Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow but we must say Adios...

    We are on the flight headed home. It is hard to believe that we have been gone for thirty days. So much has happened in the past four weeks and I don’t even know how to begin relating it all to you.
    To begin with, I have been given a prospective of missions that I had yet to see prior to this month. Through this experience, I have come to understand the things that take place behind the scenes in missionaries’ lives. I have seen what it is like for a “gringo” to live in a Dominican neighborhood. I have had the opportunity to see what it is like to work in a culture that is entirely different than my own. While at times I have seen that life in a world unlike my own can be frustrating, I see that the rewards of serving the Lord as he leads far outweigh the bad.
    While here I taught English in a private Christian school. I had the opportunity to take on a high school classroom for two weeks. During that time I can say that I learned more than I taught. I learned about the Dominican culture and how different it is than American culture. I studied education at Judson and I feel like I am prepared to enter the classroom in America. But throughout this experience, I have discovered that I am not quite ready to enter the classroom teaching abroad. I am far from fluent in Spanish and at times it was difficult to instruct students in my broken dialogue. I picked up on several new words while teaching and impressed some of the students a couple of times when I rattled of something quickly in Spanish, but I spoke far from perfectly. I will say that if God calls me to serve full time abroad that I will work hard to develop a better understanding of the language of whatever country that I am called to teach in. While at times I became frustrated in the school here, I was also extremely excited by things that took place in the classroom. Lauretta and I had the opportunity to share the gospel in a couple of our classes. We used salvation bracelets to share the effects of sin, the death of Christ, his resurrection and forgiveness for believers. The students in one particular classroom were specifically interested in what we had to share. Each student focused their full attention on us. It was a definite change in typical classroom behavior. I pray that seeds were planted in that classroom.
    While the time in the school was valuable, I enjoyed our time in villages the most. We had the time to just play with young people and to build relationships. I can’t tell you how many times I heard a smiling child laughing and saying, “Gringa, Gringa.” I loved playing baseball with the guys in Holos de los Puercos. Those guys out there have such a passion for the game. I hope that when the time is right and those young men hear the gospel that they will have an even greater passion for Christ. I also loved the kids that I meet in Augas Negras. When we went there, kids met us at the car ready to play. There were a couple of the boys that I was especially attached to. I wish that those little ones had different lives. It is so hard to see a ten year old limping around barefoot because he had no shoes and had stepped on a nail. It was even harder to see a 9 year old boy with his baby sister on his hip because his mom is a prostitute and can’t care for all 8 or her children. Stories like this break my heart but I know that God has a plan for each of these young boys lives. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future,” applies to all people not just to you and me and I was reminded of that several times during my time in the DR. God has a plan for these young people, I may not understand it but that doesn’t mean that God doesn’t have one. Remembering that fact made it easier to leave those little boys behind when we left the village for the last time.
    Overall I can say that I have been given a new prospective because of this trip and I know that it will affect the life that I lead in the US and the path that I take. I praise the Lord for my time in the DR and I can’t wait to see where the Lord will lead me in the future.
~Jodie~

Well it seems that we are two weeks into our trip. We have done many different things the past 14 days. In our first week we went to villages, we played with kids in muddy streets, we met with young girls that have been forced to provide for themselves at a young age using whatever means possible. In our second week we traveled to Santo Domingo for a glimpse of the capital of Republica Dominicana, and we have begun to teach in a Christian school in Puerta Plata.

See each week offers a different experience. Each weeks offers a new way to serve the Lord.

While we were in Santo Domingo, Lauretta and I had two roles. On the first evening there we acted as babysitters. Brooke celebrated her birthday during the week and the Jenkins parents needed a date night to complete the celebration. Lauretta and I also acted as tourists in the capital city. We toured Columbus’ home and we also visited the first cathedral in the Americas.

