A Look Back…

As this year is drawing to a close, I’ve been thinking about all that has happened to bring me to where I am today.  It’s hard to believe that I’ve almost been here for four months now!  SO many things have come together to make this all possible and it’s easy to see God’s hand in all of it.  No, life here has definitely not been perfect or even easy, but it has been life-changing and rewarding, and right now, I wouldn’t want to be any other place.  I have definitely been relying on Prov. 3:5-6 more than ever, especially with everything that has happened recently and missing family and friends during the holidays. 

Some of my family and friends came and visited me for a week.  It was exciting and funny to introduce them to my new life.  Let’s just say that they are very American, and you can’t take a country girl too far away from the country or funny things are bound to happen!  We had a great time exploring areas that I hadn’t even gotten to see yet!  Beach time was a must of course, plus lots of time catching up and laughing non-stop!  They came the day that I was robbed, so it was great to have them here for support and to take my mind off things for awhile, even if mom did demand that I was going home with them after she heard what happened.  I talked her out of that one of course! 

   

While they were here, we got to go to the school twice so they could meet my kids!  The second time we went down, the kids threw me a birthday party.  As I walked in the door, they sang “Happy Birthday” in ENGLISH and then they counted to 30…not sure if they were just showing off or thought I’m old…either way, I’m so proud of them! 

 

On December 23rd, we hosted a Christmas party at the school for the preschoolers and older students.  We made 60 cupcakes and packed 60 backpacks full of a Bible, popcorn, a candy cane, lollipops, a salvation bracelet, a pencil, and an orange (which I bought from the same student that always gives me oranges…his mom was shocked at such a large purchase)!  Shawn shared the real meaning of Christmas to the students.  We also recognized three outstanding students for their behavior and grades.  They received a certificate and a nice backpack supplied by John and Karen Shaffer.  The kids enjoyed singing, making crafts, and eating their snacks.  They were so impressed that I knew how to make cupcakes (from a box!)…these kids are definitely good for the self-esteem!  Some students were asked to share what they were thankful for.  One student said that he was thankful for the opportunity that he was being given because of the school…I still smile thinking about him saying that.  It reaffirmed my place here all over again.  This school is impacting these children and they realize what a great opportunity it is for them.  As I was leaving, quite a few students came up to me privately and asked if I was ever coming back.  It broke my heart that they thought I might never come back after the robbery.  I assured them that I would be back and that they better be ready to learn more!  The love that they show me amazes me over and over again!  When/if I leave, it will break my heart to think that I may never see my kids again.

   

Christmas here was very strange.  I had a good time with my new family and friends but it just wasn’t the same as home, especially since it’s still in the upper 80’s here.  No chance of snow for this girl :(  But I’m not giving up on miracles :)  Although my aunt and uncle gave me some “Snow to Go” and two of my friends creatively cut out snowflakes, put them in a envelope labeled “Special Delivery.”  I was given instructions to open the envelope, hold it over my head, and shake it…and it snowed it the DR!  I guess people know I really like snow huh?!

As we’re getting ready for the new year, please pray for the following:

• I’m still trying to figure out my transportation situation since my bike was stolen.  Safety and money are both issues that I need to consider, but I do know that I miss my bike; three weeks without transportation and independence have been very strange!
• We are looking for an armed guard to be at the school while we are there during the day.  Eventually, we hope to build a wall around the school, but that will have to wait until money is raised.
• The students and their families and also the community surrounding the school.  The men that robbed me lived very close.  The other teacher and the students knew the men.
• Our safety.  Another American missionary here was robbed at gunpoint last week.
• Wisdom as we work in the community and just in our daily lives.
• The Ears to Hear Radio station, Shawn, and the young men helping him to start the station. 
• Short-term mission teams that will be coming down soon. 

Thank you for your continued support and prayers…keep ‘em coming!  I can’t wait to see what God is going to do down here this coming year.  I know I didn’t expect what has happened so far, but I’m enjoying the ride even if I can’t see around the next curve.  It’s impossible to even begin to share everything that has happened with you, but this will hopefully bring you up to date!  Which reminds me to ask you to pray for my future after my committed time is up here in June.  I have no idea what is going to happen, but either way, it is going to be extremely hard to say goodbye to one group of people or the other. 

Hope you had a great Christmas and enjoy the new year!  Be prepared to step out in faith and do what God is calling you to do.  It’s not always easy, trust me, I know, but it will be worth it!

Another Side of Life…

I was sitting in the back of the school on Monday listening to Wilkyns share the Bible lesson and school news.  He mentioned December 14th, and all the kids started getting excited saying that, that was my birthday.  So they “kicked me out” of the school to discuss plans for that day.  As I was sitting outside, I thought about how my family and friends were coming this week and I really started to miss them.  I questioned myself why I was away from them and whether I was really supposed to be down here in the DR.  I got a little teary-eyed, but then, I could here the excitement of the kids inside planning a special day just for me and I knew that was like God confirming that He does want me here and that these kids love me and are using this opportunity to help their families and community.  It was such an awesome feeling to know that I belong here.

