Soul Keeping Part Two & Getting Settled

It's kind of crazy to think that almost a month has passed since I officially started ministry with Makarios.  And, I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to rest and reflect on the past few years before delving in again.

Since I've been back, I have been slowly reading through a book by Mark Buchanan that is called The Rest of God.  (I highly recommend it for anyone who has a hard time with Sabbath.)  It has taught me about working and resting, about "wasting time" with God, and about the Biblical foundations behind sabbath rest.

What did Sabbath look like for me?

• Spending hours in the Word
• Sleeping abundantly
• Re-discovering some things that I love doing
• Visiting and being visited by friends and missionaries from the other side of the island
• Writing thank you's to supporters
• Figuring out finances
• Preparing mentally for ministry at Makarios
• Praying for supporters, Emanuel House, friendships and future relationships
• Lots of remembering of the last few years and journaling about the future
• Getting settled into my new apartment and getting to know my roommate

This is the view of one of the places I went to rest.  Isn't it beautiful!
A whole week enjoying this view.  God is so creative!

This is my prayer wall that I made for my room.

What has getting settled looked like?

I have been learning how to get around in Montellano and the nearby towns.  Montellano is between two towns (Puerto Plata and Sosua) in the northern part of the island about 5 hours from where I used to live.  I now know where and how to buy fruit and vegetables, I have discovered the town "super market," am meeting some of my new neighbors and children, am learning who the motorcycle taxis are that are good, have been taught how to get around on public transportation, and I'm starting to understand the similar and different cultural aspects of this town versus where I used to live. I have also had my first encounters with flying cockroaches, big spiders and fast lizards inside my apartment.  I've been drying clothes on the line and have gone back to warm bucket baths.

Additionally, I've gotten toured around by some of the Makarios kids who showed me their communities and I have spent a few Saturdays just enjoying their company.  And, I've gotten to spend time in some communities practicing a little bit of conversational Haitian Creole, learning their back stories, and even sharing some meals.

These two lovely ladies (3 years old) are both named Adriana!  So, we are "tocayas" which means we have the same name!  There is a mom in one of the Haitian villages named Adriana too.

What are some cultural differences here from where I was before?

• Surprise! Baseball doesn't seem to be the main sport!  Soccer and basketball are big here.
• To get on public transportation to go to a big supermarket about 20 minutes away, I get on a "guaguita" or large van instead of a big bus like in Quisqueya…  
• …And bigger supermarkets are a bit closer to me now than they were before.
• There seems to be a mix of those who have and those who don't have… and many are living in the same town just in different neighborhoods.  So you see kids dressed for public and private school, people with cars and those who could never afford one.  People who've been to the States and others who will never get to go.
• It seems that some people know English more on this side of the island.
• The closest airport is 10 minutes away, but it's private.  The more popular airport is about 2 hours away in a city called Santiago.
• When I look outside, I see mountains… even though the beach is just 15 minutes away.
• Creole is spoken in each of the three communities with which we work.  Many more kids are of haitian descent than where I was before and some parents even struggle to communicate in Spanish.

And what is the same?
God has reminded me over and over again of His goodness that He allows us to see.  He reminds me that although His kingdom is not completely here, He does show us glimpses of His glory.  He reminds me that just like in the United States and in Quisqueya and in every other part of this world, Montellano, the place where I currently am, is broken.  I still see the struggles of families (physical, spiritual, emotional and academic) and the result that closeness of tourist beaches to poverty has on the community.  I observe those who do not know Jesus, broken families and relationships, and the deep desire of people to be useful and work.

Mostly, I see the deep need that people have for Jesus.  I am reminded that their deepest need is not money, nor good education, nor food, or even a job… but Jesus -- just like in the United States and on the other side of the island.

And, while often we cry out and wait and wonder "why,?" God gives us glimpses… glimpses of people building relationships and sharing Christ.  He gives us glimpses of people using their talents to build relationships.  God continues to draw people near to Him.  We see baptisms and hugs and we hear about people coming to know Christ through their observations of and conversations with believers.  We see people forgive even though the other person doesn't deserve it.  And, we get to laugh and sing and pray.

