“How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!” – Psalm119:103
When we arrived in the Dominican Republic, I wasn’t quite sure what I was going to eat. The first and last time Janet and I were in the DR we ate a lot of pollo (chicken) and food at our hotel. The only problem with the hotel was the menu was very limited for a picky eater like me.
Now don’t go feeling sorry for me. There were the "trials and tribulations" that go along with immersing yourself into a different culture, but I can share this with you – I found enough food to my liking that I didn’t lose a pound while we were gone.
I have more to say on the food issue, enough for another time, but in case you’re wondering, the Dominican Republic now has a Krispy Kreme! At least one, in Santo Domingo of all places, and it just happened to open shortly prior to our arrival. God is good!
We were invited to Yolanda’s mother’s house for lunch on our first Sunday in town. Janet and I thought it would be nice to share a little of the sweetness of our South Carolina culture with our hosts, so we stopped at Krispy Kreme and picked up three dozen for Yolanda’s family.
Needless to say, the doughnuts were every bit as good as they are here in the U.S. They were a hit with the sisters, nieces, nephews, Yolanda’s sons, and of course we enjoyed them too.
When we stopped to pick up the doughnuts on this occasion and on a couple of other occasions, the lines to get them were as long as I’ve ever experienced on any day, anywhere at a Krispy Kreme. Cars were lined up in the drive-thru, into the street, and down the block. Inside, there was abundant seating –all full- and a line of people (probably over 200 hundred inside) that extended from one end of the building to the other. The parking lot was also full.
People were captivated watching the doughnuts as they traveled through the cooking process, from first being formed to the coating of sweetness that was added at the end.
Now that we’re home, I reflect back on the scene. Wouldn’t it be nice if the sweetness of God’s word was as captivating to people as those doughnuts were to the people in the Krispy Kreme in Santo Domingo? Wouldn’t it be nice if people were lined up and excited for a new experience with God with expectations like those lined up to experience the treat at the doughnut shop?
I saw glimpses, many of them, from the people in the Dominican Republic: in the church we attended, in the Hard Rock Christians we met, and on the faces of the doctor who volunteered his time, the Padre serving a poor community, and the people who thirst for the sweetness of our Lord and Savior. For many, the “HOT” sign is on. How about for you?
By the way, the Krispy Kreme fad was not a one day experience. Every time we drove past or went inside, the lines of eager doughnut seekers were just as abundant as the first day we saw them.
May God bless you and may you find His Word and His love sweeter than any honey -or doughnut- to your mouth.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Hard Rock Christians
"If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter," - 1 Peter 4:16
So we were a couple of weeks into our trip to the Dominican Republic. Our Internet service at the mall was kaput. Every morning we would stop there first to do what we needed to do and then get picked up and taken to whatever activities or appointments we had planned for the day. Several days passed and we couldn't get online.
The manager of the mall told us that the service was being checked, but we knew it would be manana.
Finally we made the decision to utilize the Hard Rock Cafe. We would have access to the Internet, be comfortable, and have a snack, but more importantly it was easy for Yolanda to pick us up on her way home - I can't even begin to describe the traffic in this city of approximately three million people.
The first day we were there for several hours and managed to get a good bit done. The waiters were kind enough to get us a booth close to an electrical outlet and let us plug into their power for the wait station. Late the next day, we returned to the Hard Rock for the final time to access our email before the ride back home for the night.
Our waitress from the previous afternoon walked by several times while we were working. She would smile and keep moving. The time came for us to leave and she walked by and in heavily Spanish-accented English she asked, "Are you Christians?" I wasn't paying much attention and didn't quite catch what she had asked.
I responded, "Can you ask that again?" She replied, "Never mind" and started to walk away. Janet and I both said, "No, please ask us again." She repeated her question, to which we replied, "Yes, we are."
She stated, "I thought so, I'm a Christian too." We talked for a few minutes, asking if she had a church and how she knew we were Christians. She told us she could tell by the way we were working. She walked away and Janet and I continued packing up our notes and computer. We were about to walk off when she came out of the kitchen and called to us.
