2015 - A Year in Review

My phrase for 2015 was BE BRAVE.  It was a year full of triumphs and challenges.  It was a year of traveling and seeing new parts of the world.  It was a year full of new friendships and watching God work in big ways.  Back in 2013 I posted this list of important events from the year.  Here are some of the highlights from 2015.

1. Yve's School - Spring 2015

Never did I ever think I would be teaching Spanish with my three middle school boys to 40+ Haitian students.  I had been wanting to do a service project with the boys, but I wasn't sure what.  Getting outside of the four walls of our classroom was one of my main goals for them during the 2014-2015 school year.

Here's the blog post about how we got started.  But it has been awesome to watch the boys grow in their confidence each time we go to the school.  It's one of my favorite things that we've done together.  God pushes not only me, but also the boys outside of their comfort zones.  He catches us every time.

2. Costa Rica - March 2015

Semana Santa, or spring break, threw me into my fourth trip to Costa Rica.  It was an incredible week full of rest, family, laughter, and easy to understand Spanish.  Here's the link to my blog entry from the trip.  It made me realize how lucky I am to have family and friends and people who love me all over the world.

3. Moving - May 2015

The end of my first school year in the DR I said goodbye to my house on Calle G and moved to an apartment in El Dorado I.  I absolutely love this apartment.  It can be challenging teaching and living in the same space, but I mostly love it.  Living on the fourth floor gives us a great breeze, and it gives us some exercise when we bring our groceries home.

This apartment is much closer to public transportation.  There is a security guard who lives here, so I feel much safer.  The location of the new apartment is "far" away from the people I hung out with last year, but it's been awesome to see how God has put people into my life on this side of town.  Plus there's the amazing roof where I get to watch epic sunrises and sunsets every day.  I mean look at these pictures...

"In His hands are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are His also.  The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land." Psalm 95:4-5

4. Got baptized - June 2015

I was baptized as a baby in the Lutheran church, but over the past year I have been attending a Baptist church and a Four Square church.  I have been questioning why I was baptized as a baby.  I want to follow in the example of Jesus, and he wasn't baptized as a baby.  In fact, no where in the Bible is anyone baptized as an infant.  It a choice that someone makes when they are old enough to understand.

Last year, I had Pastor John of Iglesia Baptista Vida Nueva come talk to the boys about baptism.  We were studying about it in Bible class, and it was such a great conversation.  I had thought about getting baptized again after that day, but I put it on the back burner.

In June I went to a camp with the Four Square church, Cantico Nuevo.  It was an amazing camp full of spirit-filled worship, crazy games, and good conversation.  I was talking to my friend Keren, and we started talking about being baptized.  She started sharing the story from Acts 8 when the eunuch was on the road.  God had told the disciple Philip to meet this chariot in the desert.  Philip asked the eunuch if he understood what he was reading about the Bible.  He replied that he did not.

"Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus." Acts 8:35  

The eunuch responded immediately to this good news and wanted to be baptized.

"And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, 'See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?'" Acts 8:37 

After he was baptized, he went on his way rejoicing, and Philip simply disappeared.

Later, after Keren and I were talking about the story, one of the leaders approached me and asked if I had been baptized.  I responded and told her how I was baptized as a baby, but that I had been thinking about being baptized again.  My own choice.  My own decision to fully immerse myself in God's plans for my future.  She asked if I wanted to be baptized that day.

What a joyous occasion.  There was water, and I had the faith to take the next step.

5. Working at PacTrust - July 2015

I spent July and a few weeks of August in Oregon with my family.  I wasn't exactly sure how I would spend my time at home, but I assumed I would be resting and relaxing.  I don't make very much money working in the Dominican Republic.  The thought crossed my mind that I could maybe try to find a job for the month or so that I was home.

Every summer in college I spent working at my dad's office.  I worked in records management, accounting, IT, but my favorite place in the office is up front at the reception desk.  I love getting to talk to people on the phone and visitors who walk through the doors.  My dad explained they were having some problems with the new receptionist they hired.  She was sick a lot, and it was hard to find someone to cover for her.

