Over the next three weeks our children will be writing their thoughts about our calling to the mission field and their experiences during our exploratory trip to the Dominican Republic in November.  Each of them, upon returning home, expressed concern and interest in the various experiences we had there. It has been a joy to watch each of them discuss and process our trip and see how some of the experiences did not leave a lasting impression. While other experiences really captured their hearts and they still talk about them on a daily basis with us or their friends and pray for their new friends.  Last week, Elisabeth shared about speaking life and how God spoke to her while in the Dominican Republic (You can read her article here).

This week Nathaniel is sharing his dream of hope:

When we were in the Dominican Republic for our exploratory trip we had a last second change to our schedule. This allowed us to go to an orphanage while we were in La Romana, which is on the south eastern side of the island. When we walked in the orphanage about twenty girls ran to and surrounded my mom and dad. They held mom and dad's hands and gave their hands kisses. Seeing this and other parts in the orphanage made me sad. I later learned that the girls can never be adopted and that also made me sad. While at the orphanage we got a tour of the whole place. When I saw the crib room it broke my heart. The room was moldy, paint was peeling off the walls, and most of the cribs were broken (only standing on three legs).   I began to try to dream about what type of hope I could bring to the orphanage.

When we got back to America I talked to my friends at church about the orphanage and we started to raise money to buy cribs for the orphanage. We have already collected over $250.  I am working with my teacher at church to make rubber band braclets and we are starting to raise funds.  I am believing that we will be able to purchase four cribs for the orphanage.  I hope when we move there to be friends to the orphans.

Please pray for the orphanage and for our family as we raise support to be missionaries.  I am really excited about moving to the Dominican Republic and to see my dream be made real through the hope of Christ with my family.

God Bless,

Nathaniel

(Mom and Dad helped me write this.)