Meet Mama....

Here she is...."crazy Mama" we call her. This was from the night that she wanted us to go running through the streets with her in the pouring rain. (which was a blast) The other picture is her cooking us chicken feet soup! Mama is a servant that will never let you do anything but sit back and relax. She cooks some interesting things, cleans, takes care of us, and will not let us go a night without playing a game of Dominos, which she is very competitive in! She laughs everytime Monica and I try to talk in Spanish and laughs even harder when we say something we didn't mean. She is a woman full of joy and a love for life. She unfortunatley doesn't know the Lord, but is open to it.

Whenever we get home from school we ay "Hola Mama," and she always responds with "Ohhh my hijas" (Oh my daughters) and runs out to greet us with a kiss.

Today Monica and I told her we wanted to practice our Spanish and read to her, so we read out of the Spanish Bible I had. We started in John and we are going to continue reading to her everyday. She's an amazing lady... (and makes me miss my mom from home!)

Wish you could all have the chance to meet crazy Mama...

Why I'm Here..

Lately I've been thinking a lot of why I'm here. Why am I out in the middle of the Dominican Republic for a whole semester of my college career anyways? This song that I found on my ipod sums it up to a tee.... (I wish I knew the artist or title but I don't!)

"I'm here to meet with you
Come and meet with me
I'm here to find you
Reveal yourself to me

As I wait, you make me strong
As I long, you draw me to your arms
As I stand, and sing your praise
You come and fill this place"

I'm here to find God. Well, I've found God....But there's something about finding him away from what you know. I want to find him for who he is to ME- not who he is because of what people have told me he is. It was interesting to come down here and realized that God wasn't going to be spoonfed to me. There was no chapel, no spiritual emphasis week, no Wed night church...even church on Sunday was in a different language! But it's been so good to seek God on my own....and that's why I'm here!!

This Weekend..

This weekend was definately a fun one. We got together as a team (all 21 of the students) and spent the weekend ogether at the SI (students interntional) base. Saturday we traveled up to the city of Costanza in a 20 passenger van, up the side of a winding mountain road, driven by Heraldo (a crazy Dominican driver that works for SI). It was a lot of fun, and Heraldo definately made things interesting- and scary! haha! That night we ate in an authentic Dominican restaurant and I decided to take after my brother and try some crazy food...so I had GOAT! It was surprisingly really good.

That night we stayed at the base and three other girls and I decided it would be fun to take our sleeping bags and sleep out under the Dominican sky. So we did, we camped right under the plam trees (hoping the coconuts wouldn't fall on us in the night). There's something about laying under the stars, talking about life with the girls that it just doens't get much better than that.

Sunday morning our team headed up to a village in the mountains to have church on the river and a Dominican style cokout. It was a lot of fun. The river had a prety strong current-but the didn't stop any of us. We swam across the river and found some big rocks to climb on. Then we just sat on the rocks and took in the scenery around us. I've realized on this trip how much I love being in nature. Itis so easy to connect with God when you sit back, amazed at His creation.

After that we found a rock wall to climb up and then jump off into the water. This one was about 15 feet high, about the same as last time. It was so funny because after you jumped the current would carry you down the river, so a few of us formed a chain of people holding hands so as you floated away you could grab their hands and be pulled back to the rocks. It sounds more dangerous that what it was, but it was definately a RUSH!

The weekend was a lot of fun, but Sunday night was by far the best. We got home from the base and Monica and I decided to go on a walk around the area where we live. As we were walking, we passed by "El Arca" which is an orphanage for the Dominican children. We peeked through the gate and saw kids playing in the yard, and Monica and I both looked at each other with the same idea in mind.."Let's go in!" So we did! In America if we did this we would probably get some awkward stares and asked to leave-but not in the DR! The kids were warm and friendly and wanted us to play with them. So Monica and I showed off our volleyball skills and it was a lot of fun. One girl in particular I will not forget. Out of the blue I saw the cutest Dominican girl come running out of nowhere right at me, so I reached out my arms and she jumped up in them. She would not let go and I didn't want to. As soon and she got down she went and jumped on Monica. We fell in love with her. After awhile all the kids had to go back inside, but the girls came up to us and communicated through some Spanglish for us to come back tomorrow. I can't wait. Standing in the middle of that orphanage with beautiful kids running around me- I felt like I was right where God wanted me and it was so good to feel His peace again.

