The Summit

At 17, I took the trip of a lifetime. Two and a half weeks in Australia flew by as my group skipped up the east coast, visiting cities like Sydney, Cairns, and Darwin. I was allowed to tour the Sydney Opera House and Harbor, snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, and patrol the skies in a hot air balloon. My time "down under" created many wonderful memories but the one that's clearest was a small island, Fitzroy-something-or-another. Although the name and exact location have been buried by other bits of my history, the experience of that single day is something I will never forget.

A group of 30 or so high school students were given the task of hiking "to the lighthouse." The small structure hung precariously from the edge of a ragged cliff, hundreds of feet above the waves below, and it was our job to make it there by noon. In 90 degree weather the hike was slowed by sweat and the lackadaisical attitude of teenagers but eventually, everyone was accounted for.

A short burst of celebration ensued - we could now return to the bottom for ice cream! However, before we began the easy task of romping downhill, assisted by gravity, our trip leader offered another challenge…. a second hike, straight up an enormous mountain, to a place called The Summit

Although chocolate ice cream had scarcely sounded better, at 17, it's more important to fill your ego than your belly and I wanted to impress the other members of my team. After contemplating my options and priorities, I decided the ice cream would have to wait and I joined the other 6 or so students that had opted for the second hike.

I'll never forget the experience that followed my simple, "I'll go."

I don't know how many miles that second hike was but at the time it seemed as if we were trying to reach the heavens. Every muscle burned and muscles I didn't know I had ached long before I reached the top. My canteen was emptied 30 minutes after we left the lighthouse and by the time The Summit arrived, I wondered if my esophagus would never forgive me.

But eventually, after leaning on trees, taking short rests, convincing myself that the end would never come and then moments later assuring myself it MUST lay just around the corner, The Summit stood wide open before me.

I had never experienced anything like it, nor have since. It's one of those, once-in-a-lifetime moments where your heart stands still and your next breath is caught before allowing to escape. I honestly can't describe the scene, although it's still clear in my memory. From the Summit it seemed like I could see the whole world and the view instantly removed any trace of exhaustion.

It was amazing.

On the hike down I realized the opportunity I had nearly missed. Only a quarter of the students on that trip attempted to reach the Summit that year, and after we returned, full of vibrancy and excitement, the regret of the others was evident. Once refreshed and rehydrated, some asked to try to the hike again, but they had missed their only shot - our boat was leaving and there wasn't enough time.

I wonder if The Summit is like my time here. The journey of the last six months has undoubtedly been the hardest thing I've ever endured. And it's not over yet. Everyday I continue the count down that will one day terminate with me taking a jet plane to the US...but perhaps the journey is what will make my arrival so beautiful.

On the Move

I know my blogging has slacked but I've been struggling with what to right about. The situation here has continued to deteriorate to such a degree that I've been battling daily to escape the clutch of old demons like depression and utter desperation.

I'll spare you the details, mostly because words can't express how much my soul longs to be in fellowship again, and instead, clue you in one what’s been happening over the last few weeks….

Although it’s still under construction, Jackie and Hernando have decided to move into their new house in Villa Mella because they can no longer afford their current home in Tres Ojos. And so, little by little Hernando has been transporting loads of belongings across town and stacking boxes floor to ceiling in the new house's living room. Without the dorms or dining room, the home in Vella Mella is infinitely smaller than where they currently reside, but Jackie is determined to make due with the blessings she has; During the day, the outside patio will serve as kitchen and dining room, and at night, mattresses will be strewn sporadically on the floor.

It's a very stressful time for everyone because Jackie and Hernando are trying to move out before they owe another month's rent. To make matters worse, Brittany and Hugo (Jackie's daughter and son-in-law) moved out and Wilkin (another adult) has been asked to stay in the new house to watch over the property and belongings that are delivered daily. Since Hernando spends his days loading and unloading the van, Jackie is attempting to supervise 23 children by herself....in addition to doing the cooking and cleaning!!

To help speed along the move, I was preparing the walls for a new coat of paint, mending holes, removing shelves, and dissembling some of the BIGGEST, HEAVIEST, and most indestructible bunk beds known to man. It took ALL day just to get two sets apart!! But if the jobs themselves weren’t hard enough, the hot temperatures, random critters, and lack of electricity certainly made for exhausting days.

Some nights I was left working in the dark, using only my cell phone for illumination and the noise always scared creepy creature from their hiding places. In three days I was greeted with critters like rats, tarantulas, and giant cockroaches!

