lessons learned...

Well I cannot believe my semester in the Dominican Republic has come to an end. It went so fast! Anyways, I just want to share a couple lessons I learned while I have been here...

last beach day.

- Though I have enjoyed working with the extremely wealthy, extremely poor and in between while I have been here, I realize I want to work with the very poor. I have such a passion for people living in extreme poverty.

-I want to learn as many languages as I can in my lifetime. I have seen how very important it is to learn the language of the people if you want to minister more effectively to them. And relationships are essential with the people you are trying to reach.

-I love living in warm weather! But seasons are good so your wardrobe changes...I'm tired of my clothes! :)

-It's easy to get caught up in work for God and forget about God, Himself and the relationship with Him which is more important than any Bible study or "good" thing trying to be done for Him. Taking days off is necessary to live an effective life.

-It would be very difficult for me live in a big city.

-God is in control. Still. And always. God knows what I need better than I do.

-I hate asking for help, but is necessary in life. God made us to be in relationships and not do everything on our own. It can be humbling, but essential.

Last cell group. Such a wonderful group of people!

Those are just a few....I'm still processing! Please pray for us as we travel home tomorrow and try to get readjusted to life in the U.S. of A. I'll be glad to see my family and friends, watch football, work out, and not have dogs waking me up! But I am sure going to miss all the people I have built relationships with here!...along with the warm weather, palm trees, food, beach...

Wonderful missionary team in Santo Domingo (Punta Cana missionaries not present).

give.live.love.

punta cana.



Glorious day at the beach...I got to check surfing off my bucket list that day :)

I don't really even know where to start about our 2 weeks out in Punta Cana. First I'll tell you a little bit about Punta Cana in general. It is in the southeast part of the island and is absolutely gorgeous! It almost did not even feel like the Dominican Republic, because it is literally its own community. Very wealthy people live there and there are many resorts.  For example people who live there go on weekend shopping sprees to Miami and stuff like that. Two missionary couples moved out there about 2 years ago to start the first evangelical church in the area (there is one Catholic church, but other than that no churches in the city). They started the church last April and God has blessed it so much thus far.

We visited some Russians in the community. We all had a great time of fellowship with food, conversation, and singing.

Alyssa and I had the opportunity to observe and serve with the Climies and Stutlers with their busy lives in Punta Cana (plus see some of God's gorgeous creation!). The first week we stayed with the Jeff and Deborah, who have 2 children, AJ (6 years old) and Olivia (3 years old) and second week with Julie and Zach Stutler. We participated in many random ministries, including Bible studies, small group discipleships, helped prepare crafts for children's church, helped out with kids, hung out with the "AlliTeens" the youth group at church, washed lights at the church, helped at the Christimas show rehearsals the children are going to do, participated in a community fundraiser and met MANY people from the church and in the community. Because it is in the early stages of this church, relationship building is crucial. So we had the opportunity to meet people, eat meals with them, go to parties, etc. The church also put on an early Thanksgiving dinner for the community. Many non-churched people attended along with people from the church, but it was a great outreach to the community.

Early Thanksgiving dinner at the church, Allianza.

Sunday school...Julie does a great job!

Christmas baking/decorating with AlliTeens :)

I really enjoyed seeing much of what goes into starting a church and the beginning stages of it; I also really loved experiencing how some missionaries live life! I have got to experience how vital building relationships is, especially in such a warm culture like in the Dominican Republic. God is showing me more and more that with His grace, He can help me serve cross-culturally long term one day. He is also showing me the reality of how difficult it can be! I praise God for this experiance and all He has and is teaching me. Please pray for our last week and a half as we finish up the semester with school and everything else.



give.live.love.

God don't make mistakes...

One hard part about being here in the DR is the spiritual aspect.  We are doing ministry and going church, but the churches we usually go to are in Spanish, which makes it difficult to get much from it. I have felt like I haven't been learning anything new about God, though. It has been fine, it's just a different feeling. But the last couple of weeks God has really challenged and grown my faith. I am realizing that He has been growing my faith and knowledge of Him this whole time, I just had not realized it and had not experienced growth in this way before. He is doing this in a way I never would have imagined....not through the corruption I've seen in the city, or the poverty I've seen in the country, or just the stress of not knowing the language. No, He is teaching me faith through non-stop problems with my computer.

