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
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| 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! |
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| This is my prayer wall that I made for my room. |
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.
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| 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. |
- 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.
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.
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| This is the Mak library that I just finished organizing. |
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!
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| These are the twins on the day they left Emanuel House for their new home. |
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.
