How beautiful are the feet...

...of those who bring the good news! - Romans 10:15

The first week of May, the Reyes Academy and Comunidad Multicultural, a local Haitian/Dominican church, ventured together across the border to our neighboring country of Haiti.  It was a crazy two nights and three days full of heat, sweat, and a lot of Jesus.

We took a bus from Santiago to Dajabon, a town in the north part of the DR.  We crossed the border on foot, and we stepped into a whole new world.

Over the three days, God taught me that everyone is searching for love.  When we were in the baby rescue center, there was a little boy who looked so sad.  Christin asked if she could pick him up, and the workers said yes.  She held him while I tickled and played with him.  His face lit up.  He was bubbling over in laughter.  He wanted to be noticed.  He wanted to be loved.

When we were at the orphanages, the older kids loved talking and connecting.  The little ones loved holding hands and playing.  What can you do to love the ones around you a little better today?

God taught me about stereotypes.  I have heard that Haiti is dirty, hot, and like a desert.  I was so surprised when I we were driving to the Citadel.  There were trees everywhere.  Looking out at the top of the mountain I could see mountains beyond mountains beyond mountains.  They were all green and beautiful.

God taught me to lean on Him for strength.  Climbing the Citadel was a huge task.  The mountain was high and the walk never-ending.  We started off singing as we were walking, but then we were so out of breath that didn't work.  Eventually Christin and I took turns praying.  We prayer walked up that giant mountain.  We prayed for the trip, the ministries we met, our school, our students, our families, and for the country of Haiti.  When we keep our eyes fixed on the problem or the mountain, we will fail.  But when we fix our eyes on the LORD, He will help us.

God taught me about what heaven will be like.  I loved serving on a team with people from different countries.  We had Haitians, Haitian-Dominicans, Dominicans, Americans, and Dominican-Americans.  It was a mixture of skin colors, cultures, and languages.  And it was amazing.  We would sing in English, Spanish, and French.  We would lift our voices together in prayer in Creole, English, and Spanish.

When we were at the top of the Citadel, we had communion together, thanking Jesus for all He has done for us.  One of the leaders of the other group mentioned how we are in such awe and wonder of the beautiful view and of the amazing Citadel, but how we need to be even more amazed and in awe of what Jesus did on the cross.  It just gave me such a beautiful picture of what heaven will be like.

"After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne before the Lamb."  Revelation 7:9

I learned the power of communication.  I never thought I would learn a third language, but I can have conversations in French and tell the story of the calling of the first disciples.  Annie taught it to us before we left for our trip.  We stopped at Fort Liberty to walk and pray with the people.  We came across this little beach where people were bathing and washing clothes.  A little girl came up to Christin and I, and we asked her if she wanted to hear a story.  We shared Matthew 4:18-22 with her in French from memory.  She actually understood us, and she repeated the names of the disciples back to us in French.  Walking along the water, imagining what the story was like, I realized what it truly means to be a disciple.

"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people."  Matthew 4:19

I loved watching the boys interact and play with the kids at the orphanage.  One of them asked to pray for a woman on the beach who was studying for a test.  They washed plates, they hiked the mountain, they amazed me.  It was incredible to see the fruit after two years working with them.

God, what do You have up Your sleeves next for me?

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. 

El pais de mi corazon

Where I've been: I got to spend 12 days in Costa Rica over Semana Santa, or spring break.  I left Wednesday, March 25th and got back to the DR on Monday, April 6th.  It was 12 days full of friends, laughter, yummy food, and rest that I so desperately needed.

I was rather nervous to leave the country.  I hadn't left since I got here in August.  That's 8 months, and the tourist stamp on my passport is only good for 2-3 months.  I spent a lot of time praying that God would help me get out of the DR safely.  I had a letter stating I am a missionary, I had a badge with my picture and name of New Hope, and I had my paperwork showing I was working on getting my visa.

Pedro dropped me off at the airport, and in I went.  I stared down the walkway and saw the first airport person who would look at my passport.  He was a probably in his 30s, and looked rather scary to me.  I walked up and handed him my passport and my customs form to leave.  My hands were shaking, but I tried to conceal my nerves.  What happened?  He told me I was beautiful and asked for my number.  I started chuckling on the inside and told him I didn't have one.

Next, a lady had to look at my papers and stamp my passport to let me leave the country.  I had prepared everything that I was going to say to her if she asked me.  First I was going to show her my badge, then my letter, then the visa paperwork if necessary.  I had practiced over and over again in my head.  I handed her my passport and my custom form with a big grin.  She looked at me, looked at the papers, stamped my passport, and said nothing.

I thought it was too easy.  I thought someone was going to chase me down.  But no.  GOD HAD ANSWERED MY PRAYERS.  How faithful He is.

The first few days I stayed in San Ramon.  I walked around town, had a movie night or two, laid in bed and read.  It felt so nice to be "home."  Waking up every morning to a hug and a kiss from my host mom was wonderful.  I had some coffee dates with friends where I would drink water, and I got my fill of different rice and beans than the ones I have been eating in the DR. :)

We went to Viviana's boyfriend's house on Saturday.  There's a pool and Viviana even made my favorite dessert, cheesecake de maracuya.  It was one of the best desserts I've ever had.  We watched the sunset over the city of San Jose.

Sunday after church I went to San Jose by myself on a bus.  I hung out with my friend Yasmin.  I went shopping for the first time in 8 months.  I got new undershirts and a new pair of jeans.  It felt kind of weird to spend money on clothes.  Yasmin and I made dinner and I spent the night at her house.  The next day we walked around the city more, and then I headed back to San Ramon.  I was pretty proud of myself for getting to the capital and back alone.

