The Boy Who Waited

My first time being in the Dominican Republic was in 2018. I went on a short-term mission trip with my parents in February. Our goal was to visit several different villages to administer free health care and share the gospel with them. During our time at the initial clinic, the team leader invited me to join him at a nearby school to share the gospel with several classes. After expressing my interest, we sought approval from my parents, who granted permission. On the way to the school, the leader outlined the plan: he would perform magic tricks to capture the attention of the children, followed by a Bible lesson, a song, and the distribution of care packages provided by our home church. These packages contained items such as a shirt, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, and religious tracts. Before visiting the school, I had been playing with a four-year-old boy who was waiting with his family at the clinic. When I departed, the young boy walked with me until I had to get on the bus to drive to the school. After we spent a few hours at the school, I wondered if he would still be at the clinic. Upon reaching the drop-off location, I saw the boy waiting there. When I stepped off the bus, he ran to me, embracing me tightly. Together, we made our way back to the clinic, where we spent the remainder of the day playing games and reading books. Eventually, it was his family’s turn to sit down with a doctor. During that time, the nurse who was taking care of them was having a hard time keeping him still. I was called over and we sat together so he would not be a distraction. I left that day feeling so blessed that God had chosen to use me in something as simple as keeping a little boy quiet. His family did receive medical help that day, but more importantly, they had an opportunity to hear the gospel.