Don’t stay in the boat when God is calling you to walk on water.

That’s a lesson Bermudian missionary Sarah (Ward) Lara learned when she decided to pack up her comfortable life here, and move to the Dominican Republic two years ago.

She works at a safe house run by SCORE International, in Boca Chica, a coastal town that’s one of the country’s main prostitution hubs.

One night each week, the 29-year-old goes out with a small street team to meet the women caught up in the risky trade. Her aim is to develop relationships with them and share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

If their hearts are open to the Lord, they are invited to Lily House, a place where they can learn another trade, take classes on finances and parenting, and get counselling and spiritual advice.

How did you end up working in ministry in the Dominican Republic?

In 2003, I travelled to the Dominican for a five-week mission trip through a ministry I came to know about in my freshman year of college. It was a great trip and I worked about 15 minutes from where I serve now. During the trip we had Spanish classes and they were so hard! I remember saying, ‘I will never speak Spanish again!’. After I finished college I began working with [youth ministry programme] Word of Life in Bermuda when a position to serve with Word of Life in the Dominican came up. In 2009 I moved to the Dominican Republic for a year-and-a-half to serve as the financial secretary.

I learned a lot through this experience, but I also met Robersy Lara, my Prince Charming! We dated long-distance once I returned to Bermuda in 2010 and I continued serving with Word of Life in Bermuda. As God continued to guide our paths towards marriage, He also made it clear that it was also time to transfer to another ministry that Word of Life works closely with, SCORE International. This would allow Robersy to serve in the baseball ministry and it would also allow me the opportunity to serve through teaching and discipleship.

What was the biggest adjustment when you moved there?

I actually met Robersy when the only few words in Spanish that I remembered were pretty much Hola and Adios, but as John Lennon once said, “There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love.” The director that I worked under encouraged me to only speak Spanish and wouldn’t allow the other missionaries to practise their English with me. So out of pure survival (fear) I learned. And there was something very special about Robersy from the beginning. I knew that if I wanted a chance, I would have to learn (love)! So with plenty of headaches and a lot of Tylenol I spoke Spanish fluently in about six to seven months.

In regards to adjusting to a different standard of living, it was (and still is!) hard. I can’t just get whatever I see in the store or go wherever I want since a promised “pay cheque” is not certain. I have learned to live and be content with what we have.

How has God deepened your faith since the big move?

God continues to deepen my faith every single day. We do not have a salary so we have to literally trust that God will provide exactly what we need. Many times that comes through the financial support of individuals [in Bermuda and the United States] and from my home church as well. The only problem with depending on others is that, when they struggle you do too. When a person is unable to support, there is absolutely nothing we can do except pray that God stirs someone else’s heart to give. So being here has really taught to me trust the Lord to provide. It’s incredible to see how He does it sometimes. It doesn’t always come in dollar bills. One day I’m going to have to write a book, because seeing the incredible ways that God has provided has left me with my mouth open. He’s provided everything from food, to little things like shampoo/soap and then huge things like health/dental care. Our God is so big. He really is. I’m honoured that He has allowed us to serve Him because it has allowed us to see Him front row and centre.

It seems like life is a lot more simple there, with less luxuries than in Bermuda. Has that taught you anything about yourself or maybe shifted your priorities at all?

Life is a lot simpler here. At first that used to frustrate me. The electricity goes off regularly, things that should take ten minutes takes four hours. There is no Ice Queen or KFC around the corner! Things are just very slow paced and people are very laid-back. My dad, Norman Ward, says that it reminds him of old Bermuda. When you go to drop something off at someone’s house you can expect to be served a meal and play a round of dominoes before you leave. No one rushes! I’ve had to slow down a bit and remember that life is too short. If the electricity goes out while I’m doing a load of laundry I just remember how blessed I am to have a washing machine. Most of Robersy’s family still do their laundry by hand. If the lights go out in the evening, we just light a candle and life goes on! It’s funny to see how my perspectives have changed.

Have you always been involved in the church?

My parents, Norman and Gwen Ward, have taken me to church (Paget Gospel Chapel) since I was little, but I personally made the decision to follow Christ at eight years old. I didn’t get into much mischief when I was younger, even though my mom would say I was sassy. But I knew that according to God’s Word I was a sinner and I deserved to spend eternity in a very real place called Hell. When I was eight years old I asked God to forgive my sins and to help me live for Him. I’m far from perfect — just ask my sisters, Rebecca Ward and Deborah Horton — but I am serious about living for the Lord and pointing people to Christ and what He did for me (and us) on the cross. He has given me a reason to live, a reason to shine. I don’t want to keep that from others.

