Monday, May 18, 2015

Reflections on My Trip to the Dominican Republic


 by Linda Cliff


    It has been a few weeks since I returned from the DR.  My time there was one of hard physical work, living outside my comfort zone in terms of the activities of daily living and growing in my spiritual life.  During our orientation to our time with the House Upon the Rock Ministry, Sharon Branson stated that one of the goals of the Ministry was to “ruin us for the normal Christian Life”.  Since my return I have been reflection on this statement and these are my thoughts to date.

     Prayer.  This is something we all do as Christians.  We pray to give thanks, to ask for direction, to commune with God.  What I saw in the DR was people praying as part of their lives.  Our first day in the DR we attended church service with a local congregation.  Three weeks prior to our arrival they had been told that their landlord would no longer be able to rent them the place where they held their worship service.  They had contacted us and asked for our prayers that they would be able to find a place to worship.  This was announced at a local church service and God moved someone to donate $20,000 for the purchase of land on which to build a church.  When this was announced at the service we were attending, the joy of this answered prayer was overwhelming.  
    Then there is the man who prayed for a new home and was convinced that God would fulfill his request in 2015.  We helped to finish building his house during our trip.  

    There is the Doctor who had no more medicines to give to the people who visited the clinic.  She started to pray two weeks prior to our arrival in the DR asking for direction about her role in the Ministry in Pedregal.  We arrived with three suitcases filled to the brim with medications that she needs to do her work.  
     One day on the worksite, I looked up from mixing mortar to witness two members of the Mission team bowed in prayer.  I do not know what they were praying about, but my wonder was what can I learn about my daily life and the place prayer has in my day to day activities.  These thoughts were reinforced when I was working in the clinic and saw the clerical staff bowed in prayer when the doctor was working with one of the clinic patients.  I also heard the doctor praying with a patient who needed spiritual care as well as physical care.

    So how have I been “ruined”?  I have seen powerful answers to prayers while I was in the DR.  I have learned that prayer must be an integral  part of my day.  If I am speaking with God and letting Him know what my needs are and what His wishes are for my life, He will have the opportunity to answer my prayers.  This requires that I spend time in his Word, time with other Christians and time in prayer-- time depending on Him during the day to day.


     I am sure as time goes by there will be more insights that will come to me because of the time I spent in the DR.  I have much to be thankful for!


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