Women's Retreat

my two bunkmates, Melisa and Karen

my roommate Jessica and I at the "Jaraba-party"

This past weekend I had the privilege of attending a woman's conference for women from all over the DR.  The conference was held in both English and Spanish, so it was definitely a good mix of Dominican and American women.  The small groups that we met with were all people from our native language.  I ended up actually knowing almost all the people in my group.  It was good to spend time and get to know people who I knew on just an acquaintance basis.  We all had to choose a promise of God to represent us and to be our nametag.

Melisa and I at the retreat

I chose I am free. because I have really been struggling with getting caught up in my sin and being brought down by my guilt.  It was a good reminder that God sees me through the lens of the blood of Jesus and I am truly free.
Each morning and evening we had a Bible passage that we had to reflect on and think through in many different perspectives.  It was really good for me to bring my thoughts back to Jesus and refocus my heart and energy on what He has for me in my life.

Jess dressed up for our skit

I was most overwhelmed on this retreat in my dislike of community.  Jesus calls us to be in community with other believers, but I definitely try to revolt against this.  I enjoy being with others, but I don't enjoy sharing and opening up in things that expose my heart.  Because I have been hurt so often before, I feel like I have to have a wall to keep people at an arm's distance while expecting them to share and open their heart to me.  It was so humbling and breaking for me to see that I need others.  I was thankful for the encouragement that I received this morning during our small group time that even though I may only have a short 5 months left here in the DR, the reward of sharing in deep, Christian community is worth the definite hard time that will follow when I have to leave...

So pray that I continue to use what I learned and that it wouldn't just be a "Jesus-high" of emotion but that what I have learned at the women's conference can be used to grow me...

Things to do before I turn 25...dye my hair?

Okay, so most of you know that I do enjoy the color of my hair.  But last weekend I had a slight mid-midlife crisis.  One of my friends, Jessica, decided that she wanted to highlight her hair before her birthday.  So I said, "What the hay!  I'll do it.  I've never done it and I'm getting old.  I think it's time for me to take a walk on the wild side while I'm still young and freestyling in the DR." 
So that's that.  and here are the result of my beautiful pink highlights. 

Funny sidestory:  One of the parents of my students from last year came up to me today and raved about how much she loved my hair.  Then I noticed that she had pink highlights in her hair too.  I told her that I only did it because I had seen her with her hair like that.  :)  Hilarity.  I love living in the DR. 

Things to do before I turn 25...Host a baby shower

One of my favorite verses from the Message is from 1 Peter:  "Instead, bless—that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing."  Well, last night I was able to bless my friend Caroline in hosting a baby shower for her.  Caroline works for Students International here in the DR and I have gotten to know her through some other friends and ultimately through watching football every Sunday at her house. She and her husband Ryan came on our Thanksgiving vacation with us, and we have enjoyed spending time together playing games, bowling, eating, watching movies, and enjoying life. :)



Maggie's ribbon was a little too long...


At her baby shower, we enjoyed watching her open her new carseat and stroller that we all had pitched in money to buy her. We played many games, including picking a length of ribbon to see if people could guess how big Caroline was around, trying to determine baby food flavors by their look and smell, and we had two girls try and drink apple juice from a baby bottle. It was so fun! There was also much yummy food that we all brought to share.

My 2 favorite parts of the night were seeing Caroline smile so much and praying for her and her family. I love seeing the joy that is brought when others completely love. Every single person who was there at the baby shower loved on Caroline and made her feel so special.

The most important thing we did for Caroline at the shower was pray for her. I wanted her to know that we were supporting her not only with our gifts and words but also lifting her, Ryan, and James up to the Lord in confidence that He will provide for and take care of them. It was beautiful being able to lay hands on her, pray, and listen to others pray for her peace, safety, and a complication-free labor and delivery. I teared up a little during this, listening to women lifting Caroline up and showing their love and compassion for her and her little family.   I firmly believe that the Lord heard our prayers as Jesus promised, "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."



The 4 pregnant women at the shower



This was definitely a new experience for me and a complete joy. I loved the gratitude that radiated from Caroline for all the women that surrounded her and love her down here in the DR. I can imagine that it’s hard to be away from friends and family from home, so it’s nice to feel like we are not only a replacement but an addition to the family that she has in the States.   

Like it says in 1 Peter, Caroline's baby shower not only blessed her but also blessed me by the joy that I received in seeing her so happy and loved.

Cloud of Witnesses

Hebrews 12:1 
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 
When we started WyldLife here in Jarabacoa, we discussed the necessity for our students to have strong Christian influences from the adults that they see every day, but in a more relaxed setting.  We talked about how our students crave attention and time with adults that they see care about them.  How this influence and relationship that we build with them will ultimately lead them to Christ. 

          It got me thinking back to the pivotal time in my life that I started getting serious about my future and my relationship with Christ.  I had the awesome opportunity to be a manager for our girls’ basketball team in high school.  My friend from math class, Jayme, (so high school, right?) asked if I would be interested in helping out.  My 6^th grade teacher was a basketball coach so I knew her and Jayme and decided that it could be fun and really liked the girls on the team and wanted to be cool like them (story of my life!).  Never did I believe that this opportunity would change my life.  