Monday was the start of Holy Week.  Easter is a huge deal in the Catholic church, and Baptist churches barely recognize the special day.  I got to see Catholic processions and parades with Jesus statues and chanting and singing.  It was very interesting and different to observe these traditions.  It seemed rather cult-ish to me, but it's how some people celebrate in CR.

I also got to eat and make some special foods that are normally only eaten on Holy Week.  One of the foods I made were empanadas de chiverre.  They were little empanadas made with a jelly/sweet filling.  So yummy.  I went over to Lucy's house and made them with her son and daughter.

We spent a day at la finca (the farm) of my host family.  Fabi, Krystell and I made these cookies de almidon.  They were SO yummy and fairly easy to make.  The evening after the day at la finca, Angelica and I got together and played cards.  She is one of my favorite people, and I always wish I have more time to hang out with her.  She beat me many times during our games of slap jack and war.

Gueru's sister lives in Orotina.  I had never traveled to that part of Costa Rica before.  It was kind of desert-ish.  Much warmer that freezing San Ramon.  We spent the day swimming at the pool and eating lots of yummy foods.  We camped and slept in tents at her sister's house.  I felt like such a part of the family.

The next day we went to Tamarindo, which is a beach in the north part of the country.  We camped again and spent all Saturday relaxing in the sand.  There was so much traffic going back to San Ramon on Saturday night.  Most of the country has Thursday, Friday, and Saturday off for Holy Week, so beaches are packed.

Sunday was my last full day in the country.  We went to church and had lunch together at the mall.  That afternoon I went with my host brother and his friends to see Fast and the Furious 7, and we ended the night by going to my favorite hill in San Ramon to look at the lights.

Until next time, Costa Rica.

Weekend Trips

Where I've been traveling:  I have been lucky enough to go on a variety of weekend adventures lately.  They made the month fly by.  I still cannot believe it's almost April.  Here's a little overview of my trips.

TRIP #1: Cabarete

Over Independence Day weekend (Feb 27th) I went to the beach with some teacher friends from SCS.  We stayed at a cheap hotel that had AC and a nice pool.  We were right in town, so we could easily walk to wherever we needed to go.  We found a new beach, Playa Encuentro, that was basically deserted.  We hung out there on Friday and Saturday during the weekend.

I had Flat Stanley, so we took him around and got lots of pictures.  My friend Carrie participated in an ice cream eating contest which was great to watch.  We ate really great breakfast at a place called Friends.  I had bacon and french toast the first morning, and I ate a nutella banana crepe the next day.

I read a lot, and we ate yummy dinners.  Carrie also brought along glow sticks, so of course we wore them to dinner each night  We got to watch some kite surfers, which is what Cabarete is known for.  It was a relaxing weekend.

TRIP #2: San Jose de las Matas

I met Casilda and her family through a mutual friend, Gail.  Gail works at New Hope.  Casilda invited me to spent the weekend with Gail and her family at their farm in the campo.  We walked around and saw lots of cows and chickens.  I got to meet Casilda and her husband's families.  I loved being surrounded by family for the weekend, even if it wasn't my own.  Here's a picture of Oscar's dad pushing me on the swing.

We also went to Aguas Calientes.  It was a freezing river, and one pool that was filled with aguas termales.  That pool was pretty warm, but it was packed.  Gail and I were the only gringas in sight.  This crazy old guy decided he wanted to talk to me.  He kept saying, "you likeees the Republica Dominicana?"  He was speaking Spanglish, and it was practically impossible to understand him.  He asked me where in New York I live (because that's the only place in the US where people live according to some Dominicans).  It gave us a good laugh and we kept quoting him the rest of the evening.

I got to try lots of new foods.  I tried batata asado (sweet potato kind of-bottom right picture), panicio (which I loved- yuca packed together, breaded and fried-top left picture), casave con mani (cardboard tasting dry flat bread), bollo (cornish blob stuck together which I also loved), cicarron, yuca, and lots of new fruits like tamarindo (top right picture), and guayaba (bottom left picture).  Here's a picture of some of the foods.

I met Casilda's neice, Jenny, who is 26.  It was really fun to talk to her and get to know her.  Hopefully I'll get to go back to Sajoma soon.  It was such a simple way of life, and I really loved slowing down and appreciating the little things.

TRIP #3: Jarbacoa

Michelle and I were going to go to the beach, but that plan fell through.  Instead we spent Saturday, March 14th at the waterfalls of Jarbacoa.  Akari and her three daughters also came with us.  The girls swam in the river (even though it was freezing!), and we ate a picnic lunch.  It started to pour down rain, so we ran back to the little hut by the car.  Michelle and I decided we still wanted to walk to the waterfall, even though it was raining.  Akari's youngest daughter came with us, too.

I felt like I was in Oregon.  Waterfalls, "cold" weather, rain.  But then I put a plastic bag over my head, and I felt semi Dominican.

It finally stopped raining when we walked back to the car from the waterfall.  On our way back to Santiago we stopped by the colmado and got morir soñando, which means to die dreaming.  It is an orange creamsicle drink that is SO GOOD.  It's one of my favorite things to drink in this country.

I really want to take the boys on a field trip to this waterfall.  Michelle suggested we could look at water velocity, cleanliness, the dam that provides the city with electricity, etc.  We could also compare it to several other rivers in the area and see which ones are healthier.

Wonder what other trips I'll adventure on.  I love the endless opportunities to discover new treasures in this country.