My daughter and I traveled to the DR in the summer of 2008 with Windsor Road Christian Church and GO Ministries. Here is the letter we wrote upon our return. The trip didn’t turn out exactly as planned…

Our bus ride from the airport in Santiago to our dorm in Hato del Yaque revealed that the DR is full of interesting smells, erratic driving and a lively nightlife. There were people, even small children, outside everywhere. It was the children that really captured our hearts. They were so eager to connect with us and we treasured the opportunities we had to do that.

Our trip was to include three days of construction on two churches/feeding centers followed by Vacation Bible School at two churches in the mountains. However, on the morning of our second day of construction I became ill. A doctor was called in and I ended up receiving intravenous fluids for dehydration. Needless to say, I hadn’t planned on spending most of our trip down, but I’m resting in God’s absolute sovereignty, His infinite wisdom and His perfect love. I’m clinging to His promises that He will use trials for good (Romans 8:28-29, Hebrews 12:7,11, 1 Peter 1:6-7, James 1:2-4) to mature us and make us more like His Son.

In Deuteronomy 8:2 God reveals that He led the Israelites in the desert for forty years to humble them and to test them in order to know what was in their hearts. God has definitely used this experience in the DR to reveal some things in my heart.  I still feel as though I’m trying to get my mind around all He is teaching me through this.

My first thoughts upon getting sick were, “I just want to go home (NOW!)” and “I’m never coming back (EVER!)” However, I see now that my suffering does not mean I was not right where God wanted me to be. Nor does my suffering mean that I’m just not cut out for this sort of thing and I shouldn’t go back. I started thinking about Paul and all He suffered (2 Corinthians 11:23-29). He didn’t see these trials as a call out of ministry. He embraced them as an opportunity to share in the sufferings of our Savior (Philippians 3:10-11). He endured hardship as discipline (Hebrews 12:7) and trusted in the sufficiency of God’s grace to carry him in his weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). I am humbled by such meekness.

God used my illness to mature Madeline as well. She was pushed way out of her comfort zones. She had to trust God and our team to take care of us. I think her statement on our last night in the DR is a fitting conclusion. She told me that she would like to return to the DR. This was a shock to me. I thought she would want to distance herself from the unpleasant experiences of the week. She said that when she works on a Bible study or devotional at home, she often feels like she’s not really growing. But this experience really showed her a lot of things about herself and God. This experience really pushed her and hard as it was…she liked that
It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. Psalm 119:71

Awesome.  God did promise to turn bad things to good.  Thanks so much for sharing your testimony.

We had a lady on our Swaziland trip get sick.  She was down for 24 hours and slowly recovered the next day.  Our trip guides told us that every trip at least one person gets sick.  Not that we have to accept it, but it happens.  We never know who is watching and witnessing God’s people at work and response to these situations.  He has got the plan, and we have to trust His promise to turn what is intended for bad to good.

Your daughter’s willingness to go back contrasted with her experience here in the states is telling for young people.  There is a lot of life in meeting with the impoverished.  Especially kids who are so eager and open for love and attention.  I really enjoyed the interaction too.  Perhaps the American church (not all but generally) has been too focused on ourselves.  I met several young people working with Adventures In Missions (AIM) on my trip to Swaziland.  Many were on their second or more trip.  It’s a great place for young people to give their time, and experience serving the needy where the Word tells us we are serving Him directly.  God really cares about the needy, orphans and widows.  I think when we throw ourselves into these works, He is helping us all the way…and we may feel closer to Him.  One of the challenges of living around our homes in such a prosperous country is shedding our environment so we can be close to Him here.

With regard to missions and travel, we will be putting together a team to go to Swaziland sometime next year.  Our goal is to do this twice a year.  It is an important part of building relationships with our Connect Community.  If you and your daughter would like to go, I encourage you to start raising/saving funds, and watch for trip plans in the near future.  We want to do fund raisers along the way for trips and capital projects as well.

Also, this would be a good thread to continue testimonies where God turned the bad to good…

Christine,
Thank you for sharing your story.  At the time, that must have been very difficult.  Nobody likes to be sick ESPECIALLY away from home. I can imagine the thoughts racing through your head!  I am thankful that you were able to trust God and know that He held you.  It is so cool that your daughter was able to grow through this too. 

