Cultural Glimpses

Matthew 25:34-45

Then the King will say to those on his right, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.  For I was hungry, and you fed me.  I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink.  I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.  I was naked, and you gave me clothing.  I was sick, and you cared for me.  I was in prison and you visited me... I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sister,s you were doing it to me!...

Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, "Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.  For I was hungry, and you didn't feed me.  I was thirsty, and you didn't give me drink.  I was a stranger, and you didn't  invite me into your home.  I was naked, and you didn't give me clothing.  I was sick and in prison, and you didn't visit me... I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me!"

CHILD SPONSORSHIP. This is Enderson.  He is one of the students at Emanuel House who is sponsored.  His sponsor sent him a gift, a letter, and a picture of her and her daughter.  I gave it to him and while he is pretty shy, and isn't expressing his happiness here, he really enjoyed the gift, especially the cars.  I help to deliver letters and gifts to the kids at Emanuel House and Pasitos de Jesus Orphanage.  And, we write back! [www.scoresponsor.org]

HOUSE VISITS. Last weekend, we went on house visits and just got to talk to and visit some people's homes whose children go to Emanuel House.  This is probably one of Mirqueya's favorite things to do.  In addition to checking in to see the conditions that the kids are living in, Mirqueya prays for the families as well, with the ultimate desire for them to come to know Christ. During one of the home visits last week with a team from McClean Bible Church, a woman prayed to receive Christ and I translated for two kids who also came to know Christ.  I haven't gone on a ton of house visits since I've been here, but it is one of my favorite things to do.  I am hopeful that God will continue to guide my footsteps and open people's hearts to hear the Gospel and be prayed for.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS.  Some of these families who have homes in the worst conditions have been blessed!  People have seen their conditions and committed to help pay for new homes so that rain does not come in through the roof and they have a place to use the bathroom. Most families at  Emanuel House share an "outhouse" with many other families or just go outside.  They cook outside and most often multiple people sleep in one bed.

JAIME.  This is little Jaime.  She is 4 years old and has the cutest smile.  She lives similar to many kids at Emanuel House -- with no father, many siblings and her mom struggles to feed them.  We visited her house during the house visits. She followed us throughout the rest of our house visits. In spite of her situation, Jaime is fun-loving, tender, and overall seems happy.  She is in one of the pre-school/kindergarten classes at Emanuel House.

BAREFOOT & BATHED. When we went to one house, there was a little girl sitting on the ledge outside of her house and she was balancing her feet on this can.  It is not unusual to see kids without shoes and small children without clothes.  Having said that, kids do have clothes and shoes, and when they leave their homes, they are always clean and dressed as best as their parents can dress them.  I have been surprised at where some people who I've met live.  They take pride in their appearance and in cleanliness -- even if they do not have but a few outfits.

CARS, MOVE OVER. Here is a beautiful view of a street that we rode down.  You will notice if you look closely, the dog and the motorcycle... Dogs are everywhere here.  Often as malnourished as the people, they walk around everywhere.  And, the most common mode of transportation is on a motorcycle -- or moped.  Of course, they are cheaper than a car.  Many women drive them as well, but it is more like a scooter.  I found out earlier this week that if you leave the smaller towns and go on the highway, the driver must wear a helmet.  I have seen up to five people on one moped, one being a baby... and a few summers ago I saw someone carrying a refrigerator on their moped! I am sure that anyone who has been to the D.R. has some good stories about how many people they've seen and what they've been carrying on their beloved moped.

SPECIAL. About three weeks ago, Mirqueya admitted special needs kids here.  In this picture, if you look carefully, you will see Ashlee, an American teacher from Georgia who came to work with the special needs kids and teachers. An intern for Empowering Action, she truly empowered the teachers, parents and kids.  They still talk about her and she has promised to help with activities and ideas for the teachers when they need it.

ALWAYS A TEACHER. The kids here at Emanuel House will be getting laptops soon from a program called 1 to 1 laptops which empowers kids who are deep in poverty to be better educated.  First, we have to give the kids a standardized test in the next month or so. I've had two meetings with teachers about the testing that will occur.  I am excited to see God work through this, as I imagine most kids haven't taken a test like this before.

