My team came up with a fun idea to share our first week in the Dominican Republic with you. Together, we’ve written a little story. Click on the links below to read more of each team member’s perspective on our experiences:
In chapter one, Jenn shares about our travel day and experience in a Haitian church. Antoinette compares our first taste of a favorite Dominican meal, Sancocho, with how we are called to live as the body of Christ. Abbey tells of the lengths Jesus, and now we, go to reach the lost, even if only for the one. Elizabeth describes our daily ministry of going into the local communities with a focus on building relationships. Lynneal shares a surprising revelation and encounter she had on our weekly sabbath.
And now, I get to wrap it all up with chapter 6:
Drug Apparatus and Shaky Hands
This afternoon was so unexpectedly powerful…
We planned to return to La Treinta, a small Haitian immigrant community known for its poverty, prostitution, drug addictions, and violence. We know it for New Jerusalem church with its vibrant green interior, heavily accented welcomes from the most precious children, and Pastor Paul’s wide smile.
We stepped over the oddly high threshold into the tin-roofed sanctuary. Two little wall fans spun vigorously in a losing battle against the oppressive heat. We sat down in white plastic chairs, waiting for the women to arrive so we could do a Beauty for Ashes session with them. During the pause, we got to hear more of Pastor Paul’s story and vision for this church.
He started New Jerusalem four years ago when he received a calling from God. When he told people where he was going, he got a lot of questioning looks. Was he crazy? La Treinta isn’t exactly the most ideal location. Other church plants in the community have lasted just three months, maybe five if they’re doing exceptionally well. Still, he chose to obey God’s calling. He now has a small, but thriving church. The Spirit is clearly at work within them!
After Pastor Paul finished sharing with us, we found out the women they had invited weren’t able to come because they had to go sell in the market. Milka, the community liaison for Until They Know (our ministry host), reminded us that this wasn’t an accident. God had something else in store.
We decided to go walk the street and pray for people. Milka and the other ministry staff members led us to the corner where prostitutes convene to initiate their business. Two women sat on opposite corners of the street. We split up between the two and began speaking with them.
Employing my limited memory of high school Spanish, I introduced myself to the lady next to me. With Milka’s help, we continued the conversation. Just when we started sharing the gospel with her, a man hurried over, yelling as he crossed the street. He dropped his load of scrap metal on the sidewalk next to us and abruptly joined our conversation.
Continuing in a loud, agitated voice, he started sharing his story with us. He used to be a traveling preacher. He had it all: the family, the clothes, the position. But, he didn’t cover himself in prayer and allowed Satan to enter in the gaps of his armor. He fell into temptation and lost it all. He now lives on the streets, addicted to drugs and estranged from his family. He pulled a small object out of his pocket and said that’s what he used for his drugs.
He wanted out. He wanted freedom. He wanted us to pray.
I felt the Holy Spirit stir within my spirit. I knew it was time. My heart raced as my mind tried to piece together words. I stopped, remembering what God had told me earlier this morning during a team prayer time.
For so long, I’ve controlled how I would allow His Spirit to work through me. I wanted to know the when, where, what, why, and how. I wanted to know the exact words to say before I started praying for someone. I didn’t want surprises.
That was the old me.
The new me was silently begging for His power to be fully released within me. My spirit longed to partner with Him in this crazy kingdom building journey. Like a shy child raising its hand to answer a question, I asked Him to show me His power. I gave Him the freedom to surprise me. In my journal, I told Him, “Your will be done.”
Four hours later, I was standing on a street corner in front of Alex. My squad-mates had surrounded him with hands on his shoulders. I knew I was supposed to pray out loud, but I didn’t have the words yet. What would I choose in that moment? Fear? Control? Or the power I’ve been praying God would allow me to witness?
I said his name. I asked Alex if he truly wanted to be free. He nodded. I told him that if he was serious, he needed to fully abandon his addictions, including the drug apparatus in his pocket. He pulled it out and threw it across the street. I told him we would pray that he would receive the power of God to set him free. I reached out my hand and laid it on his head. Still not knowing what to say, I started praying while Milka translated for me.
Photo credits: my super talented teammate, Abbey Spiker
I don’t remember much of what I prayed after that, but I felt the Holy Spirit come over me. I felt my own spirit swell within me and rise up. My uplifted hand shook. Tears trickled down my cheek as I realized just how much God loved this man, His son, and wanted him to be free. As I ended the prayer in the power of Jesus’ name, Alex sank to the ground. We all knelt around him and continued praying quietly.
After several minutes, he sat up with tears in his eyes and said,
“The chains of addiction have been broken. I am free!”
He went on to passionately preach to us for over an hour. His knowledge of the Word was incredible! Now, it’s time for his heart and actions to align with what he has in his head. Please join us in prayer for him to continue walking in his new found freedom.
AND (nope, the story isn’t over yet) all the while this conversation and prayer was happening with Alex, other people joined our little corner sanctuary to see what was going on. There were two women who worked in prostitution, a guard carrying a shotgun, businessmen, an elderly woman, and a few young teens. Some of them even joined in the conversation at times. My squadmate, Lindsey, got to speak life into and pray over the two women, including the one we had originally begun talking to.
ANNNDDDD across the street, the other half of my team was ministering to two more women who were in prostitution and a man who needed physical healing and provision. They even did a Beauty for Ashes session with them right there on the street! They talked about how the women view God. At the end, they asked if anyone wanted to begin a relationship with Jesus. One of the women chose to pray and accept Christ!
Have I mentioned that life out here with God is W I L D? Because it is. Your hands may shake. Words may be slow to come. A drug apparatus might even be thrown down. You never really know what will happen. However, just give Him the chance, and He is more than willing to show you His power.
The coolest part is that He can use you to do it. 🙂
“For freedom Christ has set you free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
Galatians 5:1
