Gracias a Dios

Here I am... one week in... this is hard.

I feel exhausted, scared, and under qualified.  

Doulos is an English Immersion school. 

The students are taught in English even though they speak Spanish.  

Tricky, huh?

Doulos English Immersion is K-12.

That means, yep you guessed it, they come to me speaking only Spanish.  

I knew this would be hard, but there is no way to understand how hard.

Thank you Lord for giving me 4 sweet & patient English speaking kiddos, who help me a ton :)

But I am still feeling very weak & weary.  

Thankfully though, I was reminded at church this weekend, that God works best through our weakness.  

I'm giving Him lots to work with these days...

Even though it is so hard to communicate, I am so so so grateful for this group of kiddos.  

They have already stolen my heart.  

Through the hard days and repeated phrases, they give me many reasons to smile.  

Here is our first week as the Kindergarten Family...

Thank you for all the prayers sent my way.
Every single one has been answered.
On to week 2!

Tour [Music For My Heart]

Several songs have come alongside me in my journey these past few months.

They all have played their different roles quite well.

Some have made me laugh, some have made me cry, some have spoken truth into my heart and mind.

I can't share them all right now, but let me show you a few...

"Oceans" by Hillsong United

One night, back in March, I tearfully admitted to my roommates that I believed the Lord wanted me to move.  It was a huge deal for me to say that out loud.  After talking and praying, Kaia shared this song with me.  I listened to it almost every night for months.  It has been one of my theme-songs through this adventure, especially during the prep.

"Called Me Higher" by All Sons and Daughters

During our wonderful "memory maker" to Breckenridge, CO this summer, Janna introduced me to this gem.  While driving through the mountains with the windows down I fell in love with it.  I connected with the lyrics and wanted to hear it again and again.  I love the way it reminds me to go deeper with the Lord.  

"Home" by Phillip Phillips

I had heard this song many times, but singing it at Castaway just days before I left for the DR was different.  I was singing at the top of my lungs with my arms wrapped around the friends beside me and the words just hit me.  This songs was Jesus talking straight to my heart about Jarabacoa.  The tears came then, knowing he would make that place my home.  Since then I have played this tune many times for myself and friends.  

"Movements" by Rend Collective Experiment 

Campfire & a Sara Groves CD were the only two albums on my itunes when I arrived in the DR.  Campfire was "happier" sounding, so it won the listening competition.  Moving to a different country has not been the easiest thing for me.  It has been hard.  For the first 2 weeks, I did not sleep well.  Lots of anxiety, fear, and homesickness.  Hence, listening to Campfire.  all.night.long.  seriously.  This CD holds so much meaning to me now.  Out of all the songs, "Movements" speaks to me most.  

There is more meaning to this album in connection with Doulos, but I will share more on that later :)

"Poderoso" by Hillsong United

I go to an all spanish speaking church.  It's good, but like most things it can be hard too.  I've always heard people say that worship is a great way to a) learn spanish and b) connect with God.  I was really excited about that.  It didn't come right away though.  It's hard to even think about the Lord when I have no idea what the words mean.  Now that I've heard several of the songs many times, I understand them much better.  "Poderoso" is my current favorite.  

These are just a few of the songs that have impacted me in the last several months.  If you have time, give a few a listen :)  Maybe they will speak truth to you too.  

Gracias a Dios

for fans that double as hair blow dryers 

 for packages sent from a sweet friend and new games to play with my girls

 for Marilenny being so wonderful, helpful, and generous when it comes to Kindergarten at Doulos

 for a "work day" that didn't involve lesson planning, for all hands on deck, and a school family who serves together

 for a brand new classroom build by service teams, natural light, and "rock stacking" that makes me think of my wonderful mama :)

 for face-timing with this dude, easy Skype dates with my family and friends, and technology all around

 for Saturday morning spent with the Lord, my ipod, and this cappuccino 

 for finding a home for our cute stray puppy friend and reminding me of our adoption into the Lord's family 

 for Gilmore Girls on the ground, a spunky spirit, and a generous family who makes us all family

and again, for snap-chat which lets me experience a rainstorm in Sioux Falls with my mama and Liam

What are you thankful for?

Tour [my walk home]

Everyday I walk 25 minutes to Doulos and then back again after school.  

I live near the campo (country) so whenever I go anywhere, I make this same trek.  

It's a straight shot down a street called The Avenida.  

It's a lovely walk that I am growing to love.  

Here, let me show you...

this is about halfway through my walk home

once I pass the baseball field, I know I only have 10 minutes left 

I love these trees!  Plus, when it's raining, they offer great refuge :)

the Avenida is two-way with a boulevard in the middle and sidewalks on both sides

I am going to need new shoes after all this walking...

I love passing this very sweet flower/garden place

little stores like this one line the street, but there are fewer as I get closer to my home

this is my favorite view of my walk

on my way I pass mottos, trucks, horses, runners, tables, chairs, dogs, and chickens

the family I'm living with owns a Columbian restaurant, which includes this cart... when I reach this, I know I'm very close

this is my turn!  I know I'm home when I see the chivas (goats)

now that I've turned, I can see my apartment up there on the right

up the steps to the second floor

and I'm home!

I live in a pretty great apartment with some pretty great people... I'm so blessed :)

Discoveries

Laying in a hammock is one of my love-languages... 

Snapchat is addictive, lovely, and one of my most frequent forms of communication.  If you want to communicate with me often, snap me ;) 

Dominican baseball is a get-away for me after hard nights of little sleep, and I have friends here that really want to love me well.

Cafe con lache is good, but I'm still adjusting from my Coffea & Caribou traditions...

I have the little sisters I always thought I didn't want... but I love them!!  They are spunky, creative, smart, loud, quiet, and sweet as can be :)

The DR has BBQ chicken pizza?!?!  it.is.amazing.  We have gone to Pizza Pep twice now, it has become a quick favorite.

Stray dogs can steal your heart, but unlike some people, I choose to stay healthy and never touch them... (cough cough katie)  This is our friend, Coopera.

Power goes out at least once a day, for different amounts of time.  Always have a flashlight and book on hand.

Gracias a Dios

for a mama who will stay up and laugh about overpacking, and for extra money for extra weight.

for good happy music, airplane pillows, and a giving key that just keeps on giving.

for new friends who make me laugh even after the hardest of nights.

for host-sisters who play with me, laugh with me, translate for me, and love GG just as much as me!

for 1st adventures, amazing & excepting new friends, Saturday mornings, and God's beautiful creation.

for a God given host-family, slow spanish learning, amazing meals around the table, and God's faithfulness.

Discoveries [Colorado]

Staying awake while driving at night is much easier with this girl as your co-pilot.  and fun.

Even if it means dinner is going to be [way] late, always make time for quality picture taking.  

& that being single is awesome [but we already knew that]

Fancy nights lead nicely into all girl dance parties... & Erin will ALWAYS surprise you with her skills.  [bad girls in the kitchen]

Getting a little lost on the way home from the farmers market can totally be a good thing & dancing on a rock is not that weird...

Putting the tortilla directly on the flame is a MUCH yummier way to heat them & group cooking is worth it every time.  

Even though sand volleyball dulls my toenail polish... the cheering, laughter, and excitement totally make up for it!  

When their are lots of bugs, thin air, sweat, & really great people... the hike will be extremely well worth it.

This trip to Breckenridge, CO with college friends will not soon be forgotten.  Thank you guys for making the sacrifices to make this wonderful vacation [memory maker] happen.  I love you all more than early mornings with hot coffee, reading, mountains, and whispers :)