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.