Feliz el dia de accio'n de gracias

I think that's the way the Tico's were saying it! Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving Day!
Just incase you're wondering, *Tico* is how the Costa Ricans refer to themselves.
School was out at 11:00 today. The Costa Rican SCORE missionaries, and some of the pastoral staff at the church El Lugar, hosted a Turkey dinner for us at the SCORE villa.
Tim and Evelyn, another couple Jason and Valerie, a single student, Tracy and Bob and I along with about 25 Ticos shared a nice feast.
Yes, the Ticos made a turkey (a first for them) along with a big pan of mashed potatoes, and because they're Tico's, there was also a pan of hot rice. We also had gravy, salad, cornbread and greenbean casserole. Los Estadosunidenses (that's what the Ticos call us) provided the dessert. We had apple crisp, apple pie, and pineapple upsidedown cake. Not necessarily traditional American Thanksgiving fare, but it was a wonderful time.
As we gathered in the large dining room, Jose' opened it with a time of many people sharing what they were thankful for en espanol y ingles. Maybe we didn't all understand each other or every word, but their was an understanding anyway.
Jose' read some Scripture and then we had a brief *breaking of bread* service before we began our meal. What a blessed time!
We sort of confiscated the TV remote for a short time. It's tradition! We had to watch the Detroit Lions lose on Thanksiving again!
Near the end I was in the kitchen with three of the Tico ladies. All three of them speak English quite well. Veronica (Argentinian) taught herself English just in the past year from listening to people talk! Anyway, as we talked in the kitchen, Veronica suddenly said "Hey wait! Why are you speaking English? You need to be talking in Spanish." It was said very nicely, but it was an encouragment to use my Spanish. So I did! and, wonders of wonders, they understood me! YES! and I didn't *baby talk* .... I used past tense and perifrases. If you've read any of my past postings, you'll remember perifrases caused my earlier meltdown en el classe de grammatica, but we've sense become friends. Yes, I made mistakes, but they gently corrected me. It was actually fun!
Turned out one of the ladies teaches Spanish to some other *los estadosunidenses* and she gave me much encouragment on my progress! PTL! The time was a special blessing as I realized what the LORD has allowed me to accomplish in just 2 1/2 months. That is definitely something to be thankful for!

Yes, we are still here and not totally buried in Spanish.

We're past the half way point and heading towards finals. That's hard to believe!

I feel like I have learned so much, and yet at the same time, I wonder if I'll ever really understand Spanish!

I have approx. 2 hours of *grammatica* starting at 7:30 Monday-Friday. My teacher, Ana, reminds me so much of ~d ( and that is meant as a compliment). She is very thorough, and an excellent teacher! But she is tough....I am amazed at how much material we cover in one week just in that class. But Ana gives us uch encouragement as we attempt new things.

This class is followed by a 45 minute break---on Tuesday's and Thursday's this is chapel time. Yesterday I gave my testimony in chapel.

This is followed by Lenguaje....Monday Hilda introduces the new vocabulary; Tuesday we have to report on a newspaper article on the theme for the week; Wednesday we make a presentation (dialogue); Thursday's we either give a 10-15 minute Bible study or recite a Bible verse (Yes, both are in Spanish but we alternate weeks--tomorrow I'm reciting I Juan 3:23), Friday is "question day" Every Friday we have to present 4-5 questions on the current week's theme for the teacher to review. During the week we find a Costa Rican to ask our questions to. Then the following week we present those answers in class, along with our new questions for the coming week.

Lenguaje is followed by Fonetica....this is my fun class! We laugh alot in there while Gabriela instructs the class and we struggle to learn the right sounds, emphasis, accents, inflections, etc.

Gabriela is a joy! This class always brings a smile to my heart!

But it's not all work as Bob and I have had opportunity to take short trips with other students. Because we go as groups we get good discounts on the prices. We've been to El Tortugero on the East Coast where the sea turtles nest. I actually got to help a hatchling into the sea!

One day we went with 2 other couples to an extinct vulcano and peered into the crater filled with bright green water, while shivering in the stiff cold breeze (7,000 ft elevation!)

This weekend had to be the best...we went to Arenal ~~an active volcano. Friday was our 34th anniversary, and the two of us sat in an outdoor jacuzzi (the only 2 in it!) and watched the red hot lava pouring down from the top of Arenal. How do we top that one for next year?

