Deeds in the Dominican Republic

2010-07-24T14:57:00.001-07:00

I am not sure how the time has flown by, but I leave to come back to the US on Monday morning. I feel like I have been in mourning a little bit for the last few days. There are so many things that make me excited about coming back to the States, and I am holding on tightly to those so that I can move through the sadness of leaving the D.R. I am excited to run outside...see dear friends...talk to my family without Skype getting killed because of slow internet connections...go to coffee shops...drive on roads that aren't complete madness...have more clothes to choose from than those I have been wearing for two months...maybe do a little less sweating...cook my own food...you see where I am going with this. That mental list is what keeps me together when I have teary-eyed moments and try to imagine what it will be like to get back to 'normal life.' Life here changes you, and while I think about the things on that list, I still wonder how long it will take me to quit automatically saying 'hola' when I see people, or get used to not seeing my Dominican friends every day.

In the same way I will start to slip out of the habits of living here, I will probably also slip out of the ways I have been changed by my extended time here. I will be able to forget sometimes about extreme poverty, because I won't see it everyday. I will be able to forget what it is like for people to depend on God for food and shelter everyday, because that is not the life I have been forced to live. I will have the luxury of air-conditioning everywhere, and there will be no more moments when I don't understand the words people are saying to me. I will forget that everything, even something as simple as going to the bank, is more difficult and takes much longer here. My prayer is that while I know I will forget some of the things God has shown me, that I will not go back to the person I was when I left the US. I hope I will see things around me and be reminded of life here. I hope I will see God in the faces of people around me in New Jersey in the same way I have seen God in the faces here. And I hope that instead of getting into a groove and a routine that revolves around my own studies and needs, I will allow God to direct my days in the same way I have been able to be directed here. I pray that my days are not just about me...

Our roomates in Haiti :)

2010-07-21T14:43:00.000-07:00

Reflections from a few days in Port au Prince

2010-07-21T12:47:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a few days in Haiti, and I am not really sure where to begin the description. Just being in Haiti is exhausting. Your mind is working so hard to take in everything you are seeing. You are working to push away the sadness, the despair, and the amazement of what has happened and is happening in Haiti. The smell is overwhelming. Everywhere you look, there is a sea of humanity. Random items are sold on the sides of the street, so there is always something to look at as you are driving by. The toppled buildings and half-standing structures are everywhere. Tents are on every corner, beside houses, in front of houses, in every open area of Port au Prince.

Even with all of the destruction and pervasive poverty, there is something beautiful about the city. Port au Prince sits between towering mountains and the ocean. The location is gorgeous. Houses seem to climb up the hills, piled on top of each other. Every turn of the roads where we stayed gave great views of the city below us. I am so thankful for the chance to spend a few more days getting to know this city.

In addition to just getting to see more of the city, my friend Anna and I were able to stay with some great friends. We were able to experience a few days of their life in Port au Prince, as well as having some really special time to hear their stories from January 12th. I can't begin to explain how powerful it is to sit down with someone and have them share so openly what it was like to try to survive...how they were pulled from the rubble of a collapsed building...how they wandered the streets of Port au Prince after the earthquake with nothing in mind but getting to their families...how they slept outside in tents behind their house even when it was no longer necessary, because it was much more frightening to begin to sleep inside again. Their stories would blow your mind, break your heart, and leave you amazed and thankful that God is good, even in the face of disaster.

Our friend Pashoo sat with us on Monday night as we ate dinner and shared his story with us. He was working out at the gym when the earthquake hit, and was on the third floor of a building that collapsed. Someone pulled him out from under a wall, and freed him from the building. He broke and dislocated his elbow, but proceeded to walk to his mother's school to try to find his family. He said he has no idea how he survived. Then he said, "I mean, as a Christian, I know how I survived. But as a human, I have no idea how I lived." January 12th changed the way he lives. As I think back to everything he said over the days we were visiting, I can see that everything he wants for his life, his career, and the use of his gifts is not only for himself, but for the betterment of Haiti. He has big dreams, and hope that God will use him to do great things for Haiti. I hope that everyone I spent time with who loves Haiti will used by God to help change that place. I am excited to see the future of Port au Prince because of these men who are going to do great things for their country.

Now, on a much lighter note, if you want to meet the people I stayed with in Haiti, check out the music video I have posted! They are a well-known kompa band called Toxic, so as you watch this video, you will see our friends! They took amazing care of us over the course of our days in Haiti, in addition to just being really incredible people. We even got stopped a few times because people wanted to say hi to them. That's right, friends...I was rollin with famous musicians in Haiti. Booyah!

A weekend in Nagua

2010-07-12T13:38:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been on one of those road trips where you know about 30 minutes after leaving that this is going to be an amazingly fun, relaxing, perfect weekend that you will remember for a long time? That is how I felt this Friday after I left with my friend Emmanuel for the weekend. We got in the car with his little sister, his mom, and his uncle to head to Nagua, which is where his extended family lives. Nagua is on the northern coast of the DR, and is home to beautiful beaches, quiet, small town streets, and stars you can actually see at night. Leaving Santo Domingo, a city of 4 million people, for a few days in the country is always a welcome retreat.

I can't tell you exactly what it was that made the weekend great. Maybe it was how warm and welcoming his family was. Maybe it was having a ton of quality time with a friend I dearly love. Maybe it was walking down the beach for hours, just talking and enjoying the day. Maybe it was sitting around all morning on Saturday, reading Barbara Brown Taylor, and being reminded of why I love the ministry of preaching. Maybe it was laying around Sunday afternoon with my friend's mom and listening to her tell me stories of her family, including some real hardships they have experienced. I don't know exactly what made this the ideal weekend, but I know I came back feeling welcomed, loved, accepted, rested, cared for, and happy.

I think one of the most powerful moments happened on Saturday morning. Emmanuel's mom is one of 13 children. This weekend, 7 of the siblings were in Nagua, including two who were winding down a visit and heading back to the US that day. I woke up and was sitting outside reading when some of Emmanuel's aunts called me into the room with their mother, who is ill and spending much of her time in bed. We gathered in her room to have a time of prayer with all of the siblings before Emma's two aunts left to return to the US. I never know what to expect when families graciously invite me into their moments, but I wasn't disappointed by this one. These family members, who clearly love each other so dearly, sat around and sang together for a while. They sang with the confidence of a family who has been singing beautifully together for years...each person knew whether they were to sing harmony or melody, whether they were to sing high or low, and who would take the lead on the song. It was a beautiful moment to watch...the ease with which they harmonized, the joy on their faces as they sang, but also the sadness that this may be one of those last times with all of them singing with their mother. As the singing winded down, they joined each other in prayer, for their mother, for safe travel for their sisters, for the joy of being together and the sadness of being apart, for God's continued presence and provision for their lives. It was a moment I was thankful to witness, and one I was humbled to be a part of. I am continually inspired by the faith of the people I encounter here. I am continually inspired by their hospitality and the warmth with which they welcome me into their lives. I am continually amazed that God has brought me here and continues to bless me everyday. I am humbled by my inability to live in such a warm, hospitable way, and hope I will go home and do my best to welcome people into my home with the same graciousness that has been shown to me.

This weekend refreshed me, encouraged me, and brought me such joy. I went to three different beautiful beaches. I read a book I love. I was reminded how much I love ministry and am excited to get back to Princeton and learn more. I was reminded of how much I love and miss my own family. And I was amazed by how much I deeply love this country. That is a lot to pack into a weekend, but I can't think of anything better.

Caught between two very different worlds

2010-07-07T20:25:00.000-07:00

(my little buddy Lovensly, before he busted his lip on the playground!)

I feel caught between two worlds. On one hand, I live part of the time in a nice hotel, in my boss' hotel room that he has year round and would currently be empty if not for my taking up residence in it. I can escape the heat when I need to, return to my clean, neat, air-conditioned room, and even take advantage of the gym or the pool. Delicious coffee is waiting for me in the morning, before I get in my car (another nice perk I currently have) and drive out to Cielo where another world awaits.

