In retrospect....

Back in the states...It's crazy that ten weeks have already passed. I'm thrilled to be home. Right now...I don't really miss the DR. I definitely am missing my friends and the people there, but I'm loving being back with my family and fiancee.

People often ask how my trip went. My response is always, "Oh it went well, thanks." Every time I say that, I think, there is so much more to tell than just that simple statement but where do you start? How do I even begin to describe my visit there? I'm so glad that I have kept a blog to let people get an idea of my week to week lifestyle. Obviously, if anyone has any specific questions about what I did there or wants to hear more, feel free to ask. I'd love to share.

As we interns walked into the Miami airport, we jokingly began a conversation where each sentence started with:
You know you've been in the DR awhile when...

Here are the endings to a few of the sentences we came up with:

You know you've been in the DR awhile when...
- you get excited about the idea of using sink water straight out of the tap to brush your teeth.
- you search for a trash can to throw your toilet paper into.
- you wonder if you will remember how to drive and can't wait to find out.
- you realize that Spanish is not the most common language anymore and have to quit mentally responding in espanol.
- you notice that you are no longer a part of the Greengo parade. (total inside joke...Dominicans call Americans Greengo's. When walking down the street, they all seem to stare at the Greengo's. We dubbed this the Greengo parade.)
- you have cell phone service without needing to hunt down call cards
- you see construction that includes piles of rock and immediately wonder how long it will take to hand mix that much rock into concrete...
- a purse is available!!! goodbye fanny packs!!!
- it's really ok to leave a cake on the counter without supervision and no ants will find it.

One huge difference that I was aware of before, but has really impacted me since returning to the states has been the pace of the culture. Everything is go, go, go here. I find that it's a lot more difficult to make time to spend with Jesus and in His word. This is definitely an area in which I am going to focus on growing.

In closing, I would like to thank once again all of those who have invested in this trip and in my going on this trip. When I say that, I mean those who contributed financially, through prayer, and through encouragement. I know that I know that I know this summer was meant to be spent serving in the Dominican Republic. I learned a lot. God took me out of my comfort zone. I grew in my faith. I had fun. I am so thankful God allowed me to have such an amazing experience.

Thank you for making it possible!

(I will be uploading a lot of trip pictures onto facebook. I will try to make those open so that as many people can see them as would like to see them.)

Two Months Here; Two Weeks to Go!

As I stop to think about this, I am so surprised that I have only two more weeks here. Looking back, this summer seems both long and short. It feels like I've been here forever, but it seems like I just got here at the same time. (I know, that probably makes absolutely no sense whatsoever...)

I am praising God for what He's done in my heart and my life. He's watched over me and blessed me so much.

There were several memorable moments this week that I would like to share. I got to see and work with a girls basketball camp. I had never done sports ministry here before, so that was a cool opportunity. I was asked to help translate for one of the drilling stations. This was my first time ever being asked by a staff person to translate - granted, there were no other people available and not very many words were necessary, but I was quite excited for the opportunity anyways. :)

Also this week, we interns got to do a little tour of HdY at night. Kirsy, one of the young ladies who works at the church there showed us around. I love that girl. She has been a major encouragement to me. She is faithful to the Lord even when it's difficult. She is choosing to wait for God's timing for a boyfriend/husband when just about all of her peers seem to be doing just the opposite. She's always smiling, always filled with the joy of Jesus. We trade lessons - I teach her English; she teaches me Spanish. It's been great building a relationship with her.

Third memorable little story...the team out there this week was so generous. Anonymously, someone or several people gave each of the interns money. How cool is that? One of the girls on the team also gave me her watch. It may not sound like a big deal, but it was so touching to me. I commented at the beginning of the week that I really liked bold sports watches though I don't own one now. So this morning, she gives me hers along with an encouraging note about finishing strong while filled with Christ's joy. So sweet.

Another huge blessing: I work with an amazing group. Yesterday, when we interns were shoveling gravel, it hit me how blessed I am to work with people who work so hard. Because they are motivated, I am encouraged to be more motivated. We get so much done with great attitudes. They have been great to get to know. Also, the lady I am rooming with, Jen, is awesome. She is on staff with G.O. She works really hard, is super patient, and never complains. I can't thank God enough for giving me such great people to be with this summer.