At times during the weekend the volcano was hidden by fog and the only evidence of it being there was the rumbling sounds that could be heard. At times, the clouds dissipated and while the red lava was not visible during the day, we could see puffs on occasion as evidence that a boulder was tumbling down the side. This place was amazing. Our hotel rooms were situated about 1 mile from the volcano.

Sunday morning we all gathered at an observation deck and held a church service. Hearing the volcano rumble thru the fog while we sang "How Great Thou Art" was truly a blessed experience! While I could see and hear the power displayed in this volcano, I was reminded of the power and majesty of the One who created all this!

Please continue to pray for us...we are stretched at every turn. My brain at times seems to rebel ---these classes are truly challenging. But there is also a feeling of accomplishment.

But I know that on my own I could not learn any of this...it is the LORD who is my strength, my Teacher, the one who gives me the ability to learn...and it is for His glory that I am here!

Will try to do a better job of keeping this updated, but no guarantees!

estoy mejor

I don't think I've ever been as happy to come to an end of a week as I was on Friday!

While in the ladies room between classes that day, one of the ladies made the comment:

**TGIF is a restaurant in the States, here it is the truth!!!***

Since our entire class was in the bathroom and the class bell had already rung, I was able to successfully use one of the perifrases when I entered class...."Tenemos que usar el bano"

( : yes, I know it should be stated in the past, but we haven't learned past tense yet :)

~~We take small steps en espanol and are very happy when we are able to do so without falling flat on our faces. ~~

I was very *wisely* told by a student in Bob's class, that since I can only speak in the present tense, I can't worry or be concerned about the past, or what happened last week.

Everything for me is *now* or *current*

I'm sure there's a Biblical principle in that statement ~~~ it just seems like it should have one! If I weren't concentrating so much on my Spanish, I could probably pull it out :)

This week we're doing 'el complemento directo'...and so far, so good. I seem to understand this one, pero debo practicar mas. (Notice the usage of another *perifrase*)

I have a test tomorrow in Fonetica on dipthongs and blends.

I'm also working on memorizing Mateo 11:28-30 en espanol by Thursay morning.

So, please continue to pray!

Hope y'all are having a great week!

"I'm melting...."

Wednesday halfway thru the first session of Grammar I had a meltdown...just broke into tears and that pretty much described the rest of my school day. For some reason, it was as if my brain went into rebellion and refused to release the information that was there. I couldn't understand anything the teacher was saying. Just so you understand, she wasn't speaking English; all the classes are totally in Spanish. It came my turn to respond in class and I started crying and left the class.
Praise the LORD, there were many who rallied around me giving me support. It appears that many students at some point feel overwhelmed, and walking out of class in tears is a normal response. But the teachers are very supportive and understanding. My language teacher during the morning break could tell I was upset, and was so supportive. When we got to class she had us start the class with prayers in English (unheard of!) so that we could fully say what we wanted and not have a language barrier. Another lady, Lydia, is a former counsellor at the school and is now a missionary with her husband, but is filling in while the Student Life Director is out of the country. I haven't seen Lydia in days, and Wednesday there she was in the break room talking to some other students. She saw me and came over and asked if I wanted to talk. We went into another room and talked and prayed. What a blessing!
Then I got to Fonetica class, this is the one that always makes me laugh! I discovered 5 minutes into the class I had forgotten to do an assignment (a first!) and burst into tears again. Gabriela was so understanding....she even told me I didn't have to take the test that was planned for that day. But atleast that was material that I knew, so I did take it.
A student from my grammar class, Marie, is the class *brain*; she's the one that *never* gives a wrong answer. She has rallied along side me in a big way. She came over on Wednesday afternoon and spent 2 hours going over the material. yesterday, she sat next to me in grammar class and made sure I understood and was getting the right answers written down. She is truly a blessing from the LORD! Today at 7:30 we have a test in grammar over the material that caused my *meltdown*, but Marie is meeting me at school early so that we can study again. I am so thankful for this dear sister in Christ!
So, please pray for me for strength and that this will be a discouragement of short duration. It has been frustrating, and at the same time comforting because I have discovered I am not alone with comfort, support and prayers from so many.
Up until Wednesday we had received no mail from anyone. But I check our mail slot faithfully each day hoping. On Wednesday I glanced into our mail slot and lo! and behold! there was mail. A lady (who I don't know) from a church in Virginia that supports us had written a note of encouragement on Friday of last week, sent it right out and it arrived on the day when I needed it most! What a blessing from her and from the LORD!
So, after I finish my coffee, I'm off to study with Marie and then take my test! Please be praying for me even if you receive this after the time of the test.....

