Beautiful Feet

"He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." (Mark 16:15 NIV)

Meeting Sister Denisse and sharing a first meal together at Caminante!
It was Onea's first time out side of the US after working for GM for many many years!

I have been taught all summer long by the amazing young people that I have been privileged to work with. First I was blown away by the dedicated Dominican youth volunteers who worked for four weeks to make our summer camp possible. While I shamefully stated on many accounts that I wished American youth could be as selfless... my call to be reminded of the amazing youth in the US was abundantly filled by 12 young adults and Global ministries staff. These students came on a People to People Pilgrimage with Global Ministries. They were chosen to participate for their dedication to the church and their communities as well as their cultural and ethnic backgrounds. 

Learning to hand craft Coconut Jewelry with the Nin@s Trabajadores.

Having a blast playing with the Nin@s Trabajadores and Street Situation Groups of Caminante.

Together we were reminded of God's love and devotion to us as we traveled around Boca Chica and Santo Domingo. We dove into amazing discussions and observations about social structures, education systems and the importance of education, the family, poverty, and need. From day one, I felt rejuvenated by their passion for learning, energy for playing, and ability to form a loving family group in a few short hours. By the end of their time, I had been reminded why I too had felt called to come to the Dominican Republic, to serve Global Ministries, and to accompany Caminante. 

Visiting La Torre, a poor community north of Caminante.
Here the community built and runs a three room school for Elementary students.

Through fresh eyes and open hearts this group of young adults made observations and statements of faith that blew me, and their leadership team, out of the water. While visiting La Casona, Center for Capacitaction the students recognized the importance of education and "how easy" education accessibility is in the United States. Again the students were touched by the drive many students have to receive an education when they heard firsthand how many students have to walk several hours each day to a public high school because their own community offers only elementary classes in a three room community school. We also discussed how many students are disadvantaged due to a lack of supplies and or uniforms and that some schools are staffed by volunteers with little education and some teachers lack the passion to teach, rarely lesson plan, and cancel class often.

 

Small group games and discussions with Dominican youth were an incredible success in Monte Rey.

The small groups self selected and discussed issues
including gangs, education, teen pregnancy, abuse, and drugs.

Another topic of discussion throughout the week was the many reasons why children and adolescents work outside of the home. Many of the students made very insightful observations after discussing with the different groups of Caminante or witnessing interactions on the streets. The group met and several had intimate conversations with a homeless boy who had been trafficked from Haiti after wanting to run away from his family. While the young boy initially lied saying his mother abandoned him in a Boca Chica hotel, the group helped to speak in Creole with him and eventually came to a story that we believe to be closer to the truth. Later in the week a few of the students had the opportunity to walk down Duarte, Boca Chica’s main strip after dark. When they gave their observations, one of the younger girls in the group told the group, “these girls do NOT want to be doing this… they were scared and the men were saying, ‘don’t worry, baby. It won’t hurt.’” This was such an important observation because many people believe that prostitution is a choice of work, this young student quickly realized that the young girls did not have a choice and more importantly were very young and scared being coerced and sexually abused by their “clients” and “pimps/boyfriends”. Despite being young in years, the group – from different backgrounds, families, social and economic statuses – was incredibly mature and thoughtful about very difficult situations.

Visiting the first western church in the "New World."
It is located in Columbus Square in Santo Domingo.

Watching an outdoor concert in Zona Colonial, Ruins of San Francisco. 

This group of young adults lived up to their name, “pilgrimage.” They were called, as Mark said, to “go into all the world” to learn about God, faith, themselves, human kind, and the world. Sometimes it takes an adventure, a new experience, to open the mind and heart to a special type of ministry. These amazing young people offered a ministry and a mission to Caminante’s kids by getting dirty in the coconut jewelry workshop, playing hard on the beach, and spending hours talking to other young adults in the communities visited. Now, with these new understandings and experiences, they will speak to their churches, families, friends, schools and communities to preach their expanded understanding of God, faith, and religion. Romans 10:15 says, “How beautiful are the feel of those who bring good news!” I know that these tanned, tired, and a little sandy feet WILL bring good news of the Caminante and the faithful work its staff and youth are doing to better the lives of Boca Chica’s children.

"And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”" (Romans 10:15 NIV)

Saying "Happy Birthday" to Franny and "See you Later" to the group!