Bryan, Carlos & Laura showing off their muscles after loading the truck

Magdalena using her spidey vision to help illuminate the walls!

Independence Day!

At 8am I was woken by the sound of distant drums and honking. At first, I thought I was either dreaming or just hearing the regular sounds of the morning commute here is Santo Domingo. But as the noise continued and steadily grew louder, I realized something very different was happening.

Turns out an impromptu fiesta had erupted at the end of the block, not far from my apartment, in honor of Dominican Independence. After taking Sam for his morning walk, I wandered to where the action was and attempted to make sense of the chaos. Teenagers layered in rags attempted to perform some sort of play, men dressed as women ran through the crowd, large groups of uniformed girls with batons danced to the music performed by several marching bands, and people dressed in extravagant Devil costumes all contributed to the spectacle!

Breaking Ground

Constuction on Jackie's new house has started! This is a huge blessing because it shows that progress is being made! The pictures are of the children's dormitories and bathrooms (eventually a school house, kitchen, and dining room are to be added). The funds for this project are slowly trickling in but would you join us in praying for this property? The sooner the construction is finished, the sooner Jackie and her children can move into a safe neighboorhood with lots of room to play outside!

If not for you

"And then I saw him...He appeared alone in the middle of the crowd. He was a double amputee who had worked his way through the sandy beach. Just as I had noticed him, one crutch slipped, and he fell hard against the sand. Undaunted, he pulled himself back up and began again, only to fall a second time.

"It all happened in what seemed like an instant, long enough for me to see him to my right and choose to turn to my left....

"So I turned to my left. I gently placed my arm on my son's shoulder, turned him away, and began talking to him to distract him from the scene below. We went a few feet, and I felt sure we were free from any responsibility - until my son stopped me. To my surprise, he said, 'I have to go help that man.'

"I watched my ten-year-old son run across the beach and, without explanation, begin to pick the man up...I watched as the crowd turned and saw Aaron's futile effort to help the man back to the hotel deck. Almost immediately I watched the crowd more towards Aaron and the man. Someone picked up the crutches, while others reached down and picked up the man. The group moved as if they were one unit, committed to helping the man complete his journey.

"After the group helped him return to the hotel deck, Aaron came running back to me, and there were tears in his eyes. He looked at me with his innocent conclusion: 'I couldn't help him. I wasn't strong enough.'

"He couldn't see that no one would have helped the man if he had not taken the initiative...I explained to Aaron that his strength carried the man. It was because of him that the others came to his aid."

-Erwin McManus "Chasing Daylight"

Victory

Last night marked the second evening that Jackie, Hernando and I have ventured out to Cercadillo and worked by candlelight. This time we prepared peanut butter sandwiches and passed out several boxes of clothes. It was a wonderful evening filled with lots of excitement and laughter but the highlight of the night came moments before we left.

As we were preparing to leave, 24-year-old Victor stood up and proclaimed that he was ready to accept Christ!! As I witnessed the life of a complete stranger being saved for all of eternity I couldn't help but notice that there were tears in my eyes.

Although I'll never be able to understand or fully appreciate God's love, I am forever grateful for it.

Like a Stick in the Mud

Last night Jackie, Hernando, Wilkin and I had quite the adventure. At 5pm, Jackie came to pick me up and we left for a community called Cercadillo. Because of random stops along the way and horrific rush hour traffic, it took four hours to make it to the village.

Immediately upon our arrival, we were greeted with 12 inch mud where a make-shift road had once been. The van we affectionally call Grace was not made for mud-bogging and in no time, we were at a complete stand still.

Jackie, Wilkin and myself crawled out of the vehicle and made out way to its rear (careful not to loose our shoes in the process), hoping to add enough weight to to back tires to give Grace the extra momentum she needed. But our attempt was in vain. We gagged on black exhaust fumes as Grace spun and spattered, but she wasn't going anywhere.

Thankfully, we were close enough to Cercadillo that our headlights were noticeable and many of the the community members came out to help. We pushed, dug, and rocked poor Gracie and finally, amidst cries of "En el nombre de Jesus Cristo," she broke free!

Hernando drove the mud clad van into Cercadillo as the rest of us followed behind, scraping the remains of the road from our shoes and bare feet.

