartian - The Power of a Praying Wife. He turned to that days reading June 14th and the what it said could of only been from God to me. 

It said:

Remember that even though we pray and have faith, the outcome and timing are God's decisions. He said there is "a time to heal" (Ecclesiastes 3:3). If you pray for healing and nothing happens, don't beat yourself up about it. God sometimes uses a man's physical ailments to get his attention so He can speak to him. Keep praying, but know God's decision is the bottom line.

In this devotional she put the same scripture the one I had put in the email earlier that day. So I know that God was speaking to me here. We don't always understand God's plan or His purposes but I know that He is in control. And God is still God even when we think our prayers are not answed in the way that we want. God knows best. Heidy was only 10 years old. And she was a precious little girl. I know she is in the arms of Jesus now. And I will miss her.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."  

God Sightings in the Dominican Republic

Saturday, March 26, 2011

God Sightings in the Dominican Republic

This is a story of my Dominican Republic Mission Trip.
God brought me to the Dominican Republic four years ago to do medical missions. I am a nurse and this was my fourth trip. These are just my experiences there. And what God did in my life.


Before this trip I just happen to met up with some friends of mine at the used bookstore. I had went there to by some Spanish-English bibles to take down there. When I walked in I ran into a good friend of mine. We got to talking about my upcoming trip to the Dominican. We went to go sit down with some of his friends that were there also. Now God had put it in their hearts to by all the bibles I had wanted to buy. I had five bibles to take that I had found. And they paid for them. It was such a blessing. I never expected for God to put it in their hearts to pay for the bibles. I felt tears well up inside of me. What a blessing. Then one of the ladies that was there wanted to read a poem to me that she had wrote. I don't remember all the words she said but I do remember the last words of the poem. It was "Come follow me, I am yours and you are mine." I felt God at that moment very profoundly. I knew God was telling me to follow Him to the Dominican again. In my heart I had wanted confirmation that I was really suppose to go this time.


When I arrived to the Dominican we were given a devotional to do during the trip. Every time I have been to the Dominican they have given us a devotional and God always seems to have a word for me in there. Well this time is no different. When I opened the the first page of it there were the words "Follow Me and I will make you fish for people!" When I read the words "Follow Me" I knew this was God confirming to me once again that I was suppose to be there. 

The first day there we started off with some devotional time. The lady giving the devotional spoke about how God had used Moses, Elijah and David in the bible. She wondered why God had chosen her to do what she does in the Dominican. A week before this trip I had went to see Joel Osteen. It was called a night of Hope. And in that message Joel talked about how all the great men and women of Faith where in the Grand stands cheering us on. He talked about Moses, Elijah, David and all the cast of characters through the old and new testament. He spoke about why God chose them. It was much the same message I was hearing in that first morning devotional in the Dominican. I think for me it was God confirming that it was Him calling me to the Dominican. 


The next day at breakfast we had a devotional time. One of the Dentist that was with us read us a devotional. One of the scriptures that he talked about was Joshua 24:14-15 14 “So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. 15 But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” 

When I heard this scripture it really make me think about the things that I worship and put in front of God. And this scripture just also happen to be my reading in my daily bible that week also. So I really felt that God was telling me that there are still things in my life that I worship and put in front of God. And God was letting me know this. I also felt the fear of the Lord when I heard this scripture. There are things of the world that I need to give up. And I felt a sense that God was being serious with me. That this is not a game.

The next day the devotional was about fasting. The scripture that was read was Isaiah 58. It was about what we think fasting is and what God says fasting really is. We think fasting is fasting from food. And fasting from food is good and necessary. But God is saying here that fasting is to let the oppressed go free, to lose the chains of bondage, to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. And this scripture was also in my readings for the week. It seemed all the devotionals we were having were lining up with all my readings in my bible and my magnificent. I felt God really telling me this is what He wants from us. This girl is 22 years old and had some kind of malnutrition disease or something else. Very, very sad. She weighed about 60 or so pounds I am guessing. She said she had accepted Christ two months ago. 

1 “Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast.
      Shout aloud! Don’t be timid.
   Tell my people Israel^[a] of their sins!
    2 Yet they act so pious!
   They come to the Temple every day
      and seem delighted to learn all about me.
   They act like a righteous nation
      that would never abandon the laws of its God.
   They ask me to take action on their behalf,
      pretending they want to be near me.
 3 ‘We have fasted before you!’ they say.
      ‘Why aren’t you impressed?
   We have been very hard on ourselves,
      and you don’t even notice it!’