When I choose not to stay in the hotel, which is becoming more often, I stay in Bayona, the larger region where Cielo and Nazaret are located, in an apartment with my friend Anna. We sleep in the heat, with windows open, with fans in the bed with us to make it more bearable. I sleep wearing bug spray. We often come home to find that there is no electricity, with no knowledge of when it might turn back on. The power goes out several times a day, and unless you have an inverter, you are in the dark until it miraculously returns. That means that the fans in our bed usually turn off around 4am and stay off until power returns around 9am (at least that has been the pattern lately, but who really knows). That means wandering around the apartment at night with flashlights when we arrive home to no lights. We have also gotten into the habit of going on walks around Bayona, going through Cielo and Nazaret, and stopping to talk to friends along the way. It is a great way for me to practice Spanish, a great way to see more people, and a fun addition to a night that could be spent sitting in a hot casa. Tonight, it started raining when we were at about the furthest point from the apartment, which was a fun addition. Dominican men sing to us a lovely song that basically says they need an americana to get their visa. I eat fresh fruit purchased from carts on the street for about one meal a day. I get up at 6:30am to walk my friend's dog with him, because that is the only time any form of outdoor exercise is bearable.

I am living between these two worlds of comfort and poverty. I spent the morning sitting in the clinic with a precious Haitian boy named Lovensly, who busted his lip playing on the playground. Anna spotted the 50 pesos to pay for the clinic, all of about $1.50, so that his family wouldn't have to worry about it. I sat with him and taught him Spanish vocabulary, as he continues to learn Spanish now that he has moved here after the earthquake in Haiti. Then, I went back to the hotel to watch the World Cup game. I am not sure which world I am supposed to stay in. Do I stay in the difficult, sweaty, emotionally exhausting world of extreme poverty and struggle? Or do I give in to the desire for comfort? Do I allow myself to continue to live like an American, or do I let it all go and do my best to dive fully into the hardships of real life in the DR? I know what I should do, but when I have the option of comfort, it is harder than I thought to fully give in. I wish my boss had not insisted that I stay in the hotel. Part of me really wishes he had not offered me his car for the month. I know what I should be doing, but comfort is so much easier...

2010-07-05T13:55:00.000-07:00

I have been enjoying a Monday of rest after a weekend of adventure. On Friday and Saturday, my friend Anna and I decided we had to get out of Santo Domingo for a little fun and r&r. We headed to Jarabocoa, which is a few hours away in the mountains of the DR. It is gorgeous...everything is so green, like the color of new leaves when the trees are first turning green in the spring. So lovely! Honestly, if you ask what we did, there isn't much to tell. We did a lot of walking and exploring, ate some good meals, and did some serious relaxing. I was given a free bachata dance lesson on Friday night from a random man. It sounds weird, but I have been wanting to learn bachata, so I went for it and had some moments of hilarity learning to dance with this man! I think Anna and I both came back refreshed and a little bit in love with this small town. It is considerably cooler, because it sits on top of a mountain, so you can actually walk around midday without sweating. You can whitewater raft, horseback ride, hike, swim in waterfalls, and jump from cliffs...sounds ideal to me! So consider this my official recommendation for any future tourist stops in the DR...go to Jarabacoa!

Then, Sunday morning, I woke up super early to leave for the mission trip with the youth from the church. I was definitely intimated at first, because it is really hard to let your personality show when you are working with a language barrier. My spanish doesn't entirely suck, and I am definitely improving as I study each day, but it is still hard to joke around and be myself in spanish. I am generally really shy about speaking spanish. I understand way more than I say, because I have that natural fear or looking like/feeling like an idiot. I continue to try to let that go and just own my mistakes, but it is certainly difficult.

I am thankful I went on the trip, even if church dramas and all that this brand of evangelism entails are not particularly my thing. It was fun to watch the youth from this church go out and serve each other in ways that are truly sacrificial. We left yesterday at 6am, and got up this morning to come back at 4:30am, because they had to be back for work and school. I came back and was out of commission from the day because I was so tired, but all of these teenagers went directly to school and work. We slept on floors, spent two hours yesterday peeling potatoes for dinner, showered by pouring buckets of water over our heads, and piled into cars for hours of driving. All of this was done with smiles, a lot of fun, and genuine belief in their call to serve other Dominicans as God has called them to. It was fun to be with them for times of prayer, for preparation for the worship service last night, and as we stood together late last night and encouraged a pastor who moved to this country town not because it would be easy, but because it is the challenge God has laid before him.

I know I promised funny stories from the trip, but really am so impressed with this group that it is hard to make fun of it all! I did stumble into some pretty serious traditional gender roles, hence my having to peel potatoes for hours simply based on the fact that I am a lady. Otherwise, I swam in a river, came back with some SERIOUS bug bites (as in so swollen that I can't bend my knee all the way back at this point), and danced around the room with a little girl to Miley Cyrus singing 'Party in the USA.' All in all, not too bad of a weekend! At this point, I am saying yes to most of the crazy things my friends are asking me to do, because I want to soak up every cultural experience I can when I am here. I think I am competing in a bible school competition this week...not sure how that will go, but again, I am just going to go for it and see how it goes!

(the photos are my view in Jarabacoa, a little relaxing, and my bachata lesson!)

A new day

2010-06-28T09:53:00.000-07:00

The craziness of American groups is over! The last group left on Saturday. The last few members of the American staff left early this morning. And then, there was one. Today is my first day off in a month, and my first day as a solo americana in the DR. I must admit, while I do miss my wonderful and hilarious staff, I am pretty excited for what this time alone will bring. I am excited to explore the DR. I am excited to devote most of my time to studying Spanish and strengthening the relationships I have here. I am excited to be a part of this community without having to always run around and take care of logistics. I am excited to just BE.

I am entering a month of unknown. The only rhythm to my days will be studying spanish with my dear friend Emmanuel each morning. Otherwise, my days are free for God to use and guide. The adventure is already beginning! This weekend, I have been asked to travel to Castillo with the youth of the church to participate in a mission trip. Now, when I think of missions, I think of construction and physical labor, so I obviously said yes when asked to join the group. Then, days later, I found out that no, we are not doing any kind of construction...we are doing a drama. Yes, a drama. And do I now have a part in that drama? Oh yes! This could be hilarious...all I know right now is that I am playing someone bad in the drama. I can't wait to share stories, because I can't imagine how piling into a bus with a bunch of Dominican teenagers to travel and perform a drama could NOT be hysterical.

Thanks for all of your prayers over the last month. My hope and prayer for this next month is that God will guide my days. There are so many families I will have time to sit down and talk with, and my hope is that God will show me where to go each day. I hope this month will change me. Because I have spent so much time here, in many ways, the DR is a part of my comfort zone. I hope that during this month, I am taken out of my comfort zone and challenged and changed by this place.

'May your unfailing love be my comfort...' Psalm 119: 76

Rain, rain, go away!

2010-06-23T08:40:00.000-07:00

Why do I have time to write a blog post mid-morning when I should be working? The Dominican Republic is currently getting pounded by rain. For the last three days, all of our work projects have had to be changed, adjusted, or cancelled because of the continuous rain. We had to cancel work entirely this morning, so instead of being in Cielo laying block or teaching Haitian children, we are sitting at the hotel watching the US World Cup team play Algeria. Nice to be able to watch the game, but certainly sad to be kept away from our friends in Cielo!

The last week has been crazy and really abnormal in terms of how weeks usually run here. It has been raining every day. Almost half of the staff got sick last Friday, some of which took 4 days to recover and lost up to ten pounds. We sent a group from Orlando home last Saturday with bottles of water and garbage bags for the plane because they were so sick as they left that morning. Church is cancelled tonight because of rain. My parents are here for the first time ever and are experiencing the weirdest week I have ever seen here. Certainly not ideal!

I am just not sure what to say about this week, other than we need prayer. We need prayer for sick staffers who are struggling through their last week here. We need prayer for the rain to go away long enough for this group from Winston-Salem to get some work done. We need prayer for Dominican friends who will likely be experiencing flooding in the upcoming days. And I need prayer for creativity as I (and a staff of brilliant minds) try to come up with ways to occupy 75 people when our normal plans require us to be outside all day. We have used up most of our ideas in the last three days, and we are quickly running out!

The slogan on our staff shirts for the summer says 'Love like the rain, Serve like the son.' We are certainly seeing a great example of that love as the rain pours down!