On Saturday Lauretta and I had the opportunity to be apart of an ESL class. We helped the students with their worksheets and helped them with word pronunciation. The sounds that come naturally to me as a native English speaker do not come natural to Dominicans. The “th” sound is killer. The teacher’s name is William. He is a really great guy and the Lord is using him to minister to several communities through ESL classes.

Monday Lauretta and I began teaching at the school. It was a very interesting experience. I am a teacher and I know how a typical school runs in the States. Lets just say that in the DR school is very different. We plan to go each day for our final two weeks here.

I can say that one of my favorite things to do down here has been to hang out with the Jenkins kids. They offer so much love and so much compassion for the people here in the DR. They each serve in their own way and love doing it. I am going to miss the kids when we return home. Of course I will miss Brooke and Brad too. They have been so wonderful to welcome us into their home and to take care of us the way that they have. The Lord is truly working in this family and I look forward to seeing how they impact the world around them for Christ in the future.

Lauretta and I decided to help a young girl that lives in Augas Negras. We decided to allocate funds given for our trip to purchase the supplies to help build a home for her. She is 16 and she takes care of her younger sister. I can’t imagine what it would be like to have to care for my sister and to find my own place to live at 16.

There seems to be so much injustice here. Those that cannot really care for themselves are the ones that suffer the most. Young children have no homes and young women are  sold into prostitution. It is hard to comprehend that many of the children that we play with in the villages are orphans with no place to call home. I pray that God continues to meet the needs of those that live in Puerta Plata. The flesh in me wants to scoop up all of the kids and put them in homes, but I know that God has a plan for each of these kids lives.

Sunday morning in church I became confused during the service. The pastor was preaching in Spanish and I lost the concept of the message. I flipped over to Proverbs and I found the verse “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps” Proverbs 16:9. I pray that the Lord continues to establish the steps of the Jenkins family. I know that they want to listen to the leading of the Lord and to do his will. This family has the opportunity to impact their community in so many ways. I am honored that I have had the opportunity to serve with them.


Please continue to pray for Lauretta and me. Lauretta isn't feeling very well and she needs to regain her strength so that she can continue to serve. Please also pray for the Jenkins family as the follow the path that the Lord has established for them.

A day in the Republica Dominicana

WoW is the word that both Lauretta and I used to describe the day. Actually, both of us came home and posted “WoW” as our status on Facebook without the other knowing it. 

Today was eyeopening in many ways. At times we were surrounded by beautiful scenery, yet we were also surrounded by things that were so ugly. The Dominican Republic has green mountains and crystal blue water at the beach; the pineapple here is exquisite and rice and beans are quite tasty. But there are people with no food here, and children that run around naked. There are whole communities of people that are discriminated against here and people that live day to day off of what they can scavenge in a dump.  See beautiful and ugly. 

This morning we went to a village called Aguas Negras (Black Waters). When we arrived our truck was met with children. We pulled out a basketball and tons of boys gathered to play at the village court. There were also several smaller kids hanging around that didn’t seem to have much to do, but one of the kids found a flat ball and we began to play catch. I noticed that the kids kept putting the ball up to their mouths and finally I realized that they were blowing the ball up with their mouths. American children would not have dreamed of playing with a ball in that condition and these kids didn’t mind that sometimes the ball went into the mounds of trash around our play area. They just continued to blow the ball up and we continued to play. After a few minutes we went to see a house that one of the young women in the village was building. It was a wooden home and to American standards it would not be considered a great place to live, but compared to the surrounding homes it was pretty nice. This young woman was doing the best she could to have a real home. I am excited that she is going to have a place to live soon. The best part of our visit to Aguas Negras was when we walked to Pastor Jacob’s church. Lots of children followed us to the church and when we walked inside the kids sat down as if they were ready for a service. We responded by beginning to sing a children’s song in Spanish. The kids seemed to really enjoy singing; they all wanted to lead a song. Actually many of the kids lead at some point. We clapped and sang and just enjoyed our impromptu worship service. It was really exciting to see the kids smiling and singing. 

