This whole World Race journey has been characterized by p e o p l e. And Santiago, DR (our last ministry location) is no exception. It’s taken me a while to write & reflect on all The Lord taught me in the Caribbean because there were just so. many. big. moments & stories that declare how great He is.

While in Santiago, my team got to partner and serve with a ministry called ICM (Intercultural Comunidad Multicultural). This Church is truly the most beautiful demonstration of worship & praise I have ever witnessed. Imagine this kind of a Sunday morning: you walk through the middle of an impoverished Haitian community greeted by smiles of little Haitian kiddoes running around, up to the doors of Church to be greeted by more beautiful smiles of Dominicans & Haitians, into a building where deep joy is etched on the face of every person who welcomes you. Then you start service with a reading of Matthew 6:9-13 (the Lord’s Prayer) because the leadership wants to emphasize the importance of quieting your heart before Him & preparing yourself for worship. You  start worshiping in Spanish, Creole, & English surrounded by your Dominican, Haitian, & North American brothers & sisters. The blend of skin colors, languages, worship & prayers to the One true God (though you all come from different cultures and backgrounds) reminds you of what Heaven will look and feel like.

This is just a taste of the experience I had while serving with ICM, where the emphasis is on multiculturalism & blending of Haitian/Dominican people in a worship service to intentionally protest the division that exists between these 2 people groups on this beautiful island & fight for unity as Jesus originally intended (John 17:21-23).

While living in Santiago, my team lived at the “casa Misionera” where we were neighbors with Pastor Stanley & Amarfry, who lead ICM. Doing life with their family (there is literally a wall with a hole cut out for easy access back and forth between their house & the mission house) was one of the sweetest parts of this journey. I learned so much about generosity & the Spirit-filled life in our daily encounters & meals with their family. They modeled hospitality & an authentic dependence on The Lord, daily giving of themselves to their people. There were many prayer walks, taxi-driver Gospel conversations, worship sessions, youth group activities & a women’s ministry event I got to host called “Beauty for Ashes” (Isaiah 61:3).

Another person who deeply impacted my time in Santiago was Frére Luis. The Lord keeps giving me reminders of my grandpa in every ministry location we serve at. I will never forget Good Friday with Frére Luis. He has little but is so excited to share everything he has & made us an elaborate meal, showering us with love and hospitality. I was grieving the loss of Easter weekend in the States with my family & God sent this man as a blessing to remind me that He is in the details. Luis had English worship music blasting for us as soon as we entered the house (even though he doesn’t speak English) & simply wanted to play worship music with us throughout the whole meal. He had strategically planned out English songs he thought we might enjoy and that whole evening we barely exchanged words but simply joined each other in worship of our risen Savior. Frére Luis wanted us to know that it doesn’t matter if we look or speak the same language, we are one Body and His blood makes us family.

My team mainly served at the pre-school associated with the Church, called “Jubileo” (joy). School involved daily greetings, hugs, & giggles from 50+ little preschoolers who are being taught spiritually and educationally. There was one class dedicated to 11-12 yr old Haitian kiddoes who had never had the privilege of going to school before. I felt really drawn to these kids & their teacher, Edmund. Every one of those 9 kids has a unique story and the adversity they’ve encountered growing up as a Haitian in the DR is incredible. Their teacher was so devoted to helping them realize that they can overcome anything in the name of Jesus and that their future is bright in Jesus, even when their past & cultural circumstances might try to hinder their dreams & potential.

Edmund was one of those people that I will absolutely never forget. He is about my age and inspired me with how serious he is about the fame & glory of Jesus. He comes from a background of poverty and grew up in a Haitian community where the odds were stacked against him. But he has placed his faith in Christ and dedicated himself to helping other young people who come from his same circumstances to know the hope of our Lord. Every conversation I had with him led to a deeper revelation of Who God is.

One line he told me in my last days at ICM completely sums up the impact he had on me. I was asking him, “what is the greatest lesson you have learned about God in your testimony?” Pointing to my water bottle, he responded with this simple, but oh so profound statement:

“The greatest thing I have learned about Him is that I think I know a ‘drop’ of water about God, but He is the whole ocean.”

Amen, Edmund, Amen.

I think that’s an accurate summation of the lessons I’ve learned on this World Race journey so far:

There are millions of people across the world we have never met, whom God has personally revealed Himself to and are taking seriously His call to go into all the world & make disciples of all nations. And one day, we will join them in Heaven, together lifting up a chorus of praise and bringing glory to the One who is worthy of it all.

The Dominican Republic has made me so incredibly excited for Heaven- where there will be no division and every tribe, tongue, & nation will be unified in the worship of our Lord.

Gloria a Dios!