Day 6
With those words, Tom Yaccino, one of our trip hosts, launched us on our Hillside team/Compassion Staff "fun day" at a beautiful local retreat center. As you know if you've been reading this blog, for the last four days we've been joyfully working shoulder to shoulder with our friends from Vision Celestial Church and the Compassion Project. Our purpose has been to help kids know Jesus by forming friendships, doing crafts, playing games, supplying resources like backpacks, meeting parents, and praying together. The days were both exhilarating and depleting, and so the time was ripe for refreshment. Most of all, it was ripe for the Compassion staff who serve these exuberant kids in Jesus' name six days a week. And what a "fun day" it was. We feasted (to give you an idea of how much, our mid-morning "snack" was hamburgers and fries), played games (dominoes, ping pong, and beach ball), swam in a beautiful pool, and even toured nearby caves. Most of all, we connected in deep conversation as the fellow family members of the Messiah that we are.
As part of our orientation, Tom read Psalm 139 to us, drawing out what the psalm teaches about God's intimate knowledge of each of us. Tom encouraged us to master each other's names in order to better see each other as the unique, multi-dimensional people that we are. During the conversation time that followed, we sought to draw each other out, going beyond biography and talking about passions, dreams, and even sorrows. I loved what I learned from my conversation partners, Belkis, Marlin, Glenis, and Pastor Ernesto. I was surprised what I shared when my friend Pastor Ernesto called me by name and asked me deep questions.
We ended the day with a dance party around the pool, the Dominican members of the family showing the Hillsiders the steps to the Bachata and Merengue. Of course, no one was surprised that Terry P. and Ola had natural dance talent, but Dan Carl? Now that was a surprise to everyone!
Throughout this trip, I have been asking myself: "Why is this experience in the D.R. so rich?" It's really no mystery. It's rich because of the relationships. And the relationships are rich because they are grounded in a shared commitment to loving kids in great need in Jesus' name. Nothing binds hearts together faster and tighter than partnering in light-bearing service, especially when the service is lovingly given to those whom the high and mighty might leave behind. It's exciting to think that nothing keeps us from going further than we ever have before as a new Hillside family in practical ministry that shines a bright light on Jesus. We're already doing it. I hope we can do it even more.
Our great day will end in the usual way: dinner in the guest house, and then debriefing/worship on the rooftop patio. We also said goodbye to our other trip host, Pastor Rafael, whose guidance, translating skill, and friendship we have treasured.
Hillside, we'll be thinking about you tomorrow as you gather on the hill for Pastor Wayne's sermon from Exodus and five baptisms! We hate to miss the service, but if we have to miss we want it to be because we're here as your representatives in the Dominican Republic.
Love in Christ,
Dan Seitz for the D.R. Team