I am posting my departure dates and times now because I am not sure I will have time to post later. This week I'm going to be out in HdY. Next week, I'm not sure, but I could end up in the Bateys. (I know Mom, you are excited, but don't get too excited yet, cause I really don't know what will happen.)When you are praying for my return flights, please pray specifically that I catch my flight in Chicago...I'm a little nervous about the 50 minute layover, but think all will be fine since it's in the same terminal and everything.

Sorry...no pics today. I don't have my computer.

Flight 1 - Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Status :confirmed

Departure :08:50 AM - Santiago, Dominican Republic - Santiago Municipal

Arrival :10:55 AM - Miami, USA - Miami International

Airline :American Airlines AA894

Fare type :Coach

Aircraft : Boeing 737-800

Baggage :2 piece(s) per traveler

Meal :FOOD FOR PURCHASE

Last check in:information not available



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

>Change of plane required. Time between flights = 3:30<

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



Flight 2 - Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Status :confirmed

Departure :02:25 PM - Miami, USA - Miami International

Arrival :04:35 PM - Chicago, USA - O'Hare International, terminal 3

Airline :American Airlines AA1399

Fare type :Coach

Aircraft : Boeing 757-200/300

Baggage :2 piece(s) per traveler

Meal :FOOD FOR PURCHASE

Last check in:information not available



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

>Change of plane required. Time between flights = 0:50<

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



Flight 3 - Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Status :confirmed

Departure :05:25 PM - Chicago, USA - O'Hare International, terminal 3

Arrival :07:35 PM - Louisville, USA - Louisville International

Airline :American Airlines AA5070

Fare type :Coach

Aircraft : Embraer RJ140 - Operated by CHAUTAUQUA AS AMERICAN CONNECTION

Taking it all in...

I know...I haven't been a faithful blogger. I have had time randomly to write blog posts and then other random times to actually use the net to post them. However, there's just been so, so, so much to take in. It's hard for me to describe. Certainly difficult to put the days and weeks into a meager blog post.
The gist of my life right now: Everything's going great. I'm still enjoying it here. (though increasingly battling homesickness.) God's teaching me so much. I'm learning so much it's hard to process it all. I'm growing in my faith.

The details, or at least a few:
This past week, I worked with the team on both construction and their medical clinic. I learned so much at the medical clinic. I'm really not talking about how a farmacia is organized - though I can tell you that our farmacia was very well organized for a suitcase operation. I'm talking about what I learned about the culture - the Dominicans.

We started the day in prayer and a devotion with the crowd gathered outside the clinic. Throughout the day missionaries would stop what they were doing to pray for different medical cases. It was awesome to see Christ being glorified like that.

As soon as the people began filing in, I just felt this overwhelming sense that this was exactly why we are here. We are here to be the hands and feet of Jesus – to take care of the sick and hurting. I thought of the story found in one of the gospels (John 5: 17 and surrounding verses) of the paralytic man who always wanted to get into the pool at Bethesda, was it? It was said that whenever the waters were stirred, the first person to get in would be miraculously healed. He never could get in first because he had no one to help him, but with one statement, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk", Jesus healed him. God reminded me of this parable because we were there to provide the medical assistance they cannot afford or even attain. God does the healing.

We served around 330 people the first day of the clinic. Incredible. That means that all those people got to hear that we were there because of Jesus. (We did one devo in the morning with the crowd, and one after lunch when we were about to reopen.) The second day another 250ish were served. What a privilege we had. I know if nothing else, we got to really encourage the pastor there. He has just moved to that church (La Mosca); the previous pastor left under bad circumstances. The town is built on a landfill. It is terribly impoverished.

Something else I learned this week: Yesterday we went door to door evangelizing through prayer and inviting people to the church. (still in La Mosca) When talking to someone who would likely have children, we'd also mention that we'd be doing a VBS program for the kids in the afternoon. While the young Dominican was inviting one woman to bring her children to the VBS, I noticed that her entire demeanor changed. I said, do you have children? She said no. It is very supported here to have lots and lots of kids. It is considered almost shameful and definitely sad not to. The young Dominican evangelizing realized that this hurt her and quickly changed course. Later when meeting with another woman, he asked if she had kids before he told her about the VBS. She too had a complete change in demeanor - a change towards sadness. I found this intriguing, because, here they are, living as squatters on top of a landfill, their jobs consist mostly of sifting through the trash to find metal to sell, they barely earn enough to put food on the table for just themselves, they live in shacks, and yet, they want to have kids. I guess I still don't quite know what to think of that or how to process it. It was just an observation I wanted to share.

