Hello all, welcome to this multi-part series called The Visions That Brought Us Here.
Early one morning in early September 2014. God began to plant the idea of a crazy adventure in our hearts and minds. Many of you have heard the story of how we got here but have never heard the story about some of the specific visions that God gave me on the journey leading up to moving here. These visions are grand, require years of work and are only able to be accomplished by God. I think that is why I have failed to share them with very many people. I feel like I have lacked the faith to share them because I wanted to ‘hedge my bets’ per se. I didn’t want to be seen as a failure when things didn’t come to pass in a certain time frame. Over the last 8 or 9 months I have felt convicted by this and have shared them with people here and there. This series will focus on some of those key visions that brought us here and that after 18 months in the Dominican Republic I feel the Lord wants me to share with the world.
On the morning of October 26, 2014 I was kneeled in my living and God gave me a vision. He was standing a ways away from me and calling me to come to him. As I got within arms reach he embraced me. I was as close to him as I’ve ever been in my life at that point and God was showing pure love like only he can. I felt loved and accepted and in deep relationship with the Creator. As I basked in his warm embrace other people started to come and join in the embrace. We were in a large group hug when God said to me “Love my people.” As I sat in my living room meditating on what that vision might be about I was overwhelmed with emotion and tears began running down my face. I believe that emotion was 2 part. On one hand I had experienced the presence of God on my living room floor in the suburbs of Pittsburgh. He showed up to me that morning and I knew that I wanted more of this. I didn’t want the work day to start. I wanted only to focus on him. But on the other hand, I was overwhelmed with what this might mean and how I would be faithful to his desires. I was left with a burning question in my mind. How exactly does one go about the task of loving God’s people? Now sure some would say, “oh that’s easy,” be kind and just with others. While I encourage everyone to be kind and just with those you encounter I had a feeling deep inside of me that this was more personal than that. However, I had no clear understanding of the meaning at this time.
On February 20, 2015 we would step on DR soil for the first time. We were on a search for answers and clues to what was next in this journey. On this trip we would fall in love with the country and the people of the DR. We felt at home and accepted here. We knew we were on the right track. On February 23rd, almost 4 months after the original vision, God revealed to me the meaning of this vision. I had never realized in the original vision and subsequent times thereafter that the people’s faces around us were all blurry. But on that day he revealed that to me and then he said, “but can you see the faces now.” He showed me the faces of the people we were serving that week, the people nestled amongst the sugar cane in bateyes on the eastern side of the island. I knew then the people I was suppose to love but I still didn’t know how.
Stay tuned for part 2 of this series coming soon to a computer near you. May God bless you and yours abundantly. Scott
We operate off of the generous support of God's church and his people. If you would like to support our ministry, you can do so with the link below. Select our names from the staff list (near the bottom).Click here to donate.
Early one morning in early September 2014. God began to plant the idea of a crazy adventure in our hearts and minds. Many of you have heard the story of how we got here but have never heard the story about some of the specific visions that God gave me on the journey leading up to moving here. These visions are grand, require years of work and are only able to be accomplished by God. I think that is why I have failed to share them with very many people. I feel like I have lacked the faith to share them because I wanted to ‘hedge my bets’ per se. I didn’t want to be seen as a failure when things didn’t come to pass in a certain time frame. Over the last 8 or 9 months I have felt convicted by this and have shared them with people here and there. This series will focus on some of those key visions that brought us here and that after 18 months in the Dominican Republic I feel the Lord wants me to share with the world.
On the morning of October 26, 2014 I was kneeled in my living and God gave me a vision. He was standing a ways away from me and calling me to come to him. As I got within arms reach he embraced me. I was as close to him as I’ve ever been in my life at that point and God was showing pure love like only he can. I felt loved and accepted and in deep relationship with the Creator. As I basked in his warm embrace other people started to come and join in the embrace. We were in a large group hug when God said to me “Love my people.” As I sat in my living room meditating on what that vision might be about I was overwhelmed with emotion and tears began running down my face. I believe that emotion was 2 part. On one hand I had experienced the presence of God on my living room floor in the suburbs of Pittsburgh. He showed up to me that morning and I knew that I wanted more of this. I didn’t want the work day to start. I wanted only to focus on him. But on the other hand, I was overwhelmed with what this might mean and how I would be faithful to his desires. I was left with a burning question in my mind. How exactly does one go about the task of loving God’s people? Now sure some would say, “oh that’s easy,” be kind and just with others. While I encourage everyone to be kind and just with those you encounter I had a feeling deep inside of me that this was more personal than that. However, I had no clear understanding of the meaning at this time.
On February 20, 2015 we would step on DR soil for the first time. We were on a search for answers and clues to what was next in this journey. On this trip we would fall in love with the country and the people of the DR. We felt at home and accepted here. We knew we were on the right track. On February 23rd, almost 4 months after the original vision, God revealed to me the meaning of this vision. I had never realized in the original vision and subsequent times thereafter that the people’s faces around us were all blurry. But on that day he revealed that to me and then he said, “but can you see the faces now.” He showed me the faces of the people we were serving that week, the people nestled amongst the sugar cane in bateyes on the eastern side of the island. I knew then the people I was suppose to love but I still didn’t know how.
Stay tuned for part 2 of this series coming soon to a computer near you. May God bless you and yours abundantly. Scott
We operate off of the generous support of God's church and his people. If you would like to support our ministry, you can do so with the link below. Select our names from the staff list (near the bottom).Click here to donate.