What does my life look like right now?
In my first month at at the school, I am starting to get to know the kids, get a schedule of who I will be working with with reading, and just learning how things "run".  I've gotten to know some of the kids' backstories... the whys behind them being behind, their struggles, and I've met their parents. I'm getting to know the Makarios staff (both Dominican and American) and been visiting a church here in Montellano.  I have also set up the library so that it is ready for next semester.

SNAPSHOT:

• I walk about 10 minutes to Makarios every morning around 7:20 and leave around 3:30 in the afternoon.
• Each week, I work with about 20 kids.
• Last week and this week are tests and Christmas celebrations and presentations at Makarios.
• I spend time in the communities right now about once to twice a week to build relationships and practice creole.
• I am meeting and getting to know some neighbors and neighborhood kids.

Why is reading so important to me?
God has given me the passion to help people read.  Reading in Spanish is phonetic unlike in English.  And, I recognize that my growth in Christ happened so much when I really started reading.  I want others to be able read the Bible for themselves and enjoy the truth of God's Word.

This is the Mak library that I just finished organizing.  

What is God teaching me?

Patience… the perfect lesson during Advent!

At school, I have to be patient in getting to know the kids and the staff and them knowing me.  In the communities I have to be patient as I try to build relationships.  I have to exercise patience each time that I hear a new Creole word and lose it just seconds later.  I am patiently awaiting January when I have a language helper and start making language routes to practice more.

PRAISES!

• Makarios had a GALA to raise money for the future building when we eventually have more kids.  And, it was a huge success...
• Emanuel House has received the last portion of money needed for the building and is closer to being finished.
• The twins (Josefa and Josefina) whose mom died and who used to live with Mirqueya and me at Emanuel House have been moved to a strong Christian ministry who will love them and where they will be raised in a house with house parents.  Praising God because I will get to visit them!  It is a true miracle that they, along with their brothers, are together!
• I reached over 100% of the support needed to be able to serve with Makarios.  Thank you for all of those who are praying and supporting God's work here!

These are the twins on the day they left Emanuel House for their new home.  

PRAYER REQUESTS!
I will be headed to the States in a few days and then back to Quisqueya to spend time with friends and my dominican family there.  Pray that the time would be uplifting to all and that all of my family and friends would feel my love for them even though I don't live in the U.S. nor in Quisqueya anymore.  (Please pray especially for one of my old bible study ladies who is struggling in her faith right now.)

Pray for the kids I am working with on reading.  Pray that through working with them, they will feel Christ's love, and that God will open their brains to read.

Pray for those around me and for those who God has put in my path who are not believers.

Pray for people in the communities to know their identity in Christ.

Soul Keeping Part One: What God is teaching

Next week, I will begin my first official day of ministry at Makarios… meeting with teachers, learning what their kids need from me and how I can help them with reading, and starting to slowly build relationships in the communities in which the kids live.  

Since returning from the States, God has blessed me with some much needed Sabbath.  And this blog and the one to come will focus on what He has been teaching me through it.  If you have a problem slowing down or if you seem to sometimes be a Martha, or if you sometimes act like you think that just maybe God can't do His work without you, you'll definitely want to keep reading.

Here are some of my thoughts written during my last week of Missionary Training before I headed back to the Dominican on October 20 to officially begin exercise Sabbath for a bit.

These last two weeks of being at Missionary Training International (MTI) have been stretching to say the least.  And, again, I am so grateful to God, to supporters, and to Makarios for making it a requirement to come here.

They say that these last weeks concentrate mostly on culture, but I find God teaching me about my values, Sabbath, stress, conflict and being a single missionary.  Having been on the field now for two years, these days have made me think and pray and just concentrate so much on what God is trying to teach me through these classes, role plays, and simulations.

So, this blog concentrates on what God is teaching me.

Psalm 145:1-3

I will exalt you, my God and King,

and praise your name forever and ever.