Sometimes I forget...

2010-06-16T13:31:00.000-07:00

Working with family groups gets difficult. Logistics are harder, personalities of both adults and kids are more complicated, and my patience runs out more quickly. These weeks test me a lot more than others. I feel like I am always fighting myself...trying to keep a smile on my face, answer questions with grace and understanding, and move through the day without letting my frustration show. In those moments, I sometimes forget why we do this.

This morning, I got a reminder. We are finishing up a house for a woman named Dominga. I was here when the construction began in March, and have been able to watch the progress and stand beside her as her excitement has grown. I took the group to pray with her on Sunday afternoon, and usually I don't remember actually what we pray when we do this. But this week I vividly remember praying and looking forward to the moment when we stand with her on Friday, inside her completed home, and get to shout 'Hallelujah!' to the God who has faithfully and graciously provided for her family. But, in the last few days of insanity, I had forgotten about that prayer. I had forgotten about how excited this family is. I had forgotten what a significant week this is for them. This morning, I was reminded of that looming 'Hallelujah!' when I saw Dominga standing outside of her home, as a group of loud, messy, crazy Americanos were painting her home, and watched her tear up. I saw her cry at least 5 times this morning because of the joy this week brings. She even told us later in the morning that her stomach has been hurting, because she is just so excited. I don't know if I know the kind of excitement she is feeling right now. Excitement rooted in the completion of God's promise for a home for her family. Excitement rooted in a new life of security, safety, and stability for her family. Excitement rooted in God's incredible faithfulness and presence during all of the hard times that have led up to this week. Her excitement makes ME excited, and brings me so much joy. Dominga reminds me of why I am here. She reminds me of why God continues to call me back to this place, and she reminds me of God's own faithfulness and planning in my own life.

Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. ~Psalm 115:1

Pictures from Haiti

2010-06-08T14:19:00.001-07:00

Here are a few pictures from the day in Port au Prince. They are in completely random order, because blogging in foreign lands is difficult :) All of these are taken from the bus, so don't judge them for struggling!

The rubble clogging the streets of Port au Prince.
The Presidential Palace, directly across from Mission Rescate.
Our first view of the Presidential Palace as we turned the corner toward the mission.

One of the many tent cities around the city.
The line waiting to cross the border into the D.R.
The border. See that fence on the right with the barbed wire on the top? That is the official border between Haiti and the D.R. Secure, eh?
The insanity of the border on market day. This means that markets are set up on both sides of the border and people are free to walk/run across to buy whatever they need.

Me and Emmanuel at around 6am on our way to Haiti. We are only moderately struggling after no sleep. Emmanuel is the co-director of the Haitian Care Team with Mission Emanuel.

Reflections from Haiti

2010-06-08T13:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday is a day I will be processing for a long time. The delirium of beginning a drive to Haiti at 3:45am and returning at midnight keeps me from really being able to fully understand what yesterday will continue to mean as I rest and recover. I think I have gotten to a point in my life where I can enter into the heartbreaking conditions of third-world countries without focusing on how bad things really are. I have seen it so many times, so I am able to walk in and focus on loving the people I meet and getting to know their stories without engaging too much with how poor the conditions really are. Intellectually, I know it and I see it, but emotionally, I am able to be there without letting myself be gripped by all that I am seeing. That first mission trip feeling of being shocked by how people live has long since passed. Yesterday, Haiti broke me out of that. It was impossible to shut off my emotions as I drove through Port au Prince and thought about all that has transpired in the last six months for these people around me.

There was rubble all around us, piled high in the streets because the crumbles of concrete have nowhere else to go. Everywhere you turn, there are tent cities where thousands upon thousands of people have been living since the beginning of January. Some of them are real tents, but some people don't even have those, so instead are living in tent-like structures made out of tree branches and tarps provided by aid organizations. There is no running water or sanitation in these tent cities, and each one has only a few portable toilets for everyone to use. The smell is unbelievable when you open windows in the bus or get out of the car, and it is heartbreaking. Port au Prince is a sea of humanity, with millions of people packed in, trying to get back to their normal lives. There are markets, people selling clothes and food on the side of the road, and people clearly walking to or from work just on any other day. But amidst all of that normalcy are collapsed buildings, signs saying 'We need help please,' people still recovering from injury, tents in front of collapsed houses which have yet to be repaired, and spray-painted indicators on each house telling whether they are condemned, fixable, or already livable. Proof of the earthquake is everywhere, and it is hard to imagine how this city will ever recover.

Even as we entered the grounds of Mission Rescate to unload supplies and work, our last view before turning into those gates was the severely damaged and partially collapsed Presidential Palace. It is impossible to forget why we are here and the tragedy these people have survived. We unloaded our 3000 bottles of water, clothes, and medical supplies, with the help of 5 lively, smiling, energetic young boys. They greeted Anna and Emmanuel, the leaders of Mission Emanuel's Haitian Care Team, with hugs, jokes, and laughs. They sang American pop songs to us that they learned from the radio. We introduced ourselves, hung out with these kids for a bit, and then got put to work elsewhere. Half of our group was packing food bags for families containing rice, water, and other essentials. The other half went to the clinic, where patients came in, gave us a paper proving they had seen the doctor, and then were given one of these bags of food. Standing in the clinic, I had a few minutes alone with a 12 year old boy named Emmanuel, Mani for short. We talked using a combo of french, spanish, and english (the only time high school french has ever paid off in the DR!). As we talked, laughed, and got to know each other, I was struck by the knowledge that this sweet young boy who didn't want to leave my side had suffered the loss of most of his family only six months ago. He is living in a tent, in a city full of despair and sadness, and yet he stands beside me with a smile on his face. Maybe he is young and resilient, maybe he is in denial, or maybe he is trying to move through tragedy the only way he knows how. No matter what the reason for the smiles, I still find it incredible.

There is so much I could describe or tell you, but I just don't know how. Mission Rescate is doing incredible work, and has assembled a team of people willing to sleep in tents and live in poor conditions themselves in order to care for the Haitian people. Just as the Haitians live without running water or sanitation, so do these missionaries at Mission Rescate. There were Dominicans, Haitians, and Americans working here to help the city of Port au Prince recover from tragedy. I am incredibly thankful for my day there, and humbled by the way these people are willing to sacrifice in order to help other children of God. It makes me think about what I can do for Haiti, and how I am called to give back to these people who need so much. I am praying and hoping God will show me a way. Will you pray with me for the Haitian people? Will you pray for ideas and resources to help? I know I didn't go to Haiti just to see it and forget about it. So now the question becomes 'what next?' How can we do more for the Haitian people? How can we help Mission Rescate with the incredible work they are giving their lives to?

Road trip to Port au Prince, anyone??

2010-06-06T14:52:00.000-07:00

It is true, my friends. I am taking a road trip to Port au Prince tomorrow. Me and 15 others...we are loading the staff, the leaders of the Haitian Care Team, 3000 bottles of water, medical supplies, and clothes into the guagua (bus), and hitting the road for Haiti at 2:45am. Why so early, you may wonder. Well, that is because we will have to sit at the border for hours and wait to go through passport and security checks not once, but twice. Once with the Dominican border patrol, and once with the Haitianos. This is going to be quite the ride. We will be in Haiti for the afternoon, delivering the water and supplies to Missione Rescate, which is located in the center of Port au Prince directly across the street from the national palace. We are going to get to see a good bit of the city on the way in and out, but are largely making this run to deliver the supplies. No time for tourism or scoping things out! I am excited to just ride through the city and see for myself what is happening in terms of relief and recovery since the earthquake. I imagine it is still going to be quite the mess, but we are all looking forward to seeing for ourselves.

So, please pray for safe passage through the border, safe travels, and for our own processing as we return from our day. Mostly though, I would love prayer for the missionaries and relief workers we will encounter. I know they need to be loved on, encouraged, and strengthened for all of the hard work they are facing. Pray that they have the strength to continue serving God in such a tough environment, and for Missione Rescate as they bring in aid, workers, and ministry to the people of Port au Prince. I can't wait to send updates your way!

