Adios Republica Dominicana
It was with mixed emotions that we said, "Adios" to the Dominican Republic this past Sunday. We felt sad to say good-by to our Dominican family and friends; however, we were thrilled to return home!
Most people know that adios means good-by in Spanish. It's interesting to note that "Dios" mean "God" and "a" means "to". In essence, adios could be translated as "To God". With that in mind we knew that we were leaving "to God" each person to whom we said "Adios". We were leaving them in good hands, God's hands. In addition, as we reflected on all of the amazing work, miracles, blessings and answered prayers that occured during our adventure in the Dominican Republic, we wanted to say, "To God" be the glory!
As Marisol, Solangi and Franci waved "adios" from their new home that St. Peter's built, we knew that God would continue to meet them and bless them because of their new found hope in Him and with their new house. "To God" be the glory!
When we said "adios" to Kairy, the baby girl that several of you gave financial gifts to purchase a special milk formula that she could not afford, yet needed in order to survive, we knew that God would continue to heal her and nourish her. She went from 13 pounds at one year old, to over 20 pounds when we left! "To God" be the glory!
Saying "adios" to the community of Los Cocos and to the close to 2,000 people with whom we shared the gospel via the bracelets was difficult; however, we know that God is on the move in that community! Several friends we knew received the Lord as Savior and by the way everyone wanted a bracelet and questioned how each bead represented a different symbol of God's love, proved to us that God had prepared this community to receive Him. "To God" be the glory!
Our "adios" to the Friday night youth group was much easier after we found out that God, answered a prayer unbelievably by replacing our leadership with two volunteers from Santiago. They responded to God's calling after receiving a Sunday School Teacher training, St. Peter's style. There was no one qualified in the community to take over and to think God was calling these two busy medical students who don't even live in the community to fill this position every Friday night was very exciting and encouraging. "To God" be the glory!!
Altagracia and Jiminian sent us a huge bunch of bananas to say "adios". They were unable to come to our sending off party because it is too difficult for Jiminian to travel across the river at night in his wheelchair. However, it's not too difficult to get around in his home anymore due to house renovations that God provided! Their new floor and windows are beautiful just like the smiles on the faces of the family. "To God" be the glory!
As we departed the Methodist Church in Santiago for the last time and said "adios" to Pastora Sairy and the congregation we rejoiced knowing that God is working in and growing that congregation in numbers and maturity and hopefully in building! "To God" be the glory!
We were unable to return to the site in the mountain to say "adios" to the hundreds of trees that the Missions Team, community members, and children from the orphanage planted. However, God provided rain in His perfect timing after a time of drought for them to flourish. We know they are in good hands. "To God" be the glory!
As we said "good-by" to all the school children and adult students to whom we taught English, we knew we were really saying "a Dios"!! All of them were equipped to share the gospel in English via the bracelets. "To God" be the glory!
During our last week in the Dominican Republic we visited two impoverished families in the mountains who are requesting St. Peter's to build them homes. They are very needy and deserving of a new home. Saying "adios" was very difficult because we didn't know whether their homes would survive this next hurricane season. Yet, after seeing all of the amazing works that God did during the short time that we were there, we knew that we were just saying "a Dios" and that God will provide for them! "To God" be the glory!
Saying good-bye to Mario and Nina and all of their children and grandchildren (our huge Dominican family) and to all of our friends in the neighborhood was very difficult; however, we've said "adios" to them many times in the past and God has always brought us back together. With St. Peter's interest in continuing missions work in Los Cocos and with Pastora Sairy we know that we will be seeing them before we know it!! Lydia and Luke are already planning car washes and lemonade stands for this summer in order to raise money to return to the Dominican Republic! "To God" be the glory!!
As we said "adios" to Halley, who was a great help to Lydia and Luke with their homeschooling, once again we knew we were saying "a Dios" as we know that God has a great plan for her and we look forward to seeing it unfold. Hopefully we will say "hola" to her next time we are in the Dominican Republic! "To God" be the glory!!
On the way home from JFK airport, we stopped off at a rest stop and ran into Sean, the same limo driver who rescued us on February 2nd when we broke down on our way to the airport to leave for the Dominican Republic. He was the first person with whom we had shared a gospel bracelet! It was if we had come full circle with God and realized that you never do truly say "adios", you only say "a Dios"! "To God" be the glory!!
With love and thanks and praise to God, The Dice Family