My Parents Came To Visit!

On March 27th, my parents visited the Dominican Republic for the very first time.  I can't even describe how happy I was to have them here.  I missed them and was happy just to be able to spend time with them.  It was also great to be able to introduce them to the people and places I've been telling them about.

They were able to be here for a week.  We spent the first few days in my home in Hato Mayor.  We had time to talk and catch up a bit.

My dad worked with some of the guys from the construction team,

showing them how to build some chairs from the wood pallets.  He also helped me with

some things around the house that needed repair or some of his "handy-work".

The guys from the team learned a lot from him,

and it seemed they had a good time working together!

From this....

.....to this!

While the guys were working, my mom and I made lunch. 
It was a little more challenging than normal on my little gas, but we did it!

While they were here, my parents were also able to join us for the
"Parent's Night" celebration.  The youth invited all of their parents, and we gave
them an update on what we've been doing in the ministry. 

It was also a big deal that my parents were able to meet and get to know Joselo, a bit.  Joselo is a special man I've been spending a lot of time with for the past year and a half!  

Joselo is currently working as a barber in a small shop in Hato Mayor. 

He also travels several times a week to a small Haitian community where he teaches,

preaches and works as a pastor in that community.  

One afternoon, Joselo's mother and her husband came and took us on a little tour. 
We went to the homes of Joselo's grandmothers and his sister. 
My parents got to meet several members of Joselo's family, see where they live, etc. 
Later, we had a special lunch at Joselo's mother's house with his brothers and step-dad. 

Another thing my parents really wanted to do while they were here was see the famous beaches of the Dominican Republic.  They wanted me to go with them, and I didn't object!!  For the second part of the week, we went to a resort in La Romana.  We spent four nights there, and it was wonderful!!

The pool and the beach were extaordinary, and the food was great. 

I was also thankful for things like a soft bed, a tv and especially hot water!

At the beach, my dad took us on one of these sailboats one afternoon. 
When he was a kid, he had made a small sailboat and used it on a lake in MN.  This was the first time he operated one in an ocean, and he did great.  I've always wanted to go on a sailboat!

The best part was sharing these experiences with my mom and dad.  I've been praying for several years that my family would be able to come and visit.  The name of the resort was "Dreams." The name was perfect.  It really felt like a dream come true for me!  Several times I felt the need to pinch myself.  I praise God for the family I have been placed in, and for bringing them here to visit.  I love you Mom and Dad!  I hope you're able to come again soon!  

Resurrection Lutheran Church - Mission Possible!

Jovenes Educando con La Verdad and Resurrection Lutheran Church working as one for the glory of God.

What a week!! While we were still in the planning stages, someone from the Resurrection team named the week, "Mission Possible!"  Looking back, I just have to smile and praise God.  So much happened in such a short amount of time - I still can hardly believe it. 

From the beginning, the idea for this week was that the Resurrection Team would work TOGETHER with our team of Dominican leaders.  We'd been talking via SKYPE and planning for several months. 

The Resurrection team asked the Domincan leaders how they could best support them in their work for the Lord and wanted to learn more about what God is already doing here in the Dominican Republic. 

The Resurrection team arrived on Friday.  They had the night to get setteled and rest up for the week. Saturday morning we jumped right in.  We meet on the basketball court and spent a little time getting to know one another.  We prayed together, worshiped together and then we washed each others feet. 

It is hard to comprehend the depth of God's love for us.  I try to imagine how the disciples must have felt as the Son of God humbled himself, taking the position of a slave and washed the disciples feet.  Not only did he was their feet.  Later, Jesus allowed himself to be hung on a cross in order to pay the price for all of our sins.  Now, I am free from my sins and allowed to live in the power of God's love now and forever. 

When we grasp this, and hold on to it for longer than a few minutes, things suddenly get flipped upside down, and we start living for something or someOne much bigger than ourselves.  We pray that our fragile and finite time here on earth could somehow be used by God to accomplish His purposes.  We give all that we can - regardless of the cost - to be a part of His awesome, unending story.

The two teams united and continued working out the last-minute details for the different ways we would serve together throughout the week. 


Construction - A small group of guys and girls took a few afternoons to extend an awning on the side of the church in Prudencio.  Now, when our youth team goes out for their English/Discipleship classes, they have shade from the sun and protection from the rain.  This is a gift!
 

Pastor Lee and Benoi, one of the men in the discipleship class digging a hole for the posts.



Working together on the structure.



Latly, adding the tin for the roof.

All done.  Way to go team!  


Medical Clinics

Maritza, one of the members of Shalom church is a doctor.  She has always wanted to have her own clinic in which she could help provide medical services to families who can't afford it.  The Resurrection Team included a doctor, nurse and occupational therapist.  They were interested in learning more about how they could partner with the youth and the church in meeting some of the ongoing medical needs here in the Dominican Republic.

Maritza recruited two Dominican doctors and the doctors worked together to do two days of medical clinics.  The US team brought some of the medication that is cheaper to buy in the US; Maritza and I worked together to gather the medications that are cheaper here in the Dominican Republic. 

Doctora Maritza working with a mother and her child.

 

Doctor Sue and Nurse Ann worked together to diagnose and treat patients. 



Kenia and Lujany are training to be nurses.  They were a great help in gathering and organizing the medical supplies.  They also got lots of practice taking peoples' blood pressure!