You might be a missionary if.....

On the slight possibility that anyone may actually be checking this site at all I thought I would share these *facts* from a missionary magazine i found here at the school.

((By the way Bob and I are both loving our time here...the school is wonderful...teachers are fantastic...fellowship is grand...and our brains are being stretched in many directions!))

So, you might be a missionary if you....

*Read a National Geographic magazine and realize, "I know those people..."

*Have to stop and think about what to do with used toilet paper...

*Keep switching languages when speaking with good friends...

*Can't finish a sentence en un solo idioma.

*Don't know what to say when asked where you are from...

*Have 6 different varieties of ants in your house and you ignore them all....

*Your children think it is acceptabl to kiss strangers...

*Your women's magazines are at least 6 years old, but you still pass them along to friends...

*Are okay driving without brakes, but would never do so without a horn.

*Point with your lips...

*Miss getting junk mail...

*Pull up to a gas station and wait for someone to come out and pump your gas...

*Are surprised when the electricity stays on all day...

*Bring a bag lunch and a novel when you go to the bank...


Hope you all are doing well.....miss you...please write!

But they're so tiny...

Okay, how do I resize those photos? what did i do wrong????

Off to market we go.....

Just thought you might like to see our shopping experience. Every saturday there is a farmer's market about 5 minutes walk from our house. It starts at 5 AM, but when we arrive about 8, there is still a wonderful array to choose from. These pix are from our first trip there with our landlord, Orlando, and his wife, Ivonne. The other lady is Amy and her daughter, Hope, who live in a house right next door to our apartment.








This is my first attempt at adding photos, so hopefully it will work allright. Thanks for the info Lyndie...

Lessons before school starts

Wow! Hard to believe that we arrived two weeks ago yesterday! We are very much enjoying it here. Life is very calm compared to our time in the Dominican Republic. But then our classes haven't started yet.
We've had four days of orientation that we have enjoyed very much.
Other than the basics about school and classes, we've had interviews with various members of the staff so they can get to know us more personally...we're not just a student at their school. There have also been sessions on security, cultural awareness, if you're going to have a maid, and sexual and moral purity among others. The last one covered an entire morning and was very well done. Both joint session and small groups with married men, married women, single men and single ladies. pitfalls, warning signs, cultural, etc. The #2 reason missionaries leave the field is because of sexual immorality! Alot to think and pray about.
We have discovered that the school is very concerned that we do well with learning Spanish, but they are very concerned also that we *succeed* in other areas as well...both here and in our host country. The cultural training was very informative. First there was a skit done by the staff....funny and yet...! Then they had a panel of four Costa Ricans that are not teachers but have been involved with the school. One of the questions asked was "What do we do that you think is the most offensive?" Three answers given "That is not how we do it in the States"
and "We're Americans." --as if they aren't. Yes, they are from Costa Rica, but it is still part of the Americas...we are not the only ones who can call ourselves Americans. Third one was not to tell a native what is wrong with his country or make fun of his country. They may make fun or complain about their country, but it is their country...for us to complain or make fun of it is offensive. Sort of like, when you're little..you may call your brother all sorts of names and think nothing of it, but let someone else call him a name and you're ready to defend your brother to the death! Bob and I know we've been guilty of that in the DR, so we want to be much more careful of that.
Saturday we walked to the farmer's market with John and Katie, newlyweds (3 weeks) that live in our 3rd apartment (Tim and Evelyn in the 1st). After getting our fresh items, including homebaked corn bread for us! We walked to a restaurant and had breakfast...yummy! We will definitely be returning. Bob and I each ordered toast, as we weren't very hungry. Oh my! 8 slices per order of what I think was an egg bread..slices about the size of an English muffin, toasted with butter melted in....we brought almost a whole order home to reheat and enjoy!
That afternoon Sheila, who with her husband Dick are the Student Life Cor-ordinators at the school, dropped off a sewing machine in a cabinet for me to use while here!!!! YES!!!! Okay, so it hadn't been used in atleast 10 years, was dry as a desert, and missing bobbins. I have a sewing machine to use. I walked to the nearby fabric shop bought 3 bobbins, two half yard pieces of fabric and 3 spools of thread for less than $3. But nobody including the hardware store or auto store had any type of oil for a sewing machine 3-in-1 would have been nice to find.
So Bob suggested I call a cab and go to Hypermas (owned by Walmart!). Never having ventured out alone in a cab I was a little nervous. But he called the cab, I had my written instructions for our address (no one here has a street address...it's all by direction and location to other bldgs or landmarks. Ours is San Franciso dos Rios de Lys (antigua Unisys) 100 sur y 50 oeste, mano derecho, palmera al frente. Our 100 sur y 50 oeste refers to a Burger King that is now closed!)
Anyway, cab arrives I get in and proudly state, Hypermas, por favor. and then I realize he is asking "which one?" uh???? All I know is I it is nearby and I don't want to go to the Guadalupe location. So he takes off, but the route is NOT what I am used to...now we're by old facotry bldgs, back roads, etc. getting a little nervous and increasing my prayer life! Turns out I got to go to a Hypermas that Bob's never been to! I went to the Sebastian location. Since then I found out there are a total of 4 locations! who knew? But I made it there, enjoyed my time out, got what I needed to clean, disassemble parts of the sewing machine, oil, etc, hailed a taxi at the front door and gave him the first part of our directions home. When it got closer I just handed him my handwritten directions (I wasn't taking any chances of saying it wrong!)
Tim and Evelyn arrived yesterday and after a very heavy rainstorm, we hailed a taxi and went to a restaurant, we could have walked but it was a little far for my ankles, which decided to act up yesterday and start aching. A total of two tables in this little restaurant...but the food!!!! huge plate of barbq chops, rice, black beans, salad, red cabbage with diced apples, broccoli and fresh mango nectar for $3!
I'm giving up cooking...restaurants are too inexpensive and they're all great cooks!
Better go...first day of classes start in 45 minutes. Please pray for us and write...would love to hear from YOU!

