Lesson #4 from the Dominican: God's Timing is Perfect

My friend Lyndsey had a really cool experience while we were in the D.R. that I just had to share with you. 

Last year Lyndsey went to D.R. and met a woman named Chachi. Chachi lived in a building right across from the building where our team always stays. Lyndsey's friend Alyssa wanted to hold Chachi's baby, so she and Lynds went over there. Lyndsey speak some Spanish, so she spent time playing with her kids and talking to her all week. Lyndsey said she felt like Chachi was the one who was serving her, rather than the other way around because she was so giving and selfless towards Lynds. Lynds spent most of her time with Chachi listening to her (Lyndsey has a gift for listening, so it's awesome that she got to use it). 

This year Lyndsey also went to the D.R., and so she went back to Chachi's house hoping to see her, but to her dismay, Chachi no longer lives there. The lady that lives there now told Lyndsey that Chachi moved about around six months ago. The new tenant's name is Eva. She instantly welcomed Lyndsey into her home and Lyndsey once again got to listen and learn and bond. The next day Lyndsey went to go see Eva again and this time took her friend and small group leader, Lil, with her. After a while Lil went in to shower, but for some reason Lyndsey felt the need to stay. Not five minutes later, guess who come walking down the street with children and groceries in tow? It turns out that she had only moved a few streets down. As soon as Chachi saw Lyndsey she ran to her. She invited Lyndsey over to her new house, but Lyndsey couldn't just leave because she's part of a group. Luckily, there was a full-time missionary from the organization we partner with right there, who said that she would take Lyndsey to her house tomorrow. 

The next day Lyndsey got ready to see Chachi, but the missionary forgot that she was supposed to take Lyndsey out and left early. Naturally, Lyndsey was upset, but she was still trusting God to work out everything for the best, so she went and showered and then sent to the roof. As she was relaxing on the roof, she noticed Chachi sitting in the street waiting for her, so Lyndsey grabbed a girl named Katie that she was getting close to, and they went and visited Chachi's house. It was great that not only did Lyndsey get to see her friend again, but she got to take someone else along and share the experience with her. 

God knew all along how things were going to end up. At the time it seemed like things weren't going to work out, yet God provided, and His timing was perfect. When we trust God with all situations, we find that His plan is better than anything we could have come up with by ourselves. 

"Those who know your name will trust in you, 
for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you." - Psalm 9:10

"As the Scripture says, 'Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.'" - Romans 10:11

~So

Lesson #3 from the Dominican: Submission

Before I tell you a little more about my trip, I'd like to tell you about my week.

On Friday, a friend of mine gave birth to a beautiful little girl. On Saturday a friend of mine got married to an amazing man. Yesterday, my friend's father who was diagnosed with stage 4a cancer (4b cancer is untreatable) was declared cancer free. God is good. I just had to throw that out there. 

I met a man who's a full time missionary while I was in the Dominican. His name is Dave Schwulst. He and his family moved from my town a few years ago (I can't remember how long). His story is truly amazing.

Dave was in his prime while living in the United States. He made a ton of money, had a great house, and was the epitome of the American dream. Then he and his wife felt God's call to be missionaries. His wife spoke a bit of Spanish when she was in high school/college, but Dave didn't speak a word of Spanish. But they knew it was God's call, so they obeyed, and along with their two young daughters, they packed up and moved to the D.R.

They gave away everything they had, which was a lot, to live in relative poverty and serve God. 

I got to talk to Dave a bit and he told me about how his men's ministry is difficult because of the way women are viewed and treated in the culture. Believe me, it's worse than in the U.S. He is faced with the challenge of making disciples of men who think women are objects. His desire is to make them into leaders. It will be no easy task. He also told me about how he has struggled with addictions in the past, and how they have affected his life and his relationships. He was really open with his past and even though he seemed like a great example of a Christian man to me, he was incredibly humble.

He made me realize that submitting to God is more than just following His laws. It's trusting Him with your life; every aspect of it from your job to where you live. Dave and his family submitted to Christ in a way that seemed radical to me, but it's really what all of us are called to do. While Dave is a good man, there is nothing extraordinary about him. He strives and he fails and he goes on with his life. God does not call us all to be missionaries and to give up everything we have, but he does call us follow and submit to Him fully. 

"Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

 Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 
 "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." - 1 Peter 2:13-25

~So

Lesson #2 from the Dominican: God Will Provide

Our group going to the D.R. was so big we had to take two planes. One group flew American. They left earlier than my group did, flew from Chicago to Florida to Santiago. They got there before us. My group flew Jet Blue. We left later, which was nice, but also didn't get in until much later. We flew Chicago to New York to Santiago. It was around 1 in the morning by the time we got to where we were staying for the night, which isn't fun when you have to get up early in the morning to work. I didn't mind, I'm used to running on small amounts of sleep. 

Turns out, the group that flew Jet Blue got the better deal.

American Airlines lost almost ALL of our group's luggage. I'm talking maybe a handful out of 40ish people got their luggage. We all packed the next day's clothes in our carry-ons, so they were good for the day. The next day came, however, and still no luggage. People were dirty and their clothes were gross. People from Jet Blue all came together to support our brothers and sisters in Christ, loaning them clean clothes, towels, and anything else they needed. God calls us to provide for others. It was a great way to serve.

The next day all the luggage got there that night around dinner time! What a blessing! That is, all the luggage except for one girl's. Her name is Kaley, and she's one of the most natural born leaders I've ever met. Kaley never once complained, but instead talked about how she was learning through the situation, and with all the other girls around, she didn't go wanting. She never let it get her down, and she praised God throughout everything.

Her luggage came either the next night or the day after, I can't quite remember. The point is this: God provides for us when we trust Him. God created all the universe and all of creation, yet many times we don't trust Him with things much more insignificant, like money, jobs, grades, schools, friends, etc. Why do we doubt? He already knows the outcome of all situations, and works out all things for the good of those who love Him [Romans 8:28]. If you put yours trust in God, you will not be disappointed! He loves us more than we can ever imagine, and because of His love for us, He gives us more than we could ever deserve. Even in little things like clothes for a week in a foreign country, He provides. 

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." - Mt. 6:25-34

~So