I will praise you every day;

yes, I will praise you forever.

Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!

No one can measure his greatness.

God is teaching me to praise Him and look to Him first.  We learned this week that the most successful missionaries who thrive on the field not just survive, are ones whose eyes are constantly on Him, who fight for rest and Sabbath, and who live with margins.  I imagine that this isn't just missionaries but christians in general… I am learning how important it is to not just rest, but to fill up by focusing on God, each day, each week, each month and each year.  Those most resilient have carved out not only daily and weekly time with the Lord but also weeks at a time with the Lord to praise Him, cry out to Him, give Him thanks, reflect, and learn from Him.

Former missionaries have given me permission -- God gives us permission --  to enjoy Him.  What a gift to be able to grow in our knowledge and strength and spend time in His word and with His creation.

God is teaching me that I have thrived often before because unintentionally, I had quiet and space and freedom and exercise naturally in my day, but that now I have to be intentional about those things.

God is reminding me of the things I've done over the past years that are just fun and that fill me up…

scrapbooking, yearbooking, having friends over and cooking for them, impromptu teaching (whether it's Spanish grammar or reading or the Word of God), playing kickball and softball, watching my favorite childhood movies,  having deep conversations, hosting or going to game night, painting, sitting outside and enjoying God's sky, His creation and watching His people…

God is teaching me not to worry and not to be anxious…

God is teaching me that what He wants most is our attention and our time…

He is teaching me to pray for those who know Him and for those who haven't realized who He is yet.

He is teaching me to pray believing that God can soften hearts and open ears.

God is teaching me to trust Him with His will.  

He is teaching me to depend more on His words than on the words of others…

He is teaching me that this faith journey is one of growing and learning and correcting and loving and being encouraged and following and growing even more…

I thank God for showing me what true rest in Him looks like.  

This group of women made up my "growth group" while at MTI.  Together we grew by tackling some of the "hard questions" about being a missionary.  We also laughed, prayed and just learned from each other.  I am eternally grateful to them for sharing so many hours with me!

 

On the last day, we had the opportunity to pray for each missionary.

This is the whole group of missionaries who started leaving in late October and will continue through next year to go to their various mission fields.  Some will be in places where it is illegal to share about Jesus.  Others will head to small places where they've never heard about Jesus.  Some will be serving for two years while still others have no plans of returning to the States. Planting churches, educating, working in orphanages, discipling, fighting against sex trafficking...  However God has called, we will all serve with one purpose -- to win many for His glory.

So, are you wondering what life has looked like since I got back, how financial support is coming along, what getting "settled" has been like, and what God continues to teach me?  

Soul Keeping Part Two is coming soon...

And then I said, "Wow, God!"

So, my first two weeks of Missionary Training in Colorado are done.  And God is good!  I am so grateful to have the opportunity to be here and learn and grow.

Then God said, "Let there be light!" and there was light.  And God saw that the light was good. Genesis 1:3-4

It's been two weeks of language learning or better said, "learning how to learn a language."  We've been reflecting on language and practicing sounds.  And of course since I love language, have taught language, and have been living speaking my second language for 

the last two years, it has been exciting to think about.  I mean thinking deeply about the fact that God... the creator of everything… created us in His image by speaking us into existence is pretty amazing.  And then to think that He created us with the ability to learn language, understand it, and eventually speak it is just another reason to say, "wow." And I am so grateful to be able to use the language that God has allowed me to learn to share about Jesus.  

One might wonder why I am so excited about language learning classes since I am headed back to the Dominican Republic where I already speak their native tongue. Since being here, I have been reminded of the fact that I can always learn more and that language learning is a way to build community.  And, language is the foundation on which relationships and ministry are built.  And, I am convicted to learn the native tongue of many of the families whom we will serve who do speak Spanish, but whose native tongue and heart language is Haitian Creole.  