Miss you all,

Deeds

2010-06-04T14:25:00.000-07:00

I started writing this yesterday, and then ran out of time...Oh well! Here it is, one day later!

Happy Friday!

We have made it almost completely through week one! The group leaves tomorrow, and the only hiccups of the week have been a lot of rain and a pretty nasty stomach virus hitting the staff and group. Since I am not in charge of viruses or weather, I think I did ok! We completed Carina's house, and were able to join them today for a dedication. The group poured floors, primed, painted, and the family is ready to move in! The hardest work of the week, though, was on Glendy and Bijo's house. We poured the footers all morning on Wednesday. If you are not used to construction in the DR, this means people lined up from the pile of cement next to the cement mixer, a lot of buckets, and a lot of passing buckets to get them across the lot to the footers. Shoveling, passing full buckets, passing back the empty buckets...we all arrived at lunch on Wednesday covering in cement and sweat. This is the most difficult part of any house we build, so it is nice to have that behind us! Walls are beginning as we speak, and the house will continue to progress throughout the month.

By far, one of my favorite parts of each week is Wednesday evening. The staff has some fun alone as we spend the evening in Cielo cooking together for the American visitors, and then going to church. I love that time when we are halfway through the week, dressed up for church, fighting off the mosquitos, and gather around the grill to cook. We listen to music, tell stories, get work done, but mostly act silly. It is always a fun time to be together. Then, it is topped off by a wonderful worship service with all of the people we only see on Sundays and Wednesdays. Every worship service feels like a reunion, and is a great time to greet friends and be reminded of why we come to the DR and why we serve. This week was different though. Thursday was a holiday in the DR, so everyone had the day off of work and school. In the US, that means a cookout, a party, inviting friends over, whatever. Here, that means they drop everything and spend the entire evening at church, worshipping from 8 until midnight. It makes me wonder how Americans would respond to that idea...I imagine they would not be lining up to attend. There is such a huge difference between the American church and the Dominican church. I have watched it for years, and I continue to think that the daily dependence on God for basic needs is a major source of that difference. This stay-at-church-all-night-for-your-holiday-extravaganza just feels like another example of that. A day off of work is a day for celebrating what God does each day, and what God provides each day. I am challenged and convicted by it. I think I need more celebration with God. I think the church needs more celebration with God...of God...

Group number one

2010-06-01T14:55:00.001-07:00

Hi friends!

First of all, thanks to all who have been praying. Our first two days of work have gone extremely well. I was a little nervous Monday going into the week, because I am not used to being in charge without anyone to defer to when it comes to decision time. Monday was the first test of that, and all of the work projects went well. Javier, the Dominican Director of Mission Emanuel, has done an incredible job of setting up the projects, so he is making my job look easy. He is really the one in charge, and it is a blessing to work with him and watch him serve these communities and these crazy Americans so well. We are currently working on two different houses. The first is for a woman named Carina, who has one child in our school, and came to Mission Emanuel asking for help on their home. They have slowly been building their own home, a piece at a time when they have extra money, doing all of the construction themselves. So, for the last year, their entire family has been living in half of a home. In Cielo, that means living in about 1 room. They asked for help with materials and labor, so the group will work this week and complete their home. We went to visit them on Sunday, see the construction site, and pray with them before our work began. It is always beautiful to stand with a family and know that at the end of this week, their dream of a complete home of their own will finally come true. It is pretty amazing to watch their joy and excitement. These days of construction bring so much hope to their lives, and I am thrilled to dedicate their house on Friday morning. We will all gather with them, share in their joy, and pray for the life they will have in this new home. What an amazing moment to witness! We poured the concrete floors this morning, after hours of bucket lines to move all of the materials yesterday. The only thing left is to sand the walls, prime them, and paint. So exciting!

The second project is for a family who has worked for Mission Emanuel for many years. I helped build their current home when I was here for a spring break in college. They have been living within the compound of the ministry, with the husband taking care of the grounds and working with maintenance, the wife teaching in the school, and their three children always around to play, help out, and even serve on summer staff. This is a well-known family to all who serve Mission Emanuel, so it is special to build them another home. We are moving them because their first home was converted to offices for the mission, as they need to move in order to have a little space between work and home. This house means a little less insanity, more privacy, and some space away from work. Just like I wouldn't want to live in a manse attached to my church, they want some space! So, footers have been dug, rebar laid, and pouring of the footers begins tomorrow. Hours and hours of concreto!! My favorite :)

So far, all is going well. There are a few things about this trip that will be different for me. I am trying to view this as two months of living here, rather than visiting. So, my camera is safely tucked away in my bag, because I am no longer a tourist here. These are my friends, my community for two months, and my job. So, there will be a lot fewer pictures this time as I simply live here, rather than view moments as photo opps. My life in the DR this time will be much more like actual life, instead of a fun visit and adventure.

Continue to pray for our progress, strength and energy in the heat, and for all of the teenagers with us this week. I know how much international missions and service to others can change the life and attitude of a teenager, and I hope that God is doing a lot of that this week. I do sometimes need to be reminded of how I was so deeply changed at their age because of trips like this. God spoke to me then and continues to speak to me now...I sincerely hope God is speaking to these kids now and will continue to walk closely with them.

Thanks for your prayers!

Time for another adventure

2010-05-27T13:40:00.001-07:00

The time as come for more fun and hard work in the DR! I leave tomorrow for two months of work with Mission Emanuel, and am excited to see what the summer holds for our staff and for the teams coming to work. Our staff is larger this year than last, and our groups are smaller, which will be an interesting change. Then, after 4 weeks of groups, I have a month to live with my friend Anna in Cielo and get to know regular life in the DR. So far, I have only experienced life there as a short-term missionary, living in a hotel rather than the community, so it will be interesting to stay a bit longer and see what it is like to be in Santo Domingo without groups to lead around or projects to coordinate. It will just be me and the few permanent American missionaries. My Spanish will really be put to the test during that time, so I am thankful that I get to spend my mornings studying spanish with my dear friend, Emmanuel. I am hoping for a lot of growth and progress in that time!

I look forward to updating you with fun and exciting stories over the next few months. Please be in prayer for our staff arriving Friday and Saturday, and for our first group from Alabama arriving on Saturday as well. I love this group and their leadership, so it will be exciting to see them and catch up over the course of that week. Nothing makes a project more fun than an energetic and silly group of high schoolers, so I am excited to get to work with our group from Frazier UMC!

Much love,

Deeds

2010-03-13T08:39:00.000-08:00

My trip came to an abrupt and unexpected end on Thursday morning when I got a call that my grandmother had passed away. I left the DR Thursday afternoon, flew to Philadelphia, drove to Princeton, unpacked, repacked, slept for 4 hours, headed back to the airport in the morning, and flew to West Virginia. It was really difficult not only to leave, but to leave so unexpectedly, without goodbyes, without any kind of end. Please pray for my family, for the team still in the DR, and for my friends who are driving to Haiti today.

Love to you all

2010-03-10T18:32:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted in a few days, but I don't have a lot of time, so this will be short! The week is going really well. I am having a different kind of week here than I normally do, because instead of spending a lot of time in the village with Dominicans, I have been spending a lot of time in the Haitian community here. Mission Emanuel started a Haitian Care Team right after the earthquake, which is providing lunch for children everyday. I have gone with them to serve lunch each day this week, the first two days for about 80 kids, and today, to a smaller group of 40 students who attend the Haitian school. The difference between these Haitian children and the Dominican children is astounding...the Haitian children are so well-behaved, polite, easy to work with, and very appreciative of the time we spend with them. They have loved the simple songs, games, and crafts we have done with them, even if they are not as exciting as they could be. I can't explain why, but I am loving entering into the this new community. This week is opening up a whole new side to Cielo for me, and I am so thankful for the moments to learn and see something entirely new. I jump at the chance to go spend time with these kids everyday, and am passing up work on construction projects to do it (if you have ever been on a mission trip with me, you know this is rare). God is doing something beautiful in this Haitian community, and I feel so lucky to work alongside great people and be a part of this crowd for just a few days.