I sent an e-mail on Thursday, just stating that I was back in OR for a month and was available if they needed help.  Friday I received a response saying to come in on Monday.

Wow, what a financial blessing to work there for a few weeks.  I loved getting to connect and talk to my dad's coworkers who I love so much.  Such a blessing.

"Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?" Matthew 6:26

6. The Sloth Experience - July 2015

Anyone who knows me, knows that I LOVE sloths.  They are my favorite animal.  I have sloth shirts, earrings, a hat, a towel, even sloth wine glasses that my mom got me for Christmas.  My friend Chandler went to a sloth sanctuary in Rainer, WA a few summers ago.  She got to hold a baby sloth.  I was so jealous.

She said she wanted to take me there over the summer, so July we packed up in the car and headed off for the sanctuary.  It was one of the coolest experiences.  We went in this little room and fed sloths.  The room was warm and humid.  The sloths were sleeping when we first got there.  We fed them cucumbers and zucchini for around 20-25 minutes.  I wanted to stay there forever.

7. Bridesmaid Time - August 2015

One of my oldest friends Sydney got engaged in 2015, and she asked me to be her bridesmaid!  I had the honor of accompanying her while she went wedding dress shopping.  This is the first time I'm going to be in a wedding for one of my friends.  Such an exciting time, even though it makes me feel a little old that my friends are getting married.  

8. 2nd Year Teaching - August 2015

I felt SO much more confident going into my second year of teaching.  I know the boys; they know me.  I already knew how to organize a school day, and I had prepared much more during the summer.  Although I can't reuse anything from the 2014-2015 school year, I just feel like there is more of a flow in the school days.  It also helps that we aren't in any of my student's houses this year.  :)  It has been such a joy to watch the boys (and girls) grow.

9. AAV - August 2015

In high school I had the privilege of being a part of Younglife.  In college I had the privilege of helping lead Younglife.  I love working in a ministry setting with high school girls.  There is a youth group at one of the churches I go to called AAV (Amar, Aprender, y Vivir la palabra de Dios // Love, Learn, and Live the word of God).  During the 2014-2015 school year I thought about getting involved, but I was just trying to survive last year.

This year one of the leaders, Ruthi, asked me if I wanted to check it out and get involved.  The first weekend the group met, I got scared and nervous.  I figured my Spanish was not good enough and that God wasn't going to use me.  Oh what happens when we listen to the lies of the devil...

The following Monday at Bible study we were reading about Jonah and what happened when he didn't listen to God the first time... So convicting.  The next Saturday evening I went to AAV and haven't stopped helping.  I got to share the message with the girls two different Saturdays in Spanish.  The second time I did it all on my own.  There were only three girls there that day, but it was still awesome to step out in faith and see what God was going to do.

I feel a lot of spiritual warfare with AAV.  I am constantly praying for the group and praying for confidence for me when I go.  Gosh, God is so good, though.  I am learning so much through serving in this way.

10. Teaching Spanish - September 2015

Over the summer I noticed a post on a missionary Facebook page looking for a Spanish teacher for some girls in Santiago.  I responded immediately inquiring more.  In September I started teaching Jami Jo and Judith Anne.  They are 11-year-old twins.  They come over two times a week for Spanish lessons.  I have been using TPR strategy with them.  They came in knowing almost nothing, but they can correctly use the verbs ser and tener and regular AR verbs.  They know over 70 verbs.

They are two of the sweetest girls I have ever met.  We had several different holiday parties, and sometimes we get to go out to dinner after Spanish class.  Their family has been such an answer to prayers I didn't even know I had.  They are so involved, polite, and caring.  I cannot wait to teach them more this spring.  

11. New Roommate - Fall 2015

My first year of teaching in the Dominican Republic was challenging.  I was a first year teacher, trying to do it all by myself.  My bosses hired another teacher for their older daughters for the 2015-2016 school year.  Christin and I met in May before the school year ended.  She was going into her 3rd year of teaching, and she seemed so nice from the very first time I met her.  It has been an incredible blessing to live and work with her.