VBS was great. There was literally no room in the church to house everyone. It was wall to wall people. Outside, another 40 or so kids could be found. I think pretty much every one of them got to do a craft. It was chaos and absolute madness - at least once the craft started. They did listen pretty well to the Bible story drama. Another 150+ children touched by Jesus through a team.


Below are a few pics I stole from the photographer intern...being the techno goof that I am, I accidentally deleted my entire week's photos. I know. good one.

Picture 1: Entienne (Haitian worker with GO - awesome guy, always happy) working with Jacqueline (team member) as an interpreter. They are writing this woman's name and age on the paper bag that she will bring to the doctor to get her prescriptions written on, then filled.

Picture 2: Devo and prayer session with the crowd gathered outside the clinic.

Picture 3: Picture of the river and landfill - yes, the entire "mountain" in the background is all trash...it goes on and on way out of the picture's view.

Picture 4: I just loved this photo because this little girl was so adorable. She was in line at the clinic.

HdY - Hato del Yaque

For the last almost two weeks I've been in Hato del Yaque. It's been really great. Getting some time with Greenville was awesome. We got a lot of work done and also had a good time visiting. To sum up that week rather quickly, we did construction for three days in HdY and for one in Saint Mark on a church there. Pastor Gumercindo, the pastor that Greenville supports, lives in Saint Mark. We were also able to do a VBS there - including a very animated puppet show/skit that the kids LOVED! and some evangelism. Here are a few photos from that week:

Picture #1 & #2 is of the worksite. Greenville helped move and cement most of the block work in these pictures.
Picture #3 & #4 show a part of the baseball clinic that Evan, Nate, Andrea, Angelique and Dad all helped with.

Picture #5 is of the house we stayed at while in Saint Mark. All of the ladies stayed here...I think there were around 15 of us. The picture shows half of the house. We also ate all of our meals out of that little bitty kitchen you can see in the back of the picture.

Picture #6 is of Adam, Kerlyn, and Evan playing cards with the group. It was a very popular evening activity.


During week two in HdY, and no, the week is not yet over, we've done more construction on the same building that Greenville worked on, and we've built a brick fence. We've also done some major clearing of weeds behind the church to start making progress toward a basketball and volleyball court area. Yesterday we got to evangelize in Pastor Fabio's mountain village and do a VBS program. I haven't taken many photos but do have a few to share.


This first photo is of the view from Pastor Fabio's house. The picture does not do it justice. It was gorgeous.
This photo is of the group I got to evangelize with. Isabella, the Dominican lady, was our group leader. She did the main evangelizing because she speaks Spanish. However, she doesn't speak English, I was able to translate a little bit so that the rest of our group had some idea of what was going on. We spent the most of our time visiting at the assistant pastor and his wife's home. They were thrilled to see us. It also just so happened that they remember the two guys in our group from previous years. We prayed specifically for the wife's health (she's been struggling to eat because she has stomach ulcers) and her ministry with the children of the church.
These next couple photos are of the "kitchen" we used for lunch and dinner. This is underneath Fabio's mountainside home. It was an awesome setting. I got to help smash plantanes and transfer spaghetti. I didn't help much because Nena had things under control, but I enjoyed being there to help out a little.


At this point, you could be wondering, "how does Rachel have internet since she's in HdY?" Actually...currently I'm in Hoya del Caimito in the ministry house. My group is spending the night at a resort, so I get the day/evening off. It's been really nice to have some alone time, get a bit of needed sleep, and catch up some online. I do have more to write about, but I think this post is long enough, so maybe I'll get to write more later.

Team Tuesday!

Today our first teams for the summer arrive. I am especially excited about this because Greenville, my home church will be arriving tonight! This means that I will be moving to Hato del Yaque. (The town is rural; I won't have internet.)

Last night we had a(n) staff/intern meeting. It was very informative. It feels good to have an idea of the schedule that teams will be following - even if that schedule changes. :)

Other than that, we've been doing random things like washing vans, cleaning dorms, doing laundry, organizing storage, and playing wiffle ball with the kids on the street. Wiffle ball was a lot of fun. We were outside playing for about 3 hours! Unfortunately, I have no photos to share because I was playing.


I guess this post is pretty short...cause that's about all that I have to say.

A-MAZING DAY!