On Saturday, a few of us from Mission Emanuel are going over to Port au Prince to visit some of the aid and relief organizations we have been sending our supplies to. I am excited to go and see what the disaster relief looks like and is accomplishing, but I also know it will be an incredibly difficult and emotional day. I would love your prayers for safety, and even more for my return and what it will mean to process what I see there. Only 5 of us are going, so please pray for our time on the road, our conversations, the people we encounter, and the work we may do. Most importantly, continue to pray for the Haitian people who continue in need of water, food, and shelter.

2010-03-07T18:10:00.000-08:00

It has been a good few days, relatively low-key and uneventful until today. We have mostly been doing preparation work for a ground-breaking ceremony tomorrow for a new expansion of our medical clinic. A lot of cleaning, moving things from one room to another, setting up for the events, etc. Necessary, but certainly not exciting. A great part of that time has been working alongside friends and getting to catch up on what has changed in their lives in the last several months. Several of my closest Dominican friends have changed jobs, moved, or had major changes in their families since I last saw them, so it was a blessing to talk with them while doing some mundane tasks. As things get busier over the next few days, it gets harder to find those moments for extended conversation, so I am thankful for the time to be with them. They enrich my life so much, and I am always most challenged and enlivened by my time with these friends while I am here.

Sundays are always special here, and today was no exception. We started the morning at a Haitian church, which is backed by and connected with Mission Emanuel. This church is where our Haitian Care Team is doing much of its work in response to the recent earthquake. The church community has grown a great deal since I was last here, because of the number of refugees coming to Santo Domingo. We got to sit in worship with them for about an hour (probably only 1/3 of their worship service!) and enjoy their prayers and memorization of Scripture. I love sitting in the room with them when they do this...one person stands up and walks them through several verses, phrase by phrase, asking them to repeat after the leader, until the whole group has succeeded in memorizing the verses without ever seeing it written down. Then, a few brave souls will stand up and prove their skills of memorization. It is really helpful for me in learning new words in Creole or Spanish, and something about the repetition is entertaining for me. Grandparents, teenagers, little kids, all participating in this memorization together. I love it!

After their worship service, we left and went to Cielo to the Dominican church. This feels like an extension of my own church family as I am greeted with hugs, kisses on the cheeks, questions about school and home, and am able to chat with families I only see on Sunday mornings. We got to work after this 2nd service of the day, and dished out 200 meals of what they call here the Dominican flag: a traditional DR meal of rice, beans, chicken, and salad. We took the packaged meals over to the Haitian church, serving each person 1 box of food of their own, and one to take with them to deliver to a friend. People ate together, laughed, mingled, and had a great time. This actually didn't feel drastically different from all of the meals we serve, eat, and share at Broad Street Ministry, where I work in Philly.

The highlight of the day came for me as we stayed for some extra time at the Haitian church, about 6 Americans from the Mission, the Haitian pastor, and 2 other members of the congregation. As we stood and chatted, about 10 of the Haitian men began practicing music they will sing in a few weeks. They stood close together, and started singing this beautiful song in Creole. We all stopped talking, struck by the incredible beauty of the song, partly because of its simple harmonies and lyrics, and partly because they sang with such passion that you couldn't help but stop and stand in awe. Pastor John leaned over to me and said, "They are singing 'Father, Father, how long must we suffer? Father, Father, how often to we complain for nothing?'" These simple moments strike me...cause me to tear up...make tragedy real rather than abstract...teach me what psalms of lament really sound and feel like.

Pray for this Haitian church, as they work to care for these new refugees in their midst; as they try to care for their own members who are grieving losses; as they try to blend these two groups together into one community brought together by God. Father, Father, how long must they suffer?

Back in the saddle...

2010-03-05T10:21:00.000-08:00

Well, I am finally back in the DR after too many months away! I arrived safely last night, and have already been out to Cielo to catch up with a few old friends before the work begins. Our group of 60 college students from Wake Forest (Go Deacs!) and UNC (Boo Carolina!) will arrive on Sunday, so the next few days consist of preparations, relaxation, and updates on what has changed in my months away. It is crazy to think that since I was last here, the ministry has continued to grow and change so much that several friends of mine have joined the full-time staff, a new office building has been set up, our physical therapy clinic has been completed, a new generator is getting ready to be installed, and the Haitian Care Team has been established to help with all of the refugees that have flooded into Cielo and Nazaret. Things look different here so quickly...I miss a lot when I am away for 8 months!

I would love your prayers for the group about to arrive...many of these college students have never been here, and thus will have a pretty eye-opening few days. You can pray for their construction projects, for the energy and strength to work hard at some seriously physical labor over the next week. For their visits with the Haitian Care Team, as they feed children each day and provide them with activities to fill the void now that they have left their homes. For the team dynamics...that they will love each other well and deeply, in spite of personality differences or conflicts, and the challenges of being in a new and unsettling environment. For their leadership, for their times of worship and prayer, for new relationships forming between Americans and Dominicans, for God's presence to be seen and known. God is always so evident to me in this place, and I hope this will be the case for these students as well. I long for people to love this country as much as I do, and to see how these communities have been so drastically changed, healed, and helped in the last 15 years of Mission Emanuel. The Dominicans who serve here constantly are doing incredible work, and we are blessed to come alongside them and be a part of it. It is a blessing simply to witness what is happening here! God is good, and I look forward to seeing prayers in action this week. Hopefully I will have some interesting updates to share!

2009-07-09T16:05:00.000-07:00

Well, I am safely back in the US. I can't say that I am happy about that, but oh well. Thanks so much for all of your prayers while I have been gone. It was an amazing month...I am not quite sure yet how to describe it or what stories I should tell now that I am back. God did amazing things in Cielo and Nazaret, and I feel so lucky to have witnessed it and to have been a part of it. I miss the D.R. already, and hope you will all continue to pray for Mission Emanuel's continued ministry there. Thanks for reading, and for praying!

Love you all

Deeds

2009-07-04T18:57:00.000-07:00

This week is hard to describe. Because I know I am leaving in a few days, everything seems to have so much more meaning and significance. Every day has been filled with small blessings, like one of my favorite little boys who runs up to me each day and waits with his arms open wide and his lips pursed until I bend down so he can kiss me on the cheek. Or his sister, who came to church on Wednesday and asked me to close my eyes, and then presented me with a gift, which was a bunch of flowers in wrapping paper, complete with a red bow. Or the trip to my sponsor child's house to give gifts to his family. Or the special time of prayer I got to have with his mother, as we prayed for healing for her breast cancer. Or having a sleepover last night with the staff and three of our favorite Dominicans, Alex, Emmanuel, and Carlos. There are so many incredible stories from this week, so I will only highlight a few...

On Wednesday, the staff usually leaves the work site a few hours early to go back and get showered, because we come back to Cielo and cook dinner for the group before we the group joins us to go to church at night. This week, instead of going back into Santo Domingo to the hotel, I stayed in Cielo at my friends Lalo and Seneda's house, and got to have special time catching up with Seneda, and their new adopted daughter Dihara. I have called Lalo my padre Dominicano (Dominican dad) since my first trip here in 2003. I helped build their house when I was on Summer Staff in 2004, and have had many special times with their family. I spent the afternoon catching up with his wife, looking at pictures of their family, looking at old pictures of us together from all of those trips before, and playing games with their daughter. It was really a special time just to relax with Seneda, hear what has been going on in their lives, and get to know their new daughter. She is three years old, but I only met her this summer when I arrived. I continue to be amazed and touched by the hospitality of the Dominican culture, and felt so honored when Lalo asked if I would spend the day with them. There were no major events that took place during that time...just fellowship and the gift of hospitality that mean so much to me. Every time I come back here, I am reminded of what an extraordinary gift it is to welcome someone into your home, and I know I always want to be someone whose door is open to neighbors and friends.

