Dominican Republic, June 14, 2012

Today was the hardest day thus far, but for an entirely different reason than all of the previous days.  The children were well behaved and the heat was even bearable, but instead it was the circumstances of today that caused such a problem for us. Today was our final day with the children and on top of that we took a walk down to the trash dump that the majority of the children worked in before the founding of the Cien-Fuegos Center; but more of that later. 

            There was a particular high point of the day that gave most of us an exponentially greater feeling of hope for the children of Cien-Fuegos.  In the morning, we visited the Center of Hope that also exists in Cien-Fuegos.  This facility cares for 300+ children and has the resources to help the children with schoolwork and the opportunity for further expansion.  This is our hope for the Cien-Fuegos Childrens Center, that they receive the same type of support and in turn show the same type of development and growth. 

            Now to return to the more somber points of the day; as we walked down the streets to the dump, there was already a glimpse of what our destination would hold.  The streets were filled with the garbage of days past, and the unclean faces of smiling children.  Our destination would prove to be exceedingly inferior.  Less than ten steps away from the edge of the dump were houses, and you could see children searching and playing in the trash.  It was a dreadful sight that saddened our hearts and provoked our mind to thought.  We thought how our lives are blessed and how fortunate we are that we have a chance to share our blessings with those less fortunate. 

            The final step in our day was for many of us the worst.  As we departed, hearts were broken and tears were shed.  Although not all of the children knew that we were not going to return, the ones that did made the occasion nearly insurmountable.  We know that we will forever have a place in these children’s hearts, much like they will forever hold a piece of ours.  Even though few if any will be called to a lifetime of missions, we all know now the impact that one life sharing the love of Christ can have on another.