Rain!!

Hallelujah for the rain! It has cooled things off a great deal, and I got extremely excited really early this morning when I began to hear the thunderous booms in the sky right above us. Today reminds me of Virginia, the breeze blowing and the air very cool. I love it!!!

The rain continuously reminds me of God renewing the earth, the land, the animals and often us as it is when it rains that we remember to stop for a moment and rest. I got up and sat out on the porch watching and listening to the rain for 3 hours this morning. I don't think I have ever in my life sat in one spot for 3 hours "just because," but today I did. As the rain kept hitting the roof and sliding off I just sat in silence, listening, watching, and waiting. I thought about how many times it has rained in VA when I've had to go to work or to school or I've had something to do so I've ran around in the rain getting things done, while never truly appreciating the fact that it was raining. Today I sat and just appreciated. I am so thankful for the rain as we have really needed it, I'm thankful for the cool air that makes it much easier for me to breathe, I'm thankful for the tiny lizard that has sat across from me for hours watching me as I watch it and the rain. 

I sat and after awhile began to talk to my Father in heaven. My dad would tell you that the one thing he never doubts about is that I pray, but today I prayed like I have never prayed before. The one thing I have always hated is that I am constantly in a hurry, constantly having to do Something. Today I enjoyed the moments I could read, think about what I was reading and then pray for as long as I wanted about everything that has been heavy on my heart for so long. One thing God has taught me in my short time here, is that I put too much importance on time. I left my phone in the States and once I got here I had a moment of panic as I realized I also left my watch so I have no way of knowing what time it is until I turn on the computer to check my email. I have learned to appreciate not knowing what time it is, learning to work quickly at whatever it is that I am doing, and then to enjoy the quiet moments, when there is nothing going on and I can simply sit in silence and think. I thank God for this time today and I pray for each of you as you read this, that you will be blessed with moments of rest, time to think, to reflect and to pray. God Bless You as you go about your day and weekend, may it be filled with joy in knowing that God loves you. 

Starfish Missions

"Meet Chris and Mike my new friends and dear brothers in Christ. A few years ago Mike (the one on the right) began to dream of a way he could serve the children of La Romana. God gave him a passion and desire to make a difference and after much prayer and consideration he began to work on gathering support for a mission that would prepare children here for school as an education will get you far in the Dominican Republic. He created a non-profit organization called Starfish Missions, based on a Youtube video about a little girl walking along the beach, she sees dozens of starfish and begins to pick them up and toss them back into the sea. A passerby asks her what she is doing, and she says "I am helping them grow, if they stay here, they will die, if the go out, they will grow big and strong and will survive." and the passerby begins to help the little girl. Mike uses this example to show that there is great potential in these children just as there was in the starfish, we have to give them a little help in order to see them grow and mature and survive on their own. 50 donors sent funds (75.00 per child, they were thinking they could assist about 40 or so children)... God moved in a mighty way and 40 children turned into 66 children... no one was left wanting anything, all had notebooks and supplies for school including brand new uniforms, gym uniforms, new socks and shoes etc. You may think "oh I can only afford to give so little" ... but what you don't realize is that God can do SO much with so little here! I have realized that there is such a huge need for school supplies here, and I learned that if the children can't afford simple things like notebooks (each child needs anywhere from 5 to 10) they are not able to go to school. Can you imagine not being able to finish your education because there is no money for a notebook? God has laid it on my heart to assist in these efforts and I am praying that others in the States will recognize this need and help as well... Notebooks here cost about 45 pesos, that's $1.15 roughly now think a moment... a soda costs about $1.29, if you gave up a Single soda a month... a child here would have a notebook and would be allowed to attend a single class. 

Something to consider...

I pray for many blessing for Starfish Missions and I hope you do to, as in 3 days they were able to give Hope to 66 children and their families who if not for the aid of these American men would not be able to attend school. Praise be to God that there is awareness spreading of the needs of the children here!

Be thankful today, for your education, for the ability to buy things like notebooks, but most of all, be thankful for your family and for children. God Bless You. 

