Another Episode of my Strange Life!

These past three weeks have been very random but very encouraging. I love the variety, the ability to help people in so many ways, to use the abilities that God has given me. Here are a few things that stood out in my mind!

One thing many of my kids love to do is rub my arms and legs...I'm not really sure why...but recently, they started pointing out my blue veins, my freckles, my shaved legs, bruises...these things are all new to them...even many adults don't know the word for "bruise" because they can't see any with their skin color. Some were making fun of me for being as white as milk again after I returned from my trip to the US. Thankfully, my tan has returned! They also love to play with my hair...I rarely go home with the same hairdo as what I left the house with in the morning.

It really is the little things that make me love this place. Like when Sonia comes flying out the door of the school in the morning yelling my name and jumps onto me as I try to keep myself from falling. I can't help but wonder what is going to happen to my kids, regardless if I return or not. You can't help but love them, even if some of them do seem to make it their mission to drive me crazy! And then they start singing "all I need is you Lord" and you can't help but love them all over again!

We've started showing a lot more educational songs and the kids love them! They are very music-oriented and have caught onto these songs so quickly. They never cease to amaze me! Even when we are playing baseball or washing our hands, the simple acts of life, they try to throw in any English word they know...always makes me smile! Five of our kids are really excelling, so we've had to redo the class breakdown so that everyone can continue to learn at an appropriate pace.

I passed two girls that used to come to the school but were kicked out because of sporadic attendance. Both just seemed more desperate looking, hurt, dirtier, thinner. It hurts me to see them and wonder what I could have done to keep them in school. It hurts that they don't see that this could be their only opportunity to get out of the cycle of poverty in their family. I hate that I can't control everything, which again brings me back Proverbs 3:5-6. It's hard not to do my own thing but I'm giving that up over and over and over again.

One day I was standing outside and this older man tried hard to get my attention as he was driving by and was smiling as big as he could. I just thought he was another guy trying to get a visa because we hear that so often, so I gave a small smile and turned away. Later, he came back down the mountain smiling like a fool again and then he actually drove up to where I was standing and put out his hand. I must have made a weird face because he laughed a little and said his name was Freddy, and then all the pieces fell together. This was the man that Jen and I had been asked to talk to about Jesus. He had two motorcycle accidents and was left in a wheelchair, his leg muscles much smaller than they should have been. He also had a large dent in his head and needed surgery. We were also there to give him a walker, but he wasn't really strong enough at that time to use it. Jen and I shared the Word with him, without a translator, and to our amazement he accepted Christ! God does indeed work through us because we know we were incapable of presenting that information in Spanish, in a clear, understandable way. After all this came flooding back, I felt ashamed that I didn't remember him, but he was unfazed as I got excited that he was not only walking, but riding a motorcycle! God is good! It was nice to a result from my time here. It's easy to feel alone and that the work we're doing is not fruitful, but what I need to continually remember is that God is in control and once again I need to place my life in His hands.

One morning, I took Kylie down with me to go to school. We went to meet the guard and he wasn't there, so I went to his house and they said he had already left and should have been waiting for me. Wilkyns came and tried to call him but his phone went straight to voicemail. We started to drive to school until I got Wilkyns’ attention and said that I felt uncomfortable going in without the guard, so Kylie and I waited at a safe spot while Wilkyns went to check for him at the school, but he wasn't there either. I was having "flashbacks" to the last time something happened to the supervisor of our first guard. Many don't know this, but back in February, he was driving to the school to deliver the gun to our guard when three men jumped out and attacked him. They shot him in both knees and took his gun and then ran off when one of our student's mother started screaming for help. The surrounding community came together and got him to the hospital. This all took place only about 2 weeks after the guard was hired. This whole thing definitely threw me for a loop because they crossed a line that I never thought would be crossed. I questioned what would happen next? We canceled school Monday and Wilkyns brought an actual police officer for us to meet to be our new guard. I couldn't see how anyone would want to work for us, so I made sure he knew everything that happened. He said he understood, so we hired him and started school the next day. He meets us and follows us to and from the school every day. Thankfully, on this day, he was only fixing a flat tire and showed up at Wilkyns’ house when he was done. I can't say that I'm not afraid sometimes, but I can say that God has placed people in my path to comfort me and remind me of God's promises. This was one of the reasons I had put off buying a new motorcycle, but I realized I can't live life consumed by fear of the unknown.

