We left the Dominican Republic at 9:20 a.m. last Friday morning and I finally arrived at the San Antonio airport at 5:45 p.m. after two time changes, six bags of in-flight snak mix (Apparently the airlines can no longer afford the “c” in snack), countless Diet Cokes, and finishing “Such a Pretty Fat” by Jen Lancaster. (Hysterical book, by the way.)
P ended up having to be out of town to guide hunts for a friend, so I called my daddy when I landed to let him know he could begin circling the airport while I waited for my luggage to make its debut on the baggage carousel, otherwise known as Suitcase Roulette.
I made my way down to the Baggage Claim area, taking my time since I knew I’d have to wait, but then I looked up and saw Caroline holding a big, pink rose, with a huge grin on her face, waiting for me. I ran the last few steps, picked her up in my arms, and started to cry. It’s a moment I’ll never forget.
We immediately headed to the nearest Mexican restaurant because I was feeling faint from lack of chips and salsa. It’s like my body had been in detox for a week and was beginning to revolt. Two taco nortenos and a bowl of guacamole later, I was a new woman.
So I’m home.
The weekend was full of activity. We went to see Madagascar 2, we explored a cave, and spent most of Saturday with Gulley and her youngest son, Will.
I went straight from temporary missionary mode to mommy mode in 2.2 seconds without a moment to catch my breath.
But even in the midst of all the activity and all the laundry, the children from the Dominican Republic were never far from my mind. I’d hear Caroline laugh, see her smile, watch the way she and Will were playing in the backyard, and I’d see the faces of those precious kids that I may never see again.
They have left a permanent mark on my heart. And I miss them.
On Sunday morning, I was sitting in church and we began to sing “Everlasting God”. There is a line in the chorus that says “You’re the defender of the weak, you comfort those in need” and when I sang it I felt the tears roll down my cheeks because now I know what need really looks like. I saw it firsthand last week.
But I also know what comfort looks like. It looks like a handful of letters from sponsors that have been kept in plastic bags for years. It looks like children singing in their classrooms knowing that they are going to get a meal and an education.
It looks like little kids running up to us and yelling “JOHN SMITH??!!” because that’s the name of their sponsor and since we’re from the United States they assume we must know him.
I saw need.
I saw sadness.
I saw comfort.
I saw joy.
I saw the difference Compassion is making in the lives of children all over the world one sponsorship at a time.
And it’s amazing.
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Big Mama-your entire “journal” and insight into what Compassion does in the DR, and world wide, has touched my heart. This morning, tears came to my eyes when I read your post and looked at your pictures. The joy in Jesus that the children and their families have, when they have the very basics of life, has been used by the Lord to convict me. I think the children and their families are truly like the Apostle Paul said – they are content whatever the circumstances. May He continue to use the work that you all did-and the stories you have told-in the lives of the children, but also in the lives of your readers. Blessings!
Big Mama- Thanks for sharing yourself and your experiences with all of us!
Your reflections on your trip remind me of the Sara Groves song “I Saw what I Saw” about her trip to Rwanda. There’s a great video for it on youtube.
Have a great week!
I’m really touched….you’re journey was worth it all. Thank you for sharing it with the rest of us.
I’m glad you’re home. But I’m even more glad that you experienced the DR and the lives of those who may never have what our kids have.
We are rich in so many ways….but the stories you’ve shared….it looks like their simple faith in God and the joy He brings them should convict us to our core.
I know I feel it. I’m thankful…and I plan to stop complaining about the things that don’t matter. Hello? Reality check!
I’ve read your blog daily, but have never commented before.
I have loved reading about your trip to the Dominican Republic. It takes me back to a 2 week trip I took last year to Ukraine. It pulled me out of my comfort zone, but knowing I help make a little bit of difference in some children’s lives made it all worth it.
This is an experience you will carry with you forever!
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you God for using Melanie to be Your Hands and Feet last week!!!
I’ve really enjoyed reading this whole series. We’ve sponsored at least one child for the past 11 years, and I think it’d be amazing to visit a project.
You did such a good job of telling the kids’ story in the DR. I hope it yields loads of sponsorships — for the kids’ sake, and also for the impact it has on the sponsors themselves.
Thanks for sharing so diligently.
Now I am the one with tears on my face. Your journey as been amazing. Thank your for going, thank you for sharing. I know God has used you to touch many lives. Mine is one of them.
I’m thrilled you had a great experience. I’ve been to Russia. Russians do not walk around with smiles. If you stick out, the soldiers may think you are up to something and take you away to be questioned. But if you go into the homes of the church members we were helping, you would see smiles and laughs.
The church we were help building could be seized by the government at anytime for whatever reason they wanted, but the church members had faith that God would provide and they would be able to keep the church.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us Big Mama. What a wonderful way to spread what Compassion is doing.
