Well it's been another amazing week in the DR. We got back from our week of travel and now are moved into our new homes and working in our ministry sites! I have been given the most wonderful family and I the best job, of getting to teach preschoolers everyday. The community we live in, El Callejon is one of the more poor areas of Jarabacoa and is known as a squatter community. (Basically a place where the people weren't supposed to start building houses, but they started a little community anyways and know there is a wall that was built to not let them go any furthur.) It is a dirt road, (more like red clay) of a community, that is covered in trash and sewage. The smell is pretty bad as you walk down the road of mostly wooden houses, with a couple that are cement. A lot of the little kids run around naked and are always barefoot. It is such a crazy cultural shock, but the coolest part is that not only do I get to see this place and be here, but I get to LIVE here. My neighbors are my students, and the community is our family. I love the fact that we aren't just visiting this community for a 1 week stay, swopping into their lives and then swopping out, but that we are living with them and among them, even 8 weeks seems like it's too short. It's been really neat because the whole group is taking a ministry class together and reading 2 different books, "The New Friars" (which I encourage anyone to read), and "Walking with the Poor." These books are going through a lot of training into helping the poor and ministering effectively among them. It's been life changing to embrace what we read and then to be right in a setting to live it out.
It's been really neat be working at a school where I'm at because it is more of an outreach than anything. There are two Dominican teachers that we work with and they have such a passion for the kids and the community as a whole. The go far above the call of being just a teacher and they are like mothers to these children. Everyday they check their hands and feet, nails and toe nails to make sure the kids are staying clean, make sure they all have socks to wear, give them toothbrushes to brush their teeth, give them soap to wash their faces, bandage up any new scraps and cuts, give them vitamins, and feed them lunch. They teach them manners and discipline and share a Bible lesson with them everyday, because they tell us the kids don't get this at home. Many of the people in the community don't know how to take care of themselves or can't afford to much less their kid as well. It's just been an amazing, eye-opening, God stretching experience that is changing a lot of the way I look at life.
The family that we live with is just great and Monica and I feel right at home. There are always so many kids to play with, that it makes the time fly by. God has really blessed us, and now we are starting to feel like 7 weeks is going to go by a little bit too fast, but were ready to embrace it!
Hopefully next time I can get some pictures up, but for now if you wanna see the kids I get to work with and love on it's at the www.stint.com website and then click on El Callejon.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Friday, October 12, 2007
Last blog for awhile...
Well I'm sad to say that this may be the last blog for awhile :( Since we are done with school and won't be coming to the base for classes we won't have access to the internet on the computers here! I'm hoping that I will still have a chance to get on maybe once every other week or so, so when i do I will be sure to update on everything God is doing here!!!
We are having our week of travel this week and then starting October 20, Monica and I will be moving into our next house in El Callejon! We are really excited to meet a new family and to start working in our ministry sites! I will be working in a preschool alongside of two really passionate Dominican women. I'm really excited to be with the kids! If you want to check out where I will be you can see it at www.stint.com and click on Education- El Callejon at the bottom.
I miss you guys a lot and will be praying that God is working up there just like he is down here!
We are having our week of travel this week and then starting October 20, Monica and I will be moving into our next house in El Callejon! We are really excited to meet a new family and to start working in our ministry sites! I will be working in a preschool alongside of two really passionate Dominican women. I'm really excited to be with the kids! If you want to check out where I will be you can see it at www.stint.com and click on Education- El Callejon at the bottom.
I miss you guys a lot and will be praying that God is working up there just like he is down here!
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Average
The other day Monica and I were laying in bed looking around our room at the dirty walls, tin roof, rats running across the rafters, the bedsheet that was our door, the concrete floor w/ geckos running across it, and just how different it was compared to homes in America We began talking about "could you imagine living with the rats for life?" and "this is home for our family, they've never known any different.." Then it hit us- this is home for most of the world. This is average. Right now we are living in normal conditions when compared with the rest of the world! In America, I used to think our 4 person/ 4 bathroom house was average- middle class. Now I'm begininng to see America is SO rich, and it makes me sick to think I was once in the mindset that I was a "poor college student."
I watched Rob Bell's Nooma video "RICH" before I left and it's never been more real to me than now. He talks about how Rich we are in American and we don't even realize it- infact we still want more even though we are in the top 1% of the worlds wealth, or some crazy statistic like that.
Then I think about our shower....and maybe it is out of a bucket....but I thought back to the end of this summer when my friend Candace got up in front of our church back home and talked about how she spent her summer at an organization that provides clean water because most thrid world countries don't have any. Well there's clean water in our bucket...so I'm feelin pretty rich even now.
