Spring Break 2012

I am the worst blogger ever! Sorry to keep my minimal number of readers waiting.

This Spring Break has probably been one of my favorites ever. I had the opportunity to go to the Dominican Republic on a mission trip with 8 other students and 4 adults. The experience was amazing, to say the least. I don't even know where to start with telling you all about it!

Our focus was in a small community called Soto near La Vega.

Sunday we sang/spoke at church to a congregation of about 70 kids, 4 women, the pastor, and the music leader (the only two men there). That afternoon we hiked up a GINORMOUS mountain and saw a beautiful waterfall! God is so good.

 Monday through Wednesday we did morning and afternoon backyard Bible clubs. We had about 50-60 kids at each one every day! Day one: Creation. Day two: Jesus's life and miracles. Day three: Salvation.

Monday afternoon we went to one of the poorest communities in La Vega called "The Rails." These poor, sweet children come out of the wood works and cling to you because they are so starved for human interaction and affection. It was both a humbling and precious moment to look into that little girls eyes and repeat the only Spanish I knew "you are beautiful, I love you and Jesus loves you" and to see her eyes light up and see her smile and feel her arms wrap around me for dear life.

Tuesday morning we woke up early and went into town to get some street made empanadas. SO GOOD! And then we went to the market and picked our lunch out. And by that I mean we watched them slaughter and cut up the chickens and then we ate them 4 hours later. Talk about fresh. :)

Thursday we went white water rafting! It was my first time so I was a little nervous, but it was beautiful! And then that night we went into the schools (only the second evangelical group ever) and talked to the kids about the importance of leadership and their potential to change their world.

Friday: Youth rally! Soto has a little "club house" where we pumped up some Hillsong and let kids come so we could just hang out with them and talk to them more about 1 Timothy 4:12

God is moving in such mighty ways in Soto! Our church has sort of "adopted" that area into our mission field so we will be sending multiple groups to the same area to invest into the lives of the people. Gotta start saving money for next year!