Do you think Jesus was ever lonely? 

Do you think at the Lord’s supper Jesus might have sat there in a room full of people and felt so alone, like no one really understood him?

How about in the Garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus took Peter, James and John? He asked them to stay awake and pray for him. Do you think when he came back he felt so let down by three of his closest disciples, and like he was all alone?

Do you think that Jesus ever wanted to be married, have a partner to help him carry the burden, or have a family?

These questions have been circling in my head these past few weeks, but they probably aren’t new questions. I find myself wondering what living single in ministry really means. Is it the lack of a partner to help carry my burdens that makes me wonder if Jesus was lonely? But it wasn’t only Jesus. Other people in the Bible were single. Paul even shares about how being single is a better choice in 1 Corinthians 7. He elevates singleness, encouraging that it gives believers a better opportunity to serve God wholeheartedly with our own gifts. 

I think it’s safe to say that usually singleness doesn’t feel better, or like a gift. Oftentimes, singleness isn’t something that is talked about much in the church. We hear often about married couples, and the things that churches offer them, but how often do we hear about singles? Recently, I heard a sermon from Annie F. Downs where she proposes that singleness is not a set back. In this message, she shared that there is more than one relational path to an abundant life. I won’t share all my notes from her sermon, but one major point that stuck out to me was that if you are single, and you think you have to wait to step into your calling, leadership or to what God has called you to in your life, you’re wasting your time. She also shared the question, “do married people believe that single people are less mature, less worthy, or less in the will of God because they are not married?”. 

I can look at the opportunity I took to come here and serve in the Dominican Republic and say with certainty that if I was married, or in a relationship, or had a family, I’m not sure I would be here. I reflect on the different things I have done serving in my church and the freedom I had to help serve when needed because I didn’t have other responsibilities. As singles, I think it’s important that we don’t wait for a spouse to live our lives in the calling God has placed on us. But, I think it’s equally important that we don’t dismiss the struggles we sometimes face. Ministry is stressful, and it isn’t always easy. This is true even if you live in a town surrounded by family and friends, let alone if you move to a different country and have to build all those things again. 

Anne shares in this same sermon that it is important to teach that paths of singleness and marriage are both paths of abundance. As a single person, I do feel like there are things I can do for my married friends to support them and show them love, and I also feel like there are things married people can do to show love and support to the singles in their lives. Let us not wait to walk our life of abundance, single or married. 

So, what’s new in my life? 

We started April with a team that helped to teach CPR to over 500 people in San Juan. We partnered with three local nursing schools, the local college nursing program, and finished with providing the training for our staff! 

Katelyn and I took a week to rest in La Romana. We did some sightseeing outside of the resort, and we met the kindest group of people on vacation together. I think we both really enjoyed being outside of San Juan and relaxing with no plans or responsibilities for a few days. 

We took a day and traveled to the beach with our ministry assistants to celebrate staff appreciation. As I have said before, it’s always fun to spend time with our staff outside of work. I also hosted movie night at my house. 

Kate and I hosted Pastor Ronnie, his wife Patria and their son Abdel along with Pastor Tony and his wife Larys for Easter dinner on Sunday. It was so sweet to spend some time with them. We often see each other at church and functions, but don’t always spend time together sharing a meal and talking. 

Kate also hosted a group of girls for a retreat this past week! It was a sweet time spent with friends reflecting on the Word of God. The retreat was through Velvet Ashes with the theme of “Savor, come taste and see”. 

Last week, I worked to clean up the pharmacy. I try my best tidy up anything at the end of the week between teams, but after a stretch of teams, it’s always good to really clean up. I did some work on my own but knew it was time to call in some help. So, thankfully on Thursday, I had some help in the pharmacy and the paramedic closet to get it organized. When I clean the pharmacy, I’m doing my best to check expiration dates and keep things rotated by expiration date. One thing I always try to do is share with other clinics if we have excess of things, so I was able to send some things to a clinics in Mogollon, Elias Pina, and Pedro Santana. 

I continue to take Spanish classes 2-3 times a week when I am able. I still have so much to learn. I’ll be honest, I think this is also part of the questioning I discussed earlier. I know I have learned a lot, but there is still so much I don’t know and often I find myself on the outside of conversations.

This week, we are hosting a team from Kansas. They are a new team serving with Solid Rock, so I am excited to serve with them! Next week, we have an OB education team here and also Bradley Physical Therapy. I’m excited for a new opportunity for Bradley to work at CAID, a public hospital in San Juan that specializes in therapies for children with Autism, Down Syndrome, and Neurological disorders.

Prayer Requests: 

– Endurance for the month of May

– God would bring the right people to Solid Rock

– Spanish Comprehension