Beautiful mountains in the middle of the country

This is a big issue since all of my studies are done on my computer. Thankfully, since one of the missionaries here has the same computer brand as me, the first three issues were fixed easy enough, with out too much stress. That was not the case for the last issue. I had to take it to a shop and some guy said he would try to fix it (thankfully he spoke English!). The first step of faith was to leave my computer with him...you hear all these stories about people stealing stuff, so I was worried about that. It was still there later that day when we went to pick up, but was not fixed. I took it back to him again the next day because he said he would try something different, still not knowing if he could fix it, or if my computer would still be there when I went back.

we gave some school kids a snack of bread :)

let me introduce you to Gabriela, my hair stylist :)

After getting back from dropping it off a second time, I tried to focus on some homework, but was having a hard time since I was still stressed out about my computer, (and for those of you who may not know me very well, I do not stress out about things very easily). I had my ipod in on random country songs and the song that starts playing is called "God Don't Make Mistakes" by Jamie O'Neal. And it was just a great reminder "that's there's a reason to keep believing, God don't make mistakes." That just hit me, because I was so consumed with my computer and wondering what I was going to do if I couldn't get it fixed (since I still have at least 5 more papers to write), that I forgot that this did not surprise God.

we carved papayas for Halloween!!

In the mean time, a dear friend e-mailed me asking if I needed anything and mentioned that my mom had informed her about my malfunctioning computer. God worked it out that she was able to send me a computer! It brought me to tears to see how God cares so much about every detail of our lives and that He uses His children to accomplish His perfect will. It is so true that you never know the effect you may be having on someone!

many kids' only meal, we helped serve

Later that day I went to pick up my computer and he was able to fix my computer, so it could do basic functions, till the new one got here! All my data on my computer was not lost as well! And I only had to pay 500 pesos (less than U.S. $15). God is so good! I would have never thought that through my frustrating computer, God would teach me something and grow my faith! You never know with Him!

Thank you as always for your continued prayers. Alyssa and I are in Punta Cana for two weeks to do ministry with the missionaries here, so thanks for your prayers. Also it is getting to a real busy part of the semster, so prayer for good time-management would be good too! And prayer that I would finish my time here in the D.R. focused on what God wants me to do, and that I will continue to grow in faith.

give.live.love

Joan Jett and Katy Perry

Alyssa and I had the opportunity to live with a Dominican family for the first 16 days of this month.  They live in an apartment on a fairly busy street....we had a great window to view the daily commotion.  Day and night we often heard and felt the blasting stereos from cars driving by including songs from Joan Jett and Katy Perry at 1 or later in the morning!! I know the sounds that all the cars alarms make. Oh and rush hour in the morning and night was really something words cannot even describe! So that is a little bit of our living arrangements with never a dull or quiet moment.

View out of our window, not during rush hour :)

The family we were with included a mother, Paula, her 21 year old twins, Melissa and Julissa, and the twins' niece, Nicole.  Thankfully Melissa and Julissa know English, so we weren't totally on our own that entire time.  It was fun trying to communicate with Mama and Nicole, but was nice when the twins were there to translate if needed.  Every person in this family work very hard.  With their schedule we had the apartment to ourselves during the morning and sometimes even into the afternoon. Nicole is in school and would get home early afternoon. The twins work at a school in the mornings, which we had an opportunity to visit!

At the school Melissa & Julissa work at. This is Angela <3

And they sometimes had college classes in the afternoon. If they did not have college, they would come home and clean the house and often times cook.  Some nights during the week they had church obligations, some of which we were able to attend.  Mama left early in the morning for work and got home around 4:30 in the afternoon. When she got home she would cook dinner.  This family is absolutely wonderful!

