Hello friends!!!

We are finally out of the U.S. and we've been here in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic for almost a week now. We are partnered with Mission of Hope this month and I am so glad we are getting to work with them for a bit. We've been so warmly welcomed by the staff and another world race squad that is here with us for a few more days. Honestly, we've been a little spoiled with our living situation here but no one is complaining. Our views are amazing and the weather is gorgeous. If you know me, you know this is my kind of place for sure!

Mission of Hope has been in the DR for several years now and they just bought the new campus we are staying at a few weeks before we got here. I wasn't super familiar with this organization upon getting here but after learning more about their mission and values I LOVE it and I'm so thankful we're getting to partner with them. Their Christ centered mission is to see life transformation and meet physical, mental, social, and spiritual needs for every man, woman, and child. They do this by partnering with local churches and ministries so that locals are the ones meeting needs and equipping their own people, we just get to come along side them in that. A lot of what we will be doing here is helping them get up and running here in Jarabacoa, which is a privilege to be a part of. This first week we have stayed on campus during the day doing manual labor type work. We've been painting the buildings around campus along with honing in on some machete skills in the many overgrown areas around campus. Whacking a machete around is good therapy and a good workout let me tell you! We only had minor injuries lol. It is a large property so we will most definitely stay busy with that this month. It is hard work and we have all definitely laid our heads down at night, worn out and with a sense of accomplishment which is a sweet thing to my team and I. We will continue working hard on campus in our time here but beginning next week we will also get to start going out into the community and meeting locals and just spending time building relationships in this place and learning more about the people here and what their needs are. I am a little nervous but also extremely excited for that! I have said from the get go that learning about people and culture is one of the things I am most looking forward to on the race and we are finally getting to start doing that! We have just as much to learn from these people and there is nothing sweeter than seeing the body of Christ come together regardless of race, age, gender, culture, nationality, etc. It is an honor to be here. I am overcome with gratitude and joy and even in moments of discouragement, I am encouraged to know God more and be able to share Him more. John 3:30 says "He must become greater; I must become less" and that is my desire here, that He will be exalted in my life and in this place alike.

Please pray for our squad as we begin to go out into the community, that sweet relationships will be made and that we will be Holy Spirit led in every encounter that we have. Pray also that we can overcome language barriers and connect with people despite our vast differences. Pray for Mission of Hope and the work that they are doing here along with the local churches and ministries where God is already at work uniting His people, that He would continue to move and that His name would be glorified in Jarabacoa and all of the Dominican Republic.

As always, thank you for your love and support! Sending good and WARM vibes from the DR!!

You are loved.

xoxo Tay <3