Our time here in the Dominican Republic is coming to a close. It’s hard to believe that we are already leaving. Today was a unique day for all of us, filled with bittersweet memories. My day started almost identically to the rest of them in the physical therapy department. We went to the nursing home for one last time, worked with all of the same people, with all of the same exercises and shared most of the same smiles and conversations. However, today ended with a different note. In a strange way, our familiarity with our friends in the nursing home became a new familiarity they have with us. They greeted us by name, recognized our voices, and demonstrated gratitude to us for being there. It felt like this appreciation had always been there, but today they expressed it more comfortably. When it came time to end our day with them, all of our patients whom we grew to care so deeply about, each voiced their gratitude toward us in beautiful ways. Some were crying, some were smiling, and I was emotionally torn because we love these people who we barely know. We could only communicate with them on a basic level. But that’s the beauty of it, and the note that rings throughout all of the ministry sites. Despite the language barrier, loving the people in words, actions, service and prayer developed real relationships that radiated Christ. It’s not often in ministry to be allowed to experience the fruit of your service, but at least I have seen it here. God has done, and will continue to do great things throughout this organization and in this community. “Goodbye,” was the theme of today. We tell ourselves that its not goodbye; which is true in a sense, but the reality stood that we are leaving our friends here at least for a while. As somber as it may sound, today rang a positive note through us. We celebrated each other, broke bread together, and gave glory to God together for the things He has allowed us to enjoy these last two weeks. Our time together was concluded beautifully through a banquet here at the S.I. site. Our media team tied this trip together in one video that highlighted every ministry site and showed an outside perspective of how simple occupational ministry can make such an impact. I’m not talking about some amazing way our class impacted the community here, because the reality is that we may not have even made a dent in the needs of this community. We came here to serve, but were served, discipled, trained and loved by the people here. By being able to serve those in the community, God revealed Himself in new and amazing ways. As we prepare now to leave this wonderful place at 4 A.M. tomorrow morning, we pray that God will continue to work through S.I. here in amazing ways both in the community, and the students that come through here. Our minds are transitioning back to life in our building on that hill up at Hume, but our prayers will stay with this place. Though our time here was brief, the relationships we built will carry on in distance. We are grateful everyone’s prayerful support for S.I. and our Joshua team in this trip. As we say goodbye to Jarabacoa we are preparing to come home and this ministry opportunity of a lifetime is ending, but our ministry partnership with Hume Lake continues.
Blessings
-Michael Moore
Students painted a tile for their Joshua class in the chapel!