Our God is an awesome God!

"The words of the LORD are pure words
Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times."

It's Psalm 11:6 and part of what I'm reading this morning.

Yes, I already knew God's word was true, holy and to be trusted. But this verse just hit me with the picture of something being thrown into a fire and yet coming out perfect. Seven times!
To me, it's a reassurance ~not only of His purity~ but also of the strength and power of the LORD and of His Word!

"Our God is an awesome God,
He reigns from heaven on high,
with wisdom, power and might.
Our God is an awesome God."

Why do I not always remember this in times of struggle?

As time goes by....

While I love reading everyone else's blogs, I seem to be very lax in updating my own. Not even sure anyone is even checking in to this blog anymore. But on the rare possibility that someone is out there, I will update.

So much has happened since my last posting. I have left Virginia, Bob has come to the States, we have visited David & Lyndie, had a great time with Glen, been back to Virginia and gone camping with Shan and the kids, visited some churches, spent three days at the Great Darke County fair where I had 3 Bowman's tenderloins, 4 cotton candies, Friske's french fries with vinegar and watched the peewee pig showmanship, and arrived in Costa Rica!

Costa Rica is wonderful...once I got over jet lag and adjusted to the 2 hour time difference!
Our apartment here is half the size of what we have in the Dominican, but is very pleasant. Our living room, dining room and kitchen are contained in a 13 foot square. But is very comfortable. But we have wireless internet right in our apartment!

We are 1 block from the language school...we can walk there in less than 2 minutes. The church that we will be attending (another SCORE ministry) is up 1 block and over 1 block from our apartment in the opposite direction of the school. We went to prayer meeting there on Tuesday night. Also went out to the SCORE ministry villa last night for a Thanksgiving service for the end of their season. Beautiful place!

Weather here is so different than the Dominican. It's rained most of today, but it's basically a gengle rain, so it's very relaxing and soothing. Great weather for a cup of coffee and a good book. Wearing long sleeves is a treat we're not used to. However, I do need to remember to bring a jacket or sweater when we go out in the evening. Of course, the fact that there is no hot water tank and the hot water heater on the shower only lasts about 3 minutes, is going to take some getting used to. Washed my hair this morning in water that felt one step away from ice cube status.

Our landlords are wonderful. They picked us up at the airport. Of course, it would have been better if their van hadn't been broken. The wife and daughter came in a small car (about the size of Lyndie's) and had to call a relative to come and bring our luggage. But they took us to a small grocery store that same day, then Orlando, the husband, took us to a larger one yesterday. Saturday we are going to an open air farmer's market.