I remember on our first trip to China, our little 20 month old newly adopted daughter ate something or had a reaction to something and started to swell up like a little blow fish.  I hate to admit that my first thought was a big “darn it” about the fact that the Benadryl was still sitting on the counter at home. What kind of parent would be without Benadryl at a time like this, I thought?  Thankfully, we quickly remembered whose children we were, and we cried out to the Lord for our little daughter.  That crying out pretty much went on non-stop as we made our way to a busy, busy non-Western somewhat open-air (what’s that about?) children’s hospital in her native city.  After we were whisked in to see a doctor who also had about 14 other small patients and their parents in an office the size of my half bath, I found myself standing in line for my child to receive a shot to stop her allergic reaction.  At this point my crying out to the Lord had turned to the regurgitation of every scripture that had ever made its way into my heart and mind. The words of Isaiah 54:13 - “All your sons will be taught by the Lord, and great will be your children’s peace.”,which graced the front of my fridge at home, pounded through my mind as the nurse turned to give my daughter her shot.  Would it be a new needle?  PLEASE?  Well, yes, of course, it was.  Although our daughter wasn’t thrilled at another new adventure with these strange talking and strange looking new parents, she actually nestled her now almost normal sized little face into my husband’s chest as we took the taxi back to our hotel.  I missed most of the frightening traffic on the way back as I could not see through my tears. I was thankful for His word and His comfort and care. 

Barbra

Barbra - thanks for sharing your story also…how frightening to have an ill child in another country! I was glad in the DR that it was me sick and not Madeline! I too worried greatly when the doctor was off to get needles, fluids from a Dominican pharmacy - there was nothing I could do but accept the treatment and PRAY! The DR also had crazy traffic…to me, much of the trip was about God challenging my desire to be in control and take things in my own hands vs. trusting Him.

I have a question about traveling to Swaziland (or any other country for that matter) - in order for my daughter and I to go the DR, we had to raise about $3000. It was a good trip for us on many levels, but I keep thinking about that $3000…what if that was just put in the right hands - wouldn’t $3000 be a tremendous amount of money in a third world country. Wouldn’t it be better for them to have the resources instead of me???? I’d love some thoughts on this!

The short response is:  A gift of hope is priceless.

Longer response:

I used to have similar thoughts about the money used to pay for the trip, but several things have made me realize it is worth the “cost” to travel and meet face to face.

First thought to share is I have come to believe that God’s Kingdom economy does not have limits.  20 cents versus 20,000 dollars is of no consequential difference to Him.  He is able to supply what is needed to His children for the work He calls them to do in obedience and abundance.  I can testify to His supply for needs in my life both seemingly small and great in our earthly eyes.  If we pause to think about it, they are all great gifts.

Working in the business world and watching the value of money change makes me realize that money is not constant.  It can gain and lose value at the drop of a hat (think recession   The value of money is not constant, and it is foolish to put hope in and chase money.  Only God and His word is constant, trustworthy and worth life pursuit.  So the value of money in this world is relative.  Money is just a tool.

Second point is all the missionaries I know or have read about often invite anyone and everyone to just go.  I would think or ask, “Go and do what?”.  The response is, “Just go and be His hands and feet.”  My American trained mind thinks, yeah, but “what is the plan?”, “how can we have the most impact or bang for our time and money!”.  I think I am beginning to realize, this is selfish thinking and it is not the primary objective.  Sure, don’t be foolish.  Be good stewards of his provision.  He wants us to use common sense, unless the common sense gets in the way of our obedience to His calling.  Some are called to give “small” amounts and others “large”, but in either case the choice is obedience or not.

When we get involved in building support and relationships with the people and children involved in Ludlati carepoint, one of the most important aspects of what we do is build relationships.  Because relating is how we love each other.  For those of us who can only travel and visit occasionally, we are generally confined to perform simple acts of love during the trip, but I have come to realize and witness on my trip, these acts of love give great hope to the receiver, and the giver gets blessed as well.  God’s economy is so cool.  This is critical for those who are or were without hope.  They feel that someone cares, and this can make the difference between life and death both physical and eternal.  I believe God uses these simple acts of love to draw men into His Kingdom.  It is actually exciting and fulfilling that He called us to be part of this process!  I feel, this is why someone might struggle with bible studying here at home, but be drawn to the fields of the hopeless to work.  It’s the front lines of His work.  Sometimes it’s exciting, sometimes dangerous, sometimes we suffer.  Look at Paul’s life.

Much more can be said on this with regard to scriptures and other perspective insights.  I hope this is helpful.
....more discussion, agree/disagree, comments are welcome.

I would just add two things

1) One person going can spread the vision to many others within their sphere of influence. This might lead to more people being inspired to be a part of a project that they might not know about in any other way except for what they have found out from a friend or family member that has visited this place and knows first hand of the situation. I will say that since Don has gone on this trip and has spent many hours with those working there, I feel much more comfortable getting behind this effort just knowing what he was able to observe and find out while there. 

2)  From some readingI have done, I do have concerns about how some “mission” type work is done. I see great value in wholistic type missions that work with the people of the country that are already in place (like Children’s Hopechest does) focusing on help that is appropriate and respectful.  It is important to consider someone’s immediate needs, and it is important to consider the long term of effect of meeting these needs. It is vital in my mind that we be about helping in a way that does not hurt or hinder.  There are many facets to this and I am just now learning more about it.  More growth and knowledge needed here. 

Barbra

I really like what you said about God’s kingdom economy not having limits - what’s that money to Him if He calls me to go??? Thanks for the insights!