As we worked by candlelight, handing out shoes, clothes, medicine, and injections of B12, two hours quickly passed. I didn't realize how tired I was until Hernando prayed at the evening's close and I had to keep my eyes open in fear that I may fall asleep. It's nights like these that leave me feeling satisfied and at peace.

A Clarification

After I posted the first update, informing all of you that I will be returning to the States in March, I received many replies containing messages of support, encouragement and promised prayers. I want to thank each of you for your messages of love - I truly treasure the fact that God has blessed me with so many loving and caring people.

The last several months here have been filled with emotional and spiritual battles and I was beginning to question how much more my heart could take. Living here has been difficult on many levels and the leadership team and members of the Church have stood by me through it all, giving me their full support as we undertook this missions effort. My struggle here has become so great that when the opportunity to ome home was presented, I was both releived, prayerfully at peace, and grateful.

I am still committed to doing what God has called me to do. I am committed to continuing to serve the church in its missions effort in anyway that I can. Only this time, I will be doing it from much more familiar surroundings.

I will be returning to the US in March and I couldn't be happier with the decision. I am excited about what God will do in the future with me, with CUMC, with missions, and with YOU!

As we move together on this next step I ask that you would continue to pray for God's will to be done and for His name to receive all the glory.

"The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." John 6:29

Books!

Last Friday a Canadian woman named Charlene requested my help in delivering books to Jackie's House. She is the founder of an organization called Colors and some of her donors had supplied the money to buy school books for the younger children. The books were a HUGE hit and are going to be an great addition to our classroom! They're heavy duty cardboard and are written in both English and Spanish!! Thanks Tia Charlene!

Decisions

There has been a change of plans and several decisions made concerning my future as a Dominican missionary.

My original purpose here was to help Jackie in both the communities she works in and also as the kid's English teacher. If you've been following my blog, you already know that the first three months here were riddled with set-backs, frustrations, and cultural lessons learned the hard way. Many issues that were not apparent before I moved to the DR have become very visible since I've started working with Jackie's House on a somewhat regular basis.

These issues has lead the church to a very important decision. One week ago I received an email from my boss, the leader of missions and outreach, telling me that the decision had been made to bring me home in March of this year. Although this is only a quarter of the two years I intended to spend in the Dominican Republic, I truly believe it is the best decision at this point.

Christ United Methodist Church still plans on helping Jackie's House by bringing several short-term construction trips down over the summer to work on projects. In addition to these trips, the church and I will be praying about where God is leading us next concerning Jackie's ministry. We still feel called to help the Dominican Republic, but at this point, we're unsure which ways that will be.

I know that this may come as a big surprise, but please trust me when I say that the decision was made based on lots of praying.

Also, it is important that you know that your support has not been in vain. Your prayers and gifts have allowed me to achieve my dream of being a foreign missionary and over the previous four months I have learned more about myself, my faith, and my God then I ever knew possible.

I will continue to work five days a week with Jackie's House until my departure at the end of March. Also, the children's previous teacher, Ruth, has returned and will be continuing their lessons.

As I prepare for my return, I ask that you join me in prayer. Please pray:
-That I would make the most of my last two months here
-That Jackie and Hernando would not feel abandoned, guilty, or burdened in any way due to my early departure
-That God would give me the words to speak in a manner which 32 children can understand when it comes time to inform them.
-That even now, God would be making a way for me in the States involving work, housing, and transportation
-That all the details of my life here would be worked out with the least bit of frustration and anxiety as possible.

I thank you for your continued support and encouragement and would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Meet Sam.

I rescued him from the Garbage Dump community about two months ago and since then, he has become a very healthy, happy, and curious puppy.

We LOVES going outside and putting himself on sensory overload. His nose always leads him to some bit of trash, mysterious liquid, or stray bit of food that I have to steer him away from or tackle out of his mouth.

Yesterday afternoon we were outside and I saw him chopping on something. Hearing crackling and fearing it was a chicken bone (they are strangly prevelant here), I stuck my fingers into his mouth and pulled out a giant, half-eaten cockroach.

BLAH!!!

Round Two

Nearly two weeks into the new year and I have yet to post something....

In case you haven't heard, after a wonderful month-long vacation in the States where I traveled thousands of miles to visit friends and family in Myrtle Beach, Rock Hill, Michigan and Kentucky, I have finally returned to the Dominican Republic.
upon my return - I wasn't coming back alone! A family of four (actually five, but the 2-year-old was left in the States with a babysitter) came back with me to experience the Dominican life for a few days. And what an experience they received!

