Broadcasting Live...

FROM MY OWN HOUSE!!

That's right, the time has finally arrived and I'm in the apartment!!

I'm dead tired because I spent ALL day cleaning, organizing, and unpacking, but as I look around, it feels good to know that everything's where it should be. I know many of you have been praying for me over the past month and a half, and I'd like to take this opportunity to say thank you - Not only because I'm all settled into the missionary house, but because my heart, spirit, and health are all in a good place.

I'm still trying to establish a working schedule but it is incredibly hard when Satan is doing everything possible to sabotage God's work. Jackie still doesn't have a functional vehicle and we've been unable to work in the communities for nearly a month. However, God is still moving mightily in her home because the conjunctivitis is nearly gone and last week, seven new kids were brought to her!! They range in age from 2 months - 10 years old. Although Jackie says they're adjusting well, all of them came with severe health problems including autism, hyperactivity, bronchitis, malnutrition, and one little boy is blind in one eye.

Please pray for these babies and the mothers that gave them away. All the women are prostitutes. God's presence is needed so desperately here! But I know that nothing is impossible and that He longs to move mightily in this place. To Him be the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

pictures of the apartment:

A Full Circle

My Coastal email has not been working for some time. I finally got it fixed today and was in the process of deleting a MASSIVE amount of junk mail (281 messages to be exact) when an email titled "from Uganda" caught my attention.

I decided to spare it from the trash bin and opened it to find an INCREDIBLE blessing! Last summer, while in Uganda, I fell in love with a baby girl named Olga. She stole my heart and I cried bittersweet tears the day I had to say goodbye. She was the subject of an article I wrote for Tempo Magazine and her face adorned the walls of my old bedroom and my mom's office. Over the past year I have contiuned to pray for her and although it's been many months since I've seen her, the longing to hold one more time has never left my heart.

Although simply titled and quickly written, the "from Uganda" email instantly created a spring of tears - it was from Olga's adoptive parents!! They had stumbled onto the website I designed (ww2.coastal.edu/tmsuther) as my senior thesis which detailed my trip to Uganda and sent me a letter to say that Olga, now Elianah, is being adopted!! As a matter of fact, TODAY is her court date!! God is SO good!

Won't you join me in thanksgiving? God has protected this baby girl and through a crazy string of coincidence, has joined me to her life again. Please pray for her new family, the McCourtney's, as they attempt to finalize the adoption and bring home Elianah for good! Also, pray that the transition would be easy on both Elianah, her five new siblings, and her loving parents! May the glory rest at the throne of Christ!

Olga and Me last summer at Amani

And yes, I'm aware that this doesn't directly pertain to the Dominican Republic, but global missions, and the growing number of orphans that despretely need love, is essentially the reason I am here. So Olga's story, and the millions who long to be adopted, are so deeply bound in my heart that I can't separate the two.

Taken Home

I received an email this morning from Jackie that said the following, "I AM SORRY TO COMUNICATE THIS, BUT THE BABY THAT WE WERE HELPING , THE ONE WITH THE BRAIN OUT, JUST DIED. I CRY SO MUCH, BUT IT IS NOT ME WHO DECIDES WHO LIVES AND WHO DIES, SO I JUST ASK THE LORD TO:

#1 GIVE THE MOTHER STRENGTH TO COUP WITH THIS PAIN
#2 ALSO FOR US TO HAVE STRENGTH BECAUSE WE REALLY GOT ATTACHED TO THE BABY. I WAS PRAYING FOR THE LORD TO SAVE HER, WE EVEN WERE TRYING TO FIND SOME PLACE THAT COULD WORK WITH HER , BUT GOD DECIDED TO TAKE HER HOME WITH HIM.

SO I BETTER RESPECT THE LORD, NO MATTER HOW MUCH IT HURTS. SORRY TO GIVE YOU THIS TERRIBLE BAD NEWS."

So I pray for you little Ana Maria, that your journey to Heaven would be beautiful and that you would get to kiss the hands that created you. I pray for you mommy and your big brother and that they would grow closer to Jesus as they think about your life and miss you. As much as our hearts hurt knowing that you're no longer here, I pray that we would all thank God for healing you in His own mighty way. We love you Ana Maria.

WARNING!

The following post contains very graphic pictures.

