(The other day, I was searching for a document on our computer & came across this letter from Kurt. He wrote it just after our 1 year anniversary here in the DR. - Katie)
It’s been a little over one year since Katie and I first
stepped into the Dominican Republic with a one-way ticket in our
hands. A lot of life and ministry
has happened in that one year while we have felt the stretch and strain of
growth and change.
I remember our first day walking into Batey Lima, the Batey
that we have been in the most, and sitting in a circle with a group of adults
talking about our plans and projections.
Well, talking is a relative word saying that only Jason Hilgeman,
Freedom’s founder, was doing any talking and I was sitting there trying not to
feel awkward or more importantly look awkward.
I remember slipping out of the circle and trying some
universal language of “catch.” I brought out some gloves and a ball and found a
young man standing on the side to join in. I asked him “Como te llamas?” (What is your name?) and he
asked me “What is your name” (in English) and that was about the extent of our
conversation.
Little did I know, but the young man I played catch with
that day would end up being one of my best friends. Wander and I now comfortably switch back and forth between
English and Spanish, sharing stories, laughing, and doing ministry together.
The roles of Katie and I have changed frequently throughout
the past year from teaching home school to the missionary kids, organizing
games in the Bateys, teaching English, making videos, teaching in the Freedom
pre-school, assisting the young men’s ministry, and recently, even teaching some
of the 50 lessons to creation to Christ IN SPANISH. We’ve fought through battles of ants,
lizards, cockroaches, heat, loud music, poor plumbing, a lemon for a car, being
flipped off by kids that you pour out your love into every day, and yes…even
learning how to work in the same household with each other! :)
All that being said, we wouldn’t trade this last year for
anything and are looking forward to the year to come. The relationships built, and the lives being changed make
all the frustrations worth every penny.
Maybe even most importantly, we’re learning how to give up our precious
comforts in order to be faithful to our calling in life to Glorify Christ.
Thank you to everyone for you support, prayers, and love
over the last year. Many of you
have made extraordinary efforts to help us adjust and to help us be effective,
and we appreciate those partnerships very much.
Sincerely,
Kurt
