Enjoy :)
Where do I begin? Well, it started with a prayer that turned into a concert that led me to DR. Makes no sense, right? Right. Let me explain.
Preaching in a foreign country has been something that has always excited me. I was like 'foreign country, new experiences, cool!' But then the questions arose. How am I gonna get there? Who am I going to go with? Where will I stay?
Woah. Overwhelming.
So it was all just a thought, right? Then eventually it got to the point that I began to think, how can I do something without first taking the first steps? So I got my passport in August, and I asked Jehovah in prayer to bless it so that I may use it in His service. 2 months later, we're in October, and I get invited to a concert that I was actually gonna cancel on, but thankfully I went, because that's where I met my good ol' pal, Eloy. Remember overwhelming question number 2? Let me remind you: "Who am I gonna go with?" Well, check. I kinda crashed his plans, and it was kinda sketch because we just met, but he knew the Mazarellis, and I knew of the Mazarellis, so I'm like, 'it's legit'. And that's the beautiful thing about Jehovah's organization is that you can meet new people and it's as if you've known them forever.
So after a lot of whatsapp conversation, buying a plane ticket, waiting for the day to arrive, waking up at 2:30 am, trying to navigate through 3 airports, a taxi driver that couldn't drive, that called me Jackie Chan, that took us to a Metro, then a 4 hour trip to Puerto Plata... We finally made it!! Let me tell you that since then, the only thing that I regret is only staying here for 2 weeks, as in I wish I could stay longer. Everything has been so amazing, from the hospitality of the Mazarellis to the congregation and the preaching of both Spanish and English.
The first door I knocked on, the lady was so nice and invited us in, and I'm not used to that, and so I went in, obviously and gave my little presentation from the States, and when I finished she had the face of like "ok, so what else you gonna tell me?" And I was like "Woah, what do I do?" I was not prepared for this. But it's amazing because everyone wants to talk. Even when they're busy, if you say anything in regards to the Bible, they make time to listen. I've never showed so many videos. I was so accustomed to placing magazines, and worrying about placements and hours, and when it's like that, one tends to forget about how to just have a conversation using the Bible, and understanding the way people reason and understanding their viewpoint on certain matters. Here I was able to place many conversations, and that's something that I will definitely take back with me when I go home.
One doubt that weighed pretty heavy on my mind was that I really thought I would miss Starbucks, but Country Club Merengue really made up for it. So I encourage you to try it. If you miss Starbucks, get you a 'merengue'.
In these two weeks, I've made a ton of new friends, I was part of a loving congregation, I was able to preach to people instead of just talking to doors, I got in the ocean; thanks Vero (insert laughing emoji here), and I was able to experience an entirely different country, and atmosphere.
Would I do it again? Absolutely, in a heartbeat, no questions asked. If ... When... the opportunity arises for me to come and preach in another country, the Dominican Republic is definitely top on my list. I would come back to preach in Javillar in a heartbeat, or better said I will be back to preach in Javillar SOON!!
But until then, I leave this note to all the ones I have met here in DR: "Are ya'll religious? Because you are all the answers to all of my prayers."
UNTIL NEXT TIME!!!!!
hashtags of the trip:
#impettyallthetime
#elchino
#jackichan
#tostonesparajohnnyventura
#mikeyinthedr
#truHright
#arhturanddw
#everydaywhenyourwalkingdownthestreet