As for me, my trip was laborers

Everywhere I looked, there were children. Children being dropped off on mopeds, sometimes four or five riding with one parent...or parent figure. They're entering a house no bigger than two rooms of mine. For a moment, the faces are timid. So many white and unfamiliar faces. And then, their eyes land on one of the laborers--16 ladies or 3 men who work there on a regular basis. Smiles. For these children, the laborers here are the ones providing hope, security, education, a meal and so many comforts that we Americanos take for granted every day. These laborers open their center and their hearts to over 400 children--from the womb to age 20 and a half--sacrificing their day, their time, and their lives to better the lives of those with whom they come into contact.

Last week, 24 members of our church went to the community of Los Asises in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic. We spent time partnering with a local church--Juan 3:16 and Compassion International center (which I have since learned, must also be supported and run by the local church) in the area. 

It was suggested that we come up with a word to describe our trip, and as you may have noticed, my word was Laborers. The Compassion International center is so much smaller than my house. These men and women work tirelessly to make the center look inviting, clean, and ready for the children. They teach pregnant women and the poorest of the poor children about hygiene, work options, and most importantly, about Jesus. 

These laborers serve 300-400 people in the tiny house. They meet the women and younger aged children two times a week and the teens once a week. After the lesson time, they serve a meal/snack and play games with the kids. They also spend a good bit of time going through red tape and the logistics of running a support-based business. Oftentimes these laborers have minimal support. and yet...

They minister tirelessly. They constantly smile. They put the needs of the children and women above their own. Honestly, these laborers are still living in what we in America would call poverty. Yet, they desire to rise above. Several of these laborers had gone through the center as children and young adults and desire that the ones in the program rise above as well. 

Mrs. Ruth (above) is one of the sweet women who impacted me this week. Mrs. Issa and Miss Ziti also were precious to me. These ladies were thrilled to come back for our women's ministry time and actually get the opportunity to participate and not "just serve". Sometimes, a break from tirelessly working for the Gospel is a desperately needed thing.

For me, the attitude of these precious laborers...who oftentimes lacked the resources to serve even the 300 that have been accepted into the program (much less the hundreds more that have to be turned away each year), was life changing. How often do we complain at our churches when not enough children show up. How in heaven's name do we, with over abundance of resources, not have enough workers? How do we not reach out and love on every child who comes in our door? I was so inspired by these laborers--we MUST do everything we can to get every child and every desperate mother to realize that their desperation is for the tangible, yes, but also for Christ. 

Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink the water I give him will never be thirsty again. The water I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:13-14

Come back tomorrow for a recap of the events of the week and the nitty gritty of what we did each day.