"Catch a Wave...And your out of your comfort zone"

Missions trips s-t-r-e-t-c-h you.

Every day we have experienced new things: new foods, new schedules, and new activities.

The Dominican Republic is on the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. The country is surrounded by water. I am a Navajo and our traditional lands is surrounded by four sacred mountains on high desert plateaus.  So it is a stretch to engage the water as one who's ancestors engaged the desert.

So when my bro-in-law Jeff asked us to go out-of-our comfort zone and go surfing. Part of me was excited for the new adventure. And the other part of me was a bit uneasy.

However, our family has been on a quest from the first day of 2011. On Jan 1, 2001 we jumped in the iced-over Winona Lake with other "polar bears" to declare that we would go beyond our comfort zones this year.

Rafi & Gustavo of Macao Surf Camp

Our family took another step out-of-our-comfort zones. Each child had fears. But each one overcame them. We praise God for new Christian friends from the Macao Surf Camp--Rafael & Gustavo. They minister to Dominican youth by training them to be surfing instructors. Each youth has dropped out of school in junior high because high school demands extra money to pay for transportation. Please check out their fb page and pray for their upcoming Christian Surf Camp in October. 

My favorite story is Carissa. Her countenance had traces of tears forming in her precious little eyes. But she cautiously listened to the instructors, followed her personal trainer's directions, and after two wipeouts, rode her first wave onto the beach. I was so proud of her. The smile that glowed from the beach out to me was priceless. 

So when you take your missions trip with your family. Take the lead. Experience new things. Then debrief with them to instill confidence in the Lord and to guide them as they experience challenging obstacles.

First Day in DR--God is working

Arrived with God already working ahead of us.

My bro-in-law Jeff informed us that we were also taking seven desktop computers to the Christian School in Bavaro where Dominican Pastor Pasquel needed them for their Christian School.  We did not know how we were going to get them to the school once we landed.

The Lord provided a way!

Our desire on this missions trip as a family centers on three core values:

1. Glorify God
2. Love the people from the culture
3. Love one another

We want to glorify God now.  We packed light, checking in only five bags which allowed us to add the seven computers. Our God is great!  Then we arrived at the airport in Punta Cana hoping to connect with the courier who would transport the computers to the school while we went another way to go to our accommodations.

We don't speak Spanish. So this complicated things. Yet God is awesome!

While getting ready to locate the computers in baggage claim, Jeff met the expediter, Renardo. As Jeff was signing for the computers and showing his identification. Jeff told Renardo why we brought the computers and who we brought them for. Renardo hooted and smiled even bigger. He knows Pastor Pasquel. In fact, Renardo is also a pastor working as a Continental expediter.  How great is our God!

So Renardo helped us through customs navigating the red tape and contacting our courier. We got through as quickly as you can in a Caribbean culture. (\[Side note: in the airport there was not one visible clock. Culture shock for my kids who wanted to know what time it was. :)] All praise to God who reigns on high. He is at work and we praise Him.

I reflect on this somber day that people here did not stop in silence. 9-11 only affects we US Citizens. Regardless, we stopped in silence to remember. Even though another part of the world goes on with life without remember those heroes ten years ago. May God be glorified in our services today. We will post pictures as we can. Internet is limited here. But I will seek to post as soon as I can. I walked over to a hotel lobby to access the internet.  God bless! Daron for the Buriff-Butler tribe