How did you know that you were being called to a career in full-time ministry? Was it something God placed in your heart or were you praying about it?

I have been interested in mission work since I was a little girl. I read all about Corrie Tenboom, Hudson Taylor, Jim Elliot, etc and my grandparents on both sides were very involved in mission work. I knew that was what I was called to do, I just didn’t know where, when or in what capacity. I never dreamed of working in the Dominican Republic with women who were trapped in prostitution! My first mission trip ever was to Minnesota to work with inner-city kids and that just got me more excited for missions. God has guided every single step and I have a peace that I am in the centre of His will as we serve here in the Dominican Republic. I have no idea where He’ll take us in the years to come ... but we will continue to follow Him.

What do you do at Lily House? What has the experience been like working with women in the Dominican Republic?

The Lily House is a beautiful ministry that provides a safe house and basic training for women seeking to leave prostitution. I help in several different areas but my two primary responsibilities up until this point have been discipleship/ teaching women in the programme. I also lead outreach in the Boca Chica area each week. Every Thursday night we go out to the streets and meet the women that prostitute in Boca Chica. Over the year that I’ve been going out to the streets we have had the freedom to share the Gospel and speak with women who are waiting for clients. It’s heartbreaking to see the same young faces each week, but since prostitution is legal here many women see it as their only hope to provide for their family. We remind the ladies that there are people praying for them, that there is a way out (through Lily House and other ministries) and more than that, that there is a Saviour who wants them to come to Him.

You work closely with victims of sex trafficking. What kinds of challenges come along with that job?

There are many challenges that come with working with victims of sex trafficking. It affects your mind and heart big time! I love the women that I work with at the Lily House, but it can be very discouraging when a girl, who has made great strides in her life, returns to the streets or other addictions. I think it hurts more to know that her decisions don’t just affect her life, but they affect the life of her children too. Then of course, safety is always a challenge when we go out to the streets. We have a very, big God and many people who support us in the work that we do … but Boca Chica is one of most popular areas in the Dominican for sex-tourism so you can imagine, the men do not like what we’re doing. We haven’t had any serious physical threats up until this point, but a lot of yelling and mocking. I’ve learned to ignore it so we can focus on the girls, but it can be frustrating sometimes. Still, we thank God for His protection.

What kinds of transformations have you seen God make in their lives?

This is the most exciting thing about serving in this ministry! Only God can change hearts and it is awesome to watch it happen. When I began working at the Lily House there were other girls in the ministry already and it’s hard for me to imagine any one of them working on the streets. But it is especially cool to have seen the change in girls from the street to the cross. Two girls in the programme that I disciple came to Lily House around the same time that I began working there and the difference is night and day. They are far from perfect (as we all are), but they are growing and learning — as are their children. One of the girls now teaches other women in the church. I’m like a proud momma. We serve a life-changing Saviour.

What has been the most rewarding part of these last few years? What’s it like when you see these women healed and redeemed? Does it inspire you in your own walk?

Working with these women definitely encourages me to stay on track in my own walk. The girls working on the streets, the club owners, the strip club owners, the brothel owners, etc recognise Robersy and I. So what we do, what we say, what we wear, where we go etc is important. We don’t represent SCORE or Lily House or even Robersy and Sarah Lara. We represent Christ. That doesn’t mean we walk around with signs that say, ‘The end is near!’ and preach on street corners every day … it just means we try to a live a life that would honour the Lord. We pray that through us He is seen.

I think the most rewarding part is when I see the girls being used by the Lord. Many are serving in their local churches, in other ministries and are truly living lives worth following.

Is there anything you would say to encourage young people to consider missions work?

I think the most important thing to remember is that ‘home is your first mission field’. Don’t just go to church, get involved in church and in your communities and schools.

You are never too young to begin serving at home. And parents, don’t discourage your son or daughter if they are interested in missions. It doesn’t mean they’re automatically going to Africa or China, although that would be awesome and they need missionaries there! It means they have a heart that desires to serve and you and I both know … we need more hearts and lives dedicated to serving others.

To learn more about Mrs Lara’s important work in the Dominican Republic, visit her blog ‘Letters from the Laras’: http://laralifeline.blogspot.com/