Dame tus ojos!!

So many things have been running through my mind the last week or two. The main thing was my experience at Batey Woltario. This particular Batey is about 45 minutes outside of Monte Cristi. As I explained in one of my earlier posts, a batey is a small community surrounded by rice, sugar cane, and banana plantations. Corporations would hire workers to work in these plantations and they would then build these communities for them in the middle of the plantation making it convenient for work. After a while the workers went on strike because they weren't making a fair amount of money. Instead of dealing with the problem the large companies backed out and left all these people without a means to support themselves. I had been to two other Batey's when I first got here but the one we went to a few weeks back was different. I think it's because God has changed my heart so much since I've been here that this experience hit me differently. I fell in love with the people. They were at times challenging and the kids were so misbehaved because of the lack of structure and discipline they have but I still hated to leave. I've been so torn the last few weeks. I feel like everything is perfect here. Everyone makes fun of me because I always talk about how it's "the best day ever." September is going to come before I know it and then what? Come back and serve here? Find a new country to become a part of? Stay in the States? But there is only one problem; the Batey's are still so fresh in my mind. What if someone took the time to serve that community? What if the abondoned church had a pastor and bible studies during the week? What if the local school could be improved and students were given more of a chance to go to college or at least given a chance at a better education? What if the younger boys and men were taught to respect women? What if the women were taught how to respect themselves? Teen pregnancy would for sure go down. Women could be taught how to manage small businesses by selling jewelry they produce or other goods. Food and clean water is also a necessity for the Bateys. Most important of all though would be the fact that they could have a chance at having a relationship with God. Most Dominicans believe in God. The only difference is that they don't have a relationship with him. By no means do I want to go in and change their culture. I don't necessarily agree that Americans have it right. I do however think Jesus had it right. I want to see not just the Batey but also the world through his eyes. I want so badly to see the plan he has for my life. With that I would need to pray for the patience to wait for his timing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz3HodXOSiY