I have two works for 2016: REST and PRAY.  Cannot wait to see all God has in store for this year.

Con mucho amor.

Leave it all

What I've been reading:  Moving to another country.  Flying away from family and friends.  Being surrounded by another language, and culture.  Serving God.  Stepping out.  Slipping away from the comfortable life in the United States.  Leaving it all and trusting God to catch us.

I have never connected with a character in a book more than Katie Davis in Kisses from Katie.  The coolest part?  She wasn't a random character in a novel.  She is a real woman with a real story.

Kisses from Katie is a book about the life of the 20-something woman living in Uganda.  She adopted over 12 girls in Africa.  She has changed and transformed communities; Jesus is using her to bring the Ugandans closer to Him.

As I dove deeper into her story, I noticed so many similarities in our lives.  This book inspired me to step out even more from my comfort zone here in the Dominican Republic.  She encourages readers to give it all away.  She explains how we are not supposed to live a life of comfort.

"I believe that God totally, absolutely, intentionally gives us more than we can handle.  Because this is when we surrender to Him and He takes over, proving Himself by doing the impossible in our lives" (135). 

I have firmly believed that in my journey in life, God has not called me to live a life of comfort.  He constantly calls us out into the unknown.  I get to see Him work so much more.  At Bible study on Monday we were talking about how people will see us as the crazy ones for our faith.

He told the disciples to leave everything and follow Him.  That's a pretty crazy idea.  Are we doing that in our everyday lives?

I read this book over Christmas break when I was in Oregon with my family.  Life in the US is so easy.  I have friends, family, a car...  I never have to worry about my safety, about being robbed or attacked.  I never have to worry about how I am going to make it to the store, and if I have exact change to pay the taxi driver.  Katie reflected on being back in the US after being in Uganda for so long.

"I 'miss' Jesus [when I am in the US].  He hasn't disappeared, of course, but I feel so far from Him because my life is actually functioning without Him" (121).  

"Sometimes I felt it easier to cling to Jesus in that state of having nothing than it was to cling to Him while surrounded by the abundance of America" (132).

Those words touched and spoke to my soul.

Over winter break I opened my Bible twice.  I never once wrote in my prayer journal while I was in Oregon.  I had maybe two conversations about Jesus when I was back there.  In the DR I crave communicating with God in my prayer journal.  I spend time with Jesus in the word because my life would not function without it.  My conversations constantly talk about all the BIG things God is doing in my life here in the DR because I constantly rely on Him.  

Katie cries out, "I want big things from God!" (153) 

How often that has been my cry, as well.  Let that be our cry in 2016.  We wait expectantly for you, Lord.

Con mucho amor.

Lessons from the manger PART II: Worship

What I've been learning: Last year I never got sick.  This year there have been many days when I've had a runny nose, or a cough.  Wednesday through Friday of last week was the worst yet.  I was having so many stomach pains and issues eating.  On Friday we went to Yve's school to have our Christmas party.  I threw up while we were there.  The only thing I had eaten was soda crackers.  I had to leave early.

I was curled up in a tiny ball in my bed, wondering how and if I should take a trip to the hospital.  The thought of sitting in a waiting room with the stomach pains sounded awful and miserable.  One of my friends suggested I take parasite medicine.  When I looked up the symptoms of parasites, I assumed she was right.  I went next door to the pharmacy and bought the two pills.

The rest of Friday was spent sleeping in bed.  I was upset.  Why did I get parasites during the busiest time of the year?  I had to miss out on the fun activities at Yve's school.  I made plans over the weekend to host various Christmas functions.  I couldn't eat any of the sweet treats.  I had hardly any energy.  But as I lay in bed, I had a little revelation:

I was learning to praise and worship God even when my circumstances sang a different song.  

I plugged through the activities of the weekend.  Saturday afternoon girls from the youth group at church came over for a tarde de chicas.  Sunday we took our watchie out to lunch and then had one of Christin's friends over for pizza dinner.  Even though I was tired, we prayed and talked and God's name was glorified.

