The afternoons have a little more variety...people are sent in groups into the village to spend time with the Dominican children and families. The Dominicans are extremely welcoming and eager to get to know the people who are coming to build up their community, so usually the groups are invited in, chairs are pulled up, and conversations begin. These end up being the most incredible moments, and I always look forward to visiting the homes of these families I have spent hours in the past getting to know. You feel a little bit like a rock star walking through the village, with children screaming "Americana!" and adults smiling, waving, stopping to shake your hands, and asking how your day is going. Tonight, as we left church, there were about twenty kids lined up at the gate to the Mission to yell and wave as we drove out. Rock stars...
In addition to home visits, the current group is running VBS in the afternoons, with screaming kids, games, and a lot of pictures and giggles. Simultaneously, a basketball camp is being run by Hannah, which is a lot of fun for the American and Dominican teenagers who interact on the court. Usually impromptu baseball games get started, and soccer balls are being kicked around as well.
The evenings give us some chill time with the group, as well as alone with the staff. We nap, we go to dinner, we come back for some guitar and singing with the staff, and then we close our staff hang-time with a YouTube-of-the-Day, which usually turns into 3 or 4 videos, and a lot of hilarity and quotes for the next day. Wednesdays and Sundays are spent at church, giving us more interaction with members of the community we may not see everyday.
And the last big event, which is tomorrow, is a trip to the leprosarium. This is essentially a nursing home for patients with leprosy, and is simultaneously one of the most difficult and beautiful places I have ever been. During my first visit six years ago, I cried the entire time. I have gotten better since then, but I leave every time wondering what it must be like to live a life where you are unable to feel touch, and are so isolated from relationships with friends and family. Many of these people are missing fingers, limbs, have lost their hearing and eyesight, and have not received a visit from family or friends in many years. And yet, when we sit down to worship with them, it is unbelievable to watch these people praise their God. I am humbled and amazed by their worship, and am looking forward to tomorrow. God is at work in these people in ways it is impossible to ignore.
On Friday, we return for one last work day with the group, and then they leave us on Saturday. We take a quick nap, get all of the rooms ready for the next group, and then the next crew arrives Saturday night/afternoon, and we start all over again! This is the brief overview of a typical week for the Mission Emanuel staff, each day beginning at 6:30 am and ending at 11 pm. Pray for our energy and stamina as we run this marathon!
Please pray for tomorrow, that we will show the patients at the leprosarium that they are loved and cared for, by us and by God. My prayer is that, even if only for one day, they will know how valuable they are and will experience the love of God. And I pray that we will learn from them how to pray, praise, and worship our God who stands by us through victory and struggle.
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