The street/shoeshine boys.
My patients with HIV.
My girls.
I believe it's understandable with the sensitive and personal nature they encompass. But, I still would like to try.
I rarely find myself more passionate about anything than my Dominican girls. Each who have impacted so many SI participants. Each with a dream and desire to live a successful, educated life. Each who have had their own life/socioeconomic challenges and each who have overcome their share of obstacles.
They initially became connected to Students International through the women's sports site and were under the coaching/discipleship of Jess Paéz on the women's volleyball team. It was her desire that even after they graduate high school they continue to be a part of our ministry. And so our partnership was formed. And I became blessed with three phenomenal medical assistants who are studying dentistry/medicine and one mentee who's conquering the world as a flight attendant.
In my heart, I believe they are the future of the Dominican Republic. Educating females; helping them break out of the teenage pregnancy cycle and bringing more medical care to a developing country.
As each of them are representing my medical clinics and our ministry as a whole they are held to very high expectations. They have to attend 5 church services a month, cannot drink in public (they are of age), have to dress appropriately, keep a B or higher in school and have a mentor; among other "reglas."
The girls have been a part of my life for over 2 years. During which time I have poured my heart into them; walked them through life situations as their mentor, taught them about medicine, helped them with college home work and looking for a real life job (who knew LinkedIn existed in the DR?).
Many of you know I'm not a crier; but somehow these four girls have so etched themselves into my heart that I can summon tears with only a fleeting thought of their accomplishments.
So when your ministry becomes family; what do you do when one of the girls whom you have loved and supported so dearly chooses a different path? Deciding to deny her faith, who she is, neglecting her dream and traveling down a road of destruction? A path that can only lead to a dead end future?
It's been a hard lesson to learn that sometimes, regardless of how much we pour into people, how hard we teach them the love of Christ and their value that sin exists in the world and with that a different option. A more frequently chosen option that can't possibly lead to the life promised to us through the blood of Jesus.
And so, I pray. I pray everyday for my girls. That if they are ever lost, those seeds that have been planted will take root. That it is never too late to become the person Christ has called us to be. That we are covered in His grace and He will always be waiting for us.
Each day I continue to walk with my three other girls, but mourn the loss of the fourth and her brightly promised future.
My prayer and dream at this juncture is of the day I will see my "prodigal daughter" return to her faith and who she is. And that I will understand what it means to see someone who was once lost found again. That she will straighten her path and because the intelligent, driven woman she is capable of becoming. Please join me in this prayer.
