During SMT, our ministry here in the Dominican Republic, we meet many people.

So many families and stories and experiences. 

I could spend hours telling you about these encounters but we would be here for a LONG time. For now, here is a story that has stuck with me this past week:

The team had just left a small Haitian community of non-believers and entered the street to wait on the rest of the squad. We were ready for a walk back to the church for lunch break when it started to rain outside.

Two Dominican women rushed us across the road and under the roof of a colmado (a corner store!). An older lady, who we will call Rose, was sitting in a chair and quickly had her son grab chairs for each of us. We sat down and I eagerly leaned in, wanting to understand the Spanish she was speaking. I caught a few, basis phrases and was able to give a broken response.

It seemed to me that she thought I spoke fluently, since I was reacting and responding to her words, but as the conversation went on she realized the state of confusion growing across my face as I turned to our translator for help.

Instantly she was cracking up, and so was I. We couldn’t help but laugh. I’m sure the rest of our team was confused, but we were locked in this holy moment. 

The rest of our conversation was short lived as motorcycles zoomed by, and our squad began walking down the street. With each question and response this woman continued to find herself caught in laughter. 

I vividly remember her hand landing on my shoulder for quite the belly laugh.

She spoke of how her joy was ONLY from the Lord. He was all that was important to her. Even as we wrapped up the conversation her words stuck with me: “The joy I have is from the Lord. and that joy is in all of us too.”

How are we living in this joy?

We HAVE this joy. Let's take it and run with it.

Unlock.