Dominican Republic 2025 Day Two
Well, it’s your favourite people, Keandra and Liv! First full day in the DR, both of our first times as missionaries. Our day began with morning devotions, (Liv), I experienced my first devotion with the team and having some alone time to reflect. (Keandra) During our time alone with the Lord I was able to feel His presence immensely. I was in prayer for over twenty minutes getting filled with the Holy Spirit increasing each second, tuning out the noises of the city. As I heard the team’s chairs moving back to the circle, I said to God “Alright we gotta wrap this up, but don’t worry ill be back soon”, and finished talking to Him. We then made our way down to our rooms, then got ready for breakfast.
After eating we got walked over to the vocational school by Chris and got put into separate classrooms. Taryn, Gabe, and I were put into a high level ESL class of five girls. We had amazing, yet interesting conversations. We may or may not have frightened them of frostbite from the cold, and Canada’s Wonderland rollercoasters but reassured them that frostbite is not an every day thing. I created such a bond with the girls whom were my age, they followed me on Instagram, and now we’re sharing our prom pictures when we graduate next school year! I was then put into a level 3 and 4 ESL class, alone, of six children: three boys, three girls. The teacher had not known I was coming therefore I created and did a lesson on my own (with the teachers help regarding the language barrier). I taught them positive and negative answers to questions in English. I then asked many questions and got them to ask me a whole bunch as well. I felt God working through me the entire experience is was such a bonito (beautiful) moment. I talked with the teacher a lot as well teaching her about maple syrup, and even ended up getting her number! 40 minutes later, I was then relocated to another class, the lowest level of ESL. As soon as I walked in a group of three boys screamed and picked up their desks, got me one, and invited me to sit with them. We enjoyed making conversation, teaching them, dancing when cars drove past with loud music, learning about each other’s families, listening to their favourite English music artists, them telling me to repeat after them saying Spanish phrases which made them laugh quite hard, so let’s hope I didn’t accidentally just marry one… At the end we took so many pictures, about 10 got my Instagram so we can connect when I arrive back home!
(Liv) While Keandra was off doing that, Anna and I started in a classroom with students about the same age as us. They ranged from 13-25, but mostly younger. It started off with just basic questions that they had been learning. Then the teacher had asked if we were good at giving advice. Anna and I just looked at each other, we ended up answering questions from the teacher and setting boundaries what to do if you think your boyfriend or girlfriend was cheating on you. At one point we ended up talking about fighting in school and how it was more normal in other cultures. Then we got split up for our next classrooms, I ended up going with Tymon. While Keandra was having her deep conversations with kids, Tymon and I were having dance parties doing the Cha Cha Slide and The Macarena. I had been wearing my John 3:16 shirt which had the verse written out in Spanish and the kids loved to read it and say it out loud. The one classroom we had gone into, the older kids were very well spoken in English and were running there pretend stores. They were so excited for us to be there and enthusiastic about everything they were doing.
(Keandra) lunch then began, and let me tell you the amount of mango I’ve eaten and will have no one can fathom. I cannot go back to ones in Canada. Once we finished eating we had time prior to working, to go swimming, nap, whatever our bodies needed. I felt as though the Lord was calling me to connect with Him alone. Therefore, I walked myself up to the roof, bible in hand and prepared myself to reflect. I was looking over the edge of the rooftop, hearing the traffic, cars honking, various Spanish music from different areas playing it, people talking and laughing, and many cars would drive by with speakers on the roof blaring traditional Spanish songs. I saw many families, people riding on scooters, fruit trucks passing, many workers outside working, the astonishing view of the mountains, colourfully painted houses, small shops, kids playing, dogs and cats roaming, and much more. I could smell some type of pastry, garlicy, cheesy, whatever it was it smelt like I wanted it in my tummy. I could feel my bible in my hands grazing the pages, sticky notes, and softness of the cover. I had the taste of the amazing mangoes lingering on my tongue. In all this I was blown away how these individuals live their lives so differently than myself, and how the Lord provides for them in the specific areas they need. I then went into prayer about all of the community, myself in where I am not grateful in, and much more.
(Liv) After our break we got back to work. We stayed at the compound and did a lot of gravel moving. We had three wheelbarrows that we would shovel full of gravel and wheel them all around to put into sections and level it out. We started with one gravel pile and it was all down hill with the full wheelbarrows so that was nice. During that time I did take a small tumble with the wheelbarrow but thankfully the gravel did go into the right spot still so it was all good! Once we finished the first gravel pile Felix told us that we have another one to start after we had just been doing that for 2 and a half hours. We thought “okay” until I found out it was a 70 degree hill that we have to run it up. Taryn and I did one run and we started off with good momentum and then it was gone. Gabe said going down the hill “just keep running” which wasn’t happening because all of our momentum was gone, but we did manage to get it up.
(Keandra) Whilst I was leveling gravel, three girls and one boy that were quite young came over and talked to us. I complimented their t-shirts and dresses in Spanish, and spoke to them as much as I could. They ran away then ran back very shortly with these gorgeous flowers handing them out to all the girls. They told me to put it in my hair to make me look bonito.
(Both) After our hard work with the gravel we all piled up on the ground in front of the Dominican Republic map. Felix had given us an in depth history lesson on both the DR and Haiti. It was very sentimental and powerful. After that we sang a song for Prayer before dinner. During dinner Jacob had told us all he has planned about his wedding and where he would be getting married. He then, as Jacob does, began saying random things. He started naming off countries and slogans to say to his fiancé when he proposes. If its in China “China, I’m China to marry yah”. If it was in Germany and this was a bad one… “German-y, how bout German-us.” During this time, Tymon was really enjoying his food and was very excited to eat this one piece of chicken, he began cutting it, partially off the table (you can see where this is going). Yep his chicken and rice ended up all over the floor under the table. Once dinner ended, we all yet again did what our bodies were telling us to do. Tymon, Angel, Jacob, Taryn, Katie, Gabe, ourselves and Felix’s daughter Jezreel all played volleyball together, bringing Monday night volleyball days into the Dominican. We played up until devotions. We learned the difference between thinking as a tourist or a missionary and living in Canada (cold climate culture) vs Dominican (warm climate culture). The sermon was a very eye opening experience for myself. Keandra opened in prayer for the group and Gabe ended and it was beautiful.
(Keandra), I wanted to share a verse that I’ve been meditating on with God, and that has been continually running through my mind these past two days. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8. This verse has been on my mind due to me asking and the Lord simply delivering. I’ve asked for healing and He healed. I’ve asked for wisdom and knowledge and I’ve gained it. I’ve asked for courage and it is shown through me He is delivering! Well, signing out for now talk soon. AMEN!!!
P.S (Liv) During our time writing this, which took a very long time (2 hours) but was worth it. Keandra had started off wearing a nice hydrating face mask which she got a few weird looks and questions, and as we continued on, Tymon had gotten out of the pool and walked into the cafeteria wearing this very nice crop top (he had folded up his shirt). His excuse for this was that he didn’t want the shirt to get wet but we don’t believe him.
By: Liv and Keandra
