Three Cords

This past week I received the amazing gift of fellowship. Two close friends spent their Thanksgiving breaks here with me and I can not begin to express my gratitude for them. They helped accomplish some tasks around the house, they loved on Jackie's kids in INCREDIBLE ways, and they helped me laugh...really laugh....the type that brings tears to your eyes and pains to your ribs. Oh how I've missed that!

Catto spent 4 days here and everywhere we went kids commented on how big his arms are. They had never seen someone so chiseled! It was adorable. Both at Jackie's House and in the communities he inevitably became a human jungle gym :-) At one point we even convinced some boys that he was Rambo! I loved watching him play with the kids and it was so nice to have a male presence while walking around town. For the first time in three months I was able to walk down the street and not hear cat calls and obnoxious comments. I didn't realize how much the calls had stopped until yesterday. Catto was already back in the States and Cari and I walked to the grocery store amidst horns honking, men screaming Hola from car windows, and others who remained silent but attempted to undress us with their eyes. What a difference a bodyguard makes!

But overall, the trip did wonderful things in his heart and when it came time to say goodbye, he was anything but ready. He's only been gone two days and he's already planning a return trip!!

And I can't begin to express how wonderful it was to have Cari here. Although she had a bedroom of her own, she opted to sleep in mine so we could talk. We stayed up until 3 am her first night! We also made an impromptu Thanksgiving dinner yesterday that consisted of fried chicken, mac and cheese, potatoes, and brownies - YUM! And we rescued two puppies! Yes, you heard me right, TWO. I still don't really know how it happened, but when we were at the garbage dump Jackie put a puppy in my arms and suggested I take it home. The crazy thing is, I actually did! He's absolutely adorable and extremely smart (within just 4 days he's potty trained!).

Two hours later we were in Cercadillo and before Cari knew what was happening, some kids thrusted a solid white puppy into her arms and told her that his mommy refused to feed him and he was going to starve. Their story was confirmed by his protruding ribs and although Cari insisted the children take him back, they refused and ran away. She was left standing in the dark, holding a puppy, unsure what she should do next. Before possibilities could be discussed, Jackie quickly ushered us into the van and we sped away, with Samson sleeping in my arms and Dominito resting in hers!

(We've researched ways to get Dominito home to the States and we have several leads, but if nothing works out, I plan to give him away to a family here. Either way, he's much better off in the city then in Cercadillo!)

I thank God for the blessing of true friendship that surpasses miles and months apart. And guys, if you're reading this, I LOVE YOU.

Another Hill

I apologize for my recent lack in blogging. Please allow me to bring you up to speed...

The last several days have been hard. Although I've lived in the Dominican for nearly three months now, and learned to accept the traffic, stray dogs, guns, and trash, there are many things I still struggling with.

If I had to pick one thing I miss most about the States (besides Daniel) it would be the fellowship. Oh how I long for friends!! I've met a lot of wonderful people here but the language barrier stands in the way because I can't really connect with them. And unfortunatly, my relationship with Jackie is thwarted by some personal struggles that she's trying to overcome. Although I spend five days a week at her house and am lucky to see her for more than a total of 20 minutes.

I attempt to ignore my loneliness by chatting online, sending emails, and surfing the web, but this week the longings surpassed my laptop. There are a lot of questions that linger in my heart concerning God's will for my life. Questions like: Does He Still Want Me Here? What Am I Missing? What Am I Supposed To Be Doing? Can I Survive Two Years Like This? Should I Go Home? Could I Go Home? Although not all of my questions have been answered, I do know this; God DOES want me here for one year. For a variety of reasons I'm uncertain about anything longer than that, and that's ok. Because I know that when the time comes to make a decision about whether or not to stay an additional year, the decision will already be made for me. And so, for the next nine months, I am 100% committed to the Dominican Republic.

My quiet time this morning was fabulous. While I was journaling this was laid upon my heart, "Jesus, my time here has been, and continues to be, hard and lonely at times. But my heart knows there's a reason for my struggles - my mind just doesn't know what it is yet. But Lord, you don't call people's minds to follow you, you call their hearts. And Jesus, although I don't understand so many things right now, my heart does understand your love." And that love is more than I could ever express in words: That love is what saved my life; That love is what brought me here; And that love is what will keep me here, however long that may be.

"A righteous man will be remembered forever. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is secure, he will have no fear."

Psalm 112:7-8

Traffic, Garbage, Guns, and Dogs

These are the four things that most foreigners notice first about the Dominican Republic.

First, transportation. There are rarely traffic jams because everyone just makes his or her own way. Suggested lanes are painted on the streets, but I think I am one of the few that notice them. Where two lanes of traffic should be exist four, complete with zigzagging motorcycles and street vendors. There are truly no words to accurately describe Dominican traffic, however, the phrase "organized chaos" does come to mind. Here are some examples of their driving "skills"....