In tow was the chef who was introduced to us as a Christian. While we were talking to him, through her, they called two or three more employees who professed to be Christians over to meet us. We ended up by asking to take their pictures to show our friends and family back home.
Several times in my life, God has placed another Christian in my path while I was away from home. They have not been ashamed to speak of their faith and share with me. Every time God's timing has been perfect. This time it was to bring joy to me in a meeting with Christians working at Hard Rock. It has been through a meeting with a business owner half way across the country before a long drive home, after a tiring business trip. Every time, God has been faithful to intervene and lift me up.
So we were a couple of weeks into our trip to the Dominican Republic. Our Internet service at the mall was kaput. Every morning we would stop there first to do what we needed to do and then get picked up and taken to whatever activities or appointments we had planned for the day. Several days passed and we couldn't get online.
The manager of the mall told us that the service was being checked, but we knew it would be manana.
Finally we made the decision to utilize the Hard Rock Cafe. We would have access to the Internet, be comfortable, and have a snack, but more importantly it was easy for Yolanda to pick us up on her way home - I can't even begin to describe the traffic in this city of approximately three million people.
The first day we were there for several hours and managed to get a good bit done. The waiters were kind enough to get us a booth close to an electrical outlet and let us plug into their power for the wait station. Late the next day, we returned to the Hard Rock for the final time to access our email before the ride back home for the night.
Our waitress from the previous afternoon walked by several times while we were working. She would smile and keep moving. The time came for us to leave and she walked by and in heavily Spanish-accented English she asked, "Are you Christians?" I wasn't paying much attention and didn't quite catch what she had asked.
I responded, "Can you ask that again?" She replied, "Never mind" and started to walk away. Janet and I both said, "No, please ask us again." She repeated her question, to which we replied, "Yes, we are."
She stated, "I thought so, I'm a Christian too." We talked for a few minutes, asking if she had a church and how she knew we were Christians. She told us she could tell by the way we were working. She walked away and Janet and I continued packing up our notes and computer. We were about to walk off when she came out of the kitchen and called to us.
In tow was the chef who was introduced to us as a Christian. While we were talking to him, through her, they called two or three more employees who professed to be Christians over to meet us. We ended up by asking to take their pictures to show our friends and family back home.
Several times in my life, God has placed another Christian in my path while I was away from home. They have not been ashamed to speak of their faith and share with me. Every time God's timing has been perfect. This time it was to bring joy to me in a meeting with Christians working at Hard Rock. It has been through a meeting with a business owner half way across the country before a long drive home, after a tiring business trip. Every time, God has been faithful to intervene and lift me up.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Homesick at Home
But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." - Luke 18:16-17
Just yesterday my wife Janet said, "I feel homesick." We have been back from four weeks in the Dominican Republic for about ten days now. We certainly missed our family and friends, but I know what she is feeling. Until this trip, I had never been away from home for more than a couple of weeks at a time.
God put people in our path. People who were warm and friendly. People who opened there homes to us: Yolanda, Enmanuel, & Ramon, their family, Mauricio and his wife and children, Victor and the Orchestra, the people at New Tech.
One month will never replace a lifetime with our families, but God did place these people in our path. Not only that, He has placed them in our hearts. They are our Dominican family. They are beautiful people with a heart for those less fortunate in their country.
There were a number of take aways for us. One family that we feel a bond with is the family of our driver, H. He and they spoke almost no English. In fact, they spoke about as much English as Janet and I speak Spanish. Hola! That's not much. They took us out for dinner; we took them to church. H and his wife received Christ while we were there. Seeing the renewal of their relationship, the smile on the face of their daughter, and knowing that they have accepted the gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ is a take away for us that no one can take away from us.
We replay the events of our experiences in the Dominican Republic daily. We pray for guidance in planning our next trip there. We know that God will lead the way. We miss the children and pray for them and our new Dominican friends.