So now when I look around this town and think "Wow, they are so poor," I'm going to remind myself that "No, this is AVERAGE..."
I watched Rob Bell's Nooma video "RICH" before I left and it's never been more real to me than now. He talks about how Rich we are in American and we don't even realize it- infact we still want more even though we are in the top 1% of the worlds wealth, or some crazy statistic like that.
Then I think about our shower....and maybe it is out of a bucket....but I thought back to the end of this summer when my friend Candace got up in front of our church back home and talked about how she spent her summer at an organization that provides clean water because most thrid world countries don't have any. Well there's clean water in our bucket...so I'm feelin pretty rich even now.
So now when I look around this town and think "Wow, they are so poor," I'm going to remind myself that "No, this is AVERAGE..."
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Culture!
My home away from home :)
The Dominican culture has been so interesting to experience. They definitely have the attitude of "people first and everything else second." Nothing else is important compared to relationships. It's so funny because in America if you have a problem with someone than you go and confront them on it, but here the Dominicans rahter just deal with the problem than go to you about it and possibly offend you. they are more about people than about business. It's so funny because here they go a lot by what they feel. It's very laid back. They might miss work a couple days if they don't feel like going (and only if they can afford it.)
We've found out that if you go somewhere like a restaurant or a colmado (little store on the streets)- it's very important not to just jump into what you want to order or buy because that would be extremely rude here. First you must ask how they are doing and talk to them a little about their life first and then you can talk business. Isn't tht how it should be? If you have an appointmen but you see a friend on the street and stop and talk to them making you late for your appointment- that is exremely acceptable. Relationships first. Business/tasks second. I wonder what America would look like if we embraced that.
Here it is very common for about 20 different people to stop in and out, off and on, either just to talk or eat a meal everyday. The cool thing is, is that its never planned...it's not "scheduled in" like what we do back home. I just can't get over how much I love the open community here, where home is open to all. (Reminds me of Brown City Camp!) The other day we had a barbeque and before you know it people from the whole street walked over and it was like a community barbeque before we knew it. It was awesome. Here's some other cool culture things that we've learned....
-they have no concept of "schedule," nobody has a calender here...there's really no need for one! (some haven't even seen one before)
-If you want chicken, you don't go to the grocery store- you kill whatever is in your backyard.
-you always greet EVERYONE cheek to cheek-even if they are complete strangers!
-It is totally acceptable for a women to have kids from 3 or 4 different guys but to not be married and to be a single mom (very common here).
-If someone comes to your house you ALWAYS give them something of yours (a lot of times food).
-Alone/privacy time is inheard of
-saying "your getting fat" is a major compliment!
-Dominicans are rest oriented. Everyday at noon, all businesses close down and everyone goes home (school sincluded) and has a big lunch with the family. Then everyone takes a siesta (a nap)....this has not been challenging to adjust to! :)
-when you say you will be there at 7, its not a big deal if you show up at 8 or 9.
-Our friends down the street, their Mama is 1 of 25 kids! Big families here! (I'm guessing there are a lot of half brothers/sisters involved)
-Electricity and running water comes and goes. Some days you have it, some days you don't.
-Not a lot of people (including Mama) know how to drive a car because all they use is motos.
-Kids aren't supervised like back home You see a lot of kids of all ages wlaking aorund the city, the streets, late at night/during the day it doesn't matter
-Kids act like adults. We see 11 and 12 year old girls cooking, cleaning, taking care of the little ones just like an adult!
-Dominicans want to have lighter skin- we wish we had darker skin (funny how you always want what you don't have)
-Lunch is their biggest meal, where dinner is ours.
Well here are just some of the cultural things that we've been learning and experiencing! It's been such a good learning experience! There is a lot to learn from the Dominican people!
-
We've found out that if you go somewhere like a restaurant or a colmado (little store on the streets)- it's very important not to just jump into what you want to order or buy because that would be extremely rude here. First you must ask how they are doing and talk to them a little about their life first and then you can talk business. Isn't tht how it should be? If you have an appointmen but you see a friend on the street and stop and talk to them making you late for your appointment- that is exremely acceptable. Relationships first. Business/tasks second. I wonder what America would look like if we embraced that.
Here it is very common for about 20 different people to stop in and out, off and on, either just to talk or eat a meal everyday. The cool thing is, is that its never planned...it's not "scheduled in" like what we do back home. I just can't get over how much I love the open community here, where home is open to all. (Reminds me of Brown City Camp!) The other day we had a barbeque and before you know it people from the whole street walked over and it was like a community barbeque before we knew it. It was awesome. Here's some other cool culture things that we've learned....