Orientation for language school starts next week and actual classes the week after that. It will be an interesting and challenging time. But I'm actually looking forward it!

will try to post more often.....but no promises

*rolling hills* and memories

Most of this week we have had heavy rain...not all day every day....but it was the general forecast for the week and it lived up to that forecast.
Yesterday about noon the sun finally came out to stay. The grandkids are back from their two week trip, so yesterday was my first full day with them again. Kept the day pretty low-key and let them re-adjust to being home.
Shan has off work today so after letting the kids sleep in and then running a couple of errands, we took the kids to a park to play and eat lunch. There is a small creek right where we were set-up with our blanket and goodies. I spent part of the time watching Stephan and Samuel playing on the edge of the creek building little dams and diverting the water. Their childish enjoyment of something as simple as water, rocks and mud was so enjoying and calming to watch.
The other night I went over to Liberty University for their 4th of July celebration (actually held on Sunday the 2nd, but that's okay) As I sat in the stands at the football stadium listening to the musicians perform, it was so pleasing to look around and watch families. On the opposite side of the stadium was a small hillside. Through out the evening I watched children rolling down the hill, getting up, running to the top and rolling down again. I sat there remembering what it was like to watch my own children doing that in years past when we lived in Indiana. Then the memory came back of my brother and I doing the same thing in front of my Grandma Jake's farmhouse in Wisconsin many years ago.
What fond memories....I took pictures today of the boys playing without them knowing it, as I didn't want posed pictures...I wanted the *real thing*. More memories to keep for future days!

We went...we drove...we conquored!

This weekend Shan and I got to take our own road trip! Just the two of us. Last weekend we decided that since we would have an entire weekend and she had off from work Thursday evening until 4pm on Sunday we should take a trip.
Our original plan was just to drive an hour or so to Charlottesville and browse antique stores. Well Shan came up with the idea of going to Washington DC, which turns out is only 4 hours from Lynchburg. My first reaction was a fear of driving in the nation's capitol. But we went to Barnes and Noble, read thru the tourist guides and devised our plan. We knew our time was limited and no way could we see it all, so there was no since in making ourselves and each other miserable even trying. We came up with a list of things we wanted to see and then proceeded from there.
That turned out to be quite easy! We both wanted to see Washington's National Cathedral and the Vietnam War Memorial. She wanted to visit the Holocaust Museum but I knew I would have great difficulty getting thru that without Bob with me. But I wanted to go to one part of the Smithsonian.
We got directions off mapquest, packed our bags, had our snacks and got up at 5:30AM on Friday. We were actually on the road by 6:30 and drove right to the National Cathedral without any difficulties. Parked on a side street and then spent almost 7 hours at the museum. Part of the time we were together, and alot of the time we each did our own thing. Ate our sandwiches outside on the lawn on a wooden table with a black squirrel providing entertainment. Turns out squirrels, or at least that one, don't like candied ginger!
My main reason for wanting to go to the museum was for the stained glass windows. Several of the windows were created by Lawrence Saint. He is the father of Nate Saint, who along with Jim Eliott and 3 other missionaries was killed in Ecuador in the 50's. I bought a book in the bookshop when we first got there that described the windows and gave their locations. I walked upstairs trying to get myself orientated. Sat down on a chair and looked up and right straight ahead was the circular window that Lawrence Saint created called "the Last Judment". To say it is beautiful doesn't even do it justice.
I was also able to buy a small pamphlet style biography of Lawrence Saint that was compiled and written by one of his granddaughters. What really impressed me was that Lawrence Saint had a very strong Christian testimony and devoted his life to creating beautiful Christian art; three of his 8 children were missionaries in foreign countries; his son, Nate, and daughter, Rachel, both died on the field; Nate's son, Steve, ("End of the Spear") has gone back and lived with the very natives who killed his father; Steve's children have both lived with and served the Waodani Indians. What a family legacy!
The ironic part of the whole thing...here is this beautiful cathedral, all these stained glass windows, many with Biblical themes, etc. and downstairs in the bookstore were books on mysticism, Buddhism, the Muslim faith, and all sorts of other 'isms';even a book called "The Spirituality of Wine". Not just a book or two, entire bookshelves and displays! But actual Christian books were very sparse.
The last 90 minutes we were there a rehearsal was taking place in the main part of the cathedral. I sat looking up at "the Last Judgment", listening to over 100 teens and an orchestra (with lots of string instruments) singing hymns like "It Is Well With My Soul", etc. i sat there listening to the music, glancing up at the window and reading several Psalms. What a very encouraging and blessed time!
Will write more later....