May God continue to help us serve the least of these.  May we not forget that whatever we do, we do to our King.  

Broken and yet so Blessed

Well, since the last time I wrote on here, a lot has happened.  I am beginning to get accustomed to the culture here, have ridden the bus many times and have gone grocery shopping enough to start to feel somewhat comfortable in my environment.  I feel very blessed to be here in this place, where there is so much need (both physically and spiritually).  I pray every day that God would give me a non-judging heart, that He would provide me with patience, and that I would constantly be in His will.

Over the last week or two, I have been truly struggling with what God wants to do with me here.  There are so many opportunities to help that I am overwhelmed by which ministry is for me.  As I still adjust, I wonder how I can help these people without hurting them.  I see so much brokenness that is way bigger than me.  I think as Americans, we always see a “problem” and want to “fix” it.  In the last two weeks, my eyes have been opened to a lot of cultural differences, religious differences, brokenness in family situations, lack of jobs and resources, and what comes across as complacency, and I find myself and Americans that come here wanting to “fix” it all.  I question my role in the lives of the people here.  I question how in the world I can help.  I question how to even begin…

My heart breaks every time I go visit a home where the mom has 10 children and cannot feed them because she has to stay home with them and thus doesn’t have a job. 

My heart breaks every time that I find out about another father who abandoned his family to be with another woman and has nothing to do with his children. 

It breaks when I find out about all of the children who are at Emanuel House who have never been to real school and cannot read or write, who have no idea how to put a puzzle together or even how a book works because they aren't read to at home. 

My heart breaks as I match pictures to names of kids who need sponsors and I have two or three different spellings and different birthdates that I know may never be confirmed because the kids don’t have birth certificates and their parents are illiterate.

It truly breaks my heart to know that the deaf kids and the special needs kids that now come to Emanuel House in general aren’t served in this country, are made fun of, and are often thought of as being a consequence of some sin of their parents. 

My heart falls apart when I recognize that the lack of education among the poor is one that has been and will continue to be a vicious cycle not only in this country but in the US and others as well unless someone including those in power begins caring for the least of these. 

My heart aches when I learn that everyday people are turned away from God because of how believers portray what Christianity is about when really, the non-believer should want JESUS because we who love HIM, wear HIM so well.

I see brokenness not only in the needs of the people here, but in the perception that outsiders have of Christians.  My experiences here make me question how people see us in the U.S.  In the US I’ve heard people call Christians hypocrites or people who are just like everyone else.  We should not conform.  We should be different.  We should be bold not only in what we say we believe but in how we show God that we appreciate the grace (free, undeserved forgiveness) that He has poured on us.  Here I hear people see Christians as being rigid and having too many rules.  In both places outsiders miss the point because of us.

In Matthew, Jesus clearly challenges those who said they believed in Him when he constantly scolded the Pharisees and the Sadducees for upholding "the Law" but missing the point.  They thought because they did the right thing that they were worthy, when in reality, none of us are worthy.  They missed the point that we all need a savior and that God’s grace is so undeserved.  We are called to confess with our mouths our sinfulness.  We are called to believe in our hearts that He is Lord.  And, we are called to follow Him.  Serve others. Love others in action and in deed. Stand out. Be different. Show people that we possess God’s light within us.  In fact, we are meant for our lights to shine so bright that the outside world wouldn’t want to flee from us, but instead that they would want what we have.

My heart breaks to think that maybe we are sharing the wrong message through our actions, through our speech and through the things we do not say and do.

And then, my heart is awakened when I go to church and recognize that the people are singing to the same God that I love. 

My heart rejoices when I translate the gospel and two kids come to Christ and then eagerly visit with me for an hour to learn more about the Bible and Jesus’ teachings.

My heart is free when I get to go to the beach for the first time with kids from the orphanage.  I laugh as they splash in the water, find hermit crabs for the first time, and are overwhelmed with the glimpse of Heaven that God gave us in beaches and in little children enjoying it for the first time.  