Long term, doing this will hopefully help me be able to share about the Lord with the Haitian families who live in the communities we serve and could serve as a foundation for future ministry with teen girls and women in those same communities.  Please pray with me, even now, that God would prepare the hearts of the people in two communities of Haitian Creole speakers where I will be serving.  The communities are called Chichigua (all haitian community) and Poncho Mateo (dominican/haitian community).  Pray that God would prepare someone who can be my language helper and would be able to commit to help me learn.  Please also pray for continued learning of scripture in Spanish as I prepare to build relationships with the kids and families with whom I will work.

This is my language helper with whom I learned some Vietnamese as a way to understand
the methods that will eventually help me with Haitian Creole.

Since being here in Colorado, I have also had the opportunity to pray and talk about the last 2 years and about being in transition now.  Remembering the highs and lows, the things God has taught me and the people whom I've loved is really good for my soul.  It has been great to talk about the "yuck ducks" and the "yay ducks" and we've been reminded that even when there are great things happening in our lives, sometimes there is "yuck" happening too.  I would say that is definitely the fact as I reflect on how God has used me over the past two years, the people who have loved me well and whom I have loved, and God's call now for me to work with a new ministry.

These two weeks have also included times of worship and of fellowship with other missionaries who are all going to a new "field" of ministry soon.  (People are headed to 22 different countries all over the world to spread the Gospel, disciple, and serve using the gifts that God has given them.)

Each day, we have class time where we get to learn from former missionaries and hear their stories and advice.  I am so grateful for their wisdom!

The next two weeks will focus on culture.

And of course, we have had some time on the weekends and evenings to relax, hike, play games and enjoy the beauty of Colorado. 

Weekend 1: A hike to Mt. Hernon

Weekend 2: A train ride to Pikes Peak at 14,000 feet

How can you help?

1) PRAY for me in this time of transition and pray for my future language helper!

2) JOIN MY TEAM financially and PRAY that I will reach 100% soon!

I would love to be at 100% of financial support by October 15.  I am not there yet.  If you are interested in joining my team at Makarios, please go to: www.makdr.org and select GIVE / Select a missionary and find my name…

or

Send a check to:

Makarios International

1801 E. 51st Street

Suite 365-300

Austin, TX 78723

(please leave the memo line blank but note that it is for Adrienne Christian on another paper.)

3) Please SEND A PICTURE of you and your family!

I would love to remember that my team members are on this journey with me as I step into something new.  Please send a jpeg picture  (electronically to my email - acorinnechristian@gmail.com) within the next two weeks.  I will print all the pictures out and hang them up on the wall in my room in the Dominican. This will serve as a visual reminder for me to pray for my team members and to remember those at home who are praying and on this journey with me.

"Wow, God!"  

"I praise You for this amazing opportunity, for the people that I am meeting, and for being equipped to go back to the Dominican to serve and help advance His kingdom."

"I am excited about how You are preparing me for the next step of faith that I am taking."

"Thank you, Lord, for your provision, your creativity, and your ability to speak into being this beautiful place, Colorado."  

Thank you for the team of family and friends who love me well, support me financially, and pray for me.

"Thank you for knowing exactly what I need."

To Him be all the glory and the honor and the power forever and ever… AMEN!

Driving on the Left Side of the Road

When I come back and visit the States, I feel most at home in Atlanta.  My closest friends, past co-workers, spiritual support, and church family are here.   And in God's graciousness, I have been able serve, spend time, and talk to supporters about my transition to a new ministry and also spend time with family in Florida and South Georgia as well.

And at the same time that I enjoy the company of these people who love me so much, I recognize the change, the different culture, and even the sin the looks different here than in the Dominican.
I am grateful for having these two months to clear my mind a bit for the first time since leaving the States.  I am excited to share how my plans are changing as I follow God on this new journey to work with Makarios.  I am grateful to be able to step away from the Dominican for a moment and assess the last 2 years, the transition, and what God is doing in me.    I am also grateful to have some time apart to pray about next steps and long-term vision in regards to a sustainable relationship with Mirqueya and Emanuel House.

And it is uncomfortable.

I've forgotten.

