So, I have gotten a few messages from you wanting to know when the next blog was going to be posted, well here it is!! I am so glad that you all are committed to what God is doing in my life!! I thank you all for your prayers and thoughts.

I have to say that this month in the Dominican Republic has been very different in comparison to Haiti. I knew that going into the World Race that this would be the case but I guess the fact that the two countries sit on the same island would mean that they would have some similarities. The lesson I have learned is, geography really doesn't affect culture at least in this instance. Anyway, here in the Dominican Republic we have been blessed with staying in a 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom home. There are 28 of us total sharing this space. Community living at its best. We are living just a walk away from the grocery store that has most of the stuff that we are used to having at home but the most important to me at least is Diet Coke : )

So, now to the part that has been a process for me. When we arrived to the Dominican Republic, I was sick, I continued to get better on a daily basis and stayed back at the house and rested while my team was walking 30 minutes one way to an area called Guatcupita where they are leading VBS and digging in a canal. During my time of building my strength back up I took a morning and prepared lunch for the two teams out working. During that morning God truly spoke to me about what ministry was going to look like for me this month. The spirit kept sharing with me that my teammates and squadmates were my ministry this month. I found such joy in cooking and cleaning that I cannot even put it into words. That morning was full of time with God as well as intercession for my teammates.

I felt very safe sharing this with my team, I have to say I felt vulnerable as well. I don't believe that I have heard the Spirit so loudly before and with such an exactness. After several meetings discussing what ministry looks like for Team S.O.A.R., it was decided that it would be okay for me stay back at the house and serve in this manner. I have to say it was a process that was uncomfortable, painful, and quite awkward at times between my teammates but after going through this process with them we are more unified now than when we started. My team is truly my family, we pray, encourage, and support each other daily.

My days have looked like this: I get the opportunity to get up and prepare breakfast for the team which is usually toast with egg and cheese on top (One teammate said it was better than an egg McMuffin from McDonalds). Then my team leaves out about 8:00 to lead VBS and work on the canal and I usually do some laundry which this month consists of using a washing machine which really just agitates the clothes then I wring them out by hand and hang them on the line. Then I will pick up around the house and then start the process also known as lunch. There are two teams serving together at Guatcupita so that is 13 people total. Every meal that is made in our kitchen of limited pots and pans and dishes is an event. I love the challenge though. The teams return about noon and we all have lunch together. It is such a precious time to spend together. Then we have siesta time, which I have to say needs to be instituted in the United States, there is nothing like an afternoon nap or just time to take a deep breath on a daily basis!! Then my team leaves at 4:00 to return to Guatcupita and do house visits and spend time with the children. During this time I dig into God's word and intercede for my team and ask for God to provide opportunities of sharing his love and mercy. Then I start the event known as dinner. They return at 8:00 and we sit down and eat together.

I have to say that I never envisioned this being what my ministry would look like for one of the months on the World Race. I am loving it though!! I thank God on a daily basis that he has provided me the opportunity to serve people that have such an undying love for Christ.

I ask that you continue to pray for unity and growth on Team S.O.A.R. I ask that you pray that we all continue to grow deeper and deeper in our walks with Christ. I ask that you pray that we focus on abiding on what our Father wants us to do versus striving to become better. We all need to remember that we can't do anything to make our Heavenly father love us more than he already does!!

I want you all to know that I feel your prayers and love on a daily basis!! I would love to know what is going on with all of you!! Send me a message!!

Sending my love!!

Here is the long awaited blog regarding the adventurous travel day from Haiti to San Juan, Dominican Republic. So we got on our first bus that took us from the house to the bus station. This bus was brightly colored with paintings and our gear was all loaded on top of this bus. It was a school bus. Then we arrived at the bus station and we boarded a chartered bus just like ones in the states!! It had air conditioning and a bathroom. I couldn't believe it!! So then my next thought is my next travel blog is going to be quite boring well as you can tell by the title there is an adventure coming!! Our portion of the trip on this bus was suppose to be 6 hours. So the first few hours were very smooth. I put my headphones in and listened to my Ipod and took a really long nap. Then we arrived at the border of Haiti to cross into the DR. It went relatively smooth and just took about an hour to cross the border. So we are on the road again and then we get to this mountain that we have to cross and the bus can't make it up the mountain. So we all exit the bus because the bus driver is saying between us and all of our luggage we are too much weight!! So we get off the bus and it does not help. Please understand we are in the middle of no where in The Dominican Republic. All of a sudden another chartered bus passes us and stops and sure enough there are just enough seats open on that bus for everyone on our bus to fit. That has God written all over it!! So we moved our luggage over to the other bus and we were on our way once again. Then we found out that this bus was not going to the bus stop that we needed it to go to!! So after a few phone calls made by our wonderful logistics person it gets worked out. Then we arrived at the bus station and moved our gear over again and boarded a bus that took us across town to another bus stop. At this point because our gear weighed so much we boarded two different buses. This portion of the journey was 3 hours. And we safely arrived at the house that is our home for the next month. So, a 9 hour travel day became a 14 hour travel day and trip that was suppose to include 3 buses included 6 different buses!! God wanted me to be able to share some adventure with all of you!!