   “I will tell you why!” I respond.
      “It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves.
   Even while you fast,
      you keep oppressing your workers.
 4 What good is fasting
      when you keep on fighting and quarreling?
   This kind of fasting
      will never get you anywhere with me.
 5 You humble yourselves
      by going through the motions of penance,
   bowing your heads
      like reeds bending in the wind.
   You dress in burlap
      and cover yourselves with ashes.
   Is this what you call fasting?
      Do you really think this will please the Lord?

 6 “No, this is the kind of fasting I want:
   Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;
      lighten the burden of those who work for you.
   Let the oppressed go free,
      and remove the chains that bind people.
 7 Share your food with the hungry,
      and give shelter to the homeless.
   Give clothes to those who need them,
      and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

 8 “Then your salvation will come like the dawn,
      and your wounds will quickly heal.
   Your godliness will lead you forward,
      and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.
 9 Then when you call, the Lord will answer.
      ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.

   “Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.
      Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!
 10 Feed the hungry,
      and help those in trouble.
   Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
      and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
 11 The Lord will guide you continually,
      giving you water when you are dry
      and restoring your strength.
   You will be like a well-watered garden,
      like an ever-flowing spring.
 12 Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities.
      Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls
      and a restorer of homes.

 13 “Keep the Sabbath day holy.
      Don’t pursue your own interests on that day,
   but enjoy the Sabbath
      and speak of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day.
   Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day,
      and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly.
 14 Then the Lord will be your delight.
      I will give you great honor
   and satisfy you with the inheritance I promised to your ancestor Jacob.
      I, the Lord, have spoken!”

And God had even more to say to me during this first week in the Dominican. He was especially speaking to me in the devotionals that we were having every morning. I have been to the Dominican four times now since 2007. And I have often wondered what it is that God has for me here. One of the other devotionals that was read was about the the Faith chapter in Hebrews 11.   That particular morning I had a cup of coffee. This was before the devotional. On the mug I had picked it said "Oh hello there. My name is Faith. I always try to have a word of encouragement for my friends. My motto is: "I know you can't see it yet, but trust me, everything will turn out just fine. Have a great day."  At that moment I felt God again saying "It's going to be okay. I know you have questions about why I brought you to the Dominican Republic but I can't answer you right now. Just have faith and trust me. Everything will turn out just fine." 
So can God speak to you through a coffee mug? Well, yes He can and He did! I read this saying to everyone there that morning. I think some of them looked at me like God can't speak to you on a coffee mug. But that is how God talks to me  in ways I never expect. Notice the Cross in the picture below. This was taken on one of the roads to one of the poorest communities I had been to. There was not much hope here. And God puts a Cross in my picture on this muddy road in this forgotten community. This is the community where the 22 year girl lives in the picture above that I spoke about. This is how God speaks to me. I felt He was saying "I died for these people! Do you not care? Speak to them, love them, and give them Hope."

I was reading my Magnificant the whole time I was there on my trip. One of the meditations was called "Sent to restore Order" And this meditation so spoke to me. It is because I know in my heart God wants me in the Dominican.
This is what the meditation said:
Sent to Restore Order
Had I come to Russia because I wanted it? No, I came because I was convinced God wanted me there. And my coming, my following of the will of God, had meant sacrifices. It had meant leaving behind my own country, the Jesuits I had known and worked with, my family and friends, and everything that had been familiar to me in the first thirty years of my life. In a word, it had meant breaking with all I had known and done before, in order to adapt myself to an entirely new, strange, difficult, and strenuous life of hardship in which to carry on an apostolate. It is the same sacrifice demanded of and made by so many people: missionaries, servicemen, married couples, young people leaving home for the first time. Such a sacrifice is the first test of any vocation, and calling to follow God's will. "In the head of the book it is written of me,"the prophets had said of Christ,"I come to do your will." That was to be the keynote of his life and of his vocation, and it was only in the light of that faithfulness to the Father's will through sacrifice and pain and suffering that one should hear Christ's words on the cross. "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit."
But why the passion? Why pain and suffering? Is God so vindictive that he must inflict pain and suffering on those who follow him? The answer lies not in God's will but in the world in which we live and try to follow his will. Christ's life and suffering were redemptive; his "apostolate" in the scheme of salvation was to restore the original order and harmony in all creation that had been destroyed  by sin. His perfect obedience to the Father's will redeemed man's first and continuing disobedience to that will. "All creation," said Saint Paul,"groans and labors up till now,"awaiting Christ's redemptive efforts to restore the proper relationship between God an his creation. 
Father Walter J. Ciszek, S.J. 
I just felt God speaking to me in this Priest's word's. It seemed fitting to read these words while on a mission trip. This is the new Chapel that was built in the Haitian Community that we went to. They built it in two and half days. This is a picture with the pastor and his wife and children. I felt we were "restoring order" with the building of the new chapel for this community. I had a dream the night before we came to this community. I dreamed that I had burned my right hand. I had put a ice pack on it that was in the shape of a cross to soothe the the burns. When the Chapel was going up I just felt God saying "this chapel will soothe the wounds of the the people here." It was very hot there in the afternoon. And the only cool place was inside the chapel after the walls and roof went up."