On the way to a local church to talk about possible future trips to the Dominican with Makarios, I found myself stopped at a stoplight.  

Looking ahead after coming off the highway, I feel like I'm in the wrong place. Oncoming traffic is facing me but cars are being directed to their left once they go through the light.  Cars are passing by on the right.  A backwards "no u-turn" sign is to my right.  

And I question for a split second what is going on.  Am I about to have a wreck? Did I do something wrong?  Something is different here… When did this happen?

And fortunately, I snap out of it and follow signs to eventually arrive at the church.  Once there, I am told that the new interchange is one of four in the United States that is following a European model.

And I wonder, "How long have I been gone?"

Just two years… I've left just two years ago and yet, major changes have happened to a road pretty familiar to a mall and restaurant I used to frequent often when I lived in the States.  And driving home in silence as I often do, I realize that the little bit of discomfort that I had just experienced was a perfect analogy to how I feel when I come back to the United States and even sometimes while in the Dominican.  

I don't quite fit... Yet I can adjust pretty seamlessly (even though the tears of being overwhelmed do come out from time to time).

There are subtle changes… I missed the transition in between… and yet again, I can adjust.

People ask me all the time when I come back to the US and then go back to the Dominican if I have culture shock.  I would say, mostly in the way described above.  I seem to have gotten used to the fact that everything here is bigger and faster and quieter.  People have moved, gotten married and had children.  Their children are bigger than they seem like they should be since I've missed the "in between"… I don't understand the lingo, the songs are foreign, and the style of clothes has changed just a bit.  

As I begin writing the blog, it's 10:00 on a Monday morning, I find myself on a plane in the United States after having been in the US now for over three weeks.  After having spent two weeks babysitting my friend's baby boy, encouraging my support team to continue in partnership as I transition, and after having spent a week with my family in Florida, I am both relieved and excited about this next step.  For the next month, I will be spending time outside of Colorado Springs at  Missions Training Institute with previous missionaries as our leaders and current missionaries who are headed out to minister all around the world through various missionary organizations.  Please come alongside me to pray for next steps, for clarity, and for rejuvenation. 

Once I return to Atlanta on the 17th of October, my plan is to head to the Dominican 3 days later.  Thus far, efforts in sharing about Makarios have been very encouraging and I think confirming of God's hand in this decision to step out on faith even though I can't see the end… 

Makarios which means "blessed" is "dedicated to meeting the spiritual, physical, emotional, and intellectual needs of impoverished people in the developing world through Christ-centered, sustainable educational and outreach programs."  I will be assisting teachers by working with kids who are behind in reading.  Lord willing, I will have a flexible schedule and be able to pull kids out of their classes to work with them individually or in small groups.  I will also be working with teen girls and moms to connect them to the local church through community outreach.  My biggest desire is to be in relationship with God's creation, helping them to understand the love of Christ and to grow more and more in His likeness.  Please pray for God to begin working in the hearts of the kids and the churches that I will be working with.

Please partener with me through Makarios by clicking here.  (All donations are tax deductible.)  To be able to leave on October 20, I must have my support pledged or donated before then.  

Want to know what I've been up to?  Read below:

• shared with a Wesleyan Spanish class about ministry in the Dominican Republic.

• traveled to Florida to speak to church family at  Providence Church about the transition and thanked them for the provision of a water system for a whole community in Quisqueya. Then, visited with close friends and family in Florida.

• helped a friend with her baby for two weeks after her hip surgery.

• hosted dinners with supporters, spent quality time with my church family, closest friends and their children.

• helped share about the importance of reading to children with some teenage moms through a local YoungLife program called YoungLives.

• assisted in getting the materials up on a new Etsy site with the help of a close friend, Ellie.  The e jewelry and other hand-crafted items were made by some of my Bible study ladies / Emanuel House moms.  Support some of my closest friends in Quisqueya by buying one of their products and pray that others will support as well.  More items will be uploaded from time to time.