The story of the birth of Jesus is full of examples of people worshiping.  I imagine that the shepherds and wisemen were probably rather tired from making the journey to find Jesus, but they praised Him.  They praised Him with GREAT JOY.  They presented Him with gifts.  They gave Jesus all they had.  This holiday season, are you giving with all you have?  Even when it's inconvenient or challenging, people are watching.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.  And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasured, they presented him with gifts. Matthew 2:10-11 

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. Luke 2:20 

It is easier to worship with others.  Christin helped so much this weekend.  She cleaned the apartment, and she got up early to mop.  She helped make the food and was such a positive light, just like the group of angels.

Luke 2:13-14 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

Take these next few weeks to share the reason we celebrate.  Pray with someone you've never prayed with before.  Take time at Christmas dinner to actually read the Bible story.  Spread joy to a neighbor that needs it.  What song are you singing this Christmas season?  Make sure it's one that glorifies Jesus. 

Sharing the Nativity Story

*forgot to post on Thursday*

What we've been doing: For the past month at Yve's school we have been doing the story of the birth of Jesus with the students.  First, our students shared the story and taught them vocabulary related to the nativity story.

We have been using TPR (Total Physical Response) with the students.  They do the action and say the word.  For the Christmas story we taught them: "vamos" "estrella" "Dios" "bebe Jesus" "ver/mirar" "dormir" "tienes miedo" and "feliz" Each time we went to the school we practiced those words with the students.

Then, the Haitian students were assigned parts.  The little ones were the animals and angels.  They colored masks for the animals in the barn.  They were very proud of the masks they colored.  The older ones had main speaking parts.

Each of our students worked with a couple of the students at the school.  They mentored and practiced the script with them.  This year it worked much better because we had three more people to help out.

Last week we went back to film the kids.  We had to make a few last minute casting changes since a couple of the students were sick.

Here's the link to the Youtube video final product!

Tomorrow we are going to show the video and have a little Christmas party.  We are going to make simple Christmas cards with them, eat cookies, and celebrate.  We wanted to bless the teachers for Christmas.  After filming last week we went to the store and got mugs for the teachers.  These mugs were filled with candy and some money.  The kids made cards to go along with them.

The Bible study I go to on Mondays did a service project this semester and bought Creole Bibles for the teachers.  Michelle asked me if I wanted to deliver them, so I also get the joy of handing out the Bibles.  It will be their first Bible for some of them.  It will also be the first Bible for all of them in their native language.  What a neat gift.

How are you sharing the story of the birth of Jesus?

Lego Movie

What we've been doing: A month ago my mom found these awesome Lego character sets.  I had been wanting a bunch of Lego people because I thought they would be perfect for acting out war battles, or scenes from books.  She sent one superhero and villain set, and one set that had normal people.

The boys finished a novel called Dragon's Gate by Laurence Yep.  It is about a young boy, Otter, who is from China.  He makes a journey to the US to help build the transcontinental railroad with his dad and uncle.  This is their Lego movie based off the book.

I gave them two options.  They could either recreate a chapter, or they could recreate a shorter summary of the whole book.  They chose do to the whole book.  It was taking really long, though, so we had to cut out some scenes they had planned.

If I were to reteach this assignment I would have them focus on a theme and pick out scenes that represent the theme.  Or I could have them focus on a character and pick out events that changed that character to give the project more depth than just a summary.

We used a free app called My Stop Motion to create the movie.  It was easy for the boys to figure out how to use it.  I liked it much better than Flipagram because we could save directly to the camera roll.  The boys added sounds and voices in iMovie.

The boys loved creating the movie.  There was some bickering between brothers throughout the process, but overall they had a great time.  I snapped this picture of them adding the voices to the movie.  They were smiling and giggling.  

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Here's the link to the Youtube video.

THANK YOU MOM for always sending me exactly what I need.  Even from many miles away you help and serve me so very much.  I am forever grateful (and so are the boys, even if they do not express it). :) 

Lessons from the manger PART I: Do not fear

What I've been reading: This year I have been art journaling with the boys for Bible class.  This week I am studying the story of the birth of Jesus.  Different themes and lessons kept popping out at me, so I decided to create a mini "Lessons for the Manger" blog series over the next two weeks.

