One of the long-term ministries done by the missionaries is a prostitute ministry where they go out once a week and minister to prostitutes trying to help them get off of the street. As a result of this ministry, they have begun a house called Lily House where women who are ready to have a different lifestyle can come and live. There is one family living in the house now. After giving up the life of prostitution, she accepted Christ into her life (which is not a requirement to live in the house.) There, she is taught computer skills, sewing, cooking, reading and even some salon skills so once she leaves the house, she can find a good job. This is a picture of Mimi's daughter, Gigi. I had the pleasure of hanging out with Mimi's three children today while people were fixing up the house just to keep them out of the way and having fun. It's amazing to think that a game of basketball, coloring together, or just taking a stroll on the beach with a child is helping to advance the kingdom.

TueSDaY

I translated a story about an orange tree in California that was eaten by bugs and so they had to bring Lady Bugs from Australia to "revive" the trees. Likewise, God sent Jesus to save us! Wondering what a lady bug is in Spanish? Mariquita! A new word for me too...

I had the opportunity to go to a village on Monday called EL PENON. The group that I went with is from Danville, GA. They don't have very many people who speak Spanish, so I had the opportunity to translate for them. Here, I am reading the story about Jesus feeding the 5000 even though they only had 5 fish and 2 loaves of bread. From there, they made fish out of paper plates.

To WaLK iN HeR SHoeS

Well, today, I had the pleasure of hanging out with a team from Charlotte, North Carolina all day. In addition to visiting one of my favorite orphanages here in Dominican Republic (Jackie's house) which houses prostitutes kids so that they don't have to grow up in that environment, we also went to an orphanage that I had never been to before where kids who have HIV and AIDS stay. It was obvious that they don't get many visitors, as they were very timid for most of the time that we were there. We socialized though by playing jump rope, throwing balls and just carrying on conversations. One woman (who seemed to be in her early twenties) was having a conversation with one of the missionaries and he needed me to help translate.

I had no clue what I was walking into when I agreed to walk over there. It turns out that she (Franchesca) is a new Christian (just 2 months old), has three children (one of whom lives with her), and she has HIV. She was in a bad living situation with her step father and is living at the orphanage with the kids now doing volunteer work in return for medicine and treatment for her illness. She was such a beautful young woman, but deeply hurting for her children and her inability to work and take care of them. According to her, while staying at the orphanage, she is not allowed contact with her family nor does she get paid or is she allowed to leave for another job. As she spoke, it seemed that she was in a desperate situation that has no answer to get better... I told her that I cannot imagine. And her response was, "You can't imagine, and I have to live it." WOW!

We talked about her being a Christian and if she was able to talk to God.

So, I decided to sit down and I opened up my Bible. And, it's no secret that my best way to express myself is in writing. So, I wrote her a short letter telling her that while she is in a desparate situation, I do believe that GOD is able. He can get her out of it. She does have HIV and one day she will die (she told me that) but that doesn't mean that in the meantime she can't work to give her kids a good home.

It's so cool how God works. It has been my goal this week to memorize Bible verses (both in English and in Spanish) and the verse I concentrated on this week was Jeremiah 29:11 -- For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremias 29:11 -- Porque yo se los pensamientos que tengo acerca de vosotros, pensamientos de pas y no de mal, para daros el fin que esperais.

In the letter I wrote her, I gave her one more verse that I cling to as I don't know my future and God's plans. 1 Corinthians 2:9 -- No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has imagined what God will do for those who love Him.

I in no way believe that I know what it is like to walk in her shoes. But the truth is that each of us has a situation, something that we are waiting for God to help us through. We each know deep down that we are in situations that are beyond our control and only God can get us through. I do believe that Help us through. It may not be in the way that we originally thought, but it will be His way in His time.

And, I am grateful that we do not have to get ourselves through on our own.

GeTTiNG aCQuaiNTed

This week has been pretty good. I don't have any pictures to share unfortunately because I haven't been bringing my camera with me. Having said that, it has been a good week of adjustment, getting re-acclimated and re-aquainted.

I want to talk about two main events that happened this week that really stood out. The first one happened yesterday. I was asked about five minutes before I was leaving to go out with a trip to go out with a small group of four instead to translate. So, I went! Translating is a lot of fun for me. So, I hopped on a bus and headed to a nearby town (Boca Chica) where a family wanted to get re-aquainted with a little girl that they had been acquainted with about four years ago. The mom of the group is a nurse and had met the girl (now at age 11) on a medical mission trip because she has a skin disease that covers her whole body (head to toe) except for her face. Well, after a lot of searching and asking around, we were able to find her house and see the little girl and her mother. It almost brought tears to my eyes to see the two mothers hug and to see the little girl. (I can't think of her name at the moment.) Anyway, for about an hour, they chatted about God's goodness, remembering the poor state of the girl four years prior, how the nurse had come with a group and bathed her and put A&D ointment all over her body, and just loved her as if she were her own. They chatted about God creating such a special person and how she over and over reminds her daughter about how special she is and how He loves her so much. They looked at pictures and found out medical needs. A great end to my day yesterday.