Life is SO Simple

The other day Mama came running out to tell Monica and I that we had hot water today!! Monica and I were shocked because we showered out of the water that was in the bucket- we didn't even have running water how could it be hot? Thats when we realized Mama had moved the bucket outside and it had been sitting in the sun all morning... therefore we have hot water! Haha! Sometimes life is so simple here and it just makes me laugh....

Fun Fun Fun

I can't believe I'm in the Dominican Republic! Why is it so easy for us to slip into routine and so easily forget the blessings that God has given us! Sometimes I just sit back, stare at the mountains and the banana trees and think "Wow, I'm here in the Dominican Republic" and I just let it sink in.
I've been trying for awhile to get pictures loaded on here- but everytime I've tried it's been giving me trouble (partially because everything online is in Spanish!) So I'll keep trying and hopefully soon you will be able to see some pictures of the beautiful Dominican people here.
The weekend was a lot of fun. Friday night a small group of us went up to Jarabacoa Christian School and played soccer with the people there. I have never had so much fun playing soccer in my life. They are really aggressive and since I was 1 of the 3 girls playing it made things interesting (especially when I had to be goalie...Ahh!) After that our team went out for pizza and I got to experience corn pizza which was surprisingly really good!
On Saturday we hiked to two of Jarabacoa's waterfalls and I was deifinitely my element. We actually got to swim out to the waterfall, go behind it and everything!! I'm really glad that we have a pretty adventerous group! Lots of us climbed up the wall of the waterfall (maybe only 15 or 20 ft.) and jumped off into the water- it was awesome!! At the second waterfall we spent all our time trying to swim through it and it was Sooo powerful! (only a few of us made it)
All of these experiences were fun but nothing topped last night. Last night has got to be my favorite night so far. It all started when Monica and I were playing a game of dominos with Mama and Papa after dinner and i noticed that it started pouring rain outside. We kept playing and it kept raining harder and harder. Finally I had to go check it out, I have never seen rain fall so hard in my life. Then Mama gets the best idea in the world- she went and put on a shower cap over her head and took our hands and drug Monica and I out with her into the pouring rain! It was one of those God- moments that I'll never forget. We ran down the street in the pouring rain, holding hands, shouting and laughing. It was awesome. the best part was that Mama had her shower cap on! All of a sudden the power went out (what a surprise) and the whole street was pitch dark. But that didn't stop us, we kept dancing in the rain and Mama was loving it- so were we.
It's been amazing how people that just a week ago were strangers are now such close people to Monica and I. Last Sunday Mama came to church with us, so that was really encouraging!
God is so faithful. Being out of your comfort zone, I think, is the best place to be as a Christian in your walk with Christ. It lets God be God in your life. He is now in control. I will definitely be the first to say that IT's NOT EASY, but little by little, day by day it's slowly becoming worth it.

The Power of His Love

It's awesome how God speaks to us through music and lyrics. A simple song that I used to like at home has now become the cry of my heart here in the DR......


Lord I come to you
Let my heart be changed, renewed
Flowing from the grace that I've found in You
Lord I've come to know
The weaknesses I see in me
Will be stripped away
By the Power of your love

HOld me close, let your love surround me
Bring me near draw me to your side
As I wait, I 'll rise up liek the eagle and I will soar with you
Your spirit leads me on
By the power of you love

Lord unveil my eyes
Let me see you face to face
Knowledge of your love as you live in me
Lord renew my mind
As your will unfolds in my life
Living everyday in the power of your love

One week down...

