Today we were given our first exposure to the Dominican culture. We had the opportunity to attend a local church, Iglesia Templo Biblico. It was incredible to see God's Spirit moving and stirring in the hearts of these people. The church was filled with loud voices singing praise to the Lord. We participated in communion and sang the Spanish songs as best as our English accents allowed. One thing was evident though: these people love the Lord. After about an hour of singing, scripture reading, praying, and communion, the pastor spoke on Hebrews chapters 1 and 9.
After church we loaded the "gua guas" (two 12-passenger vans) and went to the restaurant where we will be eating lunch for the next week. The outdoor restaurant with straw roofs and palm trees give it a very tropical feel. Right before lunch, Isaac (one of Makarios director Sharla's boys) lost his hearing aid. After about 30-40 minutes of searching everywhere for it we gave it up to the Lord and went to eat. Not even 3 minutes after we had prayed the hearing aid was found, praise the Lord! Yes the food was what we expected to be, rice and beans and chicken...but the flavors were fabulous and we are really looking forward to eating there more throughout the week.
After lunch, we traveled to one of the villages that's a part of Makarios' work, Chichigua, a Haitian batay outside of Montellano. We followed a long dirt road to an area of about 2 acres that was covered with shacks, 2 outhouses, and a church/school that serves about 100 Haitians. Robin Inks gave a short tour around the small village and opened our eyes to the living situations of extreme poverty. About half of the village came out to play soccer with us and make bead bracelets. It was fun for a few members of the team to practice their French as many of the children speak Creole. The Lord used those few hours to bless us and pour love to these people.
The drive home was beautiful as the gua gua drove alongside the beautiful beach, taking us to see a fort where Columbus once stayed.
Tonight was so truly exciting to be apart of as the Holy Spirit led our group through a discussion of Ephesians 1. God's work will be done this week not just in the lives of the people, but in the lives of the team. Please be praying specifically for our team. That God will bring conviction, and a stirring of the heart and the mind to submit to Him and to grow more intently with Him according to His purpose.
–Nikki Adkins
