A not so abbreviated Spring Break trip

Of course you can make plans and buy plane tickets for the days you plan on departing and arriving. However, if I came away from this trip with one thing, it was how particular the Lord's timing was for my trip. With my ticket bought to leave March 15th for the DR, I was more than ready to go. After a 5 am wake up and close to an hour long security check in through the air port, I had boarded the plane, turned off all electronics when the captain came over the speaker. It turns out there was a leak in the fuel compartment of the plane and we would not be able to leave. Unable to fly out in time to make my Miami flight to the DR, it was obvious that I would be waiting another day to leave.





You know you are in a different country when the thickness of the air causes immediate hair frizzing accompanied by the overjoyed mariachi band. It felt like home.

Thankfully I was able to spend so much time with Jill and the rest of the team there. It was exciting to be back and experience that place from a 'non intern' perspective. I felt an incredible sense of belonging and purpose. My girls in Rio San Juan were so welcoming and we must have hugged continually the entire two weeks I was there. One of the things I look forward to the most is the opportunity to speak with them on a deeper level. As of right now my Spanish just will not allow it. After my month in Guatemala at language school I hope to be able to really reach out to those girls on a deeper level. The Lord was so gracious in allowing me extra time out there as well. As I had planned to leave on Friday March 25th, I was able to push my ticket back to Saturday. Then on Saturday they cancelled my flight into Miami and I was able to have another extra day with my people! Flying out on Sunday was nothing but God's time. Sunday morning before we left for the airport I was able to visit one of the lady's who is very involved with our congregation in Rio San Juan. She has a beautiful heart of service and is raising a family under Christ's influence. However she is currently facing difficult times with her husband and son. The pain these relationships are causing her moved her to tears during our prayer time and it truly broke my heart. Please pray for Milagros and her family. Pray that they will be protected from satan. Pray that Milagros will have strength to turn to the Lord even though she feels deserted by her husband. Pray for her daughters, Gracie and Audriana. They are such angels. All in all, the extra morning I was able to be in the DR and spend with Milagros and her daughters blessed me beyond anything I could have thought to ask the Lord for. I'm very thankful.

Well, four weeks from today I will be leaving the good ole United States of America for Guatemala with my best friend and sister Jill Rhodes. I'm incredibly thrilled for this journey and how the Lord is going to mold our hearts to become more like His. I'll be keeping you posted.

Love you all!
Audge