My heart is grateful that among the grief, rape, abandonment, drugs, prostitution, pain, negativity and meanness that has surrounded the girls before coming to  Pasitos de Jesus Orphanage, they have found a genuine HOPE IN GOD… so much so that they smile, love and play as children should do.

My heart leaps as I recognize that there are believers who want to help those who cannot help themselves or who don’t know how to do so: the Dominican church that donated enough milk for every family at Emanuel House… the Americans who are helping build houses for those whose homes are in incredibly bad conditions… the sponsors who give monthly to children who otherwise would have no food...my supporters who write down my prayer requests and pray for the work that God is doing through me and the ministries here...  the dominicans who work so hard to spread the Gospel to their people and teach them about God's love... the teachers who are so eager to learn how to help their kids and who truly want a better tomorrow for the kids in their country.

My heart is mended when I remember that God has "overcome it is finished it is done,” and I remember that the Lord has already defeated the brokenness of this world.  I remember that God does not call us fix things but instead to concentrate on Him, do His will, work for His kingdom and open our eyes to the glimpses of the kingdom that He gives us.  And then, He calls us to be grateful.

I am so grateful for all of the people who have surrounded me, prayed for me, loved me... especially in my transition down here.  I feel so loved!

Please pray in faith:

• that God would help guide me.  There is much to be done,
• that the problem of not having clean drinking water here in Quisqueya for the average family would be taken care of soon, 
• that people who want to work would have the opportunity to so that they can provide for their families,
• for the men here—the family structure is so broken.  Christian men are needed to lead them to Christ and encourage them to raise the boys up in the right way,
• that over the next week while we do testing at Emanuel House, the parents are able to provide meals for their children,
• that I would continue to know names, feel comfortable sharing the Gospel when God prompts me, and that I would keep building relationships with those around me,
• that God would take care of all of the details of my closing on August 9th, 
• for Mirqueya and her burden to serve the Lord and the kids here in her hometown
• for a water project that is looming over Emanuel House, that God's will be done and the kinks would be worked out.

In His Name!

What's in a name?

Dalma. Mirqueya. Yocasta. Johaida. Yoan. Yaseilis. Cristian. Deivi. Milca. Rut. Moises. Jose Miguel.  Alexandra. Keidy. Rafael. Gilberto. Nelson. Cristina. Lissys. Niña. Maria. Segunda. 

When someone calls you by name, it's pretty amazing.  I mean, it's probably something that we take for granted until someone who should know our name forgets or someone else never can remember the correct pronunciation.  That in itself shows that when someone gets it right and calls us by name, it probably does something positive psychologically.

This past weekend I spent time with my Dominican Family that lives in Santo Domingo (about an hour or so away from me).  I met them in 2009 when my school did construction at their school and taught VBS.  Since then, I have seen them every summer and this past summer they even came to the US and met my family.  Something crazy occurred this weekend though.  Leyda, the mom, barely speaks English, but out of her mouth came my name in a skewed, forced English accent, "Adrienne." Usually, I don't even tell dominicans my real name because they can't pronounce it and because I really do like my name in Spanish, "Adriana."  But, I do think that her calling me by name reflects the closeness that we feel for each other that has evolved throughout the years.

Many people with whom  I have spoken over the last week (especially the moms who tend to read my blog) expressed concern after my last update.  Realize that I took a moment out of the last three weeks and decided to write about it.  The culture shock, transition, and feelings I think are very normal.  I am adjusting well!  (I mean, I have A LOT of people praying for me.  God hears your prayers and I feel them.)  What I haven't talked about yet are all of the other experiences.  I find it hard to write about them all right now because of lack of regular internet and the desire not flood your inboxes with my updates.  So, I figure little stories will come little by little.  I do realize, though, that I haven't really expressed what my every day looks like, nor have I shown pictures of where my permanent home is nor of the town.  Right now, I don't feel comfortable taking my camera around and taking pictures, but I will little by little.  And, I'll post them.