My prayer for you who are reading this and my prayer for myself is that we would follow the advice of the psalmist in Psalm 37:3-7a.  Even though we live in a world where we may not always understand God's plans, where as believers we don't completely fit in, and where it may even seem for a moment like traffic is coming straight at us, may we commit our everything to Him by trusting and obeying.

Trust in the Lord and do good.

Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.

Take delight in the Lord,

and He will give you your heart's desires.

Commit everything you do to the Lord. 

Trust him, and he will help you.

He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn.

and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

Be still in the presence of the Lord,

and wait patiently for Him to act.

You're invited!

If you live in the Atlanta area and are interested in learning more about my ministry in the Dominican, please see the invitation below.



If you have trouble responding via this blog post, feel free to send me an email at acorinnechristian@gmail.com to let me know if you will attend.

Change is a comin'

Today I popped into my church for the first time since Christmas, and except for some FB fanatics who follow my main page or tags, it was basically a big surprise to most to see my face all the way from the Caribbean.

Here are some common questions and answers that I've gotten:

When did you get back?
I arrived here on Thursday night late and have been resting and really starting to wrap my head around the last few months…

How long are you here?
So, I will be Stateside through October 20.  Here is my general schedule while I am here:

Aug 27: left for the US
Aug 27 - Sept 6 : Atlanta
Sept 6 - Sept 12: Florida
Sept 12 - Sept 21: Atlanta
Sept 21 - Oct 17: Colorado
Oct 17 - Oct 19: Atlanta
Oct 20 - headed back to the Dominican

Why are you here?

A little over a month ago, my support team should have received a letter in the mail explaining a change that is happening in ministry -- one that I am very excited about, but that has been hard emotionally as you can imagine, as change is not always easy.  Starting in October, I will be serving in a new ministry.   So, I am here in the States to rejuvenate, spend time sharing with my support team (in hopes that they will continue to support me) and attend a missionary training institute.

You're not moving back to the States, are you? 
No, I am just here through October 20.  Then, I'll be back in the Dominican.  I still believe that God has called me full time to work and serve in the Dominican.

Why haven't you blogged yet?
The truth is, I tried so many times to wrap my head around what has been going on over the last few months… how to write it all down and put it in a blog post.  And, really it was just too overwhelming to get done in the midst of saying goodbye, moving, and traveling to the States.  So, now that I am out of the D.R. and have had a little bit of time to rest my mind and my body a bit, I can finally sit and write.

And here is just what has been going on since my last blog post:

About a week after my last blog, I dropped Mirqueya off in Africa .  She was invited by McLean Bible Church and was able to visit some orphanages in Uganda and Kenya and meet ministry leaders from Costa Rica and Mexico.  During this time, I was babysitting the twins.  (They are still at Emanuel House so please continue to pray!)

1. collected stories for Child Sponsorship                    
2. last Bible Study with my ladies -- it is now being led by some Emanuel House staff
3. spent special time at the beach with the bible study and their smallest kids.               

    
4. said good bye to many fellow missionaries 
5. listened to my first grade students share, sang and received lots of hugs
6. participated in a goodbye from the Emanuel House staff… ate fried plantains, pasta and chicken -- some of my favorites

Here's a little bit from the letter that I sent out…

Why change ministries and why move?

Since moving to the island, God has confirmed in me His call on my life while at the same time sharpening my desire to know His Word better.   He has heightened my desire to help children read so that one day they can read His Word and pass that on to their families.  And He has reminded me of the need for young girls to have strong Christian role models in their lives.  Likewise, God has etched in me the importance of helping carefully without hurting long term.  And in trying to help without hurting, God has taught me that I have a lot to learn!  He has shown me areas where I need to be equipped in a strong community with other believers who have the same vision.

Obedience even when I cannot see...