On one Friday we took a trip up a high mountain in the Dominican. There was an orphanage at the top of this mountain that were going to go see. It was the most beautiful mountain I had ever been on. The only thing close to it was the mountains that I had seen in Austria. I had never seen such beautiful foliage before. It seemed the whole mountain was covered in the this bright line green foliage. 

There were beautiful rivers and valley's. And there were small little villages in the valley's. I could not get enough of the beautiful scenery. And everyone on the bus just kept saying "how can you say there is no God when you see this." It was just breath taking! The air was cool and crisp. There was no need for an air conditioner. We actually had our jackets on. Which is unusual in the Dominican. On the way up the mountain I read this devotional from "God Calling" this is a devotional that I have been reading for quite sometime now. The devotional was just perfect while going up this beautiful mountain. This is what it said:


Seek Beauty
Draw beauty from every flower and Joy from the song of the birds, and the colour of the flowers. Drink in the Beauty of air and colour.
 When I wanted to express a beautiful thought , I made a lovely flower. I have told you reflect. When  I want to express to man what I am-What my Father is-I strive to make a very beautiful character. Think of yourselves as My expression of attributes, as a lovely flower is My expression of thought, and you will strive in all, in Spiritual beauty, in Thought-power, in Health, in clothing, to be as fit an expression for Me as you can.
Absorb Beauty. As soon as the beauty of a flower or a tree is impressed upon your soul it leaves an image there which reflects through your actions.

 Remember that no thought of sin and suffering, of the approaching scorn and Crucifixion, ever prevented My seeing the beauty of the flowers.
Look for beauty and joy in the world around. Look at at flower until its beauty becomes part of your very soul. It will be given back to the world again by you in the form of a smile or a loving word or a kind thought or a prayer.

Listen to a bird. Take the song as a message from My Father. Let it sink into your soul. That too will be given back to the world in ways I have said. Laugh more, laugh often. Love more. I am with you. I am your Lord.


I read this devotional to the group while going up the mountain. God always seems to surprise me with the way He will speak to me. He knew that this would be the devotional I would read going up the this mountain. He had it all planned out.


 At the top of the mountain was an orphanage situated in a valley. It was the most beautiful place I had ever seen. We visited with the children at he orphanage. There was also another group there called Kids Alive. And we meet up with them to take a tour of the Orphanage. I just could not believe that there was an orphanage on top of this mountain. One little girl just jumped in my arms as soon as she seen me. Then she proceeded to take off my sunglasses and she put them on upside down. 

The kids were fascinated with our sunglasses. She then led me to her little friends and kept saying Americano, Americano. We ate lunch there with the children. And the Dentist that was with us gave all the children a dental checkup.

There was also a group of Wheaton college people there helping mix cement for a foundation. It was the Wheaton college football team.

It was an awesome experience. And I am very glad I got to go to see this orphanage.  We defiantly had a very clear view of what God was doing here. The bright yellow home is where some of the children live.

When we got back the next morning I read my devotional for the day. And the title of it was called "A clear view" It was on the scripture Matthew 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
It was about how Jesus chose a mountainside to teach His followers about the characteristics of a life yielded to God. There He taught them that attitude, not altitude, was the key to having a clear view of the Father. To have a heart that is clean in God's eyes, we need to accept the Father's pardon through Christ His Son. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse (purify) us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
A mountain top is a great place  to see the stars, but to clearly see God requires a change of heart-David McCasland.

  
So when I read this I was taken back for a moment. God had given my Matthew 5:8 several times in the past. Maybe God was trying to tell me my heart needed some work again. And it did. I felt convicted and repented for the things I had been holding in my heart. God got my attention with this mountain top experience. 
Another experience we had was while we were on our way to a Haitian community. We were going here to put up a chapel and to do medical clinic. On the way there we went though more mountains. And it had just rained and we saw the most beautiful rainbow. It was a double rainbow. We were all trying to  take pictures. So finally they decided to pull over and let us out and take pictures. It was so beautiful. We just had a sense that God was very pleased with what we were about to do in this Haitian community. 

