Well, days 3 and 4 have been really rainy. On Wednesday, we went to a new village called Monte Cristi. We visited the nursing home in the village and treated the residents as well as people there. In the morning we started with the patients in the nursing home. We had more difficulty communicating with them due to the fact that some had dementia, blindness or could not hear what we were saying. Though they were more difficult than our patients the past 2 days, we were able to serve them and pray for them.
In the afternoon, we treated patients in the village. Additionally, we brought out a bat and balls for the kids that were around. I have never in my life seen kids so infatuated with something so simple. They came from everywhere! We battled the rain throughout the day, but nonetheless felt that we had a productive outing in the village. On Thursday, we went to Catalina Island. Originally we had scheduled to go Friday, but it worked better for us to switch the days. We drove about an hour to a town called La Romana, boarded a boat and went out to the island. We started by snorkeling off the shore of the island. The water was as blue as you can imagine, and we all agreed it was an incredible display of God's creation. About the time we headed towards Catalina's shore, the rain started up. And it didn't stop. Some of us took part in an epic volleyball match between the US and Dominican Republic...in the POURING rain. Others were smart and stayed underneath the hut where it was dry. Not usually what people think of when going to Catalina Island, but still a good time. We even had the chance to share the gospel with the Peruvians that we shared the boat with. God never stops working, even on our off days! It's hard to believe that tomorrow is the last day in the clinic. As the week goes on, we continue to grow closer. We have been able to have some really open conversations about things we have seen, felt, and experienced on this trip as well as past experiences that have shaped us. God is continually working in this team to teach us more about Himself. We have talked a lot this week about leaving everything here and not holding back. Please pray that we would finish strong! 1 Thessalonians 5:24
The one who called you is faithful and he will do it. Day 2 in the Dominican did not disappoint. God is faithful, and He will surely complete the work He has called us to do. Today we returned to the same village we went to yesterday but split into 2 groups. One group went to the local nursing home while the other ran the clinic in the church. The group that went to the nursing home (Leigh Ann, Catherine, and David) worked with the people living there. Reports were that the patients here were sharing the gospel with our team! They were all vibrant and alive with the Spirit of Christ inside of them which was an encouragement to the team. The area is in need of strong spiritual leaders to set an example. They treated many patients here that really benefited from their help including patients who had strokes and orthopedic issues. They were even able to get a 94 year old man up and moving who had previously been told he would not walk again! At the clinic, we saw all kinds of injuries and chronic problems that people were struggling with. The rest of the team (Bobby, Brian, Alan, Scott, Dominique, Becca and Taylor) treated patients in the morning and then all joined up together to treat patients in the afternoon. God's power was evident throughout the day and His presence was undeniable. We were able to treat patients and relieve their pain even more than our skill set allows us to do. We were able to have deep, meaningful conversations with the patients we treated, and another man came to Christ for the first time today. So many of the people here are so close to accepting Christ and even admit that they believe He exists. A lot of them are waiting for God to "call" them or for some special sign. A lot of our conversations have been about the uncertainty of life and how our days are numbered. Please continue praying for them to be open to what we have to share with them! On a different note, we have been really enjoying some things we have come across. Today our translators brought us fried plantains...needless to say I think we all enjoyed them. Our translators,staff and team have been keeping us well entertained. There is never a dull moment! HOLA FROM THE DR!! AFTER FINISHING DAY 1 IN THE CLINIC, I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT WE ARE IN FOR AN AWESOME WEEK. OUR FIRST DAY HERE CAME WITH SOME CHALLENGES AS WELL AS MANY VICTORIES. TO GIVE SOME BACKGROUND ON THE SETUP, WE ARE STAYING IN AN AREA OF THE DR KNOWN AS JUAN DOLIO. WE ARE STAYING AT SCORE INTERNATIONAL WHERE THEY SEND OUT GROUPS DAILY TO DO JUST WHAT WE ARE DOING. EACH MORNING, WE WAKE UP AND HEAD TO A VILLAGE TO TREAT THE LOCAL PEOPLE OF ANY PT RELATED PROBLEMS THEY MAY BE HAVING. THIS MORNING, WE STARTED WITH WORSHIP AT 6, HAD BREAKFAST AND HEADED OUT AROUND 8.
SINCE MANY OF US HAVE NOT BEEN ON THIS TRIP, WE WERE VERY CURIOUS AS TO HOW THINGS WOULD RUN AND WHAT THEY WOULD LOOK LIKE. THE VETERANS FROM PREVIOUS TRIPS (BRIAN, LEIGH ANN AND BOBBY) WERE GREAT IN LEADING US THROUGH THE FIRST DAY. EACH THERAPIST WORKED WITH A STUDENT AND A TRANSLATOR TO TREAT THEIR PATIENTS. THERE WAS A COMMON THEME AMONG ALL THE GROUPS--BACK PROBLEMS. THOUGH WE SAW A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH BACK PAIN, WE ALSO TREATED MANY FOOT/ANKLE PROBLEMS, KNEES, SHOULDERS, NECKS, AND A STROKE. IT HAS BEEN AMAZING TO SEE HOW GOD DESIGNED THIS TEAM TO FIT TOGETHER BETTER THAN WE COULD HAVE PLANNED OURSELVES. HE ALLOWED THE STRENGTHS OF SOME TO MEET UP WITH THE INADEQUACIES OF OTHERS SO THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GENUINELY HELP THE PATIENTS WE TREATED. NOT ONLY HAS GOD BEEN FAITHFUL TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE DOMINICANS PHYSICALLY, BUT HE HAS BEEN SHOWING HIMSELF FAITHFUL TO MEET THEIR SPIRITUAL NEEDS. ALTHOUGH MANY OF THE DOMINICANS ARE NOT OPEN TO RECEIVING CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOR, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT ALIVE AND LIVING IN THEM. WE EVEN HAD A PATIENT TODAY WHO ACCEPTED CHRIST FOR THE FIRST TIME. PRAISE GOD! AS THE WEEK CONTINUES TO GO ON, THERE IS DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF GOD. WE HAVE A REALLY GREAT TEAM HERE, AND I THINK I SPEAK FOR EVERYONE WHEN I SAY THAT WE ARE ENJOYING GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER. IT'S FUNNY TO SEE HOW DIFFERENT WE ALL ARE, BUT WE ARE ALL DEFINITELY PTS AT HEART!!! WE COVET YOUR PRAYERS FOR UNITY FOR OUR TEAM AND THAT WE WOULD ALL GROW IN CHRIST THROUGHOUT THIS WEEK. ADDITIONALLY, PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WOULD PREPARE THE HEARTS OF THE DOMINICANS WE WILL BE TREATING THROUGHOUT THE NEXT FEW DAYS...AND GIVE US THE KNOWLEDGE TO TREAT THEM! |
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