A week has gone by and so far I have swam in a river, spoken more Spanish than EVER before, kissed many strangers on the cheek, seen my first rat in the house, learned how to cook some Dominican food with "Mama," and learned to merengue and bachata with the family!
We have been with our family since Saturday and they treat us like we are one of their own. mama introduces us to her friends as her American daughters. She always wants to feed us! We have learned to say "No tengo hambre!" (I'm not hungry) Yesterday for lunch we had chicken soup-which seemed normal until we realized Dominican style chicken soup includes the WHOLE chicken-feet and all!
It's fun to think of ways to interact becuase there aren't many words that can be shared. Language barrier has got to be the hardest yet coolest things I've experienced so far. It kills me to be with these people, wanting to know their stories and ask them questions but not being able to communicate much. The cool part about it is that I'm begininng to learn you don't alway need words to love. All I've had to give is a smile, an embrace, and my prescence. Sometimes the best thing to do is to just sit in the rocking chair next to Mama, both of us in silence but being ok with that.
Monica and I have tried to not let the language barrier hinder our relationships with them so we try to interact in other ways. Last night Mama, Papa, and Nathalie (a girl our age) were all laying on their bed watching TV and Monica and I ran in and jumped on them and they LOVED it. then Nathalie let us curl her hair-except she kept re-fixing what we would do. Another time we hid in Nathalie's toom and when she came in we jumped out and scared her. it's really neat that those little things help to bond us.
Every night after school Nathalie helps us with our Spanish homework and that is a great bonding time too. It's so humbling when 8 year old Miguel helps me with my homework!
They are a great family but in all honesty the first couple days were a struggle for me. I realized I cam into this sesmster with expectations. I cam in with the idea of how I wanted my semester to go and what I wanted it to look like. But God has a way of changing our plans and showing us that His plans are much different. I was thinking I would be with an inspiring old Dominican lady that had faith in God like I had never seem before, and instead I was placed in a family that didn't ever serve God. But it's been absolutley amazing to see how God is already moving. This morning Mama told us she's coming to church with us on Sunday and then she showed us a small New testement Bible that she had found. SHe said she doesn't look at it much. Then tonight at dinner MOnica and I prayed before we ate and when I opened my eyes she was just staring at me- so I hope we are showing Jesus to them.
This week has been a great week, but when I think about 3 1/2 months I get overwhelmed! Last night Monica and I were doing night-time devotions and we came across a verse in Matt. that we decided to dedicate to this semester.
Matt 6:34 says "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself." So I'm not going to worry about the next 3 1/2 months- but I'm going to go one day at a time.
After class today some of us are going to the feild in the city to play soccer with the locals. I am SO excited! then on Saturday we are going as a team to hike to some waterfalls in Jarabacoa, so it's gonna be a really fun weekend! I'll try to write on a more regular basis and to get some pictures up soon! I miss you all!!!!

I'm Here!

The adventure has begun! Thursday night we arrived in Jarabacoa after a day of smooth and safe travel. I knew right away that I was in the DR because the electricity went off while we were in the middle of the airport! Of course the girls screamed which made us look even more like out of place tourists but it was pretty funny. Then we took a 45 minute van ride into the city and lets just say I'm glad we never have to drive here because they are crazy! Stop signs are more of a suggestion then a mandatory rule! We got to stay the night at the new Students International base and it was really nice. The team we have is great! Everyone is getting along great (but I do realize it's only been 2 days ;)
The first night went really well. I had such a peace and I knew it was because people back home were praying. Thank you! It's awesome how you can fell the support of prayer when your awa. On Friday we went through a day of orientatio, touring the city, and a fun night getting used to the Dominican culture. Touring the city was a huge eye opener. Little boys (probably 4 or 5) were walking around the street trying to shine shoes for money, everyone rode mopeds, I saw a man with no legs but with a smile on his face and so much more. I expected to see poverty, I've heard about it, seen pictures, but when you are right there among it it blows you away. It's starting to sink in that this will be my home for the next 3 1/2 months and in all honesty I'm just as nervous as I am excited. Adapting to the language and culture is going to be harder than I thought but I am more than ready to dive in and pour myself into it.
The night ended with learning how to play dominos, cutting open a coconut (drinking the juice and eating it), and dancing Dominican' style!
This trip has started off well which is very encouraging! there are so many unknowns but God has been reminiding me that He is the All-knowing, and if that's not security I don't know what is. So am I'm faced with unknowns of who my host family is, where I'll live, if I'll get sick, how to speak the language, how I will make it through 3 1/2 months without seeing family/friends- God knows all those answers, so I rest in that. I think a lot of times we feel so much better when we know all the answers. Before I left I was shown this quote from Rob Bell's Velvet Elvis and I am going to hold onto it all semester...
"This is an important thinkg to remember
I can jump and still have questions and doubts.
I often meet people who are waiting to follow
God until they have all their questions answered.
They will be waiting for a long time, because if we
knew everything, we'd be....God.
So the invitation to jump is an invitation to follow
Jesus with all of our doubts and questions right
here with us."

Well, I've jumped and I'm here. Do I have doubts and questions? Yep. More than I realzied. WIll they be answered? I dont know. Am I ok with that yet? I'm getting there. But the invitation isn't to have them answered. It isn't to be comfortable. It isn't to "feel good" or to be safe. The invitation is to follow Jesus where he calls.
This morning my friend Shelby and I were able to wake up early, hike up the hillside, and watch a beautiful Dominican sunrise.We had a beautiful view of the city of Jarabacoa under a blanket of fog, mostly still asleep. It was one of those "I'm so small, God is so big" moments and I'm looking forward to more of those.
For now I have to go meet my host family! Adios!