I hear God’s call and while I cannot see completely ahead of me, I must go.  I can say that I do not know why God is calling me away from Emanuel House right now.  It is a ministry that I love with people that I have worked so hard to build relationships with and kids that I have gotten to watch grow and change over the past two years.  But, I know that God is calling.  And so, I will be obedient! If you have supported Emanuel House in prayer or financially by buying books for the new library, providing for the future land purchase or the new classrooms which should be done this fall, or if you sponsor a child, thank you!  You are making a difference in Quisqueya!  I hope that you will come alongside me in continuing to support Emanuel House efforts and by praying for how I can best do that long-term.

A little over a week ago, I moved to a little town called Montellano.  It's about 4 1/2 hours from Quisqueya and is located on the northern side of the island.  The closest towns are Puerto Plata (about 15 minutes away) and Sosua (about 20 minutes away in the other direction).

And, as of about a week ago, I am officially a missionary with a ministry called Makarios.  Makarios means "blessed" in Greek.  It is a ministry very similar to Emanuel House that seeks to meet the spiritual, physical, emotional and intellectual needs of impoverished people in the developing world through Christ-centered,  sustainable education and outreach programs.

At Makarios, I am so excited to have the opportunity to equip kids who are behind in reading as a resource teacher and to connect girls and women to the local church through community outreach.  My vision has stemmed from things that I have seen and experienced working at Emanuel House….

• Kids who cannot read or read very poorly for their age or grade...
• Moms who have accepted Christ who can't read the Word of God for themselves because they have less than a 3rd grade education…  
• Kids teaching other kids to read just a year after they learned…
• Kids who have received books as gifts and now read at night in their homes…  
• Girls who were gifted children's' Bibles and read through them in the first few days of having them in their homes…
• Women who have been in abusive relationships since their teenage years…  
• Girls who do not know their worth in the Lord as creations of the King…

Over the next few weeks I will be having some get togethers and meeting with supporters to share more.  If you'd like to meet up, send me an email.  Or, stay tuned for future plans to meet in groups during my second week in Atlanta during the week of September 13.

Just can't wait?
Check out more information by going to my blog: www.adriennechristiandr.blogspot.com or visiting the Makarios website at: www.makdr.org.   Have questions?  I hope to see you while I'm here.  Shoot me an email if you have questions at acorinnechristian@gmail.com and stay tuned for when I will have a group get together very soon.

Such a Time as This

The past two weeks have been weeks where I have seen God's hand working over and over again.  I am grateful for the people He has put into my life who love me well, comfort me, pray with me and encourage me along the way.  

I am also grateful for the friends who come back.  A little over a week ago two visitors returned to love the people whom I love, serve alongside me, and live life in the Dominican for a bit.  Together, we shared devotions every morning in Esther.  It was really nice to have time apart in English reading the Word.  And, God is teaching me as much as I'm sure He spoke to them.  

Over four days, we read about Esther, a woman of the Old Testament, a jew, and a strong believer!  Chosen to be in the palace as a candidate for queen because of her beauty, Esther eventually had to make a brave decision -- let one of the King's advisors kill the jews or defend her people. And, even though she knew it could cost her life, she recognized that God has a plan and He's in control.  And thus, after fasting and praying, Esther, had the courage to trust God and obey.  She talked to the King and stopped the killing of all of the Jews across 127 provinces.  

I've read the story of Esther various times.  But, God still teaches.  His Word is alive and there are always lessons that we can learn.

God is faithful.  He's teaching me to believe that He sees, is in control, and is with me.  God has a plan.

I see Him working in the ladies I work with who are mothers of kids here at Emanuel House.  Our Bible Study, while very slow moving and deep, is going so well.  (We are going through the book of John and after a year find ourselves in John 12.)  God is molding them into a united group of women who are learning to love and depend on the Word.  They were given a challenge about a three weeks ago to learn the Old Testament books of the Bible and when Ellie came, we would go out to eat at a nice restaurant without children.  Some of them struggle to read while others are just finishing high school… Some have been Christians for less than a year and we still have one who hasn't committed her life to the Lord yet.  

But God is working. .. 

Some learned easier than others.  They worked together, spent time at each other's houses and encouraged each other.   By the time it was time to go, four of the seven Bible Study ladies had learned the books and two of them knew both the old and the new testament books.  

