Have you ever been on one of those road trips where you know about 30 minutes after leaving that this is going to be an amazingly fun, relaxing, perfect weekend that you will remember for a long time? That is how I felt this Friday after I left with my friend Emmanuel for the weekend. We got in the car with his little sister, his mom, and his uncle to head to Nagua, which is where his extended family lives. Nagua is on the northern coast of the DR, and is home to beautiful beaches, quiet, small town streets, and stars you can actually see at night. Leaving Santo Domingo, a city of 4 million people, for a few days in the country is always a welcome retreat.
I can't tell you exactly what it was that made the weekend great. Maybe it was how warm and welcoming his family was. Maybe it was having a ton of quality time with a friend I dearly love. Maybe it was walking down the beach for hours, just talking and enjoying the day. Maybe it was sitting around all morning on Saturday, reading Barbara Brown Taylor, and being reminded of why I love the ministry of preaching. Maybe it was laying around Sunday afternoon with my friend's mom and listening to her tell me stories of her family, including some real hardships they have experienced. I don't know exactly what made this the ideal weekend, but I know I came back feeling welcomed, loved, accepted, rested, cared for, and happy.
I think one of the most powerful moments happened on Saturday morning. Emmanuel's mom is one of 13 children. This weekend, 7 of the siblings were in Nagua, including two who were winding down a visit and heading back to the US that day. I woke up and was sitting outside reading when some of Emmanuel's aunts called me into the room with their mother, who is ill and spending much of her time in bed. We gathered in her room to have a time of prayer with all of the siblings before Emma's two aunts left to return to the US. I never know what to expect when families graciously invite me into their moments, but I wasn't disappointed by this one. These family members, who clearly love each other so dearly, sat around and sang together for a while. They sang with the confidence of a family who has been singing beautifully together for years...each person knew whether they were to sing harmony or melody, whether they were to sing high or low, and who would take the lead on the song. It was a beautiful moment to watch...the ease with which they harmonized, the joy on their faces as they sang, but also the sadness that this may be one of those last times with all of them singing with their mother. As the singing winded down, they joined each other in prayer, for their mother, for safe travel for their sisters, for the joy of being together and the sadness of being apart, for God's continued presence and provision for their lives. It was a moment I was thankful to witness, and one I was humbled to be a part of. I am continually inspired by the faith of the people I encounter here. I am continually inspired by their hospitality and the warmth with which they welcome me into their lives. I am continually amazed that God has brought me here and continues to bless me everyday. I am humbled by my inability to live in such a warm, hospitable way, and hope I will go home and do my best to welcome people into my home with the same graciousness that has been shown to me.
This weekend refreshed me, encouraged me, and brought me such joy. I went to three different beautiful beaches. I read a book I love. I was reminded how much I love ministry and am excited to get back to Princeton and learn more. I was reminded of how much I love and miss my own family. And I was amazed by how much I deeply love this country. That is a lot to pack into a weekend, but I can't think of anything better.
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