Leesa Hamilton: We Would Go

There I was bobbing up and down in the back seat of the missionaries van going over one rut filled road after another. I was amazed at the luscious greenery and beauty of the country. I was also amazed at the complete lack of any traffic rules or regulations by the motorists. Going down the wrong way on a one-way street was completely acceptable, as was driving up on a sidewalk if the situation called for it. We all had lots of fun watching this out of control, virtual reality driving situation while we held on to anything we could find trusting that we would make it to the missionary compound in one piece. 

Tim and Trena Johnson, our missionary hosts, were so gracious and made sure that we were fed the finest fresh fruits; pineapple, papaya, giant avocado’s, home grown bananas and the like.  The compound where we stayed was beautiful in its walled environment, but it was just a short traveling distance to see the distinct difference of how some of the people lived in poorly constructed one room shacks. The light of God’s providing hand and the darkness of what the devil gives to his people was clearly evident.     

The first event we did was the next morning after we arrived in the Dominican Republic and was held at the city park in Santiago. We had carefully practiced our skits but the reality that we were actually doing them in front of people began to shake my nerves a bit. As we set up for our puppet show, people began to gather around to see what was going on. I was stricken with the sight that there were so many men hanging around the park in the daytime. I would learn that it was a sure sign that there were many who couldn’t find jobs and seemed to have no sense of purpose. As we performed our skits, more and more people gathered. They were curious and hungry. Tim preached the Good News using a chart with pictures that made the gospel so simple.  When he gave the invitation, about 20 men, women, and young people came forward to receive Christ. Our team began to pray over these people who did not speak our language. We prayed in the Spirit mostly-and our God, who has no limits, worked miracles in their lives. I remember the Holy Spirit drawing my attention to a young woman in her early 20’s, who was scantily clad, and had a scowl upon her face. She stood off in the distance, watching, and taking it all in. I felt the compassion of Christ for this girl. I knew that prostitution was a great source of trade in that city and that she was dressed like someone in that profession. As my heart and my eyes were set on her I moved straight toward her. She stiffened up as I wrapped my arms around her and held her. I felt the love of God coming out of me right in to her heart, and I felt her body begin to relax and receive. When I finally let her go, I looked in to her face and smiled at her, and she smiled back at me. God had touched this child and I knew it. I don’t know what God said to her but I knew He was telling her just what she needed to hear. I know that each one of my fellow students could tell you story after story about similar experiences that they had with certain individuals.

Before we would leave the Dominican, our team would see approximately 50 people come to Christ and many were healed, delivered, and set free. This was all facilitated by interpreters conveying our preaching and testimonies. We would go from modern downtown churches to mountain churches which had no walls. We would go from evangelistic outreaches in city parks, to performing our skits in slum areas where the structure of the building had bars across the windows and doors. We would feed poor children bowls of rice and beans for lunch, which was most likely their only meal that day, and have to tell them we didn’t have any more food to give them a second bowl. We would hold children that smelled like urine and be captivated by their beautiful faces and the great potential each one of them held. Daily, we would go and bring Jesus to the lost and hurting in the Dominican Republic. We would go and encourage our precious brothers and sisters in the faith as they would mutually encourage us, prophesy over us, and bless our lives.

Then a week after we arrived, we would go home to Colorado. We would go – but a part of us would stay in the Dominican Republic. And if the opportunity ever arises for us to go back– we would go!