Busy days

Wow, realized I haven't written in quite a while....taking a 2 year old with me to the bookstore with wi-fi definitely curtails my ability to keep current. But I do get brief time to read the other blogs. Lyndie, she loves the pix you posted of you and Uncle D. Every day now we get to see "Unca D in da boat" She is fascinated with that one.
I copied David's las msg about the squirrel into my MSWord so that I could read it to the boys. Told them this morning that I would read to them all about Uncle D and his fight with a squirrel. Should have seen Samo's eyes light up. This should be good!
My days are busy, I am exhausted by 9PM...I have learned to appreciate once again watching the clock for children's bedtime. But we have also read "20,000 Leagues under the Sea" from the children's classic series (illustration on each page), (Boys sit i n tub together, while I sit on toilet and read it to them each evening) and are going to start either "Swiss Family Robinson" or "Journey to the center of the earth" tonight. Have been buying the $1.00 DVD's from Walmart that are each 2 hours of Popeye, Superman, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, etc cartoons....old cartoons. The boys love them! So for an hour in the evening they get their pillows, oh-oh's ("blankies" for the less-informed), small snacks and we enjoy them together.
Of course, last night I discovered that I need to check every ledge of the tub before putting Shiloh in to play for a few minutes. The door was open, I could hear her playing, I checked on her a couple of times....but there was that 5 minute interlude where she found the vaseline container stuck in one corner....they don't have childproof lids I discovered after the fact. Let's just say she won't have any dry skin for a while....from her forehead all the way to her cute little toes....not just smeared....but big globs. Her hair's a little greasy this morning I noticed, too. Guess it works as a conditioner, too.
I'm enjoying myself....but missing my hubby mucho, mucho, mucho. But life is good...
God is wonderful!

Ministry opportunity

I got a phone call this morning from a Diana Dimoff. She works for motion masters, which is a video production company. Erica Jude, who is a SCORE missionary in the Dominican with her husband, Nate, was employed with them before they arrived in the Dominican. Obviously, she is still doing some things with them, as she gave them my name. Erica wrote a script for a production on child abuse, and they want me in it.
Diana and her crew are coming to Lynchburg this Thursday to interview me. I have the script that they emailed me. My part is not an "acted" part, thank goodness. They want to know the early neglect, and then the part about being adopted and my family life. Shan's backyard is really pretty...a small wooded area just past the main yard. They will video either in Shan's backyard, or possibly in her living room. They're hoping I can have a grandchild with me, so Shiloh may appear in it also.
Please pray for clarity of thought, the right words, and a definite lack of nervousness.

...out of the mouth of babes...