From the moment they arrived, the Wisemen's trip was full of excitement, laughs, and memorable moments. Jackie had forgotten what day we were landing and she was two hours away at a fun
Although my transition back to bottled water, HOT weather, and perpetual Spanish has been fairly smooth, it has still held some challenges (my first night here I ruined a perfectly good toothbrush by sticking it under the faucet). And unfortunately, the goodbyes never get easier.

But God sent me a HUGE blessing from the States eral when we arrived in Santo Domingo. Around midnight, her son Roger finally came to our rescue and the real adventure began! Roger's car is about the size of a Ford Escort and after a bit of maneuvering, we stuffed the trunk with luggage, tied two bags on the roof, stuck one suitcase in Roger's lap (his wife was driving), and piled all five Americans in the back seat - it was a very long, hot, and hilarious half-hour drive to my house.

The Wisemen's also got to see the house that Jackie will someday move into once construction of the dorms is complete. It's got a looong way to go, be we hope to bring down mission teams to speed along the progress. We also visited Cercadillo and the Garbage Dump. The Wisemen’s trip was such a blessing for me, Jackie and Hernando, and I hope for themselves.

It's been two days since they left and the void has been hard. It's been a long time since it was just Sam and Me but we're slowly getting used to the Dominican life again and I’m sure that God has incredibly things on the horizon.

Take Three

I attended church today and with only eleven days left in 2008, we talked about our vision for the upcoming year and shared the things we're thankful to have experienced over the past 365 days.

If you're reading this I assume you're interested in my life, at least in some degree, so here are my answers:

My hope for 2009 is that I will truly be able to embrace my life in the Dominican Republic. So far, I have focused on simply surviving the transition, but that's not enough. I don't want to live each day struggling to keep my head above water, feeling like an emotional wreck, and counting the days until I return to the U.S. I know that God has lead me to the DR and I desire to focus more on HIM and less on my circumstances.

**My list of blessings extend much further than what I can write or fully express, but here's a short list:

-The constant love, patience, and mercy of my Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Without Him I truly would have and be nothing.

-The past 8 months that I've been given to love my boyfriend Daniel. Our relationship has brought me more joy than I've ever known possible. And baby when you read this I want you to know that there are no words to express my love for you. I am so grateful for your encouragement and support. The past three months have been especially hard, but Daniel, I can truly say that I love you more now than ever before. I'm gunna marry you one day day!!

-My parents and future in-laws. All of your prayers, encouragement, support and love have supplied me with so much strength and courage. I am forever grateful for each of you.

-My church family, both near and far. I covet your prayers, words of encouragement, emails, visits, and phone calls. Your financial support supplies my material necessities but your spiritual support provides for my deepest needs.

-The friends who always welcome me with open arms and hearts. One of the greatest blessings God has given me is each of you.

-Sam. Thanks for being such a good little buddy!

-clean water, electricity, air conditioning and heat, communication technology, good health, laughter, hugs, Christmas lights and music, worship, food, and finally, the ability to recall and cherish memories but still hope for the future.

With the New Year quickly approaching, I pray that each of you will be blessed by the Mighty Hand of God. Remember to pray first, listen second, and act third.

Estamos listos para Feliz Navidad!!

Jackie's kids are more than ready for Christmas!

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.

Baked With Love

I will admit it....I am a procrastinator.

At least with some things.

Recently, I have been procrastinating making brownies.

Sounds weird, yes, but the brownies were an outreach idea that was launched last week when the team was here. We decided I needed to connect with my neighbors, and what better way to do that then to give a present? This is when brownies entered the picture...

The team bought all the supplies and allowed me to do the rest.

This week I've been busy teaching Jackie's kids and preparing lesson plans, so baking three batches of brownies wasn't a priority. However, I did make attempts to work on the project. On Tuesday, I walked to a store and bought cake pans. I spent all afternoon on Wednesday baking and wraping the brownies. With each packaged, I included a note (in Spanish) that said: Hi! My name is Tasha. I am a missionary from the United States. I am new to this country and speak a little Spanish. But I want to learn more Spanish, find a church that is nearby, and meet the people who live close to me. I live in apartment E-1. I hope to meet you soon! God Bless you!"

Thursday afternoon arrived and I knew it was time to deliver the baked goods. I couldn't put off the task much longer if wanted the sweets to still be fresh. Not to mention that I didn't want to compete with Halloween because of culture reasons.

