I've now been in the DR for a little over a month and I've come to realize that daily life here is filled with many new obstacles, but also a lot of moments which make it clear that this is where I am supposed to be. There are so many things I have taken for granted in the past and I am being reminded of that every day. Things like bleaching vegetables, brushing my teeth with filtered water and hang drying my clothes are a great daily reminder of the important things in life. The reality is, I am very fortunate to have the ability to buy enough food, use filtered water or wash my clothes in a machine. Walking the 20 minutes to school every morning is always exciting because of the hundreds of motorcycles that are constantly rushing by me and there's no chance they are going to stop for me while I cross the street. I have almost perfected the art of running across the street while dodging motorcycles and cars coming at me from every direction. On a daily basis, I need to distract the Rottweiler that likes to hang out outside of our gate while I try to escape on my way to school. Some days I'm even greeted by two lovely bulls (see below) in front of our house when I get home. Every minute is filled with new obstacles, but I'm constantly learning how to be grateful for those experiences instead of letting them be a source of discomfort.
 |
| Frequent visitor. |
I'm also finding that reality does not match my job description. In the past month I have worked in the English classes, tutored kids in 1st-3rd grade, worked in the first grade classrooms, created activities for centers in the preschool and kindergarten classes, helped with the vaccine clinics at ANIJA and the Ark, and translated Christmas letters from the sponsors of the kids. Every day is completely different, but that has really given me the chance to see all of the ministry, and it has given me some insight into how I can be most helpful after the New Year. It looks like I will be focusing on teaching English when I get back in January. Additionally, I'll be helping with the new curriculum the first grade teachers will be implementing, and helping with some of the sponsorship work at ANIJA. As usual, things could change and be completely different by the time I return.
 |
| Helping with the vaccine clinic at ANIJA. |
 |
| English classroom at ANIJA. |
 |
| One of the kids I hang out with during lunch. |
The last month has also been filled with moments that remind me exactly why I am here. Kenia, a Dominican who is in charge of Special Ed at ANIJA, really wanted to learn how to cook American food, so Neilly and I went over to her house to cook and hang out with her family. This will be a lifelong memory for me. Everything in this country is so much more about relationships than anything else, and the relationships are what will last beyond the time that I am living here. When things get really busy and chaotic, I hope to remember the importance of forming relationships, because they make a much bigger impact on a person's life than finishing my "to do list" ever will.
 |
| Kenia, Neilly and me. |
Even though my Spanish still isn't perfect by any means, it has been incredible to finally get to communicate on my own with all of the people I have gotten to know here over the past six years. My family and I sponsor a 9-year-old boy named Steven that I instantly fell in love with when I was here a few years ago (even though he was probably in the middle of a fist fight with his brothers). It has been so great to be able to spend a lot of time with him since I've been here. He and his brothers came from a very difficult home situation when they were brought to the Ark a few years ago. When I was here last in 2013 he was days away from being kicked out of the program because of his horrendous behavior. I can honestly say what has happened over the last year and a half is a complete miracle. He is the sweetest boy who loves to please everyone now, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to get to know him better now that we speak the same language. Hearing the kids' stories is heart-wrenching, but seeing real changes in their lives reaffirms that Kids Alive is having a significant impact in the Dominican Republic.
 |
| Brothers Randy and Steven. |
 |
| Before dinner at Steven's house. |
A team from MVPC, as well as the Breul family, came down for the week of Thanksgiving, and it was so nice to have a part of home here with me in the DR. The Breuls lived here for three years, and the moment that they returned, the impact of their many relationships became evident. It's not just about the vaccines that are administered or the math programs that are taught. Those are important, but crossing the cultural barrier and getting to know the hearts of the people here is what we all remember for years to come. An added bonus to having the Breuls in town was that they invited me to go to the beach with them for Thanksgiving weekend. We cooked a full Thanksgiving meal and took it to the beach the next day. It was a different experience to be eating Thanksgiving dinner outside in 85 degree weather, but it was nice to be with good friends since I wasn't able to be with my own family.
Less than two more weeks and I will be home for Christmas! Crazy to think that I have already been gone for four months!
 |
| Leslie, Sally and me cooking Thanksgiving dinner. |
 |
| Cabaret, a beach on the North Coast |
 |
| Cabarete |
