We were able to establish a slight routine while in Azua, breakfast at 7:30am, a wonderful time of worship with the YWAM staff started at 8:00am and by 9:00-9:15am we were headed to the ICC school to begin the work day. With each stroke of a paintbrush, swing of a hammer, trust of a shovel and the sharing with children we witnessed God’s grace and abiding love. Around 12pm we were headed back to the YWAM base for lunch, a dip in the pool, a brief nap or a review and prep for VBS that would soon follow. Time would pass quickly and we were soon back on our “taxi” and headed to the ICC church to welcome the children at the start of VBS. The music would start, young voices would begin signing and the time of sharing bible stories would begin. We spoke of not knowing who was receiving the greater blessing us or the children…..it was us!
Wednesday the 20th included an evening service which was led by Pastor Elmer and translated by Pastor Raul. The word of God was shared in two languages and once again we witnessed the wide reach of God’s arms. Matthew 28:19 states, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”. Two nations were brought together to share Gods word and to praise and worship in song, what a joyous evening it was.
Thursday the 21st provided a morning of relaxation, after the morning worship we hopped onto our “taxi” and headed to a beautiful location where we hiked a few miles to a 3 tiered waterfall tucked back in the hillside. Some took an adventuress climb up a rickety stairway made of 2x4’s and plywood to the first level of the waterfall approx. 50 feet up where a natural pool was formed, swimming, jumping and a cannonball (maybe a belly flop) took place. A view from this location offered a surreal picture of God’s creation. Here you looked out across the landscape with hundreds, possibly thousands of yellow butterflies flying around in a valley of tropical green trees, it felt as though you were in a movie. Once again the Holy Spirit was present. After our time of relaxation it was back to the YWAM base for lunch and prep for our last evening of VBS. At the request of Pastor Raul we were provided an opportunity to share the love of Christ to Iglesia Evangelica, Methodista Libre Dominicana, another local church who was in the early stages of starting a VBS program. For the last time we would share stories of the bible, sing songs of praise and play with the young children of Azua. To wrap things up soccer, whiffle ball, frisbee, jump rope and the tossing of a football were played in the street.
Pastor Raul spoke early on that the way to the hearts of the community was through the children of Azua. We were witness to the ministry Pastor Raul, his wife, family and church are doing and how the Word of God is being shared and lived daily. Joel 1:3 says; “Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation”. For nine short days we were blessed beyond words and eyewitness to the outpouring of love. Although we arrived in Azua knowing that the temperature would be hot, that humidity would be high, that little sleep would be had and that mosquitos would be present, we could not have imagined how our hearts would be filled. How the overwhelming grace of God would be witnessed and how the love and laughter of children could radiate the love of Christ.
Pastor Raul spoke early on that the way to the hearts of the community was through the children of Azua. We were witness to the ministry Pastor Raul, his wife, family and church are doing and how the Word of God is being shared and lived daily. Joel 1:3 says; “Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation”. For nine short days we were blessed beyond words and eyewitness to the outpouring of love. Although we arrived in Azua knowing that the temperature would be hot, that humidity would be high, that little sleep would be had and that mosquitos would be present, we could not have imagined how our hearts would be filled. How the overwhelming grace of God would be witnessed and how the love and laughter of children could radiate the love of Christ. 