At 2pm I got came home from Jackie's and attempted to make lunch. However, within 10 minutes of being home, the power cut off. This is not uncommon; electricity outrages are the norm here, but usually my generator kicks on and still runs the lights and fans. But not even these basics were functioning. By three o'clock the temperature in my apartment was a stifling 85 degrees. It started raining and I justified waiting on the brownie delivery because it would be easier to do it when the rain stopped...and I wanted a nap.

Two hours later the electricity STILL had not come on and I found it impossible to sleep with sweat rolling down my forehead. Just after five, the rain ceased and I felt it was time. I said a quick prayer, asking for favor and courage to meet my neighbors. I was nervous because of my limited Spanish skills.

And so, just before 5:30, I stepped across the cultural threshold of my apartment and literally ran into Jose, the maintence guy. Without requesting any help, he took it upon himself to lead me door-to-door with the brownies in tow. He showed me which apartments are occupied and which ones are empty (something I never thought about). He allowed me to talk in broken Spanish but filled in the gaps when necessary. Those that were home were incredibly receptive to the gifts and although I couldn't understand everything they said, their smiles and hugs conveyed enough.

I also left several packages on the doorsteps of occupied apartments where no one was home. And last night, three families stopped by to say thank you! It was incredible!

A guy who lives next door (who speaks great English!), welcomed me into his home and introduced me to his wife and their two children. A family of three, who lives upstairs, stopped by to shake hands and say that if I need anything, just ask! And finally, the woman across the hall came over and gave me her phone number and directions to a local church. It was SUCH a God thing!!

Please pray that relationships with these people and their families would continue to be built. I want to know their names, their childen, and to be accepted into their families.

God is here, and He's opening doors!

Exhausted!

Today has been utterly amazing. I'm so tired part of me doesn't want to type this blog, but I know it's incredibly important so I’m going to find the energy.

For those who have been following my journey, we have reached an incredibly wonderful place - the point of WORK!! THANK YOU JESUS!!

After two days of sulking and feeling alone, God answered our prayers and brought me a day so full of activity that the only thing I long for is my bed. :-) Before I jump to the good parts though, let's back up a bit….

Jackie and Hernando were supposed to come over last night to have dinner and enjoy each other's company. By three o'clock, I hadn't heard from them and was beginning to worry that I was going to be stood up. I tried calling but didn’t have much luck. Hernando's phone went straight to a recorded message in Spanish and Jackie's phone was answered by someone who claimed they didn't know who she was!!

By five, I had given up that they were coming and was frustrated and disappointed. I thought, "You mean to tell me NOTHING has changed?! Still?!"

Two hours later, Jackie called and vehemently apologized for not doing so sooner. She hadn't been feeling well all day and a nurse suggested she spend the afternoon resting and sleeping. Hernando's phone had been turned off so it wouldn't wake her and her phone was being fixed (explaining the recorded message and the strange man). She said sorry over and over, asking if everything was alright and repeatedly saying how much she loves me, how proud she is of me, and how much she needs me. She continued by saying that after the team and I left on Friday, she prayed and God told her that all the communication problems are things the devil has put in our way to slow us down and to stop what God wants to do.

Jackie said that she felt convicted that it wasn't something wrong with her or with me, and that more than ever before, we need to become a team. She stated that she wants to spend one day a week talking, praying, and really building a relationship. I can't tell you how excited all of this makes me!! It was like all my prayers were being answered at once!

And today! WOW! Hernando picked me up at 7:45 and the minute I stepped in the door at Jackie's I began teaching. I had VERY little planned but ended up giving 5 HOURS of lessons!! God is good! Before I left this morning, I prayed, asking for patience and wisdom. I was a bit nervous because I have NO teaching experience and the only materials I had were some flashcards I made while passing time at Beth's.

Upon my arrival, I was given a whole arsenal of supplies that Jackie gathered last night. Whole slew of materials awaited me including crayons, books, more flashcards, pencils, and notebook paper! And God used everything during my five hour session with the kids! We practiced colors, parts of the body, numbers, the English alphabet, spelling, matching, and math. Although trying and sometimes overwhelming (being the only teacher amongst 30 kids is EXHAUSTING) it was a wonderful day!

I was dropped off just before two and have spent the last several hours making lesson plans for tomorrow!

And now, at 8:15, I'm ready for bed! :-)