July 2, 2022
Travel Day 1 – 2 posts below
It’s been three long and frustrating years since we’ve been able to go on a Mission Trip. We’ve prayed for our Haitian and Dominican brothers and sisters throughout the pandemic, longing to see them. And now our time has arrived. FINALLY!!
As I sit in the airplane enroute to the Dominican Republic, I am a bit anxious and excited to see those beautiful people again. I’m thinking about the week ahead and the work we will be doing, hopefully touching the lives of those that have touched “our” hearts in past years.
I pray that God will guide us in our work, giving us the strength, energy, and stamina to do His work.
“Jesus, may we be your hands and feet this week. May the people we serve this week see and hear You through us. And now Sweet Jesus, let us land this aircraft and get to work!” Amen. Judy Schramer
Joy! What does joy mean to you?
Today, I had the pleasure of surprising the mission team from St. Joe’s, Rosemount, Minnesota. I walked up to them in the Miami Airport ready to join them on the Mission Trip 2022. They were shocked and surprised! I was with this group since 2015 ( including when we were stranded in Haiti in July 2018.) We have been unable to return to Haiti since that time but Haiti and the Haitian people have my heart and I know Dave and the other’s cherish our memories of Haiti trips as well. On the last trip in July 2019, I joined the group in the DR. Then this little world pandemic put our serving on hold.
Today, I hugged my friends! I laughed with them and reminisced about our past 6 trips. This morning, I got to be JOY and have JOY in my heart by making other’s smile.
Mission trips give you no choice but to force you to reflect on your life, your relationships, and your faith.
We do not know what this week will have in store for us, we never do when we arrive, but one thing is guaranteed, we are a part of God’s joyful plan to be serving together and HE is going to use us as His hands and feet this week!
When we have questions in life, sometimes we need to hit the pause button, (aka serving on a mission trip far from home,) to find our answers!
Dianne De Jong,
St. Mary’s, Ontario, Canada