L-R: Julissa, Alyssa, Me, Nicole, Mama, Melissa

During our stay we had the opportunity to see how Dominicans live.  There were always people going in and out of the apartment and they could really fill their living room with people! They love cooking for people and fellow shipping.  Oh and they think I eat hardly anything!!....and I always thought I ate a lot! Haha! They eat plantains at almost every meal and rice daily.  They work very hard, but when they have a spare minute will take a siesta :) And we were most definitely running on Dominican time! For instance, they said we were going to leave for church at 4:30 p.m. so we could walk there. We didn't end up leaving till after 5 and had to drive.  Or we went to a movie with them and were going to try to see a 7:10 p.m. movie. At 6:30 I ask one of the guys we were going with, when we were leaving and he told me that we should have already left, but Melissa had just gone to shower and get ready! Needless to say we didn't see that movie but one we got their in time for!  We learned to be even more flexible than we were before.

Sophia <3

 I always felt just a little out of my comfort zone while I was there because I was never quite sure how it was appropriate to act.  Remember when you were a young child and you went over to other people's house for a sleepover or dinner and it was sometimes a little awkward with the family because they did things differently.  Sometimes your parents were there to tell you what was appropriate to do. Well this was like that except I'm 21 and I didn't have parents telling me what was normal to do! You don't think about having to learn a culture, until you actually in a different one. It is good to know that happens, though!

Feliz Cumpleanos Luz! from Alyssa and Brittany

So now we are back at the guest house and is nice to get back into a little more regular routine and warm showers (I'm so spoiled), although living there was a nice change of pace. We celebrated Luz's birthday this week (Luz is the maid for the guest house, but also a very dear friend).  It was a blast!  We woke up early to decorate the house early before she got up. She was so surprised :) All the missionaries came over and we had a birthday cake and a little celebration, though she deserves much more.  Luz is one of the most incredible people I've met.  She lives to serve and give of herself with the best attitude.  Be praying for her because she has some health problems and she does not have much money especially since she gives much of it to here family, who live out in the country.

So the last couple weeks have been filled with birthday parties, and living the Dominican life...oh and I'll crack up every time I hear "I Love Rock n' Roll"!  I have learned very much, often times in humbling ways.  As always, thank you for your prayers...keep them coming!

give.live.love.

time seems to go faster in the Caribbean...

Well I can't believe we're on week number 7 in the Dominican Republic. It has been great, challenging, and growing all the same. I want to give a short summary my time here so far...

Oldest church in Western Hemisphere

HIGHLIGHTS: I can most definitely say that the highlight of my time here has been being with the people. Every week we attend youth group (people ranging in age from late teens to early 30s). I have really enjoyed hanging out with and getting to know Christians around my age and seeing their passion for God and life. We also attend a weekly cell group on Thursday with people from another church. That is with adults, so it is good to get a different perspective of life from them. There have also been times where we just hang out with some great people for coffee or dinner. Everyone we have come in contact with are very warm and have interesting lives that have been great getting to know.

People from my cell group and Encuentro church.

MINISTRIES: Some of the ministries we have been involved with include VBS, with a short term team that was here, at 2 different churches in the country, helping out in Sunday schools both in a country church and in Santo Domingo, beach clean-up community project, La Zurza (which I gave more detail about in the previous post), and helping teach/play with the kids at an English Preschool. I think that is everything up to this point! It has been great getting taste of all the different ministry options in the Dominican Republic.

English preschool <3

HARDEST PART: I would hands down say the most difficult part of living here is not knowing the language. Praise God I have been able to pick it up a little and understand significantly more than when I first got here, but it's still difficult. Another hard part is missing my friends and family, but I've been pretty good with that for the most part, thankfully!

