week.[{SIES}]

Week 6! Soon I will be in my parent’s house, cuddling with my puppy, avoiding the cold, and once again partaking in hot showers. I’m not sure how I feel about it yet, to be honest.

This week flew by with a ton of activities and obligations. Last Thursday night was Wascar’s 29^th birthday—so we got to go to a surprise party for him which was really fun!  Actually, that night Wascar thought he was walking Kristin and I to a friend’s house because it was late at night (which I’m sure really annoyed him, as it was his birthday…haha!) and when we arrived he was met with a loud, “Surprise!!” and a bunch of confetti… that also managed to find a semi-permanent home in my hair and scalp for the rest of the week. Can you say—‘really awkward dandruff’??? Other than that, it was a really fun chance for me to get to spend time outside of church with the young adults in Hato Mayor. Kristin and I were really excited to eat some birthday cake, but to our dismay, when the women came out of the kitchen with the plates, they were full of yucca, spaghetti with corn, and some boiled plantains. I politely (and disappointedly) declined. When it comes to birthday party food, I think I could teach the people here a lot. I’m afraid my mom generally set the bar for birthdays way too high.

Friday passed pretty uneventfully. It was laundry day, but laundry has gotten easier for me since arriving here—partly because my little wrists are getting stronger…and partly because my definition of “acceptably-clean-enough-to-wear-again” clothes has become a lot less strict. Like, a lot less strict.

On Saturday the madness began! A large number of Pastor Carlos’ church loaded into the two big trucks and set off for the first prayer march around the prison in El Seibo. The prayer walk itself was incredible. It truly feels like living out a Bible story…the whole time I was thinking about how Joshua’s followers at Jericho must have felt as they walked around the city walls. We had a group of around 60-75 people and first we marched around the entire city block that circles the prison. We prayed both silently and aloud for God to break the spiritual barriers and walls that have set themselves up against His presence in the prison. We prayed for the hearts of the prisoners, the guards, and of anyone we might come in contact with over the course of this restoration, to be receptive to God’s message of salvation and love for them. After we circled the block, we went inside the outer walls of the prison to circle the building itself. On each side of the rectangular building, we stopped and laid hands against the walls of which the men sleep every night. Every once in a while, when I would open my eyes, I could see men struggling to see through the grated windows of their sleeping area, trying to see what all the commotion outside was about. Little did they know we are praying for their souls!!! God is so big. To end, we all formed a prayer circle outside the front doors of the prison and prayed again. Near the end, one of the men from the prison—the “jefe” or boss, as we were told, of the prisoners—was allowed to be released from the prison to ask for prayer from our group. How could a thing like that happen without the power of the living God?! I can’t wait to go back tomorrow for round 2 around the prison. The plan is to march 7 times around the walls just like the Israelites did at Jericho. Can’t wait to tell you all how it goes!

After the march at Seibo, Kristin and I made our way back home with Chappy and his wife Sandee (Chappy is the founder and leader of MOTE, the prison ministry here in the DR, and they are from San Diego). They live in a city called Boca Chica in a beautiful house with the cutest little poodle mix, Gabriel, and the most high-tech security system I have seen in the DR (they were robbed at gunpoint a few months ago). Despite being in a new place again, I was so blessed by the rest that we got to have at their house. You know the best part? We got to make our own food. And it was the best kind—wraps and smoothies and sandwiches. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, the way Carlos and Teresa have taken care of me here in Hato Mayor is incredible, but it has left me very dependent and without a lot of freedom. I eat three times a day, but I don’t pick “what” and I don’t pick “when.” And there have definitely been no midnight Doritos runs.

Staying with them, apart from the food and hot showers, provided such a time of reflection and direction and Christian community. You’d be amazed how spiritually hungry you can still be, going to church four times a week! Sandee and Chappy’s encouragement, love, mentorship, advice, and laughter was exactly what I needed this weekend. I have asked Chappy to pray about the possibility of taking me on as an ‘intern’ of sorts with MOTE (the prison ministry) starting this spring. We are waiting to see if the Holy Spirit leads. That’s all I can do with that.

On Sunday night, Chappy dropped Kristin and I off at a ministry called SCORE in Juan Dolio. SCORE has a compound that takes short-term mission groups and sets them up with work here in the Dominican Republic. They cater mostly to sports teams and medical mission teams, and have long-term missionaries living at their compound as well. Kristin was asked to be a coordinator for translators (finding and bringing them to SCORE) and I went along to help her. Little did I know, for the next three days I would be translating for the medical team as well in the communities and prisons! I worked with the pharmacy and physical therapy teams, and I am officially a translator. And I met some of the best people, that I am now happy to call my friends. My experiences this week are spurring me on to study like crazy when I get back to the US.

I truly can’t explain how amazing it felt to feel useful after spending nearly 2 months in Hator Mayor, never being asked to do anything. This week has turned a new (and much-awaited) chapter in my work here in the Dominican and the potential ministry I can see myself having here. When I come back (yep, she just said ‘when’ folks) I know that I will not be staying with Pastor Carlos—and I believe, being the good leader that he is, he would not allow me to either. I have gotten a taste of independence and freedom this week, and it is almost painful being back up in my bunk bed today. It’s growth and change and sometimes it doesn’t feel good! And though I don’t know for certain what lies ahead for me, I do know what doesn’t.

As I wrap up this update, I feel uneasy. I know the feelings I have in my heart—the promptings of the Holy Spirit and the awareness I now have of God’s hand in my circumstances—but I am hesitant to put them in writing. Too hesitant to claim them. Too prideful and afraid of being wrong. I think, “Kayla, what if you tell everyone and it doesn’t work out and you look like an idiot? A dreamer? A naïve, little do-gooder?” “What if the money doesn’t come? You can’t explain your ministry?”  

God’s word tells me that He gives me a spirit of power and self-control, not of timidity or fear. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear or timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7. So I’m just going to say it: I feel like I’m going to be back in the DR already this spring, working with Kristin, Chappy, and Carlos, finding opportunities to translate, and fumbling my way through life here. I am not going to look for a job when I get home, so please don’t ask me how my job hunt is coming along. The thought of raising support and refinancing my loans makes me want to throw up. The most valuable items I own to my name and can sell for cash are my laptop and a P90X video series. Lord that is depressing. I don’t know how it’s all going to work out. But I know I can’t go back home, get a job, and forget how I have felt for the last two months. I say this because I need to be held accountable. Because when I am home and comfortable and settling back into life I need you to come along side me and say, “Kayla…remember when you said ____?”

Because I know my own heart and its capacity to forget God’s voice.

Thanks, you guys. God bless you all.

kayla