How blessed we are in the USA!! My aunt, who had opportunity to do much world travel, always said there is no place on earth like the United States!! We have new eyes, as we look around our home this morning, as we go about our “usual” morning routine — as we re-enter the privileged existence we have in this world! I made coffee: took a VERY CLEAN pot and filled it quickly and easily with clean, PURE water (relatively speaking, of course) from the tap and poured it into my electric coffee maker and within five minutes — coffee (Dominican!!). Our refrigerator is cold and holds an even temperature because we do not typically have disruptions in our service or power. Our home …. so many materials things I cannot even begin to number — and stout, solid walls that separate our NINE rooms!!! And our yard!!! Green, beautiful grass and so expansive — no debris, no trash everywhere, no broken pipes and no wires – electric or otherwise – dragging onto the ground. And our roads!! Wide lanes, orderly movement of vehicles even when changing lanes — speed limits, visible law enforcement, such a sense of safety and protection (again, relatively speaking!!).
When we cleared Customs in Ft. Lauderdale yesterday, we were in a very long line, many of whom were Dominican who had been on the plane with us. Suddenly, a Customs agent said to us — “You are Americans, you are Residents, you go to that line.” There were about ten people in that line. I felt like royalty — really. And my gratitude for our Customs and Border Protection officers was overwhelming. I truly cannot describe how we value the law and order in this country after having experienced the vulnerablility we felt as Caucasians and “Americanos” in the DR. The poverty and need there is consuming!!
The Dominicans themselves exhibit a sense of vulnerability, as we observed with the various people with whom we had to do. That, in fact, is one of the key words that Vision Mundial uses about the children who are absorbed into their care — the vulnerable ones, as all children are really! But all the more in the DR. We received something from WV while we were away that said in 2007 a law has been passed, but not implemented, that would help thousands of children receive birth certificates, giving them a nationality and rights as citizens of the country.
So, what does the Lord want of us, having had these experiences? That will be what we will be determining in the coming days. I have been reminded a number of times during this trip of the passage of Scripture that I had marked in the small Bible I carried as a bride –
Michah 6:8 He has told thee, O Man, what is good and what the Lord requires of thee — to do justice and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Please pray that all children be respected and garanteed their rights — that the law will be implemented!!
We are so grateful for you prayers — more than you can possibly imagine!!! We could feel your prayers surrounding us throughout our travels. Dios te bendiga!! Jesus te ama!!!
[God bless you! Jesus loves you!]
