A prayerful walk

A couple of weeks ago, the staff, students and members of a visiting mission team (I  heart Goshen Mission Teams!) divided up around our campus and went on a prayer walk.  Some prayed around the school, some prayed around the student houses and family houses that are on the campus, and some prayed for the Dominican neighborhood that is right next door to the campus.  Jon and I were in the group praying for our Dominican neighbors, who are people that smile at us and do things for us on a daily basis.  Some are gate keepers (security at the front gate), some are cooks, cleaners and some are just neighbors.  All of them are extremely special, so it was a privilege to walk around their houses and pray for their families, for their lives, and for their walks with Christ.

In the Dominican culture, there is a STRONG since of community - you are responsible for and to those around you, whether it is convenient, pleasing or a burden for you.  You care for those around you.  Period.  It is very refreshing to my very American mindset - and often very convicting to my spirit.

Anyway, I wanted to share photos of the walk and encourage you to walk and pray around your own neighborhood - for those that live nearby that you may not even know.  I can assure it will transform your thoughts, attitudes, relationships as well as your own walk with Christ.

So, we left the school gate and wove our way up to the furthest house.  And then we . . . .

 Jon mid- machuka with Marcello and his chicken.

The path up.

And up.

A house that is being built for a neighbor . . . his current house is further in the the post.

Dominicans are not afraid of color.  I think I might be part Dominican. 

Can you believe that this beauty was just laying on the ground by the house?  Can you believe I didn't even pick it up on the way by?  I don't think I was totally well on that day - or I would have! 

Walking thru a forest of banana trees.

Preparing to pray at Maria's house.  She is the spunkiest little Dominican lady that ever was.  I need a picture of her so that you can see the spunk in her eyes.  

Matt giving us some history on Maria's relationship with the school before we prayed for her.

I've got NOTHING to complain about - neither do you!

Hochstedlers, the most wonderful people from Goshen, Indiana, praying for Gloria at her house.

Back down we went praying at every house along the path back towards Escuela Caribe.

Over the avocados and thru the banana tree woods, to grandmothers house we go . . . . 

Simple but effective.

Just cause I like shadows on the ground.

Security.

Maximum security!

Praying at Eddie's current house.  His new house (in progress) was pictured earlier.

Eddie was adopted by the neighborhood and provided a place to live.  Eddie is an awesome house painter.

I find this irresistible.

Guandules = a type of bean used in a dish called moro.

These are avocado trees growing up out of the trash pit.

Yeppers - avocado tree, tree, tree, tree. Everywhere you see greenery in the trash it's a future avocado tree.

I don't know what this plant is, but I want one real bad.   

Hibiscus trees so tall their limbs are falling from the sky dangling over the roof.  Lovely.

The view from the entrance of the neighborhood.  It is usually cluttered with cows, chickens and goats.  It's kind of rare to find something as dead as that tree here because the conditions make things flourish.  

Barbed wire. Duh.  Just cause I'm artsy.

This is Tobias - one of our guards at the gate.  He is very sweet, and clearly very intimidating.