Today, I had the opportunity to go to a "nursing home" where the old people in the community (a very poor community) stay. It was honestly very sad at first. It smelled like urine through and through, but the old people were very sweet. We met America and Pura (pure in Spanish), along with a whole host of other people who watched as we cleaned up their home. We pulled off mattresses off of beds, cleaned them, bleached floors and bedframes, and folded clothes. One of the interns even gave America a foot rub. All in all, the day was humbling. I remember having a conversation with someone recently about mattresses and how his/her mattress was uncomfortable. And I think of these people and how one of the men's mattresses was full of urine and who knows how long he had been sleeping on it. They were old and definitely in need of new ones.

There is so much work to be done... but how great are the feet of those who bring the good news... Our God is at work!

More to come.

eXTeNDeD FaMiLY

Well, I just finished a pretty good week here in Dominican Republic. This weekend, my family and I traveled around the southeast coast of the D.R. I really got to see a totally different part of the country than what I was used to. We went to an area called ( Bahona ) which is right off of the coast on the southern part and really is the country. We went in two cars because not only did Leida, Daliana and Ale go, but also Leida’s other daughter Anny, her husband and their new baby, Daira. We stayed at Anny’s husband’s mother’s house. As soon as we arrived, I knew that I liked the place. The people are by no means wealthy, nor are they dirt poor… but they definitely live in a way that would take many people back to their roots. The houses are wooden, they hang clothes to dry on clothes lines, and as all families are accustomed to in the D.R., they often have no electricity or water depending on the hour of the day.

Truthfully, spending time in El Campo this weekend made me think of extended family and how precious it is. The first night that I was there, the 12-year old sister of Ajelis (Anny’s husband) took me on a walk to “show me the neighborhood.” People were out hanging out and talking and it was not uncommon for someone to say hello. It became quickly evident that everyone in the village knew everyone and many were family members. The essence of a small town is equal whether in south Georgia or in the Dominican Republic.

We enjoyed so much going to the beach, hanging out at fresh-water rivers (even though for me the rivers were just a “tad” too cold.) And, we even got to go to Leida’s old stomping ground – Neyba. There, I got to meet Daliana’s grandparents. Oh, it made me think of my grandmother who passed away when I was in college.
Leaving there this morning, I have many images in my mind…. Memories that truly encompass that family feel that I sometimes miss by not having my family close… images that I imagine that would probably be a part of my memories had I grown up in a small town… and thoughts from my youth.
• A mother on her front porch doing her daughter’s hair
• The wooden houses with old doors that you know many people have passed through
• The sounds of the rooster at 5am
• Dinner with extended family of fried fish, plantains, and rice and beans
• Morning devotions and prayer
• Riding down the street and running into an uncle that you haven’t seen in years
• Family filling the house to see the new baby
• Everyone knowing there are visitors in town and coming to see

HeaT, i WiLL ConQUeR You

Well, it's the fourth day back in the Dominican Republic and all I can think about these last few days is how hot it is and how much I totally forgot about it. Definitely dealing with the heat without relief is something that I need to pray about. With heat comes sweat (lots of it) and bugs. It is hard for me to think that just where I am staying today, I stayed for a whole month two years ago. But, I did it. Even more hard to believe is that people live in these conditions everyday. They've adjusted to the fact that the electricity turns off every night in the middle of the night and maybe they don't wake up drenched in sweat... or maybe they do. They've adjusted to not having a fan (which I am so fortunate to have). It's hard to imagine living each day -- in and out like this. But, somehow, I did it two years ago. Today, for the first time I used bug spray. I don't know why I hadn't before, but immediately, the bugs repelled. HA. They are everywhere!

So, what I've decided to do is first, pray that God will take away any negative attitude that I have about the heat. I can do it. People handle it every day. I'm giving that battle up to Him. Second, I have decided to focus on the positives.... Because there are so many things that I am grateful for over the past four days! First, we spent Monday - Wednesday at a resort in Puerto Plata. It was really beautiful. There were dominicans that stayed there mostly and then some foreigners. We just hung out on the beach most of the day, but that sun is serious! So, we spent a good bit of time in the shade too. I taught my family how to play Bananagrams (mix Spanish and English) and we just enjoyed time together relaxing. I am going to try to upload a picture or two.

THINGS I AM THANKFUL FOR - first few days in the Dominican Republic:

cold bottled water & ice

a shower (we had one at the hotel) - GLORIOUS

the beach - God was so creative when making this EARTH.

vegetables - I got the chance to really eat a lot while at the hotel. Veggies are hard to come by or better yet, not typically in the daily diet

the fan that sits by my bed at night

the internet (which Leida has but doesn't ever use)

sun screen

I'll be here one more night and then we are heading to the southern part of the D.R. and staying with some of Leida's family for two nights. I think this afternoon we may go and visit a new museum that focuses on the Mirabal sisters (who had a lot to do with the overthrowing of a dictator - Trujillo) in the mid 1900's. It's something I teach about in my senior seminar class in Spanish, so should be fun.

BESOS!