Friday

Our final morning typically takes place in a joint devotion with Azua WYAM. As they moved back to the house on the hill overlooking the bay it was a wonderful and peaceful time of reflection listening to worship music with the gentle Carribean breeze flowing onto the patio. Such beauty in such a poor country. Rodney (the director) shared his vision and those that didn't know him previously were amazed at his faith and devotion.

A DR mission trip isn't complete without a trip to Project Four (El Quatro) where the Nelson's have a ministry that includes a feeding program funded by the team. They have about 350 kids in their care. The team listened to the kids sing praise songs, a few members gave messages, we helped with the feeding program, played with the kids, and prayed over the ministry. Like so many visits to these villages, heartbreaking stories were heard but so also were the victories for Christ.

Upon returning to Nathaniel's the team gave attention to cleaning up the garage for tonight's pizza party. They then went to visit the Center for the Blind. Living in Azua is hard enough but being disabled or blind compounds this difficulty because of traffic, gutters, and uneven sidewalks. Their faith and determination to not allow their disability to defeat them is astounding. In fact, they are learning how to do sign language to help the deaf! The team blessed them with audio bibles before we left.

A quick stop to bless a child sized wheelchair to a girl with cerebral palsy was next. This was the girl who the team met a few years ago while being carried and cared for by her younger brother; incredible love and devotion.

The last night involves all of our ministry partners and their families gathering in Nataniel's garage for pizza, soda, Iris's pineapple upside-down cake, fellowship, introductions, prayer, final messages, worship, hugs, and goodbyes. An emotional night as these people mean so much to us and we understand how much the team means to them; humbling. It may be midnight when the team arrives back to the hotel exhausted but a feeling peace is felt by all. God bless.