FINALLY!

Just wanted to give everyone an update on my progress of obtaining a residency visa for the Dominican Republic!

This past week, my mom and I were busy running to Harrisburg to get my documents stamped and then down to Washington, DC to get more stamps.  Then yesterday, I FINALLY was able to turn all of my paperwork in to the Dominican embassy.  I can’t believe it took almost four months for everything to finally be completed, like medical exams, fingerprinting, a background check, bank records, etc…pretty much my entire life in a packet.

Funny moment…we finally find the embassy and it looks so nice out front!  I was told to go around to the right for the Consular.

What they didn’t say was to walk around the trash cans, through the cars, under the caution-taped stairs, and there I shall find the door…just made me laugh!

To be honest, I’ve been dreading the day I turned everything in because I know what it means.  It means that I’ll be saying goodbye  to everyone and everything that I love for about seven months.  When I left last year, it was hard enough, but there was also a lot of excitement and adventure, which made the transition a little bit easier.  This time, I know what the reality is…no sugar-coating this time.  Many people say they wish they could spend that much time in a tropical paradise, and it does sound amazing, and it really is.  But the reality is that life is hard.  But I also know that this is where God wants me right now and that I can still do all things through Him, even when the going gets tough.  Up until Wednesday, every time I thought about leaving, it wasn’t a pleasant thought…definitely quite a few tears.  So I’ve prayed and prayed and others have prayed and prayed (thank you!) and FINALLY, on Wednesday morning, I woke up with an awesome feeling of peace!!!  Thoughts of my kids and friends floated through my head and I got so excited at the thought of seeing them!  It’s still going to be extremely hard to leave, but it’s so nice to have peace about it!

PRAY PLEASE:

• For my paperwork to go through smoothly and quickly.
• That I can enjoy my time here with family and friends.
• That I can find a cheap plane ticket once I’m approved…this whole visa process has been a little pricier than expected.
• For my family.
• For the Rineholts (the family I will be living with again).  They’ve encountered one difficulty after another.
• Charis burned her foot with hot oil.
• water situation
• Their van and motorcycle are constantly breaking down (transmission and engines are expensive :(
• Radio station in the DR and Haiti and other ministries
• Wilkyns (the other teacher at the school) and his family
• The school kids and their families

Needless to say there are a lot of things to be praying for!  Thank you for your continual love and support!  I will try to keep you updated when I find out new details!