Before the trip I had dream. And in this dream God was also telling me to stay an extra week. I was only suppose to go for one week. But God was directing me to stay two weeks. In the dream I was trying my hardest to get on a flight to the Dominican the week before I was suppose to go. I just knew I had to do whatever it takes to find a flight there. And God was telling me that they were needing nurses in Haiti. And I was confused by this because we where not going to Haiti. But when I found out that we were going to be going to this Haitian community it all made sense. This is where God was talking about needing nurses in Haiti.

The next week there was a few people going back to one of the orphanages we had been to the week before. When I was there the week before one the the ladies that cooked for us said to me "I would like to see you here one more time." I said okay. At that moment I felt that God was speaking to me. I thought he was trying to tell me He wanted me to do one more trip to the Dominican. A few of the people that were going back to this orphanage that had not been there and wanted to see it. I was not supposed to go because I had already been there. But at the last minute they asked me if I would like to go again. They had gotten an extra car and more people could go. At first I said no. I was feeling rushed and I would miss breakfast. So they asked a couple of other people and they said no also. Then I thought well what if it was God telling me go. I thought about what the lady had said to me when I was there the week before. So I went back and told them I would go. I grabbed a pop-tart and my backpack and off I went. 
When we got there one of the ladies with us gave all the children something to color. They were given rainbow's to color. And the message below the rainbow was "Every rainbow is a message from God." When I seen this I thought of the rainbow we seen in the mountains we passed through. I knew this was God talking to me. And this is why I had to go back. I felt that God was saying that  "Every child is a message from God." 

The children were just coloring their rainbows. It was really something to see. 

About an hour after eating there I became very sick. One minute I was fine and the next I broke out in the this awful hot sweat. I felt my stomach cramping and I was very nauseated. I felt like I was going to faint. And we were about to leave. Well I did get very sick. And we were two hours away from were we were staying. The one thing I did not want to happen to me while I was there was to get sick. I had never gotten sick there before but I had seen other people get sick. So I always take antibiotics when I go. But I guess they did not work for whatever this was I had gotten. After about two hours I was feeling a little better. We were suppose to go the beach after we left there. I did feel well enough by then to spend about thirty minutes at the beach. That was after taking some medication. But on the way home I just started to feel worse again. And later that night I became much more sick. I won't go into all the details. 


We were suppose to leave the next morning to fly home. I made the decision to tough it out and fly home sick. I went to the ER went I got home after getting off the plane. It was not a pleasant experience. I never want to experience that again. I spent about six hours in the ER. the doctor who treated me had been to several third world counties and he knew what I had. They gave me fluids for dehydration and IV antibiotics. That is not how I wanted to end my trip there. 


When I got off the plane and my husband picked me up he was listening to an audio book called "Crazy Love by Francis Chan" when I got in the car I heard him talking about Isaiah 58. Which is the scripture that came up over and over on my trip. And then he spoke about risk takers. In this chapter he says "Haven't we all prayed the following prayer? Lord, we pray for safety as we travel. We ask that no one gets hurt on this trip. Please keep everyone safe until we return, and bring us back safely. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. The exact wording may very a bit, but that is the standard prayer we recite before leaving on mission trips, retreats, vacations, and business trips."

 "We are consumed by safety. Obsessed with it, actually. Now, I'm not saying it is wrong to pray for God's protection, but I am questioning how we've made safety our highest priority.We've elevated safety to the neglect of whatever God's best is, whatever would bring God the most Glory, or whatever would accomplish His purposes in our lives and in the world. 

Would you be will to pray this prayer? God, bring me closer to You during this trip, whatever it takes.....

People who are obsessed with Jesus aren't consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else. Obsessed people care more about God's kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress." (Crazy Love by Francis Chan)


When I heard these words, well it made me think. The one thing I did not want to happen was to get sick in a foreign country. But what if this was God's will for me? I know that when I was in the bathroom I was crying out to God to help me. I knew I was really sick and I needed God's help to get me through it." 


It was the most wonderful trip for me. Despite the illness at the end. God spoke me in so many ways. 

I am not sure what God had in store for me next as far as going back to the Dominican. This was my fourth trip. But if God calls to go again I will go. 
The Sunday after I came back I went to Mass. The homily that was given by our Priest was on Genesis 12:1-3 

The Call of Abram

 1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

This is the scripture that God gave me when I went on my second mission trip to the Dominican Republic. The whole homily was on this scripture. I just had a sense that God was speaking to me here. He was was just letting me know that it is Him calling me there. It was just fitting for this to be the scripture on the Sunday after I get back. 

There is more I experienced in the Dominican. I have more stories about the medical clinic's we did. But I will write another post about them soon.