Friday, June 21 Paige
Hey everyone! Here it is, a day we thought would never come: our last day in the D.R. Saying this trip has been amazing is an understatement, it was quite possibly the best experience of my life. My group, Education Mata Gorda (a local preschool), started the morning a little earlier than usual because we wanted as much time to see the kids in the limited time we had. Riley, Jadyn, Tierra and I finally got to experience the Dominican Republic in a more "normal" sense seeing as we took a 4-door SUV and blasted Lady Gaga. Being able to see the countryside through the eyes of our Site Leader, Twyla, was a pretty cool experience and helped me understand her so much more.
Upon arrival at the school, we got to see the kids morning playtime before we walked them into "Circle Time" where they prep for the day. Then, till the time we said goodbye, felt like a blur when compared to the two weeks prior. All of the girls at my site got ready to say goodbye to the kids but nothing could have prepared us for how emotional and sentimental it would be. Our site leaders, Twyla and Johanna, sat us down in front of all the kids and one kid presented each of us with a "Gracias, Mata Gorda 2019" sign with their names and fingerprints; it meant even more that each kid that presented was one that we had grown closer to over the trip. Within seconds, several of us were already tearing up but trying to keep it together for the sake of the kids; I made a promise to myself since day one which was that I would never let my emotions get the best of me in front of them. Immediately after, Johanna called up one of the kids to thank us and pray for us as well as our trip home to San Diego. In the middle of it all, I felt little hands rest on my legs and I looked up to find Nelson deep in prayer, eyes closed and head bowed, while repeating the words the leader said. I told myself I was going to keep it together? Nope, didn't happen. I started to bawl right then and there and when the prayer ended one kid I've connected with over the trip named Bryan looked at me with his soulful brown eyes and I could see how concerned he was. He ran up and bear-hugged me which made me cry even more. He didn't care that my entire face was soaked or that I looked like a mess because, in that moment, all he cared about was making sure I was okay. After that, we said goodbye to all of the kids and got in the car to finish our day at the annual Flower Festival in town.
That experience with Bryan leads into a phrase I've been repeating to myself this entire trip: God's love comes in many shapes and sizes (as silly as it sounds). Whether it was seen shining through the kids at our pre-school or through the old folks at the retirement home, it is clear God is within these people and was with us every step of the way. The hospitality and generosity of the Dominican people is unmatched and is something I want our team to bring back, as well as the amazing snacks and stories. Each of us has been pushed in unexplainable ways to deepen our faith with the Lord through morning devotionals, prayer and worship as well as to create long-lasting relationships with those around us who we may have never met before. I can honestly say that each person on this trip is incredibly real, honest, faithful, amazing, as well as an array of other things! We will continue to stay close because we all formed the deepest of bonds through our love for Christ. Thank you all so much for allowing your kids to sign up and come to the D.R, I cannot explain how thankful I am to have met all of them and that I have the privilege of knowing them. Although we're sad to go, we are ready to enter one of the toughest mission fields we could face: normal life. See you all soon!
Love,
Paige
Upon arrival at the school, we got to see the kids morning playtime before we walked them into "Circle Time" where they prep for the day. Then, till the time we said goodbye, felt like a blur when compared to the two weeks prior. All of the girls at my site got ready to say goodbye to the kids but nothing could have prepared us for how emotional and sentimental it would be. Our site leaders, Twyla and Johanna, sat us down in front of all the kids and one kid presented each of us with a "Gracias, Mata Gorda 2019" sign with their names and fingerprints; it meant even more that each kid that presented was one that we had grown closer to over the trip. Within seconds, several of us were already tearing up but trying to keep it together for the sake of the kids; I made a promise to myself since day one which was that I would never let my emotions get the best of me in front of them. Immediately after, Johanna called up one of the kids to thank us and pray for us as well as our trip home to San Diego. In the middle of it all, I felt little hands rest on my legs and I looked up to find Nelson deep in prayer, eyes closed and head bowed, while repeating the words the leader said. I told myself I was going to keep it together? Nope, didn't happen. I started to bawl right then and there and when the prayer ended one kid I've connected with over the trip named Bryan looked at me with his soulful brown eyes and I could see how concerned he was. He ran up and bear-hugged me which made me cry even more. He didn't care that my entire face was soaked or that I looked like a mess because, in that moment, all he cared about was making sure I was okay. After that, we said goodbye to all of the kids and got in the car to finish our day at the annual Flower Festival in town.
That experience with Bryan leads into a phrase I've been repeating to myself this entire trip: God's love comes in many shapes and sizes (as silly as it sounds). Whether it was seen shining through the kids at our pre-school or through the old folks at the retirement home, it is clear God is within these people and was with us every step of the way. The hospitality and generosity of the Dominican people is unmatched and is something I want our team to bring back, as well as the amazing snacks and stories. Each of us has been pushed in unexplainable ways to deepen our faith with the Lord through morning devotionals, prayer and worship as well as to create long-lasting relationships with those around us who we may have never met before. I can honestly say that each person on this trip is incredibly real, honest, faithful, amazing, as well as an array of other things! We will continue to stay close because we all formed the deepest of bonds through our love for Christ. Thank you all so much for allowing your kids to sign up and come to the D.R, I cannot explain how thankful I am to have met all of them and that I have the privilege of knowing them. Although we're sad to go, we are ready to enter one of the toughest mission fields we could face: normal life. See you all soon!
Love,
Paige
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