Just yesterday my wife Janet said, "I feel homesick." We have been back from four weeks in the Dominican Republic for about ten days now. We certainly missed our family and friends, but I know what she is feeling. Until this trip, I had never been away from home for more than a couple of weeks at a time.
God put people in our path. People who were warm and friendly. People who opened there homes to us: Yolanda, Enmanuel, & Ramon, their family, Mauricio and his wife and children, Victor and the Orchestra, the people at New Tech.
One month will never replace a lifetime with our families, but God did place these people in our path. Not only that, He has placed them in our hearts. They are our Dominican family. They are beautiful people with a heart for those less fortunate in their country.
There were a number of take aways for us. One family that we feel a bond with is the family of our driver, H. He and they spoke almost no English. In fact, they spoke about as much English as Janet and I speak Spanish. Hola! That's not much. They took us out for dinner; we took them to church. H and his wife received Christ while we were there. Seeing the renewal of their relationship, the smile on the face of their daughter, and knowing that they have accepted the gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ is a take away for us that no one can take away from us.
We replay the events of our experiences in the Dominican Republic daily. We pray for guidance in planning our next trip there. We know that God will lead the way. We miss the children and pray for them and our new Dominican friends.
Friday, October 1, 2010
A Blessed Trip - Thank You!
"'for I was a hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in:" - Matthew 25:35
Welcome to the first blog post to A Child's Answered Prayer.
I had hoped to post daily while we on our four weeks mission trip to the Dominican Republic. Unfortunately Internet access was limited for us. First we tried a mall about one hour away from where we were staying with our host family. The service there was sporadic; we'd be online, then we weren't. I lost quite a few emails when I was half through writing them - couldn't even save what I had written as a draft.
Later in the trip, the service at the mall was down completely, so we looked for new locations to access our emails and the Internet: other malls, hotels, Hard Rock Cafe. Of them all, Hard Rock was the best solution for us and eventually resulted in what will be a future post - please revisit this blog over the next few days for more on what happened in the DR.
Even with the Internet problems, this trip was a blessing to us and hopefully to those with whom we came into contact.
Today what I want to do is thank everyone who helped make this trip possible. There were those of you who contributed financially to this mission. Others provided much needed prayer support - God truly prepared the way as we went. Yolanda and her family opened their home to us and extended hospitality and assistance that we can never repay. We met with government officials, doctors, attorneys, hospital staff, educators, businessmen, missionaries, clergy, and citizens while on the ground in DR. Their warm welcomes, interest, and promises of assistance led to more open doors and revelations of how we can work together to improve the conditions and increase opportunities for the less privileged in the areas we serve.
Each of you made this possible and we can never repay you in our own power, but pray that you will receive blessings upon blessings for your service.
Welcome to the first blog post to A Child's Answered Prayer.
I had hoped to post daily while we on our four weeks mission trip to the Dominican Republic. Unfortunately Internet access was limited for us. First we tried a mall about one hour away from where we were staying with our host family. The service there was sporadic; we'd be online, then we weren't. I lost quite a few emails when I was half through writing them - couldn't even save what I had written as a draft.
Later in the trip, the service at the mall was down completely, so we looked for new locations to access our emails and the Internet: other malls, hotels, Hard Rock Cafe. Of them all, Hard Rock was the best solution for us and eventually resulted in what will be a future post - please revisit this blog over the next few days for more on what happened in the DR.
Even with the Internet problems, this trip was a blessing to us and hopefully to those with whom we came into contact.
Today what I want to do is thank everyone who helped make this trip possible. There were those of you who contributed financially to this mission. Others provided much needed prayer support - God truly prepared the way as we went. Yolanda and her family opened their home to us and extended hospitality and assistance that we can never repay. We met with government officials, doctors, attorneys, hospital staff, educators, businessmen, missionaries, clergy, and citizens while on the ground in DR. Their warm welcomes, interest, and promises of assistance led to more open doors and revelations of how we can work together to improve the conditions and increase opportunities for the less privileged in the areas we serve.
Each of you made this possible and we can never repay you in our own power, but pray that you will receive blessings upon blessings for your service.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)