Hi Big Mama! I love what you did with Compassion and I hope I can be as lucky to go on a mission as you were. I would love to be able to sponsor a child, but being a young adult (only 20) I don’t have that type of money to give. Is there something else I can do without giving that much money?
I enjoyed reading about your experiences in the DR. Thank you for sharing with us your joys and your tears. God bless you.
Melanie – I have followed your blog for quite some time but never commented. I followed all the bloggers when they went to Africa last year and truly had intentions of sponsoring a child then – but it didn’t get done. This time, however, I followed with my 7 year old and we chose a DR girl her age to sponsor and are anxiously awaiting our packet of information. When my younger daughter is old enough to choose, she will also get to choose a child to sponsor. I think that we will definately be blessed and I think that it is a great opportunity for my children (and a rememinder to me) to understand how blessed we are. Thank you for the sacrifices you and your family made to go on this trip.
The image of Caroline standing there with that rose, waiting for her mama, just melts my heart, Melanie.
I’ve so enjoyed your journal of this trip. I think the most moving thing, for me, is the letters saved in a baggie. No. I think it’s all the beautiful faces of those children you’ve shared with us.
What a chance of a lifetime this was for you. I’m sure you’ll never forget what you saw there. And thanks to all of you sharing with us, neither will we.
your trip has spurred us on to recommit to communicating our sponsored “daughter” in Kenya! we’ve been so lax about it, and now we’re devoting ourselves to being better.
Thanks again for sharing your experience. This was really great.
I was touched to read about your journey in the DR. I’m sure it was wonderful to scoop your daughter up in your arms.
What a week you had. I know that you are forever changed! I know I am by just reading what you have shared…I just can’t imagine how I would feel seeing it. I’ve cried during each one of your entries! I don’t think I would make it through an entire week!
Thank you for sharing your trip with us all….How precious and humbling it is to get to serve such a mighty God!! So glad you went and decided to blog about it!!
Hi Melanie – I’ve been enjoying the blogs about your trip w/ Compassion – thank you so much for spreading the word about that. I know I’m not alone when I say how much you touched my heart with your take on those little children and their needs.
On a different note, I cracked up at your Mexican food fix & can totally relate. I didn’t know you were from the SA area! (Me too!)
Have a wonderful evening.
~Lori Anne
http://seekingmethroughhim.blogspot.com/
Thanks so much for all the great stories and photos! You all did a great job of sharing with us!
That is just precious your reunion with Caroline! So sweet. What a blessing of a lifetime to go on the trip to see the children and then tell us all about it.
This story was well done. I am sad looking at the little girl all sad. Makes me want to sponsor them all.
I will through prayer. Thanks for your courage!
Opening the eyes of our hearts.
Thank you.
Your posts were so touching that now everytime we sing Everlasting God or I hear it from my Zune….I am going to think back to this with a much deeper understanding and meaning!!!
Melanie,
Oh my. Your words often touch my soul. You have such a beautiful way of writing. It was so wonderful to follow your journey to the DR and home. I have read each of your posts several times and just soaked it in, and then I prayed for those children: the sad, the lonely, the joyful. Thank you for taking that step and being the hands and feet last week and sharing it with us. I am forever changed.
I am so glad you had such a sweet reunion with Caroline (and the mexican food!) and I hope your week is full of sweet joys.
Blessings.
Reading the posts from all the Compassion Bloggers has had me in tears of sadness and joy. Thank you.
It’s just incredible. WOW. I’m just now getting caught up on blog reading after weeks caught up in the bowels of a Wordpress migration. I can’t wait to read more.
I have so enjoyed your blog. My heart has broken for the kiddos.To see the lack of hope is devestating in pictures, I can only imagine it in real life. On another note, so very glad to see that I am not the only weekend widow during hunting season. Hubby has been blessed with a job where hunts are a part of his responsibilities. Needless to say come Sept. me & the boys are solo often. But we enjoy the time and look forward to hubby’s many returns. Hope P was successful in his guiding. Where does he guide if I may ask- hubby may have crossed paths (we are in Texas as well).
Tears are rolling down my face, girl. Those pictures and those children and you are amazing! Love ya!
Thanks for sharing your trip .. these children are simply beautiful …sponorship of them is priceless!
I’ll confirm with you when my husband returns from a trip but I’m sure we’re going to sponsor at least 1 child as a result of your posts. Builderman wouldn’t mind me saying that he wept the other night as I showed him the photos of your journey. It’s a God thing.
Perspective is a PRICELESS thing!
I have so enjoyed going on this journey with you! Thank you for sharing this awesome experience with us!
Beautiful pictures. Thank you for sharing.
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