And then along comes Satan to steal my newfound joy…all the kids had been sent home for the day when I realized that my purse was missing.  My license, money, camera, bike documents, house keys…everything important was in there.  Wilkyns called all the children back to the school and we searched the place inside and out until it was found 45 minutes later…without the money.  This is actually the third time someone has taken money out of my purse and I just don’t know how to keep everything secure without keeping it on me the entire time.  We still don’t know who took the money, and with it, my ability to trust anyone completely.  But I also realized that loving, caring friends and family donated this money to me.  It wasn’t mine to start with; God provided it once, and He can provide it again. 

and then on Thursday…

I was so excited because my family and friends were coming!!!  It’s been over three months…time has really flown by!  But of course, the day couldn’t just be a happy reunion…

While Shawn, Jen, and their kids have been in the United States, I’ve taken extra safety precautions.  Someone has been at the house “protecting” me most of the time.  When I drive to school, someone always meets me to guide me through the more dangerous areas.  I’ve had continuous warnings that I shouldn’t even be in the area at all. 

Thusday morning, I just had a feeling that I should leave my laptop at home.  Wilkyns was going to be away in the capitol, so I would just be at school with one other teacher, Jonathon.  He met me and rode in with me on the back of my bike.  Thankfully, we made it to school just fine.  Only twelve kids showed up and I thought about canceling school since that’s not even half of our students, but I realized that wasn’t fair to the children dedicated to the outcome of their future life. 

As I was reading a story about Moses, two young men came into the school, one with a mask, the other with a gun.  The were demanding the keys to my motorcycle.  Some of the kids ran outside.  They put Jonathon down on the floor as they searched me for my keys.  I kept telling the guys that I didn’t have anything, that I needed my bike and phone.  I pleaded to at least let me keep my phone, to no avail.  He threatened to shoot me if I didn’t give him the keys.  One gut patted me down and found my keys and phone and the other pointed the gun in my face.  They took them, along with the keys to the school and both of our cell phones.  

They left quickly.  A third man had been standing guard outside.  The kids that had run away brought back the father of one of the students who watches the school at night.  Everything just seemed impossible at that moment.  I had been so excited to see my family and when this happened, I felt like every time God reveals the good in life, Satan comes right away with blow after blow.  Plus I could only understand snipits of what the kids and the men were saying afterwards about the whole situation.

We finally decided to walk to Wilkyns house, about 10 minutes away, to get his phone number from his wife.  As we started out, all the kids were following us, like we were all in this together.  It was cute, but we made them go home.  We borrowed Wilkyns’ bike, and then all three of us went around to talk to some people that knew the “tigres”, the local bad boys.  Jonathan and the kids knew at least one of the guys responsible, so he spread the word.  Sometimes, if you know guys higher up, you can get your stuff back.  The thing that really made me angry was the fact that two of the guys live right in the same community as the school.  Doesn’t he realize that we’re trying to help his community?

We headed for the police department and they pointed us to multiple rooms where we retold the story multiple times.  A truck pulls up with four police officers and two more jump in the back, all carrying very large guns.  They took Jonathon and the other guy with them to try and track down my bike, while I waited at the police station.

As I was waiting, I think I felt almost every emotion possible.  I was angry, scared, hurt, and sad, but also happy that no one was hurt.  It made me recall the story that I was reading to my kids when all this happened.  God protected Moses as a child and throughout the rest of his life, even though there were threats all around him.  God used these difficult situations, and through these times, Moses was able to bring glory to God…PRAY the same will come out of these situations. 

So now I have a gazillion thoughts running through my head:  Am I ever going to feel safe at the school again?  Will they find my bike and phone?  How am I going to afford to buy a new bike if they don’t?  How is this going to affect the kids?  What’s my family going to say?  And that’s just the beginning…Please pray…

My mom’s first reaction was that I was heading home with them immediately, but I know this is where God wants me right now.  Today, Monday, we all went to the school to show my family around.  Normally on my drive to the school, there are only a few people that look suspicious, but today, everyone just seemed more intimidating.  I was more anxious than I thought I would be about going back down.  As of right now, Shawn has said that Jen and I shouldn’t be teaching until there is an armed guard in place to prevent this from happening again.  Please pray for wisdom in the situation.

I was trying to figure out why this happened, and I thought about Philippians and how it says to rejoice in ALL things…easier said than done, but here’s a few good things that came from the experience:  I get to spend more time with my family while they’re here for such a short time.  The Dominicans showed me just how much they cared about me.  I have had so many of them checking on me.  Even my students were worried when I didn’t teach today.  And third, I’m hoping that the thieves realized that our school has nothing to steal and will pass that word onto their “friends” since someone has tried to break into the school twice during the night.  For those things, I am indeed grateful and I know that God has been and will continue to work through all of this.

The whole situation doesn’t seem real and I don’t quite know how to process the experience mentally yet.  I joke about it, but I’m never going to be the same after looking down the barrel of that gun.  Please continue to pray.  Thank you for all of your support and encouragement.  I need it now more than ever.