Chilling at Punta Rucia aka paradise :)

OPPORTUNITIES: Some places we have gone in addition to places for ministry include Boca Chica, Colonial Zone (where Columbus founded the first city in the Western hemisphere) several times, and Punta Rucia in the North. I went to IKEA for the first time ever here, and Alyssa went to her first Cinnabon ever here! We've attended 5 different churches and met people from at least 7 different countries. We also got to hear the Senator of Santo Domingo's testimony, along with a very rare rags to riches story of a famous singer here in the Dominican Republic (he does concerts in the States as well!). Mary, is another person we got to meet. She is Dominican and left September 26th for North Africa for 9 months (so be praying for her too!).  It is so encouraging to see people from other countries going out to do missions! Many times people assume that it is an American thing to do to be a missionary, but it's great to see people from other countries going as well! Currently we are living with a Dominican family, which has been a blast so far! It is with a family we know from youth group; there are twins are age so it's a fun experience and a good change of pace :)

Mary and me.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Alyssa and I both got sick with a cold for the first time last week, so pray we stay healthy! Thankfully it wasn't worse.
• We're having a busy week with school, so pray we get everything done efficiently so we can spend time with our Dominican family
• Keep praying with everyone we come in contact with, that we will be salt and light to them! Just like every country, people need Jesus here!

As always your prayers are coveted and appreciated!!
give.live.love.

they will know us by our love...

I want to tell you a little about how the majority of people live here in the DR.  Most people who come to this beautiful island in the Caribbean do not get even a glimpse of what life is like for the majority of people here.  The area we had the opportunity to see this past weekend, most missionaries living here for 18 years haven't even seen and the middle and upper classes in society fear. We went to La Zurza, which is one of the poorest areas in Santo Domingo.  It is a community by the river on a hill, with houses almost on top of each other, and others literally hanging off the slopes so that if one storm were to come by people living in them would fall down the hill, losing their homes and most likely their lives.  This place reminded me of Africa; the poverty, the smell with trash everywhere, the market place where everyone talks about "Las Americanas", and the wonderful smiles of the children who have hope in their heavenly Father.

Henry and Yolonda, a couple who were our contacts in the area, head up the children's program.  They were absolutely wonderful! Henry radiates love.  Love for God, love for his wife, love for the children, and even love for their dog!  This man was so full of love and it was so obvious it was humbling to me. Yolonda also has such a huge heart for the children, and is such a support for her husband.

Henry and Yolanda with their kids

We were able to meet these kids and youth group.  They sang some songs for  us, we heard some of their testimonies (which were heart breaking), Alyssa and I shared about ourselves and sang with them too.  After all that we gave them some sandwiches and brownies, and they gave us a tour of the area.  The further down the hill we went the more impoverished it seemed to be.  By the time we got to the bottom or the hill by the river we were seeing people who have rarely seen white people (like I mentioned before most missionaries don't even go to the bottom of this community, much less anyone else who lives in or visits the country).

As I walked around this community, the more I saw the more my heart broke.  It broke for the people who live in these circumstances, it broke for the violence and the lost among this community, and it broke for the better off people who have no idea they live like this. It would be easy to look at a community like this and think that there is no hope and they are too far gone, but when I see this children's ministry I am reminded that God can do anything, including changing lost lives, poor lives, and hopeless lives.  I am also reminded of how much people can be impacted by love from just one couple who have a relationship with God.

I'm sure this river used to be pretty! Yes, that's all trash.

So if ever you think of it please pray for this couple, the children, the ministry in general, that the community would open up, and for all of their safety, especially the safety for the women and children.

give.live.love.

no growth in a comfort zone and no comfort in a growth zone

Well, I can definitely say I'm in a growth zone! I am having an incredible time, but am out of my comfort zone for most of the time! I just want to update you a little bit on my last week or so...

first ikea trip ever! we ate breakfast there overlooking the city :)

 school: so far so good, thankfully! I could get used to doing my schooling this way...it is really great! It is more flexible and originally I thought that was going to be a hindrance, but praise God it is working so nice! I seem to be more efficient this way.  Before leaving, this was one of my worries, so thanks for your prayers and pray it continues! 

life as i know it in the DR: sometimes I feel like I'm in Atlanta and other times i feel like I'm in Africa! the electricity goes out at least once a day (along with the internet), we didn't have water for 6 days and our reserve water almost ran out completely, my computer power chord died so my computer was dead for 2 days until we were able to buy another one (praise God we were able to find one down here, though!), constant activity and noise almost everywhere we go, meeting many great people, attempting to use my broken Spanish!...etc. Life has been very busy to say the least! Between school, church and ministries with that, meeting people, running errands (which takes probably at least 3 times as long here than in the States), and a little bit of sight seeing, we have been going almost non-stop!  It has been great, but pray we stay healthy and don't get too overdone!