After we left the village we stopped by a beach to celebrate Three Kings Day with a group of about 22 foster kids. These kids are known as Blanco’s Kids. The kids had a party on the beach. When we arrived they were playing with kites, making bracelets and getting medical check-ups. The kids enjoyed their time on the beach and it was nice to see Blanco’s ministry. 

After lunch and a little bit of rest we headed out to another village called Hollo de los Puercos. That means the hole of the pigs and I could see why. The village is home to Dominicans and Haitian refugees. It is located near the Puerta Plata dump; the smell there was one of the worst I have encountered in my lifetime. I have never seen houses so close together or streets so narrow. The main reason for our visit to the village today was to distribute baseball equipment that we collected before we left the US. When we arrived the baseball team was waiting for us at their field. This team had zero equipment to call their own until today. We gave them bats, balls, hats, and gloves. The boys were ready to begin using the equipment right away. They were excited to see the portable bases that we gave them to. Before our day was over the team played a game just to try out the new stuff. For me it was very exciting to see the kids throwing and catching and hitting. I loved playing ball with them. Yes this Gringa loved catching for one of the boys as he hit ground balls to his teammates. I am sure that we will post pictures of this event soon. I know Lauretta got some good shots, sadly my camera died halfway through our visit to this village. Towards the end of our time in Hollo de los Puercos, Lauretta, Brad, Abie, and I all walked to the Haitian portion of the village. We crossed over a trash filled river and spoke to just about everyone we saw. Several kids started to follow us and we played with them as we walked through the village. One of the little boys that we were playing with had the most intoxicating laugh. It actually brought tears to my eyes; he had so much laughter despite his sad surroundings. I don’t think I will ever forget his laughter. 

It is now the end of our day. Lauretta and I just looked through our pictures and we talked about what we did today. We are both tired and ready to sleep but we are excited to see what tomorrow will bring. 

Thanks for sticking with it and reading this lengthy blog. I got a little carried away! 

Dios te bendiga! 

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to Everyone!

Lauretta and I are celebrating Christmas and New Years Day with our families. We are both excited to be home for the holidays, but I know that I speak for both of us when I say that our hearts long for the Dominican Republic.  We are counting down the days.

WE LEAVE IN 10 DAYS!

Yes! TEN days. I can't believe that the time has come. We have been planing and praying about this trip for months now. The time has finally come for us to pack and to depart from the US. And pack we must. There is so much for us to pack. Brad told us recently that we would have the opportunity to work with a baseball team that has zero baseball equipment. When we heard this Lauretta and I got busy. We went to Play-it-Again Sports, Dicks, and Academy. Play-it-Again Sports donated several bats and we are still woking with the other companies. We have also been blessed by donations by people that we know.We have also received several things to pack for Brooke and the family! I am glad we get to help them out with a few supplies, and I have no doubt that we will fill up our suitcases without a problem. :)

I am so excited to have the opportunity to work with a baseball team. I have said several times that this trip is my dream trip, serving God through teaching English and working with a baseball team!! These are my two favorite things!



In the past few months, God has made everything come together. Our funds have come in an abundant supply. We have been blessed with supplies and with the desire to serve God in all ways.
I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for this trip! Thank you guys for your prayers and for your support!


P.S. I hear that it is snowing in Birmingham right now. Lauretta is rubbing it in via text message. It is chilly here in Robertsdale, but I know that the Jenkins are enjoying warm weather in the DR! I actually look forward to spending January in a warmer climate.



Dios te bendiga y Feliz Navidad

TICKETS!!!!

We just purchased our plane tickets!! YAY!! One step closer! 69 days and counting till take-off!! I can’t wait to see what God has in store for Jodie and me and the people of the Dominican Republic during our time there!  Thank you all again for your financial support and prayers! We ask that you continue to keep us in your prayers as we continue to prepare for this next step in our lives.  It means so much to have the wonderful support of the body of Christ!

In Christ,

Lauretta