          I spent so much time working with the coaches, laughing, reliving our many, many, many inside jokes (that got put up on the wall of the coaches’ office), and talking with them.  I would just like to write down some of the inside jokes so that we have them written here…”Coach left her gum at the cottage.”  The Hub Bootery, “The balls are warm.” Lil Pimp Dog, “T is a leaper.”  Pat the Monkey, Wolf, The Abby Noll Play (all plays run by the players)…man those memories still bring a smile to my face.

          Some of my most memorable moments are when the coaches would spend time with us after games or practice and talk with us while we drank sparkling grape juice.  I remember craving this time with them and cherishing it deeply.  Now, I don’t know (7/8 years later!) if they would ever remember doing that, but they did and that meant the most to me.  It was them who created the “cloud of witnesses” around my heart that made me want to grow up to be just like them.  These women are 4 of the most amazing Christian women that I’ve ever known. 

           I knew that when I went to college I would miss that valuable time with the coaches.  Never did I imagine that the relationship that they began with us when I was 16/17 years old would continue until I was 24!  We have gotten together every single summer and Christmas since I left for college.  We all sit and talk about life and what things are new and reminisce about the “good ol’ days” of basketball.  All those ladies have left CHS to go on to bigger and better things, got married, had kids, kids growing up, going to school and college, growing…I love it.  I love being a part of their lives and am thankful that they are a part of mine.

          This time still blesses my heart.  I feel so encouraged in the decisions I have made and know that I can count on all of them to lift me up in prayer and encouragement throughout the year even if we don’t talk all that often between our gatherings.  So Dawn, Trinda, Beth, and Lisa, thank you.  You bless my heart and I am so thankful for who you are and the impact that you have had on my life. 

          So I think about my WyldLife kids and the potential influence that I could have on their lives and it encourages me.  I know that 1 person can make a difference in the life of a kid, and I am encouraged that God could use me to be that person to change a kid’s life and lead them to a relationship with Christ.  

Christmas Program

My 2 Roommates and Me

Karen, Myself, and Melisa

Nihcolle and Dannerys

Last night was our annual Christmas program.  It was exciting this year because our staff really got involved in many of the acts!  It was amazing to hear their beautiful voices.  Also, our staff has brought many talents to JCS afterschool activities, so it was fun to see the activities showcased at our program, celebrating Christ's birth. 

Mi Hondurena!

The highlight of the show (in my opinion) was the last act, in which my roommate Melissa had come up with a 12 Days of JCS skit that we then sang.  It was so funny, and although most of the people had left by that point, it was still fun to hear the parents dying laughing at what we were singing about.  It was all projected in Spanish up on the wall so that the parents who didn't speak English could still understand.
My students did a drama to the song Mary, Did You Know by Kathy Mattea.  It was so sweet and cute!  They all looked so good all dressed up.  I had a blast!  It was a great final celebration before our last week next week!

Jess, Myself, and Melisa

Jess, Myself, Melisa, and Laura

Karen and Me at the Program

Thanksgiving Weekend!

Melisa, me, and Jess with Santa

Best Friends Forever!!!

Wednesday was fall festival!  The students had a half day that started with chapel, then the kids basically went crazy, doing crafts, playing games, dancing, etc.  It was a blast.  Our theme this year was Cowboys, so all the kids looked SO cute in their cowboy/girl outfits! 

sweet Anthony

Last weekend for Thanksgiving weekend we decided to hit up the beach! :)  On Thursday we had a staff dinner for the Americans and Dominicans at our school.  It was a blast to share food (Dominican and American) together with our staff.  We had a blast and had wonderful food!  I was stuffed!

God Bless America snowman!

Friday morning, I headed to the beach with Melisa, Jessica, Allison, the Speciales, Ryan, and Caroline.  The ride up there was fun, through the mountains.  I had taken my motion sickness medicine, so I enjoyed the ride thoroughly!  :)  We spent the next two days lounging on the beach, at the pool, and watching TV.  It was fun to spend time with people that I love!  Our house had it's own little pool with a little table in the middle and bench (the judge's table) where the boys enjoyed jumping off and seeing who could jump the furthest.  It was fun to spend time with the two little boys that I love so dearly, Danny and Anthony.  They are good substitutes as I miss my little cousins so much and have been more or less absent over the last 3 years.  

Dan throwing Anthony into the pool

It was hard to come back to reality, but I enjoyed knowing that I would get to celebrate my half birthday!  And that I was going to get to go home in 3 weeks!!

Merry Christmas!

Half-Birthday

This past Thursday was my half birthday!  As exciting as it sounds, it was a good excuse to have a party and enjoy friends!  On Thursday night we had an awesome cake and some of my favorite people were here and we played Bananagrams.  The cake.  wow.  I cannot even begin to describe how yummy it was!  Marshmallow stuffing, a hard chocolate outer coating and chocolate cake with dulce de leche filling (translation unknown!)  It was a blast!  DJ Holla threw it down with some old school hits, which was so fun to sing and listen to!

Then on Friday we went to Santiago to go bowling and have dinner.  It was so fun!  I had never been bowling here nor was I ready for the frigid air conditioning that the bowling alley brought.  But alas, it was such a good time with people that mean a lot to me!  The men at the bowling alley were all up in arms because Caroline, who is about 33 weeks pregnant, wanted to bowl with us.  They were like, "Okay, you are all witnesses that we warned her not to bowl...in case something happens."  Good news:  James (Tigo) didn't make his appearance last night!  :)

I realize more and more how much I value the women that I have gotten to know here.  I am so thankful for the way that each has poured out into my life individually and together as a community.  It's something that I often think about and thank God for...