Is This Real Life?

One thing I have learned so far: mission life is a lot like parenting.  Let me explain.  Before kids, you have this idea and fantasy of what it will be like with children.  The smiles, the laughter, the sweetness, and obviously overwhelming cuteness.  The perfect days of playing with your children while inventing crafts, maintaining a spotless house, preparing full meals every day... And then you have children, and you sit back and think "is this what parenting is all about?!"  But, even with the frustrations and stresses and often exhaustion, it is so worth the effort, love and self sacrifice required on a daily (sometimes minute by minute) basis.  The hugs and kisses you receive, the "mommy" or "daddy" said in a way to melt your heart, the look of excitement when they do something by themselves, their prayers to God... 

Being a "missionary" is quite the same.  I had a basic idea of what a missionary did and the work we were getting ourselves involved in.  I could dream about what it is like living on a Caribbean island that only speaks Spanish.  I could plan our finances out and proposed needs for the time we would be here.  But, I was not prepared for the family, the heart, the love and work to be done.  Lately, J and I have been very busy with our work on the ground.  And lately God has seen it fit to continue pushing us beyond our comfort levels in this work.  It is not always fun (and by that I mean it's not fun at all to be pushed in directions you don't really want to go- just ask J about making TONS of phone calls in Spanish, it's his favorite!), but there is so much joy in the work God has laid out for us.  There is so much joy in our lives, and through this work and these "growth spurts", God continues to bless us and guide us. 

We have been planning for a little over a month a Dominican led camp in Nagua.  We leave this coming Sunday and will be there through Saturday.  We will host camp Monday through Thursday in the morning and afternoon in 4 different locations, and it is proposed we will have 1700 kids throughout the 4 days.  I know I have written about it before, but we are thrilled to be a part of their camp.  We are overjoyed to be a part of this mission when Dominicans are reaching out to their fellow brothers and sisters here on the island with the love of Christ!  The time is coming for them to "step up to the plate" and reach out beyond their churches and immediate community.  We will not be here with them forever, and we are pumped about this opportunity for them to step up and do the work we have all been called to do.  Please keep this camp, the children, their coaches and pastors, and our team in your prayers this next week!  We are praying for "just one more" to come to know Christ as their redeemer! 

Thank you for allowing us this opportunity to be on the ground floor with these Dominicans during this camp.  And thank you for being a part of the camp even if from a distance! 

Monica (J's sister): What do missionaries do?

Cael (our 4 year old nephew): They Skype!

We all have our idea of what missionaries do!  :)