It is kind of hard to put in words what exactly i am experiencing (though it is great)!  It is different from any other i have had in my life.  I've been overseas several times, but this has a much different feel.  It's different from short term missions, because those have a daily schedule (for the most part) and a goal for the entire trip. I don't have a specific "role" on a team, we aren't building something (necessarily), etc.

Living here for the semester still has a goal, but it is much broader; it is to experience the culture of the DR, help out with ministries at church, and get a little taste of what it will be like to live life in another culture...oh and school is thrown somewhere in there!  Some days we don't go out much and focus on school (what some may call a day at the office), other days we're out all day and feel we've gotten nothing accomplished (but get to experience Santo Domingo and its people at its fullest :)), while others are spent cooking with our maid (who's Dominican) and trying to catch a word or two of what she's saying!

fiesta after cell group, yum! (us with the pastor's wife)

I guess the main reasons I've been out of my comfort zone is because I don't speak Spanish very well, and also we have been asked to talk/give our testimony in front of churches which is always hard for me! I've always known this, but I'm definitely experiencing this to its fullest, that being flexible is the key! 

give.live.love.

what would we do in the states if we saw a guy riding his horse down the freeway...

Well it's only been a short time since I've been in the DR but I just wanted to give a little update of how I'm doing and what it's like down here...

Things I'm enjoying: seeing palm trees everywhere, the blue Caribbean so near by, delicious fruit and the food in general, cute cute kids who love having their picture taken, the maid singing as she does her work, the music in general, especially the worship music, the wonderful missionaries, never feeling cold :)

kids from a poor village that this short term mission team did a vbs with during the week

Things that take some getting used to: loudness and crazy driving in the city, neighbor's dog barking at 4:30am, Spanish everywhere! (which is expected, but still takes some getting used to), seeing guys ride their horse down the interstate, people wearing long pants and shirts in hot, humid weather (I know it's their culture but it still blows my mind!), school (kinda joking, but kinda serious :))

It's been a good couple of days but I mainly want to tell you about the couple who cooked dinner for us the other night.  They are Cuban, but are missionaries here in Santo Domingo.  They told their testimony and it is miracle they were even able to leave Cuba to come to the DR, through Haiti.  They are not even here legally, but are working on that yet need many prayers.  If they were to get deported back to Cuba they'd be put in prison for leaving Cuba for more than 11 months, 1 day and it would be even worse because they are pastors.  eventually they want to go to Africa, where they feel God calling them to be missionaries! They need lots of prayer though so if ever you think of it please be praying for them!

prayer requests:

1. our health- it could be easy for us to get sick especially because of the amount of time we will be here so pray God's protection on us for that.
2. time management- we don't have an abundance of school work yet but it will pick up LOTS so pray we'll be able to balance ministry, fun, and school.
3. the people- especially the youth group we will be with for much of our time.
4. Spanish- we have been having trouble figuring out what exactly is required for our Spanish course we are trying to obtain so pray all the details work out with all of that.

give.live.love.

if i couldn't fail...

what would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?

i saw this question recently and i realized how much difficulty i was having answering it! i know my passions but i don't know how to go about accomplishing them.  this is one of the main prayer requests for the DR; that God will give me vision about how He wants me to use my talents and passions, after i graduate, to further His kingdom.

something else God has been teaching me this summer is that sometimes the easy thing is not the always the right thing. Jesus Christ did not come to earth, live a perfect life, and die for me so that i could live an easy life; though this is what are culture tries to teach us.  but God never said it would be easy, He said He'd see me through and be with me every step of the way. and i believe that there's never a wrong time to do the right thing and vice versa, there's never a right time to do the wrong thing!

so that is just a little of what God is teaching me as i prepare for my time in the DR.  a couple other prayer requests as i get ready include:

1. funds- all my money has been raised for my ticket/other extra costs, praise God, but the more i raise the more spanish lessons i can get from my tutor.

