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Safe with a Drug Lord
7.22.2008 | Dominican 08 Trip, Travels
Hola, everyone! I am back on Southern soil in Nashville after a great week in the Dominican.
Last week, I posted about some time I spent in The Hole — which is a trash dump in Santiago where squatters have taken residence over the last decade or so.
The story of The Hole is one that is grander than anyone could ever dream up.
Years ago, the city of Santiago set aside a large area (which is sunken in and dug out, thus creating “the hole”) to be a landfill. The river is filled with trash and raw sewage, and it is here that Santiago’s poorest call home.
And the mayor of The Hole? A drug lord. It’s his territory, and even in the midst of poverty you see proof of his reign. Nicely dressed young Dominican men with gold jewelry walk along the open sewer with expensive motorbikes, following prostitutes. Children who have no contact with the outside world flash gang signs and chant Dominican rap songs.
A man named Felix is the pastor of the church and feeding center in The Hole. He’s been around for seven years, getting to know the children and their families.
(Here is Felix praying with the kids before lunch one day).
One day, the drug lord requested a meeting with Felix. He saw what he was trying to accomplish in The Hole.
As long as you are here, the drug lord said, you will be safe. Anyone you bring to help will be safe. And if you have any problems, you tell me, and I will take care of it.
And it was true. As nervous as I should have been walking around with expensive video equipment in the lair of drugs and prostitution, I felt safe. We Americanos were welcome and loved.
That’s just like something God would do, isn’t it?
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7.22.2008
What a cool story, Anne!
7.22.2008
awesome….definitely something God would do.
7.22.2008
wow. that is crazy? but, knowing a bit of our God, i wouldn’t be surprised if some kid rises out of that situation and becomes a world leader for the kingdom. thanks for sharing the world with us.
7.22.2008
I absolutely love that story.
7.22.2008
That’s crazy. Praise GOD for drug lord protection.
7.22.2008
we live in a strange and wonderful world.
7.22.2008
Truly awesome!
7.22.2008
He is where we least expect him to be.
7.22.2008
Thanks for the window into their world. We serve an amazing GOD!
7.22.2008
sweet!
7.22.2008
simply amazing…
7.22.2008
God works in ways we would be very uncomfortable saying are okay…….this is just another proof of that.
7.22.2008
Praise God. He works in mysterious ways, doesn’t He? What an answer to all our prayer for your protection. Welcome home!
7.23.2008
That is awesome, and such a God-thing!!! I love the picture of the kids. Beautiful! I always enjoy how God is working throughout the world. Your passion and sharing it with so many is a blessing. May God bless you abundantly as you serve Him!
7.23.2008
Wow! In the midst of evil and bad, there was safety and good. What a wonderful ministry Felix has. I’m eager for my son to see these sights. Only 10 more days until he leaves for the DR!
7.23.2008
I love how God uses everything to work together for His purpose! Thanks for the background on the hole. I had heard much about it but this makes it come alive more!
7.23.2008
It really is amazing how God uses everyone to carry forward His mission. It would make an interesting story to me to hear if God, via Felix, can make a dent in the Drug Lord’s life.
7.23.2008
I agree Anne, you forget how much danger and “crap” you are around because of the “drug lord”
7.23.2008
Wow, I didn’t know that. It is such a mystery, and yet amazing the ways that God chooses to weave his light through the people of the world. I plan to go to the DR in March with CP and I am so looking forward to the experience I may have.
7.23.2008
and we will STILL question His sovereignty and power - and that He is control of every little thing - and the He is good!!
what little minds and hearts we sometimes have!
7.23.2008
that is so awesome! God is so mighty, we are all His children whether we choose to live for Him or not…what a great reminder.
7.23.2008
That’s AWESOME. Love it.
7.27.2008
That is just like God. I am so thankful for you to have experienced all that you did. Yay.
7.27.2008
This reminds me of where I work and how the drug dealers respect what we’re doing and keep a close watch on our building; we’ve never had a break-in, graffiti, etc. It’s a wonderful reminder to me that God can use any of us no matter how broken we might seem.
7.31.2008
This story got my attention, that’s for sure. Our church (Granger Community Church) has been doing work with Good Seed Ministties, in one of the worst neighborhoods in Chicago for 7 years. The pastor there had the exact same conversation with the lead “gang banger” from his community. He literally told him, “I got your back” a few years ago.
We refurbished a run down ball field last week for the neighborhood boys to have a place to play little league (Pastor Bone is their coach) and guess who was standing watching over us the whole time? The gang bangers. We had our 9,8, and 4 year old children with us, and I have never felt so safe.
They let us borrow their hose to rinse all the mud off the kids who were helping, they were smiling with us, joking, etc.
God’s ways are amazing. I had to laugh when I read your story.
:)
Michelle Wegner