Our time out was a great experience once the nerves subsided.  They enjoyed great food and fellowship, were encouraged, and were able to take some food home to family.  Additionally, the abundant God we serve showed up!  One of the biggest problems other than people not knowing the Lord, is that they don't have opportunities for work here in Quisqueya.  And, we had the opportunity to share who we were to the boss at the restaurant.  He talked to the ladies about the possibility of going to school to become waitresses.  (As you imagine, tourism is huge in the D.R. and a great way to make money.)    

I have been praying to God about ways to help deeper in order to have long term effects.  And maybe He is showing me an avenue. But also He is giving the women a glimpse into opportunities to be able to do honest and God-glorifying work to be able to support their families and not have to go far to do so.  (Oh, did I mention that three of the Bible Study ladies (not pictured above) were featured at a night devotion for McLean Bible Church / Empowering Action for the work that they are doing making jewelry, headbands and coasters?  They got to share their testimonies in front of about 150 people -- and for 2 of them it was for the very first time.) Please pray for their continued unity and for God's provision.  Doing God-glorifying work with the bodies He's given is a wonderful way that we can say, "thank you."  

God sees.

God is working.

God has a plan!

Mirqueya, Josefa, Josefina, Kaitlin and I headed out to eat for the first time as a "family." (Two days out in one week is not common at all, but it was a nice treat.)  Isn't it nice just to spend time outside in God's creation?  No agenda other than to just enjoy...  Just us...  The reality is that sometime probably in the next month, the lives of these two girls are going to radically change.  We've known since February when their mother passed away that Emanuel House would not be their permanent home since it's not an orphanage.  The girls are passing through until they get put into an orphanage.  We have been told that they will be removed from here by the time that school starts.  

I know that God is faithful and trust that He has a great plan for their lives no matter where they are placed.  I pray that their time with Mirqueya and me has been one where seeds have been planted for them to be faithful women of the Lord, where they have felt a love so deep, and that God has been glorified through their time here.  Please pray for them and us as we imagine that very soon they will no longer be with us at Emanuel House.  And, please pray for them emotionally as well.  May God place them in just the right home in His perfect timing.  May we grab onto His faithfulness and sovereignty. 

A year and a half before moving to the Dominican, Mirqueya's younger sister died.  I don't think I found it out until after about a year of living here when she really started to open up to me.  But around that time, she started calling me, "hermanita" or little sister.  And I've since found out that God sent me here at just the right time.  Do you have people in your life who are just a perfect addition to the family that you already have?  People who get you, pray for you and support you as if they were blood relatives?  I thank God for Mirqueya.  She is my sister (in Christ) and for real.  I love her so much… (Sure, we really are like sisters -- we frustrate each other, argue, disagree and then make up, say sorry and hug it out…)  God put her in my life and I love her.  I pray for her all the time and thank God for her.  She teaches me to have faith.  When I think things are impossible, she prays on her knees next to me.  When I just cannot see, she gets on her knees, talks to God, prays with me and encourages me.  She tells me that I also teach her.  I give her good advice….  I teach her to enjoy life... to stop... and to see God all around us.  She tells me that she can tell me anything and that she's so grateful that God sent her another little sister.

Isn't it awesome how God knows us?  

He knows what we need and how we need it.  

His timing is perfect.

                                       

And yet, sometimes it's so easy to forget…

The israelites were such a forgetful people as well.  They walked through the desert complaining about how God had left them even though they'd been freed from slavery.  They began worshiping idols when Moses spent just a little too much time up on the mountain talking to God… They were so quick to forget, stop trusting, and disobey.  

At the end of the book of Esther, a celebration that still happens today, began for the Israelites so they wouldn't forget what God had done for them through Esther.  And, of course, God left us His Word and shows us Himself in how He works in our lives every day.

My prayer for all of those reading this and for myself as well is that we would not forget.  

God is faithful… 

He is on time… 

and He is in control.  

I pray that we would remember.  May our eyes remain fixed on Him!