The prayer team also consisted of people from MN and from the DR.  They prayed together for the patients and shared with them about the love God has for us. 

Couldn't have done any of this without the translators and the folks working outside in triage. 

Everywhere we went Krissy was a kid-magnet. They loved her instintly and played all
sorts of fun games.  They only got in trouble once, that I'm aware of, while playing baseball with a stick and a can.  Someone hit a foul ball!  :)   

With the medication that was left, Maritza and I are planning to do another clinic in an area with a lot of need.  She's going to gather a few of her colleagues again, and we'll recruit a couple more volunteers to help with triage.  Who knows, maybe someday Maritza will have her clinic after all!


Children's Ministry
As the Shalom leaders talked to the Resurrection team about their children's ministry, we discovered that Deb, the occupational therapist, works in schools to help children with handwriting all the time.  We've been needing a systematic way to teach handwriting to the children in the communities we've been working with.  Deb taught us a lot about how to teach kids to write, and she brought all sorts of tools and activities we can use to help students improve.  

   

  

 First, Deb taught us how to use the tools. 

 

 Then, we went together to the communities to teach the children.
We are now using these resources every week with the students! 

 

Icing on the Cake - Sewing Machines

The ladies on our team were ecstatic to have the opportunity to work with a sewing machine.  They made cute dresses out of pillow cases and then got creative and designed some purses.   The sewing machines are in my house right now.  We are looking forward to using them in the near future. 

Nice job, Ladies!

How do I sum all of this up?  On the last day, we went together to a quiet place where we could talk, reflect a little and celebrate the week.  This time together was really special as well.  In the morning, we talked about what went well during the week, and eventually (as people got more and more comfortable opening up), we talked about the areas in which we can improve next time. 

In the afternoon, we all went swimming in the pool - the first group to test the pool at Camp Shalom!

  

We thank God for our new friends and for the opportunity to serve together with them.  

 

Linda says, "See ya later!"

Wow! Can you believe that it's already the end of April and I'm about to leave for Minnesota, I can't!  So much has happened over the last few months... I don’t even know where to start. Perhaps with my favorite part, the people!

It has been such an honor and pleasure being a part of the daily lives of my family here. Kristin and I were asked many times if we were sisters.  We would answer, "in Christ we are sisters." That is how I felt about everyone; they are my sisters and brothers in Christ, my family in the Dominican Republic. 

Bus ride to church.  The bus wasn't the full that day.  It’s usually standing room only in the isle.

Bus ride to church.  The bus wasn't the full that day. 

It’s usually standing room only in the isle.

  I have mixed emotions about leaving, I know that it is time to go home to MN and I am excited to see my family and friends (I've missed them)! At the same time I am sad to leave my new friends! I am thanking God that I have met them and we have had time to touch each other's lives in positive meaningful ways.


My painting friends, Melony and Evelyn!
 Melony wants to be a teacher or a preacher, and Evelyn wants to be a nurse when they grow up.
They are both fun to paint with!



I’ll keep learning Spanish, although it will be tough when most of the people I will be around speak English as their first language, not Spanish anymore. It will be nice to be more fluent and have more freedom with conversations in the future. I do regret not knowing Spanish or having a little more background on the culture before my journey started. This is something I will consider next time; however, I am glad that didn’t stop me from going. I would have missed out on so much!

There is a product brand name for different foods called "Linda", I personally think it is the best!
I'm not bias or anything ;o)

When I first arrived Kristin and I talked about changing my name or going by my middle name while I was in the Dominican Republic. In Spanish Linda means "pretty" or "beautiful". You can imagine what it would be like if you asked someone what their name was and they replied, "Pretty.  My name is Pretty." 

When I'm with my friends, I often say, "Hey beautiful how are you?"  They do this here with each other, too.  I heard my name so many times, but they weren't talking to me.  Now if someone really is calling for me, they have to say my name a few times before I look.

One day in teh market, there was a sweet older lady that stopped me.  She grabbed my arm and said "Linda, and a bunch of Spanish I didn't understand."  She had such kind eyes. I touched her arm, and said God Bless You. 

Veiw at KM16, I could have stood there for hours.

Some of the things I will miss when I leave the DR; Kristin, of course!

 The new friends I've made and started to make strong connections with. I’m thanking God for facebook so I can stay connected with some of my new friends.

The majestic view when you look any direction. They are breath taking!!

Motoconcho ~ I know it can be hard to believe after my last post, but it's true. I know it's their job as a taxi service and we pay them, but it's still a motorcycle ride to me and its fun!

And my cat ~ Tom!

Tom ~ he was cute and looked playful.  Sorry Tom, you'll have to stay here. 
You wouldn’t like the snow anyway. .

I know and believe that God has a purpose and has used me during the last few months. When we are willing and allow Him into our lives, we become a part of a greater story, His story. I’m honored and so blessed that He is generous and let me be a part of His work the past few months! I’m ready for the next part of the journey. God is amazing!

   

Will I come back to the DR? Yes, I do believe I will travel back in the DR. "When?" you might ask. I am not sure when, but that is a good question. I have hopes that I'll be able to return before the end of this year, perhaps next year. Let's let God answer that question in His time. I will wait and be ready for His timing.

Dios te bendiga!  Hasta Luego!

Did I mention I’m not a fan of saying “good-bye”??  I prefer to say “see you later” or "Hasta luego" instead!