MY "JOB"
Well, my primary "job" here revolves around organizing the child sponsorship program with SCORE (the organization that I am here with).  I am in charge of the sponsorship of about 150 kids from Emanuel House (the school that I work with) and about 35 girls at Pasitos de Jesus Orphanage.  Right now, if you go to the website (www.scoresponsor.org), you will see pictures of the girls and boys from both ministries who need sponsors.  Basically, both of these ministries were started by dominican women who wanted to help out their communities.  Dalma, from Pasitos de Jesus, was trying to help girls who were in dangerous families due to abuse or drugs, etc.  Many of the girls, without Dalma, would not be as happy and confident and loved if Dalma wasn't taking care of them.  Likewise, Mirqueya, at Emanuel House, is helping kids who otherwise wouldn't be able to go to school or who are really behind.  She also ministers to their families and recently has started to include 14 deaf kids and 15 special needs kids.  Both of these women have a vision and a strong faith in the Lord.  Sponsoring the kids helps them to be able to go to school, eat, and be clothed.

My job each day has been really trying to understand how the ministries work, get to know the ladies and the kids, get the correct list of kids up on the site--especially for Emanuel House, take all of the kids pictures who are missing, and add the biographies.  Thus far, it has been a very slow process because I am having to depend on other people for the information that I need.  But, I am making slow moves in the right direction.  The relationship part has been really good, though.  Also, once a week I come to the SCORE complex and advertise child sponsorship to the american teams that have visited the ministries.  If they are interested in sponsoring the child, I am the connection.

REALITY
Of course, in the midst of doing that administrative work, I find myself in observation mode much of the time, really trying to figure out how everything works, how to get from here to there, learn who I can trust, and discern possible ministry opportunities long term.   There are classes going on at the school where I live every morning and afternoon, there is a lot of planning that happens behind the scenes, there are short term teams that come and visit the school and the orphanage, and there is a whole town full of 50,000 people, motorcycles, music, baseball games, small shops that sell bread, fried chicken, vegetables, plantains, or ice cream, churches,  and lots of scroungy dogs.

Sunday night and Monday afternoon, I walked (no, not by myself) to church and to a neighborhood store.  I observed.  Crazy enough, in both places, I saw familiar faces.  Quisqueya is small enough, I have a feeling, that no matter where I go, I am going to meet and see people who are familiar.  This morning, when I rode the guagua (bus) for the first time to Juan Dolio (where SCORE is), I got on and saw three people that I knew who work at SCORE or near SCORE.  All Dominican, but all familiar with me.  Of the three, I knew one of their names.  Of the kids from Emanuel House who were at church on Sunday, I knew faces, but no names -- and of course, I met even more.  And the girl that I recognized at the grocery store, I didn't know her name either.

Names here are difficult for me.  Many times they start with a "Y" and have a "J" sound.  Many times they are nothing like English names.  But, I know that little by little I will begin to remember not only people's faces, but their names too.  And, the day that I do, something will happen that will build a trust, will allow us to have real conversation, and eventually hopefully have a relationship.

In the book of Esther, when she is faced with a decision about what to do because mean Haman decides he wants to have all of the Jews killed (which yes, would include Esther too), Esther's cousin, Mordecai, tells her basically that God has her in that position as queen for a reason.  Maybe, just maybe, He made her queen so that she could save the Jews from being massacred.  He says, "Who knows if you were made queen for just such a time as this."  Esther 4:14.  I find confidence in the fact that there is not such thing as coincidence.  God knows what He is doing with me.  He's put me here and He will use me here.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• I pray that God would continue to bring people into my life in this little town who need Him.  
• I pray that He would help me to remember the names of those people whom I meet.  
• I pray that He would continue to instill patience in me and allow me to observe without being judgmental.  
• Please, LORD, help me to be in your will and not my own.  
• I pray for the general culture here.  I will write about it more later, but I have been struck by the amount of fatherless families, kids who don't even know who their fathers are (which causes a problem with last names here...).  
• Please pray for the men in this country and their attitude towards family.  Please pray about the lack of jobs and opportunity.  

THESE ARE PICTURES OF SOME OF THE GIRLS FROM PASITOS DE JESUS ORPHANAGE AND MY TIME SPENT THERE TWO WEEKS AGO.