First and foremost, before the hour passes, I must wish my readers Happy Donkey Day. Yes, you read correctly. Today is Donkey Day in the DR, a national, Catholic holiday. People get the day off work and school for this holiday. The holiday is in remembrance of Balaam and the talking donkey (Numbers 22) and honors donkeys in general, as the national animal.

Well, now that that bit of a greeting is out of the way, I'd like to say, I've had a great Donkey Day. This morning, we cleaned the two dorms here in Hoya del Caimito. Teams arrive NEXT WEEK! I'm really looking forward to that. Cleaning wasn't too bad. Mostly things were just dusty - except for the trash containers, which required being bleach-soaked.

Later in the afternoon, Jen, one of the full time missionaries, asked me if I'd like to go out to Hato del Yaque. This is the neighborhood I stayed at two years ago when I came with GO. We went out there and visited with different people. It was great to see those that I met before. While visiting with the Monton family, who have several daughters my age, I got to help Kirsy and her friend Masseils with their English homework. At one point they asked me about my braces and what the person who puts them on is called. I said it was an orthodontist. They were like, no, no, wasn't it a dentist? I was like, no, a dentist cleans the teeth, but an orthodontist puts the braces on. The word orthodontist was so confusing and difficult for them. We all laughed a lot as they tried saying it, had me repeat it, had me write it, and wanted a Spanish pronunciation guide next to the word. They spent like almost 10 minutes trying to figure the word out. Needless to say, I am so looking forward to returning there next week. As far as I know, I will be living out there for 6 of my remaining 7 1/2 weeks here.

When I got back to Hoya del Caimito, I went to a game night. Willby and Lisa hosted the Haitian girls we interns worked with at the construction site. Lisa had Twister and Spoons. We also played a random question game so that we could get to know each other better. We laughed so much. Their antics are hilarious and our mis-communication (because again, we were dealing with English, Spanish, and Creole, oh and I can't forget charades, that's a language in itself, right?) kept conversation lively. Here's a photo of the game night group:



I do not have any updates on Lucner. I suppose no news is good news.

Please pray for my flexibility. Not having a clear and direct plan in advance is hard for me. I love to be able to know what's going on and what to expect, but it's impossible to get that here. I knew that going into this trip, and knew that it would be a struggle for me not to get impatient. I'm just praying that I will not get frustrated with changing plans, unknown schedules, or whatever else comes my way.

Dajabon

Today I had the opportunity to go to Dajabon, a Dominican city on the DR/Haiti border. We went there to meet with the Haitian pastors - pictured above, sorry, it's not the best photo ever. There are 8, but only 7 were able to come. We also went so that we could drop off 2 of the staff members so they can visit the churches in Haiti and take pictures. They will also be looking for possible land to build a nutrition center/dormitory. We got to talk to the pastors a little bit about how the earthquake has changed the hearts of the people in their churches. They said that a lot more people now attend church and have become Christians because they saw how GO Ministries brought them food, water, and tents while asking nothing in return. The pastors said this was a great example of supporting preaching with actions. They thanked us for GO's support in Haiti and told how this was very encouraging to them as ministers.
Pastor Lucner was the pastor who was not able to attend the meeting. He is currently residing in Santiago, DR. December 12th he was in a motorcycle accident. Both legs had compound fractures and some ligament damage. He went to the hospital in Haiti - via the back of a pick-up truck. The hospital told him to come back in two days because their x-ray technician wasn't available. GO Ministries told him to meet them in Dajabon, got his paperwork in order, and brought him to Santiago by van to be treated. I cannot imagine the amount of pain he must have been in while in transport. The roads here are very bumpy and in some sections are not paved - the above picture is of part of the road from Dajabon to Santiago. I don't know how many surgeries he has had, but I do know that after the first round of treatment, he was bed-ridden 11 days. He has progressed from wheel-chair, to walker, to crutches. He has another surgery tomorrow morning. One of his legs, I can't recall which one right now, is in very bad shape still. It is healing at a funny angle at the knee. I'm not sure if the surgery tomorrow is intended to correct that or something else. Please pray for his healing. (Adam, I know you can pray very specifically for him; when I think of how much you went through and compare it to Lucner's story, it hurts me to think of what he's gone through so far.)

These are pictures of him posted to fb in April. It's hard to see (in the wheelchair picture), but he had an external rod/pins on his right leg.