-- One ways are only one ways if you allow them to be
-- You can park ANYWHERE at ANYTIME...even in the middle of a one-lane road during rush hour.
-- If you're driving a motorcycle, you're exempt from following any rules or laws. Please, do as you'd like.
-- Use you horn for any of the following reasons: "Excuse me, please" , "Don't pull out, I'm coming!" , "Go ahead, it's you turn" , "Let's get a move on, people!" , "Get out of the way!" and "Pay attention!"
-- Where there is a will, there's a way. I've seen entire families, kids included, zipping through traffic on a single motorcycle; oh and incase you're wondering, Yes, ALL the furniture in your house can fit in and be transported by a single vehicle.

And we must not forget the street vendors that add to the excitement. You can literally buy ANYTHING on the streets of Santo Domingo: puppies, fruit, phone cards and accessories, candy, water, Gatorade, peanuts, newspapers, coffee, shoes, window wipers, sugar cane, fish, sport pennants, ice cream, rugs, plants, banks...you name it, and you can buy it from your car window. All day long, no matter what street or time of day, I watch as people dodge traffic in the attempt to make a buck.

The second thing, garbage, is one of the sad things about Santo Domingo. This could be a pretty city if its citizens did more to keep it clean. But trash is so plentiful and no one seems to care. Entire road lanes have been overtaken by refuse and yet, no one comes to clean it up or haul it away. There's one street in particular that I ride down every day on the way to Jackie's that contains so much smoldering trash that Hernando and I have to roll up the windows and tuck our noses inside of our shirts. There are city trash collectors but they don't work very often because the government frequently forgets to pay them. And they only collect the trash that's in bags...not the trails and mounds that spill into streets and onto walkways.

Thirdly, if you ever get the chance to visit, don't be alarmed by the rifles. They're part of the staple uniform for any security guard...regardless if he's watching a bank, cars, or a daycare. :-)

Finally, the stray dogs....I wonder who has the higher population here, people or homeless pets. EVERYWHERE you look there are dogs lounging, running, digging in piles of trash, love making, or awaiting death. Santo Domingo is a dog catcher's paradise! But don't be alarmed, most of them won't bother you. But it's wise to carry a stick just incase.

The God of ALL Nations

"By the means of people speaking strange languages

I will speak to my people, says the Lord."

1 Corinthians 14:21

Saturday morning, I walked my neighborhood in search of a church. After nearly giving up, I finally found one. I was hot, sweaty and tired, but felt a twinge of hope knowing that I could finally attend services!

Several hours later, an acquaintance stopped by for a Spanish/English lesson and spotted the church bulletin laying on the table, "You're Catholic?" he asked. "Because this is for a Catholic church." Imagine my disappointment!

After he left, I made a couple more phone calls in desperation. It was now getting late, and I didn't have time to walk the neighborhood again. The calls were all dead ends and I thought I would spend yet another Sunday listening to I-pod worship music and a pre-recorded sermon.

And then the doorbell rang.

It was a couple that live upstairs, who had received the brownies and wanted to say thank you. The husband, Renee, informed me that he and wife are both Christians and told me to take comfort knowing that I have family just a few floors away. My heart leapt to my throat. Almost too quickly I asked, "Do you have a local church?"

He smiled and said, "Yes. We go to church five blocks away. Would you like to go with us tomorrow night?"

I could barely contain my excitement as I instantly accepted the invitation!

And so, at promptly 5 p.m. last night, Renee, his wife Katherine and their three children, Renee (age 13), Salma (4) and Camila (2) escorted me to Ministerios Betel (www.ministeriosbetel.com). It was a long service, nearly 3 hours, and although I only understood bits and pieces of the sermon, I was so happy to once again be in the House of God!

I was warmly welcomed by many and enjoyed the sounds of my heavy accented Spanish mixing with the beautiful tones of the Dominicans while we worshipped; Two countries, two languages, and One Mighty God.

As Renee sat beside me, he whispered, "Tasha, this was all prepared for you by God. He had this made for you long before you even knew it existed. And all this time, that you've been looking, it's been so close."

Oh Jesus, I thank you! You know my heart, my fears, my needs, and my desires. Before I was even born, you knew what my days would hold. Thank you O Lord for the life you have given me! You are so much more than my tiny mind can understand and there's NOTHING I can give you that you don't already have. But thank you Jesus, oh thank you, for still loving me! And Lord, thank you for Renee, Katherine, their children, and their church. Please Father, bless them!! Thank you Jesus, oh thank you.