I just received an email from Jackie asking all of us to pray. A few weeks ago she told me the story of a precious baby girl named Ana Maria who despretely needs medical treatment. Ana was born about six weeks ago to a beautiful, young, Christian woman.

The mother already has a three-year-old boy and was anxiously anticipating the arrival of her baby girl. Sadly, what should have been a joyous occasion was quickly filled with horror when precious Ana Maria finally made her entrance to the world.

You see, while still in the womb, the baby's skull failed to properly form and now, her little brain is literally resting outside of her face, on top of her forehead.

Google has revealed that Ana's condition is called an Encephalocele and is caused by pressure inside the skull reaching such a high level that the cranial tissue is forced out and then the protective layer of the brain grows over the protrusion. Doctors do not know what causes an encephalocele but it is extremely important to say that it is not related to anything her mother did or did not do during her pregancy. "In the U.S., encephaloceles occur in approximetely 1-4 per 10,000 live births" (Children's Hospital of Wisconsin). And although the condition could have been revealed in an ultrasound, Ana's mother couldn't afford one and nothing could have been done to reverse the condition while she was still in the womb.

Jackie is determined to help this mother in any way possible so she brings diapers, food, gauze, and the special ointment needed for Ana's head.

However, I beleive that we serve a HUGE God. A God that is bigger than finances, bigger than fears, and most certainly bigger than health issues. And so I'm not asking for money - I'm asking for prayers. I truly believe that Ana Maria's life can be saved if we lift her up and ask God to help us.

PLEASE PRAY!!

1) That the mother and family members of this little girl would be encouraged, strengthened, and blessed

2) For a team of doctors and surgeons to come and help save this baby's life

3) For the Lord to rain down blessings of protection, strength, and courage on this precious child.

I know that God has the capability to save Ana Maria's life without medical treatment, but I also know that He has the ability to move people's hearts into action!! So let's get to it!

Thank you and to God be the glory.

Tasha

Broken Cars, Infected Eyes, and a Joyous Spirit

I received an email from a very good friend of mine today informing me that he's been reading (and enjoying) my blog, but that he's still not sure what exactly I'm doing here. So incase you're wondering the same thing, please allow me explain:

Before moving to the Dominican Republic, I thought that I would spend most of my time in the "field," aka three communities where Jackie and Hernando help. When they go to these villages they bring water, clothes, shoes, medicine, the gospel, and anything that would be considered a bare necessity. In short, my role was to assist them in any way possible.


And on the days we weren't in one of the communities, I planned on teaching English classes to Jackie's kids.

Sounds simple enough, right?

Well I've been here just shy of one month and in the past four weeks, I've spent two days at the garbage dump and four days at Jackie's. Yes, that's it. But please hear me when I say that it hasn't been by choice!

You see, Jackie and Hernando have three vehicles. And all three are broken. Jackie's House is way on the other side of town - about the distance from Myrtle Beach to Aynor or North Branch to Davison - so I can't walk there. And taking public transportation isn't an option because 1) it would be very expensive and 2) I don't speak Spanish yet, nor do I have a phone, so if the driver should get lost we'd be in big trouble.

And Jackie has been dealing with her own set or problems like trying to get her nephew enrolled in school and trying to figure out what's wrong with the cars. It seemed like things were getting better until Monday when I was notified that several of Jackie's kids had woken up with a severe case of conjunctivitis and that the doctor recommended no one enter or leave the house for at least two weeks.


Are you getting a better picture on why things have been so difficult? :-)

And so, lately I've been spending my afternoons preparing for my future English classes, completing tasks Beth can't seem to find the time to do, getting my apartment situation figured out, and most importantly, spending some much needed time with God. I've renewed my habit of having a daily quiet time and it's been wonderful. I've been reminded how utterly important it is to seek Him first everyday. The hour or so we spend together in the mornings blesses me with the patience, hope, wisdom, and peace that gets me through the unexpected events each day brings.

So my time is not being wasted.

However, today did contain a much needed chance to get out of the house. I'll save you the details and simply say that apartment progress is coming along nicely and if all goes well tomorrow, I may have the keys in hand by Wednesday! Praise the Lord!!