On Sunday morning God lead me to this Psalm:

Psalm 60: 1- 5

You have rejected us, O God, and burst forth upon us;

you have been angry- now restore us!

You have shaken the land and torn it open;

mend its fractures, for it is quaking.

You have shown your people desperate times;

you have given us wine that makes us stagger;

But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner

to be unfurled against the bow.

Save us and help up with your right hand,

that those who love may be delivered.

     I really felt as if God was painting me a picture with His Word of Haiti in this particular Psalm. When the Psalmist speaks about the the land being fractured, quaking, and torn. It brought me back to the earthquake and the fact that I have spent the last three weeks in this country that was completely devastated by this earthquake. The children here at Canaan talk about it a little and they shared that they were eating dinner when the earthquake took place. They were terrified but felt safe because of the faith that they have. The psalmist goes on to say that the people are in desperate times but for those that love Him they will be delivered. These children at Canaan have truly been delivered. It is so appropriate that this place is named “The Promised Land.” These children have been blessed with a home that is not a part of tent city of people that were displaced by the earthquake. They are blessed with 3 meals a day and a family to sit and eat each meal with.

This week has been full of every emotion imaginable!! I can't begin to tell all of you how much God has been present with me this week. As I was in the middle of packing for the World Race, I came to realize that I was packing up a small part of myself and leaving a lot behind so that God can just take me away and run with me. Well, that is exactly what he has done with me this week. He has taken me and ran with me.

As I included in my first blog, my team is at a children's home named Canaan. The children's ages range from infant up to 18 years of age. This is an amazing place. I have been blown away by the physical accommodations that have been provided to us. I thought that in Haiti we would truly be living out of our tents and taking bucket showers. But God has provided once again with dorms, running water and wonderful food.

A typical summer school day which is Monday through Thursday looks a little like this:

5:30 a.m. We all get up. The children have morning chores such as cleaning the bathrooms, the dorm, sweeping and mopping as well as taking care of the grounds outside. Also some of the older girls help with the preparation of meals.

6:45 a.m. Breakfast

Then after dinner, we are available to help them with their school work or just hang out with them. This schedule makes for a long day. I have to say I am amazed by these children and how they handle these responsibilities, as well as all the chores and school work mentioned above. They all also wash their own laundry by hand and then hang it out on the line to dry. I have to say it truly shows me how much we have as Americans, no let me correct myself it is not about how much we have it is about how easy we have it. We take these conveniences for granted and truly each convenience is a wonderful blessing from our Heavenly Father.

I have been working on getting the library organized. They are blessed with numerous books and they really enjoy reading. The girls are always asking me definitions of words and how to spell them correctly. I enjoy helping them learn so much. I also have been helping in school and most of you know that math is not my strong point well guess what I helped several students with last week, yes you guessed it math. I knew God was going to stretch me during this time in my life but I never imagined it would have included math of all things. : )

As I mentioned before my emotions have been all over the place. There have been moments that have included thoughts like, “I have truly lost my mind what I am doing here?”, to “This is exactly where God wants me to be.” I have to say that it is truly important to me that each one of you are on this journey with me. I can truly feel all of your love and prayers for me each day!! I miss all of you like crazy!!

Blessings,

Christal

I have to say that God blessed me with an uneventful trek to the Dominican Republic.  All my flights were on time and everything went very smoothly.  We even got through immigration without any problems.  We then boarded a bus that took us on a 25 minute ride to our new home for this week at least.  I have to say that it was pretty exciting that the bus had air conditioning.  It has been great to be reunited with everyone since meeting them at training camp. 

     It is hard for me to put into words how much this week thus far has meant to me in so many different areas of my life.  First off spiritually, God has definitely been present and a part of this daily process here.  God is ever present and leading the way on this journey that has just started!!  Another area of my life that has been amazing is the community that has been built during this week of training.  It is amazing to be surrounded by  75 other July racers that are truly committed to expanding the kingdom of God.  God has been expanding my world on a daily basis.  We have done several team building exercises in anticipation of God placing us on our WR teams.  I ask that you keep me in your prayers during this exciting time of transition in my life that is going to lead to very amazing God things all around the world!!