Then, just this week, the guard didn’t show up again. We found out that his commanding officer told him to report to the local police station to deliver some information and he was held for almost three days without being told why. Then, he was told that he was being transferred to another town and couldn’t work for us. We continued going to school, but I left my bike at Wilkyns’ house just to be safe. Then, yesterday, he showed up to work and said that he was promoted and asked his boss if he can continue to work for us and his request was granted! God is good!

A couple from Maryland came down to stay with us for a week. While here, they had the chance to visit the school where they taught the kids how to make shirts and dresses out of pillowcases. It was a great opportunity for the kids to learn how to sew and to provide for themselves. That day, it rained and rained so hard that we couldn't hear each other talking in the school and we had to stay over an hour late for it to stop raining, since we all walk or rides motorcycles to go home. It rained the whole next day too, so we had to cancel school, our second rain day all year. Not too bad but it has been raining a lot more recently so hopefully we won't have to miss too many days.

We took a local seven year old boy and his grandmother to a local clinic because he suffers with extreme hernias, is extremely small for his age, yet he has oversized facial features, and he breathes heavily with his tongue hanging out and still cannot talk. The doctor there said he could have a heart problem and that needs to be fixed before anything else can be worked on. This boy is living with his grandmother and his three year old brother that appears to have the same condition. Their living conditions are extremely poor but the grandmother is trying her best with what little she has. The boys' parents won't take care of the boys because of their problems. Please pray for this family as we try to find a pediatric cardiologist and other doctors in the capital that can help.

We finally made it to the beach after at least 2-3 months...I think that's a sin when you live in the DR, so close to the beach! I'm definitely feeling the burn though :( Some new friends, missionaries in Haiti, came along with us. There were a few girls my age, so it was really nice to talk and laugh. That is one thing that I really miss down here. It's not that I don't have friends, but most of them are teenage boys that hang around the house. But it really makes me thankful for the true friends that God has placed in my life!

Some of the young guys that we’re friends with always tell me I need to do this and that to my bike to make it run better or to make it “cooler” so I let some work on it…and I love it! It runs so much faster and smoother. Wish I would have done that one my last bike! Now, our neighbor is asking me to teach her how to drive! I think I started a trend because there are so many more women driving motorcycles now!

We’ve been having problems with someone stealing our water. Our 800 gallon tank has been emptied at least twice by someone, so we finally installed locks on the top….and then water was still missing. We think someone siphoned it out. It’s not always easy to out-think people that have grown up being creative with what little they have. So now we’re going to fill that hole and drill small holes (too small for a hose). And then we wait and see! The water has definitely been a huge blessing though. It’s hard to believe we lasted so long without it!

Four Dominicans are currently parging the walls at the school! We had to move everything to the center of the building and then we’ve been having class outside…not exactly easy with so many distractions, but I’m very thankful for the improvements that seem to be taking place so fast! Next they are working on the floor so that we don’t have so much concrete breaking up and it won’t be so dirty all the time! More improvements will be done the end of this month when another team comes from Mississippi!

On Saturday nights, we have a Bible study for young adults out on our back patio. The first time we had fifteen kids and it has rapidly grown! Shawn gives a lesson, and then we serve some kind of food, and then sometimes show a movie. I love that we can reach out to our own community!

Sunday, we took two vehicles of local kids to La Cienaga for a Bible study (in the rain, during a Papa rally (for a presidential candidate)). Then we went to Baharouco to teach them how to surf. We now have two foam lesson boards that we took with us. A few of the kids managed to partly stand! Some of the local surfers came and helped us teach the kids! They were so excited to be a part of this! Kids are already asking if we’re going again this week! I can’t wait to see how God uses these outreaches!

We only have about 30 days of school left. It's hard to believe that my time here is almost up, which I have mixed emotions about. Part of me can't stand the thought of leaving behind my kids and my friends, but the other part of me can't wait to get home to my family and friends, and my new business with my sister! Please keep praying for us as we make large decisions about the next school year. So many factors come into play like new students, how to teach, who's teaching, etc. A tentative date of June 19th is when I may possibly be coming home. It's going to be weird (good and bad) transitioning back to the luxuries of the US. Sometimes the lack of money and material items here has been a blessing because I have relied on God more than I ever have in my life. At home it can be way too easy to think I'm making it on my own. Keep this in your prayers also! As we are getting busier every day, continue to pray that we stay in God’s will for our lives. So many things are happening and it can be very easy to forget Who is in charge of every little detail!

Thanks again for everything. I am so grateful God has placed you in my life because your support has meant the world to me!