A story that really blew us away this week is about a girl who is hearing impaired and was recently brought to our clinic for help. When she was first brought to us, the group from Orlando was here, and their mission director was visiting as well. She made a commitment to go back to Orlando and try her best to find a source of funding for hearing aids for this girl. The family was so excited at the hope of this gift, and have been coming to Jack each day to find out any updates. But there weren't any, so Jack was getting really discouraged and struggling to face this mother every day who wants so badly to help her little girl. The group this week came from Wisconsin and Michigan, and as usual, they brought many suitcases full of donations. Most of the time, we have no idea what is in these bags, so we just start unloading and putting things in piles. Several suitcases were taken down to the clinic for Dr. Maria to unload and add to her collection of medicine. As she started digging and unloading, she found a box in the bottom of a suitcase containing two brand-new hearing aids by Miracle Ear (cheesy, I know, but wow!) No mention or request had been made to this group for the hearing aids, so they had no idea what need they might be meeting when these got tossed in with the donations. Dr. Maria came running out of the clinic with the box to tell Jack the good news. Not only were these hearing aids for the girl, but they were the exact kind she needed for her specific type of hearing loss. As we all heard this story and got to meet this little girl and her mother, we were reminded of God's amazing provision. As Jack started to get discouraged, God was already working and solving the problem in spite of us and our efforts. Amazing! I wish you all could see the look on this mother's face as she clutches the box with the hearing aids in it...an answer to prayer, and a major change for this little girl's life. Gloria a Dios!

Last but not least, I want to make sure to mention that in these six weeks, we have completed SIX houses! That means that six families have had their lives changed forever. They have been moved from homes that are impossible to even imagine living in, and have been given brand new homes, complete with beautiful furniture, and new ovens and refrigerators. I can't really describe how powerful it is to be a part of the dedication of one of these homes....to listen to Dominicans and Americans spread throughout the house, praying simultaneously outloud for the room they are standing in, asking God to bless each word, each meal, each guest, and each prayer that will take place in this new home. It makes any sweat, exhaustion, injury, and bruise worthwhile. So thanks to all of you who have supported me through prayer or through financial support. You have played a part in changing the lives of those six families, and I am forever thankful for that. God is doing great things in Cielo and Nazaret, of that you can be sure!

2009-06-29T13:18:00.000-07:00

The last few days have been pretty fantastic. Yesterday, on the way to our church, we stopped off at the Haitian church which was started/supported by Mission Emanuel. We took our group in to visit, because they financially support this church in huge ways. We only stayed for about twenty minutes, but it was an amazing time of worship with them. All of the members of the church stood up to sing some songs for us, and they were INCREDIBLE. All of the participants were singing and worshipping with such passion, and the music was so overwhelming and beautiful. They had tambourines, wooden blocks, and cowbells, and were making quite a joyful noise. It was impossible not to cry and be overwhelmed with thankfulness for these people.

One thing that made that time at the Haitian church so powerful has a lot to do with the social structure of the DR. Here, Haitians are definitely hated and looked down on by many of the Dominicans. It has taken a lot of work on the part of Mission Emanuel to try to change the stigma against the Haitians in Cielo and Nazaret. These people are forced to the margins because they are immigrants in search of a better life. Last week, I was carrying a Haitian girl through Cielo and kids were running up to call her Chocolate because of her dark skin, and an adult man even came over to me to make fun of her. (Don't worry...he heard some words from me!) Mission Emanuel has made a big difference in this community and has done a great deal to help Haitians in the area, as well as working to show the Dominicans how important it is to love the Haitians and set an example for others in the community. As I stood in the church on Sunday, it was such a blessing to see that these people who have to suffer so much because of their nationality have a place to gather together in worship, and not be chastised because of who they are. It was a powerful experience, and one I am so thankful to have had. Before we left, the Haitians asked if they could pray for us. Wow. All at once, around 50 of them started praying outloud for us, and it was such a peaceful feeling to have all of those prayers wash over us. It was so unexpected that they would ask to pray for us, and really blew me away. More often, I feel the need to ask to pray for them, rather than receive their prayers. It was a glorious morning with them!

Today, I was invited to lunch at my friend Emmanuel's house (his picture is in the previous post). He is an amazing man of God who is serving on our summer staff. He works with us on the construction sites, interprets for us, and also has recently become the leader of Vida Joven, which is Dominican Young Life. He is doing a great job of building relationships with local teenagers who are not a part of the church, and is truly a blessing to what Mission Emanuel is doing as they partner with Vida Joven. Emmanuel invited 4 of us over for lunch, to meet his mother and spend time with his family. It was an incredible meal! She made us what they call the Dominican flag (rice, beans, and chicken). We sat for several hours talking to her, answering questions about what keeps bringing us back to the DR, and learning about her own childhood in the northern part of the DR. It is always such a blessing to be invited into someone's home for a meal, but for some reason, this invitation seemed extra special. Emmanuel's dad asked if he could pray for us before he left, and he said such beautiful words as he prayed over us and the work we are doing here. Emmanuel's mom even asked if I would come back to visit again tomorrow, because her mother is arriving in town from New Jersey! It made my day to meet her because of the strong friendship I have developed with her son, and I am so excited to visit her again tomorrow!!

Thanks for your prayers...I only have about 1 week left, and am going to be extremely sad to leave. I have had such an amazing time here, and can't believe how blessed I am to have been given the opportunity to return here. Thanks for all of your support!!

2009-06-26T14:05:00.000-07:00

This is a house we finished building last week. We dedicated it, bought new furniture for the family, and moved them in! What an exciting time for their family! It makes all of the block-laying, cement-hauling, and digging worthwhile to see a beautiful house completed. At this point, Mission Emanuel has built over 30 homes in Cielo and Nazaret. M.E. has given an incredible gift to this community!
The high school group from Winston-Salem, NC spent the last week passing hundreds upon hundreds of buckets down this hill filled with sand, gravel, or cement. They also passed hundreds of concrete blocks, all of which are materials needed to complete a house at the bottom of the hill. Tough work!
The faces of people I love! Stephanie, Emmanuel, Hannah, and Bailey
Two girls dressed up for church on Sunday morning
The family group from Orlando came two weeks ago. They hosted this Family Fun Festival at our baseball field that brought out a thousand kids and families for games, prizes, and a lot of insanity.
Kids doing some crafts at VBS with one of our groups.
Ayendy, the sweet guy I have sponsored for the last six years. He had his tenth birthday while I was here, and it has been such a blessing to spend time with his family this summer.

2009-06-25T05:30:00.000-07:00

Sorry again for my lack of blogging! Its been a crazy week...110 high school students, 4 different construction sites to run between, and a lot of logistics to figure out. These 3 youth groups have done an incredible job in their physical labor, in the relationships they are building in Cielo and Nazaret, and in their own group dynamics. So great to be here to witness the changes that are taking place!

When this group leaves on Saturday, we have one more group next week, and then we are finished. I am starting to see the end get closer and closer, and conversations are starting to happen when people talk about when we will be back, how much we will miss each other, etc. Even though I still have plenty of time, I am starting to realize how much I am going to miss this place and all of the people I have gotten used to seeing and hugging each day. It is going to be difficult to leave and get back to "normal life." My biggest prayer is that next week, as our last group is here, I will be more willing and able to pass off responsibilities to the staff and really take more time to be in conversation with those people I am going to miss. I don't want to spend my last days here worrying about the details. I want to sit down and talk to the people I love, hear what is going on in their lives, and learn how to pray for them over the next several months until I come back.

I also need your prayer for strength and energy for all of us as we enter the home stretch. The days are long and exhausting, and we are all starting to struggle more and more as we get out of bed each morning. As we do that, more people are starting to give into random colds and stomach problems, so please pray for strength for our team and healing from all of the little illnesses that are starting to pop up. None of us want to be tired...we all want to enjoy every minute here as much as we can, so pray that we find the energy to do that! God has been taking great care of us thus far, and we certainly need that provision now.

And last but not least, pray for my parents and brother, who are leading a mission team in Alaska right now. They are working hard as well, and need the power of prayer as they work with their team in the cold cold north! My mom hasn't been feeling well, so that means the team is without their Fun Engineer until she gets better! Thanks so much for your prayers for me, the staff here, and my family as well.

Love you all!!

2009-06-18T14:17:00.000-07:00

This morning was a highlight for me. We went for our weekly trip to the leprosarium, which I had been unable to go to with the first team because I had a nasty cold and didn't want to infect anyone. I was really excited to go this week, because this care facility for lepers is one of the most powerful places I have ever experienced. It is always an honor to go and share the love of Christ with these amazing men and women.

