Home is where the Hope is.

We always talk about how time on the race passes differently. A day can feel like a week and a week can feel like a month. Because when you live in such close community, doing life with the same people day in and day out it is amazing how quickly you begin to feel connected and comfortable. People will often ask us “so how many years have you known each other?” To which we respond “66 days”. But this sense of community has not only developed within our squad but also with those whom we are doing ministry with. We had the absolute privilege of spending the first 7 weeks of our race with Mission of Hope in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic. As I mentioned time seems different on the race, and 7 weeks has felt like forever. It has been so special to see how within those 7 weeks the Mission of Hope campus grew to feel like home and the staff became like family. I am learning as we transition to another ministry here in the DR that in the midst of change I feel both grief and gratitude. Grief around the loss that comes with knowing that things will never be exactly the way they were again. But also such deep gratitude for the joy of getting to have had the experience at all. I am so thankful for the BIG moments like getting to see 3 people commit their lives to Christ, celebrating the grand opening of the new Mission of Hope coffee shop, and having sweet worship nights as a squad. But I am also deeply thankful for the daily or seemingly small moments during our first two months. Praying together before meals, staff vs. World Race volleyball games, teaching preschool, game nights, movie nights, hammocking together, playing pickleball, getting pizza and smoothies delivered to campus, and cramming far too many people into a taxi are just a few of the things I now look back on with such fondness. I am also so thankful for the staff at Mission of Hope and the countless ways that they reflected the love of Jesus to us. Whether it was a simple smile and “welcome back!” after a long day of ministry, a ride to the beach, a free cup of coffee in the morning, or getting to hang out with their 3 sweet kiddos we never doubted how much they cared for us. I am so thankful for the relationships and memories that we made at Mission of Hope and will always remember our time there as such a sweet introduction to the World Race.

Needless to say leaving last Monday was pretty tough and there was no shortage of tears shed as we said our goodbyes. I am realizing that this year is going to be a year of leaving pieces of my heart all over the world. And though I know it will feel hard and painful I think it is also such a beautiful demonstration of our hearts’ sometimes surprising capacity for love. Just as God loves us unconditionally and without limits we are also called to love others in the same way. What a gift it is to allow ourselves to love so fully and so freely, without holding back or counting the cost. It might make goodbyes a little harder, but in the end it makes life so much sweeter.

We are now getting settled in at our new ministry called Hope Mountain. We are still in the Dominican Republic and trying to soak up every moment of our last 3 weeks here in this country that has captured all of our hearts. I can’t wait to share more about what the Lord is doing here at our newest home. Stay tuned!

All my love,

B🤍