2.  my heart- this has been a difficult summer for various reasons, but God has taught me much through it, especially how to fully rely on Him for my contentment; so pray that He continues to teach me through hard, lonely times as i never know what to expect living in a foreign country for 15 weeks. also that He will give boldness for Him in whatever circumstances!

3. the dominicans- pray that God will begin to be softening hearts that i will be coming in contact with already.  the majority of dominicans are catholic which means there is a lot of legalism, so i pray that God will open their eyes to the true freedom they can have!

4. vision- and as i mentioned before that while i am there that God will reveal to me more of what He wants me to do with my life!

i greatly appreciate all of ya'll for your support and prayers! this journey could not happen with out you and i'm thrilled to see how God works in each one of our lives because of this.  2 Corinthians 4:7-9 says, " But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." that is my hope for this journey and all of life.

give.live.love.

3 months and counting...

"for the sake of more than a billion people today who have yet to even hear the gospel, i want to risk it all. for the sake of twenty-six thousand children who will die today of starvation or a preventable disease, i want to risk it all. for the sake of an increasingly marginalized and relatively ineffective church in our culture, i want to risk it all. for the sake of my life, my family, and the people who surround me, i want to risk it all."

this comes from the book Radical by David Platt (i recommend it!),and it describes my passions in life. some people wonder why i'm giving up my senior season of soccer and my second to last semester of college to spend it in the dominican republic (DR) and honestly i'm not really sure! i'm torn because i am going to miss my friends, soccer, and being close to family but i know this is what God wants me to do- how HE will be glorified the most! and i'm trusting He will teach me so much through this experience and praying He'll reveal opportunities for my future.

so as David Platt put it i want to risk it all! even my comfort, security, soccer, time with friends and family, and the list goes on! but it's okay since following Christ isn't about those any of those things, but is instead about Christ and His love to the people of the world!

give.live.love.

everthing starts and ends with family :)

i'm home for the weekend for "Little J's" birthday celebrations.  i can't believe he's almost 15! ahh where has time gone!  it's always great being home, because it's a time to get away from the stresses of college and being able to be still- even if it's just for a little while (since my family is just as busy as me!); not to mention the free laundry and good food :).

the older i get the more i realize i have to make the most of every moment, because life is short!...and who knows where in the world i'll be soon!!  all that to say God knew what i needed when we He gave me my family...like it's said "life has many changes, but it starts and ends with family!"

give.live.love.

brad and haley's wedding. jan. 15, 2011

for charles....

the greatest coach i've ever had...

reminiscing...

it's been over 3 years now, that i've been retired from gymnastics and 3 years ago this valentines day that charles died...just been missing that life lately. sometimes i wonder what might have been, but then i remind myself, that i would not have the passion about missions and the world that i do now.  the Lord gave me a talent and passion for gymnastics, and then took it away, to replace it with a heart for Him and the least and the lost of this world.  He is breaking my heart for the things that break His...like i've asked Him to...even though it hurts.

anyways, nothing wrong with reminiscing about that chapter of my life.  it made my day the other day when one of my girls, who i coach gymnastics to, told me that i should be a college gymnast :)  God knew i needed that little boost.

this video describes my gymnastics life...i bawl my eyes out when i watch it...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ACPSechyzs

give.live.love.

the beginning

i'm not much of a writer or photographer or anything artsy like that, but i thought since i was going to study abroad in the Dominican Republic in the fall, this may be a good way to keep up with people...hopefully i'll just be able to figure this blog thing out :). anyways...here's the beginning!

give.live.love.