While the huge group of families held a party in the main area of the facility, a group of 5 of us went room to room to sing to the patients who were unable to leave their rooms for the party. I have done this every year, and these are some of the most vivid memories I have from all of my time in the DR. This morning did not disappoint!

The first room we went to was a woman who has been at the leprosarium for all of the years I have been visiting, so this has been her home for at least 6 years. Today, her daughter was there visiting her. For most of these patients, visits from any friends or family are rare or nonexistent, so their contact is mainly with staff and groups like ours who come for visits. I was so thankful to see that this woman was loved and cared for well by her daughter. We sang them several songs, while the daughter cried, prayed, and called out 'Gloria a Dios!' (Glory to God). The patient sat quietly, listening and rocking back and forth on her bed while we sang for her. She thanked us when we finished, and her daughter spent some time talking to us about how much it means to both of them that we would come and share with them.

We left their room and walked down the hall to a man's room. I have seen this man for years, and have sung to him many times. He is mostly blind, missing the majority of his fingers and his right foot, but he has an incredible smile. He welcomed us in and allowed us to sing to him. As I was singing in Spanish, I started really thinking about how powerful it was to come and sing these particular words to this man. The song is called 'All Ye,' and the words in English are:

All ye heavy-laden

All ye heavy-hearted

All ye heavy-laden

Come, for the Lord will give you rest

Come, the Lord will give you rest

Oh come and be filled

Oh come and be healed

Oh come and be filled

By the Spirit of the Lord

What a powerful message for a man who is certainly in need of healing, rest, and the presence of the Lord. As I sang and cried, I felt so thankful that we indeed have a God who gives us rest, a sense of peace, and is filling us when we need it. This man reminds me to be thankful for the God we worship and serve. We all need rest, we all need to be filled, and we all need the Spirit of the Lord. After we prayed and hugged this man, he looked up at us and said, 'Thank you for bringing the bread of life."

Amen

2009-06-17T20:07:00.001-07:00

Every time I sit down to write an update, it is hard to decide what to tell you. There are so many stories to share, pictures to post, and praise to be shared. I find myself at that usual loss of words tonight.

My weekend away went well, and our staff here handled everything extremely well while I was gone. We have a family group of 75 people this week, and their arrival was pretty complicated on Saturday when I was gone. But our staff did an amazing job of getting everything taken care of, and so far, our group is still happy!

I had a lot of travel troubles last weekend getting to the US and back. I almost missed several flights, got stuck in Customs for two hours, lost a bag, got sick on a plane, and had to watch two of my friends get left off of our plane to the DR. Needless to say, I was really relieved to make it back in one piece and be free of travel for several more weeks. I went to the US for two weddings, for my friends Katie and Christian, and Jeremy and Caroline. I was lucky to get to go back and celebrate with them, and am so thankful I got to go. BUT, I was very very glad to be back in the DR and found myself missing everything about being here.

Since being back, the week has been wonderful. Construction resumed on our two houses on Monday, cement blocks were passed down a steep hill, walls were built, floors were leveled and prepared to have concrete poured, and a lot of backs became sore and tired. Tuesday was one of our craziest days of summer. This group holds a HUGE carnival at night on the baseball field where kids play games, get candy, and go crazy for hours. It was so fun to watch everyone playing together, but even more fun to watch the insanity unfold. Kids started lining up hours in advance, police were arranged in advance to contain the craziness, and all hands were on deck to work carnival games, play games, and run a program at the end. I ended up in a booth where kids got to throw water balloons at me, but this turned into more fun for the adults who wanted to pelt me with balloons. We aren't talking random adults here either...we are talking about the Director of the ministry, our Dominican staff, members of the worship band, and pretty much anyone else I know in the village who thought this would be funny. I had a blast and laughed through the entire night!

Tonight we went back out to Cielo after our day of work for a dinner and church. I love being here for worship. There is something incredibly beautiful about the way Dominicans worship that inspires me, amazes me, and humbles me. I see the passion and love they have for Christ and I feel like my faith is small and insignificant in comparison. And yet I feel so very joyful when I stand in this church and worship, even if I do feel like I am not enough. In some ways, God feels bigger here. I know that is strange, but that is a feeling I always have when I visit this place.

I miss you all and am thankful for your prayers!

It's been a while...

2009-06-09T19:45:00.000-07:00

Sorry all! It's been a while since my last update! Last week, I got sick with a nasty cold, had a crazy last few days of work as we saw off our first group, and am now recovering. We have strange week right now, because our groups for this second week cancelled due to fundraising trouble, so we have an off week. Monday, we drove to the mountains at Jarabacoa and hiked to waterfall, ate lunch, and swam around all day. It was a great day to bond as a staff, and we had several of our Dominican staffers with us for the day, which made for a really fun day. There were a lot of silly games and laughs as we drove, and a lot of sunburn once we returned to Santo Domingo.

That was only yesterday, but a lot has happened since. We had a girls night last night, complete with an episode of The Bachelorette, popcorn, and nail polish. I spent this morning in meetings, and then rushed out to Cielo to meet the staff and paint a house, which is now mostly completed and dedicated last week. The family will be moving in over the next few days, which is a huge celebration and blessing for them! Then I came back to the hotel after the lunch to meet with the Manager and get all of our room assignments set up for our group arriving on Saturday. I finished that meeting, went for a quick run, and returned to bad news that our director, my boss, will need to fly back to the US tomorrow. His daughter was in a bad car accident in March, and has been dealing with a lot of recovery since then. We got a call yesterday that she was taken to the hospital because she had lost feeling in her legs and feet. After tests and not a lot of change, she stayed last night in hopes that they would find out more information today. After an MRI, they are still unsure, but a lot of the options they are giving are really scary, one of which is MS. So Jack is flying out tomorrow to be with his daughter, returning Saturday to lead our next several weeks of work teams. Please pray for his daughter, the doctors, and safe travels for Jack.

So now, I am here, planning out all of the details to cover our team while Jack is gone. And, to make it all more complicated, I am leaving on Thursday to return to the US for the weekend for 2 weddings. I am so excited to see friends, have a phone conversation with my family that is longer than 5 minutes, and celebrate 2 great relationships. But, the timing could not be more awful for the way things are working here. Jack's right hand man Ron left earlier this week, so I inherited his responsibility and have been helping run things while he is gone. Now, Jack, Ron, and I are all gone when a complicated group arrives. Pray that everything, all of our advance planning and preparation, holds until Jack returns on Saturday and I return on Sunday. I know God will do great things, but as I look at my to-do list that is several pages long, I wonder how it will all come together before I leave Thursday. God is definitely going to prove that it is not Jack, not Ron, and certainly not me that gets things done around here. I am excited to come back and be amazed by all God has done in our absence.

A week in the life...

2009-06-03T19:38:00.000-07:00

I realized yesterday that I haven't really explained what each week looks like for me. When each group from the US arrives, the construction projects begin. This summer, the main projects are two houses and a building that will be a part of the Mission Emanuel complex. This building will house a Science Center which will use hands on activity to teach children, and will be the only one of its kind in the DR. All of these building projects consist of a lot of pouring concrete, which means shoveling, hauling buckets, pouring footers, and laying floors. All of these lead to sweat, tired shoulder and back muscles, and clothes covered in concrete. If you know me very well, you know I love ALL of those things! So each day starts with work on one or all of these construction sites.

The afternoons have a little more variety...people are sent in groups into the village to spend time with the Dominican children and families. The Dominicans are extremely welcoming and eager to get to know the people who are coming to build up their community, so usually the groups are invited in, chairs are pulled up, and conversations begin. These end up being the most incredible moments, and I always look forward to visiting the homes of these families I have spent hours in the past getting to know. You feel a little bit like a rock star walking through the village, with children screaming "Americana!" and adults smiling, waving, stopping to shake your hands, and asking how your day is going. Tonight, as we left church, there were about twenty kids lined up at the gate to the Mission to yell and wave as we drove out. Rock stars...

In addition to home visits, the current group is running VBS in the afternoons, with screaming kids, games, and a lot of pictures and giggles. Simultaneously, a basketball camp is being run by Hannah, which is a lot of fun for the American and Dominican teenagers who interact on the court. Usually impromptu baseball games get started, and soccer balls are being kicked around as well.