I've been feeling convicted lately about the meaning of Christmas.  Too often we focus on Santa, on the perfect Christmas decorations, on buying the best and most expensive presents for everyone.  This Christmas season I want to remember and focus on Jesus and the incredible God who sent Him to earth.

One of the first things I noticed while reading the story was how many times the phrase "DO NOT FEAR" appears in this Bible story.  An angel told Joseph to not fear, an angel to Mary to not fear, angels told the shepherds to not fear, an angel told Zacharias not to fear, and although the Bible doesn't mention this, I bet someone had to tell the wise men not to fear, also.

Our world is filled with so much sadness.  I see posts daily about war, shootings, and death.  Sometimes I am so filled with fear about traveling back to the US.  I get worried about a terrorist attack or a mass shooting.  I worry about my future.  Where will I work next year?  Where will I be living next year?  When will I meet my husband?  Reading these verses fills me with peace.  There are troubles in the world, but God has overcome them.  The angels remind me: DO NOT FEAR.

And the angel said unto them, fear not; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Luke 2:10 

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, fear not to take Mary as thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. Matthew 1:20 

And the angel said to her, "Fear not, Mary, for though has found favor with God." Luke 1:30 

Another thing I noticed while I was reading the Bible story was how intertwined and connected the birth of Jesus and the birth of John the Baptist were.  Elizabeth was also miraculously filled with a child, just like Mary.  Mary had this wonderful friendship with Elizabeth (to be expanded on in Part IV of the Lessons from the Manger series).  There are many similarities between the two families.  Elizabeth's husband, Zacharias, also had to be told those two words: FEAR NOT

But the angel said unto him, "Fear not Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shall call his name John." Luke 1:13 

Today we can step out in confidence and be filled with God's amazing peace.  No matter what is going on in our lives, Jesus fills us with peace.  We do not need to be full of fear.

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.  And by him we cry, Abba.  Father.  Romans 8:15

Con mucho amor.

The time I felt muy Dominicana

What I've been doing: Last week I took a moto (short for motorcycle) home.  I arrived at the area where the motos congregate, and there was only one left.  I hopped on the back and told him where I lived.  He was super polite, and he was a careful driver.  When he dropped me off, he asked if I had a moto de confianza, or a motorcycle driver that I trust and use frequently.  I said no, and he told me to put his number in my phone.

Rosa's chauffeur is named Pedro.  He drives us around for our field trips.  Last year I had a taxi driver, and his name is Pedro.  I figured it was a good sign that this moto driver's name is also Pedro.  God continually sends the right people in my life to protect and watch out for me.

This week I was heading to dinner with some friends.  I had just payed an insane amount of money for a taxi home from the store ($450 RD or $10), and I was running late.  I didn't have time to walk and catch a public car ($20 RD or $0.44 US).  So I called Pedro the moto driver.  He remembered exactly where I lived and actually showed up in 5 minutes when he said he would.  Typically when a taxi driver or moto says 5 minutes, it is a Dominincan 5 minutes.  AKA they show up in 15.

Since I was going out to dinner I wore my wedges and got on back of the moto.  As we were riding down 27 de Febrero (one of the main streets by my house), a guy that worked for a family I knew last year rolled down his window to say hello.  I was on back of the moto and he was in the car next to us, and we were having a conversation.

I felt so Dominican, on the back of the moto, all dressed up, having a conversation with a Dominican driver.

The best part?  It cost me $50 pesos or $1 US to get from my apartment to the restaurant.
 
It is crazy how much this country feels like home now.  It is crazy how much I have grown in my time here.  Last year I never took motos and public cars, but this year I do (only when it's light out and safe mom - don't worry!).  God continually pushes me outside of my comfort zone.  He is protecting me and watching over me.  I also lean into Him much more, constantly praying when I am out on the streets.

"But the LORD is faithful.  He will establish and guard you against the evil one."  2 Thessalonians 3:3

Con mucho amor.