DR -- Reflections, Libby

Trying to "summarize" what I learned, saw, and grew from experiencing during our trip would take much more than just writing it out on a blog. I'm still sorting it all out & growing from it all the time. And we've been home for almost a month.While we were only there for eight days, they were the busiest, shortest, longest, most incredible eight days I've ever been part of. Getting to worship with pastor Gabrielle's church at the beginning of the week has really stuck in my mind though.

Everyone there was so welcoming, it was just like being with family you haven't seen in a while. Almost every single person we met there left only after they hugged, kissed & blessed all of us.It reminded me of the verse that says "let us love each other, for everyone that loves is born of God and knows God. He who doesn't love, doesn't know God because God is love."They were so full of Christ's love, & it was written all over their smiling faces. It was an awesome reminder to me that when we're truly following after God's heart, we start loving a little more like He does. And that's not hidden. It overflows into our actions. Our words with strangers. The way we embrace & encourage our brothers and sisters. When we're loving the Lord with all that we have, it shows up in absolutely everything we do.

I saw and learned so very much while we were in the Dominican. Whether it was when we spent time with Marsha, or being in La Canela with the sweet & energetic kids, or just any number of incredible things That God taught me there, the gratitude, Christ-centered love, & wonderful contentment of the beautiful people we met is something that really struck me.

I'm so, so thankful that I got to be part of Q9 & Thanks to everyone who faithfully prayed for our group as well as our time in the Dominican. I don't think we have any idea how powerful our prayers are. But we all caught a glimpse or two of the Lord's power on our trip and are hopefully still looking for it all the time now that we're home.

DR - Reflections, John

Words truly can’t express the experiences I had in the Dominican Republic. God truly opened my eyes to a wonderful culture. I realized that no matter where we live, the Holy Spirit empowers ALL believers. The post-trip devotions substantiated this idea in the form of John 17:11 – “…Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are.” Being able to worship God in an outdoor shack was such an astonishing opportunity. God is alive and present everywhere, no matter what geographical boundaries he may place on us!

It was amazing how acting out the “Everything” skit with English music produced the same result as when I performed it in my church! God doesn’t just speak through words; and he certainly spoke through our actions. I was so inspired when I saw the looks on the faces of the crowds when they realized that they actually had clean water to drink. However, this could not compare to the faces I saw when the crowds realized that they could have living water through the Lord Jesus Christ.

The most touching experience I had was being able to witness to a drug dealer in Spanish. I can confidentially say that the spirit led me to witness to that man in fluent Spanish. The man eventually repented of his actions, and he could potentially be a leader in his local church.

The trip unequivocally changed my life and has inspired me to continue my missionary journey for the rest of my life. No matter if it’s in my school or in a different country, this trip has set me on fire for God.