The evenings give us some chill time with the group, as well as alone with the staff. We nap, we go to dinner, we come back for some guitar and singing with the staff, and then we close our staff hang-time with a YouTube-of-the-Day, which usually turns into 3 or 4 videos, and a lot of hilarity and quotes for the next day. Wednesdays and Sundays are spent at church, giving us more interaction with members of the community we may not see everyday.

And the last big event, which is tomorrow, is a trip to the leprosarium. This is essentially a nursing home for patients with leprosy, and is simultaneously one of the most difficult and beautiful places I have ever been. During my first visit six years ago, I cried the entire time. I have gotten better since then, but I leave every time wondering what it must be like to live a life where you are unable to feel touch, and are so isolated from relationships with friends and family. Many of these people are missing fingers, limbs, have lost their hearing and eyesight, and have not received a visit from family or friends in many years. And yet, when we sit down to worship with them, it is unbelievable to watch these people praise their God. I am humbled and amazed by their worship, and am looking forward to tomorrow. God is at work in these people in ways it is impossible to ignore.

On Friday, we return for one last work day with the group, and then they leave us on Saturday. We take a quick nap, get all of the rooms ready for the next group, and then the next crew arrives Saturday night/afternoon, and we start all over again! This is the brief overview of a typical week for the Mission Emanuel staff, each day beginning at 6:30 am and ending at 11 pm. Pray for our energy and stamina as we run this marathon!

Please pray for tomorrow, that we will show the patients at the leprosarium that they are loved and cared for, by us and by God. My prayer is that, even if only for one day, they will know how valuable they are and will experience the love of God. And I pray that we will learn from them how to pray, praise, and worship our God who stands by us through victory and struggle.

2009-06-02T18:29:00.000-07:00

When I decided to come to the DR, one of the things I was most excited about, aside from the work I would be doing, was the opportunity to spend time with my friend Hannah. Hannah just finished her first year at UNC, and is one of my former youth girls from 1st Pres in Winston-Salem. I met Hannah when she was in 6th grade, and during her seventh grade year, she chose me to be her mentor for Confirmation class. We met once a week for an entire year, and have continued to have a close relationship since then. I went to her volleyball and basketball games in high school, drove back to Winston-Salem to see her on Homecoming court during her 11th grade year, and now we are here working together. It has been a truly powerful experience to work alongside this woman who is now mature, wise, strong in her faith, and an incredible example of what it means to be a woman of God. I am amazed by what God has done in her, what God is currently doing through her in this place, and for what God has in store for her life. It has a huge blessing to reconnect with someone I have spent so much time laughing with and praying for. I find myself every day standing back and watching her work with this group and being thankful that God has given me this chance to see how teenagers can grow into amazing men and women of God.

I think one of the reasons my work and play time with Hannah feels so significant right now is because this week, this group of 50 high school students, along with the ten college students serving as staff, are reminding me of how much I love youth ministry. I feel alive when I am with teenagers, which was something I thought I was finished with, something I thought I was burnt out on. I

am realizing I may have been wrong. It is a powerful demonstration of God at work to see a teenage girl transformed into a woman of faith, leading her peers, and serving in revolutionary and sacrificial ways. I don't know what any of this means for my future, but I know that right now, I am excited to invest in these high school and college students. I cannot wait to see what the next 5 weeks brings, but I hope and pray that they will each grow in their ability and desire to lead, in their faith, and in their call to God's service to the world.

2009-05-29T12:07:00.001-07:00

Hola friends!

I have had a fabulous few days, full of reunions with friends and a lot of work preparing for the team arriving on Saturday. We have been taking it pretty easy, which means I have had a lot of freedom to spend time in the vi

llage Cielo, visiting homes and people I haven't seen in a long time. One of my favorite moments thus far has been my visit to Tony and Rosa's house. They are an amazing couple who have been a part of this community and ministry for many years. Mission Emanuel built their house 8ish years ago, so they have a great relationship with a lot of the Americans who have come to work for and with them. They have five children, one of whom is named Ayendy. I have been Ayendy's sponsor for school for the last six years, and have loved getting to know him and his family because of this relationship. When I came to the DR more frequently, I would bring them pictures I had taken of their family on the previous trip, and Rosa would call me in the US every few months to check in and say hello. I was a

lways amazed and so very touched to hear her voice when she made those calls. She is an incredibly special woman, and has been on my mind and in my prayers even though it has been years since I last saw her.

Yesterday, I was thrilled to have some time in the afternoon to surprise them. The walk to the house takes you down a steep and precarious hill, and when I finally made it to the bottom and was getting close to their house, I saw Rosa come running from the house, yelling my name. She wrapped me up in one of the biggest hugs I have ever experienced, and was followed closely by Ayendy, who did the same. After smiling, saying hello, and hugging, Rosa grabbed my hand and pulled me into her home, where I was greeted by the rest of the family. We all pulled up chairs together and sat down to have time to catch up. I saw Ayendy sneak back into the bedroom all seven family members share, and return with a small binder. I opened it up to find a collection of all of the pictures they have ever been given, many of which I was in along with their family. It was such an amazing reunion, and so fun to see all of the kids looking grown,

healthy, and happy. Every time I come back, I wonder what these reunions will be like. Will they remember me as much as I remember them? Will they be excited to see me in the same way I have been longing to see them? This reunion didn't let me down. I am so thankful for the unique relationship with this family, and am in awe of their love for me. Gloria a Dios!

Please pray for our first team, arriving tomorrow afternoon from Alabama. This is a high school youth trip, so pray that these high schoolers will be changed and amazed by the ways God is at work in Cielo and Nazareth. Please pray that these 50 people will see God's glory and be used for God's service. And last but not least, please pray for our staff, who will be doing a lot of learning and thinking on their feet this week. We are all praying ourselves that we will be filled with joy, energy, and patience this week. Thanks for your prayers--they are felt, and much needed! Love you all

(the pictures are first Tony, Rosa, and several of their children, and second, myself with their youngest daughter, with Ayendy in the background)

Day 1

2009-05-26T15:06:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to let everyone know I made it to the DR safely, after a few delays and hours spent in the Miami Airport! Today has been a lazy day of unpacking, visiting the villages where I will be working, and getting reacquainted with Mission Emanuel. The ministry has grown so much since I was last here, so I feel a bit like I am starting over with an entirely new ministry. I saw a lot of familiar faces this afternoon, and it was fun to greet all of Mission Emanuel's employees I have missed and prayed for in my years away. I am looking forward to getting updates from all of the families and hearing about their significant life changes I have missed in the last five years. I am also very humbled by how poor my Spanish is right now, and will have a lot of work to do while I am here to be able to communicate. Day one and I am already feeling inadequate...

Thanks for your prayers! There will be more exciting updates coming as other staff members and work teams arrive!

And it begins...

2009-05-22T11:03:00.000-07:00

The departure date is almost here! I leave for Santo Domingo on Monday. So excited! I will be arriving a few days before the summer staff of Mission Emanuel, so I will spend the first few days in the villages, Cielo and Nazareth, making preparations along with the director. I am excited to have a few days to try to revive my Spanish and get reacquanted with the ministry before I have to act like I know what I am talking about!
Once the summer staff arrives, I will work with them to coordinate for the American teams which will begin work the following week. The first few days of preparations will be hectic, but once teams arrive, it will be fun to see the work begin! There will be construction projects, VBS, medical clinics, and visits to a leprosorium. Each week will bring different challenges, and I am really excited to see how God works each week.
I will also be working specifically with a group of Dominican high schoolers who serve as our interpreters. Many of them are not Christians, but go with us into homes and churches to interpret prayers, testimonies, and sermons. My job is simply to love on them, answer questions, walk with them through the process, and hopefully get them to think about some of the words they are translating. My biggest prayer request for this summer is for these teenagers: for my interactions with them, for the relationships we will build, for the questions they will ask and the answers I will try to give them, and for the work God will be doing in their hearts and their lives. Please pray for them and for our time together this summer. I look forward to sharing stories from my time with these teenagers, and just hope God will use me as I interact with them.
My plan is to update you all regularly with pictures, videos, stories, and prayer requests. Check back for all of those, and know I am so thankful for your prayers this summer. Thanks for your support!