Todos Los Ninos

These are my dear sisters in Christ and good friends here! Paula (16 years), Raquel (11 years), and Nairobi (14 years). They are such a blessing to me, I love them dearly and enjoy spending time with them at Victor's house, playing dominoes, laughing, and talking. Paula is only 16 years old and is already going to attend the University this fall!! She has graduated high school with a certificate to practice massage therapy, and she is very very intelligent! I am so impressed by her, she lives with her two sisters and father and she at 16 has taken on the role of mother for her family. Her younger sister Nairobi is truly a sweetheart, she is very bashful and often looks down or away when someone speaks to her or pays her a compliment. I love talking to Nairobi and watching her interact with the babies in the church, I believe she will make a great mother one day! And sweet little Raquel, she is so funny and energetic, she often plays with Victor's children, Nestor and Kimberly. She loves to play dominoes with Nestor and I and she truly loves her friends and family. You can tell she truly admires Paula and I can tell she is Paula's "mini" just as my youngest sister Courtney is my "mini-me."
I must say that the children here are absolutely adorable! I have had so much fun teaching the younger children English as well as getting to know the older children and teenagers in the church. This picture is of my dear little Aylin Carolina. She is extremely smart and picks up on things very quickly. She is a joy to be around and very funny! She keeps the class laughing and having fun!

 I have always wanted little brothers and now I have bunches!! This photo is of Melkaide and his brother Edwin. Edwin attends my english class everyday and he is the rambunctious one I have to go stand beside every now and then to get him to pay attention. His brother has clung to me the past few days so I have a feeling I will be seeing him in class tomorrow as well! Please pray for these and all the children of La Romana as they all have smiles on their faces, but many are without basic necessities like food in their bellies. Pray for blessings on their families, and for the church here as the church tries to take care of its members by meeting their physical and material needs as well as their spiritual needs. 

As always, Thank you for taking the time out of your day to read this, and I hope you enjoyed it!

Life in the Dominican Republic

Today as I sit here at the kitchen table with the fan blowing away, I am at peace. Life in America is wonderful, we are truly blessed with many things, but I am enjoying the Dominican way, ... no work on Sundays, only rest, and Rest I plan to do! We (Victor, Yudermy, and the American guests Mike, Chris, and I) have had a very busy week so it was wonderful to go to the church today and be able to sing praises to God and enjoy ourselves. This picture is of Cuerpo De Cristo, the Christian Church and Body of Christ in La Romana where Victor Jimenez preaches. It is a place of joy and of thanksgiving as we pray for every blessing God sends our way. Today was wonderful learning with my dominican brothers and sisters in Victor's bible study for young people at 9am, then at 10am our worship service began. We had wonderful praise and worship with Fran on the drums, Jeffrey playing electric guitar, another brother playing bass, Omar on piano, Victor on percussion, Ricardo on lead vocals, Rhoda and Yalmille and two other girls singing backup. We sang an awesome song.. El Senor, Esta en Este Lugar (The Savior or God is here in this place) and afterwards Queremos Ver (We want to see) in which the whole church would sing, Queremos Ver and hop to the right, Queremos Ver, and hop to the left and then switch places with someone. It was So much fun praising God and dancing with my Christians sisters here! Paula and her sisters Nairobi and Raquel are dear friends of mine (ages 16, 11, and 14)... they are sweet as can be and are very shy, but get them in a church praising God and they let loose! :-)

I believe on of the greatest things about life here is that the Body of Christ treats one another like family and so its very exciting to see my family three or four times a week at the church. Sundays we have services from 9-to close to 1 then on Wednesdays we have bible study and a time of Oraciones (prayers) from 7:30-9. Then on Saturdays the young people meet for a "youth group" type of meeting, we have someone speak, we take up offering, my friend Euri usually preforms a mime drama and then we have a lot of praise and worship with dancing and singing. The body of Christ here is alive and kicking and they are a joy to be around!!

I hope that each of you will find joy in your hearts as you attend church tonight or wherever you may be, God Bless each of you and thank you for taking the time to read!