-they have no concept of "schedule," nobody has a calender here...there's really no need for one! (some haven't even seen one before)
-If you want chicken, you don't go to the grocery store- you kill whatever is in your backyard.
-you always greet EVERYONE cheek to cheek-even if they are complete strangers!
-It is totally acceptable for a women to have kids from 3 or 4 different guys but to not be married and to be a single mom (very common here).
-If someone comes to your house you ALWAYS give them something of yours (a lot of times food).
-Alone/privacy time is inheard of
-saying "your getting fat" is a major compliment!
-Dominicans are rest oriented. Everyday at noon, all businesses close down and everyone goes home (school sincluded) and has a big lunch with the family. Then everyone takes a siesta (a nap)....this has not been challenging to adjust to! :)
-when you say you will be there at 7, its not a big deal if you show up at 8 or 9.
-Our friends down the street, their Mama is 1 of 25 kids! Big families here! (I'm guessing there are a lot of half brothers/sisters involved)
-Electricity and running water comes and goes. Some days you have it, some days you don't.
-Not a lot of people (including Mama) know how to drive a car because all they use is motos.
-Kids aren't supervised like back home You see a lot of kids of all ages wlaking aorund the city, the streets, late at night/during the day it doesn't matter
-Kids act like adults. We see 11 and 12 year old girls cooking, cleaning, taking care of the little ones just like an adult!
-Dominicans want to have lighter skin- we wish we had darker skin (funny how you always want what you don't have)
-Lunch is their biggest meal, where dinner is ours.
Well here are just some of the cultural things that we've been learning and experiencing! It's been such a good learning experience! There is a lot to learn from the Dominican people!
-
Monday, October 8, 2007
Psalm 116
This passage in scripture has been AWESOME to me while I've been here.
"I was overcome by trouble and sorrow
then I called on the name of the Lord
the Lord is gracious and righteous
our God is full of compassion
because he turned his ear to me
I will call on him as long as I live
Be at rest once more, O my soul
For the Lord has been good to you."
"I was overcome by trouble and sorrow
then I called on the name of the Lord
the Lord is gracious and righteous
our God is full of compassion
because he turned his ear to me
I will call on him as long as I live
Be at rest once more, O my soul
For the Lord has been good to you."
Saturday, October 6, 2007
The Weekend...
Happy birthday to my brother back home! Wish I could be there for it! One more week left of things as I know them and then it’s time to switch it all up again! We have one more week left of Spanish class so the teachers have been piling on the homework! It’s crazy how much we are learning and how much I understand but as soon as you try to speak it, it’s a different story! Today we spent mostly at the base, getting homework done, watching movies, hanging out with friends, trying to get on the internet, etc.
Yesterday was a lot of fun. It’s been raining here pretty much all day and a lot of the week, but after class two girls from my team and I went for a run in the rain and I loved it. After we finished the run we rewarded ourselves with pica pollo (which is a lot like KFC DR style) and a lot of our team members met us there. We met a guy that’s a missionary to Jarabacoa (they are all over the place) and that works at the Jarabacoa Christian School. Then we walked across town to get….ICECREAM! I was in heaven! It’s really cheap and really good here, but then we had a good half hour walk home in the dark! But we were safe because the guys stayed with us, so we were fine. Afterwards I spent the night with my friend Shelby and her Dominican family. It was a fun experience to meet a new family and see where they had been living! The Dominicans always amaze me with their hospitality. I walked in to their house and was immediately greeted with a kiss, hug, and then treated like royalty. So far if I’ve learned anything about the Dominican people it is that Dominicans love to love… which is exactly how it’s supposed to be.
It will be really sad to leave my family this week but we’ve made a lot of good memories and we will be within walking distance so we can still visit! Hope everyone’s doing well for everyone back home!!
Yesterday was a lot of fun. It’s been raining here pretty much all day and a lot of the week, but after class two girls from my team and I went for a run in the rain and I loved it. After we finished the run we rewarded ourselves with pica pollo (which is a lot like KFC DR style) and a lot of our team members met us there. We met a guy that’s a missionary to Jarabacoa (they are all over the place) and that works at the Jarabacoa Christian School. Then we walked across town to get….ICECREAM! I was in heaven! It’s really cheap and really good here, but then we had a good half hour walk home in the dark! But we were safe because the guys stayed with us, so we were fine. Afterwards I spent the night with my friend Shelby and her Dominican family. It was a fun experience to meet a new family and see where they had been living! The Dominicans always amaze me with their hospitality. I walked in to their house and was immediately greeted with a kiss, hug, and then treated like royalty. So far if I’ve learned anything about the Dominican people it is that Dominicans love to love… which is exactly how it’s supposed to be.