Who knows, maybe the next post will come from my new home!! adf

The Ride of a Lifetime

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

James 1:2-4

So after that first incredible, terrifying decent, any decent roller coaster offers another hill that seems to stretch to the skies. The momentum from the first fall is so great that the second mountain is reached in a fraction of a second.

That is how I feel.

After yesterday, and the incredible sense of solitude and hopelessness I experienced, God has answered both your prayers and mine and has sent His comfort. Today has been amazing. I feel like I've walked with angels and that my heart has been resurrected. Although I would like to consider myself a writer, there are no words to describe the breath I have been given. In less than 24 hours I have catapulted from the lowest point of this adventure so far to possibly the highest.

Upon the suggestion from a very close friend, I spent today praying and really seeking Christ. And it has been a wonderful day! It's always a beautiful thing to experience a Jesus-encounter, but after such a hard week, I would have been willing to accept just about any sort of spiritual nourishment.

I haven't been to church since I left and I've been depending on my I-pod and personal quiet times to connect me to God. After three weeks, I realize why the Bible places such emphasizes on fellowship. It's exhausting trying to live and serve the kingdom on your own!

I've always thought that a person's faith was dependent on only oneself and Christ. The church, Bible studies, and other types of accountability were meant to encourage and guide, but it was truly up to the sincerity of the individual. But day after day I was still in a rut. It didn't seem to matter how much I prayed, read, or cried, God was no closer.

But this morning, that changed. For the first time in weeks I felt a TRUE connection to the God who created me. It was AMAZING. As I prayed, I felt that if I reached out I would be able to feel the train of His robe and if I spoke, I would be able to hear His voice. It was like I had received permission to enter the innermost chambers of Heaven and God was there, just waiting for me. He whispered to my heart and the peace and joy that came in those early morning hours was the pentacle of pure beauty. And Although I know He felt close enough to physically grasp, I was too awestruck to move.

This is where I feel like I should write a thank you. I know that many of you were praying for me yesterday and I received lots of emails and scripture references. And I do not take those for granted. But there is nothing I can say that will express my gratitude to my King. The one who has brought me comfort, joy, gladness, peace, and assurance.

I came to the Dominican Republic to serve Him. And if I happen to impact a life along the way, or establish a few relationships, than all the better. But I can now say that Christ Jesus dwells in this place. And He's showing me just how beautiful that is.

How do you say, "this isn't how it's supposed to be" in Spanish?

As I type this I'm simultaneously wiping tears from my cheeks. However, I have allowed one or two to slip by, and they're now soaking the collar of my t-shirt, making the dark blue appear even darker in places.

My stomach is a pit of knots, each one offering no condolences for the plethora of emotions I'm dealing with.

I debating on whether or not I should even post this because it seems out of character (speaking of the girl I was three weeks ago, not the the one I fear I have become). And a part of me shudders at throwing my words into cyberspace, warts and all.

But another part of me knows it must be done. That those of who are praying for me need to realize the battle you're a part of, and those who aren't praying, well maybe you will. But please know that blog is not a way for me to gain your sympathy or sorrows, who knows, maybe it's not for you at all.

I came here to work. For God, for the Dominican people, for the church, and yes, even for me. Those who are accustomed to serving know all two well how easily the vapor of "feeling good" can attach itself to you. It's similar to what I imagine a drug addict must feel as he snorts a line of cocaine. We all have fixes that must be administered to. Depending on the drug of choice, we receive titles such as crack head, alcoholic, or humanitarian.

Please hear me when I say this, I came here on more than a high. As I kissed Daniel farewell at the airport I knew this decision, this mission, and everything it would contain came from a source much deeper than my personal desires or needs. Was I excited? Yes. Nervous? Very. Humbled? Not yet. But now, three weeks after departing the United States, I'm beginning to wonder if the roller coaster will ever come to a stop? The top of the hills are wonderful, it seems like you can see the whole word from where you're perched, but the ride down is terrifying. What happens if you never stop? If instead of coasting up the next hill, and the one ofter that, the car you're ridding in gains too much momentum and you slam into the ground, instantly obliterating yourself and anyone who happens to be riding alongside you. You would never feel the pain of the crash because it would be over too quickly, but the terror of those final few seconds would be enough.

I know that's overly melodramatic but I'm leaving it. No use deleting a perfectly good metaphor.