3rd Grade...

I'm doing a Bible Study through the book of James right now.  James is the perfect book for me.  It convicts me of all of my temptations and weaknesses and challenges me in ways to live a better life.

Today I read a chapter about our lives.  Our lives are but a breath to God.  He tells us to count the days because our lives are so short.

I just found out that my third grade teacher has leukemia.  The irony of that statement is laughable to me.  Mr. Irwin was always the tough guy.  He challenged me in so many academic and personal areas.  When I sit and think, there is so much that I clearly remember about 3rd grade, where my memory seems to lack in so much of the rest of elementary school.  I remember losing in Around the World to Blake Branning for the multiplication table 7 x 6.  (I have not ever forgotten that answer since then.)  I remember him throwing away my homework and telling me I had to redo it because of my terrible, terrible handwriting.  (Those of you who know how great my handwriting is now, I have Mr. Irwin to thank for most of that.)  I remember Mr. Irwin playing basketball and always including everyone, even those who couldn't hit the broad side of a barn (as my mom likes to say).  He challenged me to stop being a baby when I would be emotional and cry about my shortcomings.  But most of all I know that he loved me.  He took time out to talk to us and to hear about our days and lives and I know that he did care.  I remember going to basketball games where he was the head coach and him waving to me. (or maybe he was waving to my mom, who was his close friend...but either way...) I felt like a celebrity that Mr. Irwin knew who I was.

Now that I am a third grade teacher, I desire to challenge my students in the same way.  I want them to grow to be humans that have good handwriting, know their math facts, and toughen up.  But I also desire for them to know that I love them.  I love them deeply.  Although Mr. Irwin never talked about God to us (public school, holla), I want my students to know about God and about His love.

I know our lives are nothing but a breath and that we can't change when we will die or what will happen to us, I pray that God's view of my life will be pleasing.  Although my life is short, I want to bring others to know Him and to love Him.  I want Him to have the glory in my life and in my heart.  I want others to know that I love them deeply.

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:14


I pray that my "mist" touches others in a way that will bring them closer to Christ...and that I will live every day fully and love with reckless abandon...Amen.


Addendum:  As we were talking about America pride the other day, the IU fight song popped into my head.  Yes, I learned that in 3rd grade too.  I remember walking up to Miss Emrich's room and singing it in front of her door.  Ah, good times. 

I Strike the Fear of God...

So today the 6th grade teacher, Jess, came up to me and told me this hilarious story.

One of her story starters today was an embarrassing moment.  One of her students wrote about how,

"One time in 4th grade, Miss Brewer yelled at me and I was so scared that I peed my pants a little."

Jess asked her if it was a true story, and she said yes.

HILARIOUS.

Wyld Life Camp

In 2 weekends, the 11th-13th of February, my Wyld Life team and I will be taking a group of kids to Pico Escondido for camp.  This is so exciting because for us because all of the work that we have been doing this year will be culminated.  We will be having "Club" (our big group time), "Campaigners" (our small group time), and lots and lots of crazy games and fun.


The kids are really looking forward to this time.  Our students have had to do two outreach projects to earn scholarships for camp.  One day they had to go pick up garbage from the river and throughout town.  They spent 4 hours and I think bagged almost 40 bags of trash!  Isn't that awesome?  Now they have a "BAB" challenge.  They have to Be A Blessing to others and then write a report about how they were able to help someone else out.  I think it is awesome to see our kids take ownership of the things that they want to do to help bless others.

In order to fulfill this desire, we have to raise money to help fund  the scholarships for our kids.  I'm asking for you to help partner with me and help fund specific kids that I have been pouring out into.

Alexandra Tejada

Cristal Parent

Gill Quezada

Claudill Mateo

These special girls have been a part of my life since I've been here at JCS.  I am prayerfully asking God to help these girls see the joy of the Lord and to know that He loves them in the midst of the turmoil of life.

Thank you for continuing to support me here in the DR! :)

Information for donating to our students' Wyld Life camp:  (please send me an email letting me know that you have donated, so that I can let my team leader know!)  

You can send it straight to Young Life (parent organization of Wyld Life) at the address below.  You should put"X3109 - Campership" in the memo line of the check.  Or if you want to pay by debit or credit card you could do that online as well.  

Send Checks to:

Young Life 
420 N. Cascade Ave. 
Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Pay online by following the instructions below: 

You can do this by clicking here and following the instructions below.  If the link isn't working the web address is https://giving.younglife.org.

1.  Click on "Give a Gift"
2.  Click on "Young Life Area Ministry" button
3.  Click on "Search by Area Number" and type in X3109. Select this ministry.
4.  Click on the "Camp Scholarship" button
5.  Type in the dollar amount and click "Add Gift"


THANKS again!  :)

DR Bucket List

Here are a few things that I am going to throw out there that I would like to do before I leave in June...

1.  Go to the Caribbean Sea and spend significant time there

2.  Snorkel for starfish

3.  Ride my moto to a new place

4.  Rent a 4-wheeler for a weekend and take all sorts of amazing excursions

5.  see the whales in Samana
6.  visit Lake Enriquillo in the Southwest of the DR
7.  go to the beach with new Doulos friends
8.  go to Carnaval in La Vega
9.  eat ribs from the place halfway down the mountain
10.  buy a CD and/or shoes from the Colmado
11.  buy a DR t-shirt
12.  ...


I think my life will be complete after I accomplish all of these things.  Who's with me?!  :)

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.