It will be really sad to leave my family this week but we’ve made a lot of good memories and we will be within walking distance so we can still visit! Hope everyone’s doing well for everyone back home!!
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Haha...this is my good friend Heraldo. He is a staff worker at SI. He likes to play jokes on me a lot so I'm pretending to strangle him in this picture....haha Heraldo is crazy!!
The other day we were traveling on our bus as a team and we were listing quotes that had really influenced our lives. My friend Jim threw one out there and it really stuck. He said...
"Go beyond being challenged, be changed."
That spoke right to me, and definitely fits for this semester...
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Open the Eyes of My Heart....
This is a picture of my 2 beautiful Dominican friends Josie and Julia.I realized that a lot of my life I spend my time looking at people out of my own eyes- my human eyes, that see human things.. (appearance, status, etc.)
Then the other day some of us were sitting around with a guitar singing the song (an oldie but a goodie) "Open the Eyes of my Heart" and it hit me...open the eyes of my heart. I'm sick of seeing out of my human eyes, it's time to see people, ALL people out of the eyes of my heart....Dominican, American, poor, sick, homeless, rich. It's time to look past human things and look into what God sees. God help me to see people as you see them, to love them liek you love them....open the eyes of my heart.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
A Weekend Update...
It's already October! I can't believe it! Time is going by fast down here! Friday was a fun day, Monica and I and a couple other Americans from our team decided to have dinner by the river. One of our team members had brought a camp stove so we set up camp in the pitch dark and used flashlights to cook some homemade pizzas and cinnamin rolls. It was a lot of fun and the food actually turned out good!
Saturday we traveled to Santiago. The city was packed full of people and it was really hot. We went to two different museums which was interesting because out tours were in Sapnish! So I stuck by Brent (our director) and together we could get most of what he was saying. Then we went to their independance statue that we called "The Woman" and got to walk up to the top. After racing up all of the flights of stairs we got to the top and had a great veiw of the city.
Sunday was a blast. I went to church and met some Americans that were missionaries to jarabacoa and taught in the Christian school here. Come to find out she graduated from Taylor, and was friends with Kyle Lantz (my boyfriends brother!) It's such a small world. Then we realized that our Spanish teacher (Serai who is about our age) is good friends with them so she invited us to all hang out next week! It will be fun getting to know them better.
Monica and I have become really good friends with the family that lives down the road from us. They are also hosting 2 of the Americans from our team. They are a really strong Christian family and their nephew, Alberto, is a teacher for SI. We love going over there because you feel right at home. Last night a girl from our team had a birthday party so the Dominican family threw a fiesta and showed us Americans how to have fun! It was a blast. Dominicas think its so funny when we try to dance, because compared to them we just look bad. So we decided after an hour of humiliating ourselves at the merengue we would teach them some American moves-so we did and they loved it! Monica and I showed the girls Julia (15), and Genesis (9), how to do the electric slide, line dancing, and the YMCA for 2 hours straight (they had American music- we couldn't believe it!) It was so much fun....we laughed a lot, danced a lot, as always ATE a lot :) (The Dominicans loove to feed us!)
Hope all is going well back home! Miss you!
Saturday we traveled to Santiago. The city was packed full of people and it was really hot. We went to two different museums which was interesting because out tours were in Sapnish! So I stuck by Brent (our director) and together we could get most of what he was saying. Then we went to their independance statue that we called "The Woman" and got to walk up to the top. After racing up all of the flights of stairs we got to the top and had a great veiw of the city.
Sunday was a blast. I went to church and met some Americans that were missionaries to jarabacoa and taught in the Christian school here. Come to find out she graduated from Taylor, and was friends with Kyle Lantz (my boyfriends brother!) It's such a small world. Then we realized that our Spanish teacher (Serai who is about our age) is good friends with them so she invited us to all hang out next week! It will be fun getting to know them better.
Monica and I have become really good friends with the family that lives down the road from us. They are also hosting 2 of the Americans from our team. They are a really strong Christian family and their nephew, Alberto, is a teacher for SI. We love going over there because you feel right at home. Last night a girl from our team had a birthday party so the Dominican family threw a fiesta and showed us Americans how to have fun! It was a blast. Dominicas think its so funny when we try to dance, because compared to them we just look bad. So we decided after an hour of humiliating ourselves at the merengue we would teach them some American moves-so we did and they loved it! Monica and I showed the girls Julia (15), and Genesis (9), how to do the electric slide, line dancing, and the YMCA for 2 hours straight (they had American music- we couldn't believe it!) It was so much fun....we laughed a lot, danced a lot, as always ATE a lot :) (The Dominicans loove to feed us!)
Hope all is going well back home! Miss you!
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