Missions trip: UPDATE!

Hey guys! So, like I said in my last post, I had a missions trip coming up in the Dominican Republic. I left on Friday the tenth and spent two days there. During these two days, I got to see so many happy children and happy families come to Christ. Aside from this, I got to speak to little girls that I've watched grow up for the last five years. We set up a cotton candy machine and a popcorn machine for the children, and I have never seen them happier. We also provided buffet of food for the community of the town of Hainamosa, which is located in the capital, Santo Domingo. We also handed out small gifts to the workers that help us do this missions trip every year. They are the ones that clean the land that we use and set up the stage and the lighting. They work in rain or shine, and that is something that should be appreciated and rewarded.

My favorite part about this trip is the children because they are truly the heart of our country. They are the ones that can make a change for the future, and I tell them this every time that I see them. It breaks my heart to hear about the tragedies that they have had to face during the year that I am not able to see them. It is crazy how a rare occurrence of suffering for us is a constant pain and struggle for them, but they continue to maintain faithful and joyful throughout it all. Although they look to me as an inspiration, I see them as inspiring individuals.

Sadly, I was only able to spend two of the seven days of this missions trip, but it was still a blessing. I enjoyed seeing the familiar faces and seeing new faces come to Christ. I also loved hearing people tell their stories and share how God made a terrible situation into a blessing for them. This inspires me to keep going whenever I feel that I'm going through a rough time. Although I am there to serve them, I truly feel that at the end of the day, they are providing hope and happiness for me.

Here are some pictures from the trip, enjoy!