For the past couple of weeks whenever I put Shiloh down for her nap or bedtime, I sing three songs to her....*Jesus loves me*, "The Love of God" (1st & 3rd verse---can never remember the 2nd one), and *Silent Night*. She gets in bed, fusses for about 3 seconds, then turns on her side, clasps her hands together as if praying, and just looks at me waiting for the songs.
Yesterday afternoon, Shan was laying on the bed. Shiloh crawled up next to her, but Shan and I were talking. Quietly, Shiloh started to sing....her own version of "Jesus loves me"
~~~Jesus loves me I know~~~
Those were the only words she sang...repeating them several times. What a blessing and an encouragement to hear these simple truthful words sung so softly.

coupons

haven't checked it out completely and don't have a printer handy, but this site looks interesting

coupon.com

let me know what you think

Land of Magnolias

...well they're not blooming yet, but they will be in June....
Saw a very unusual sign on a corner coffee/doughnut shop this morning.
** Owner broke his hip, help us buy him a new one. Buy Something**
Now that sounds like desperation to me...I'm just wondering~~how many cups of coffee or doughtnuts must they sell to clear enough for the owner's new hip. I just picture this poor man laying in a hospital bed wondering when he will have his new hip. Not trying to be uncaring, this one just hit me as a very funny sign.
I got to go to some garage sales this morning. What fun....Incase, you are wondering....no, they do NOT have garage sales in the Dominican. Dominicans are the untimate recyclers. But I was able this morning to get Stephan and Samuel some t-shirts like new for 50 cents each. And a copy of the book *Charlotte's Web* for a quarter. The boys love to read and to be read to. I LOVE garage sales!
This is the first I've gotten to go online without a squirmy 2 year old on my lap. Shiloh on my lap makes for some interesting typing/spelling. But thankfully, there is a bookstore less than 2 minutes from Shan's house that has free wi-fi! Thank you LORD! My tracphone will not allow me to call Bob in the Dominican. The phone would but Lynchburg is in a valley between the mts and is very particular about calling signals I guess....gggrrrrrr.....and Bob has not been able to connect to either my phone or Shan's. Which makes no sense because I could call Shan from my cell phone before I left. Crazy airwaves. Thank the LORD for email, laptops and wifi!

Hope everyone is well....it was great seeing some of you last Sunday.

In Ole Virginnny

Well I left out yesterday A.M.(on the road after stopping at gas station by 5:55). Had a very uneventful trip and arrived here at 2:30ish. Boy~~ an 8 hour trip in the States is nothing like a 5 minute trip in the Dominican....only saw one motorcycle the entire way! Everyone was in their respective lanes and going in the appropriate directions. Every single vehicle had all of its windows and doors. The most I saw in any vehicle was three people ...the record for what I've seen in the DR is 27 in a 15 passenger van along with all their groceries! Nobody had tied their horse to the side of the road. For that matter, there was not one single section of guardrail needing repair, missing or totally demolished. In the DR the roadcrews install guardrails and if people find them to be in their way, they just remove whatever sections are blocking their passage! The only cows I saw were in a pasture...I didn't share the road at any time with goats, chickens or roosters. Not one single vehicle was on the side of the road having one or two of its tires changed. And absolutely no one was riding on top of any of the truck loads...
Like I said my trip was very uneventful....
But I'm here and all is well.... thanks for your prayers!

Broadway Joe's

~~It is 9:45 Am Thursday and I am sitting at Broadway Joe's with a large cup of Highlander Grogg, doing the Wi-fi thing and hoping someone I know decides they would like a cup of coffee now too!

David and Lyndie are both at work, Bob is in the Dominican, and I don't have anyone's phone number, nor can I find a phone directory and I don't have a car...so my options are limited.

But if anyone gets this soon, and cares to join me I'll be here until about 11AM. Then over to the library, then maybe the Christian bookstore. We'll see how the ankles hold up : }
I LOVE being able to walk around safely and have cool places to stop in. and a coffee shop in the morning is delightful beyond words!

Spring time....

Our group left out on Saturday. What a blessing they were to us. The teens are always ready to serve, and are an encouragement to us in so many ways! We stood at the airport crying as they wound their way thru the Delta line. Seeing 26 people in a Dominican airport calling out *I love you* and some of them blowing kisses at us was truly a moment to be remembered~~
But now my days are changing again. We had our tickets purchased to come *home* in July for about 5 weeks before going to Costa Rica for language school thru December 18th. Well, thru changing circumstances I will be flying out tomorrow (Wednesday) into Dayton. I'll be at Grace on Sunday!!!! Then Monday I'm heading down to Lynchburg, where I will be staying with Shan and the kids. I'm going to be helping her by taking care of the kids at night while she works and getting them off to school in the morning (she gets home from work at 2:30AM!) It is a temporary thing, but it means I will be in the States again for about 10 weeks before Bob arrives July 12th.
I'm delighted to have this special time with my daughter and my grandchildren. Bob and I have been praying about this for over a month, and Shan would like for me to come.
Last year at this time I was at David and Lyndie's for 10 weeks recovering with my heels. I didn't know going into it how much I would miss Bob and being here in the Dominican. This time I know before I leave how hard it will be to be gone for so long. (Actually with the planned time in July and then language school, I will be gone from tomorrow thru December 18th, but at least Bob will be with me starting in July:)
As I said I am happy about being able to spend this time with Shan and to able to interact with Stephan, Samuel and Shiloh for an extended time period. But I would covet your prayers for all of us....you may not know all the details but the LORD does and He knows why you're asking....
So, hopefully, I'll see many of you this weekend sometime. David, I'll see you at the airport Wednesday night at 9 and you won't have to carry me up any stairs this year!!!

Fun times~~

Well, we have a group here from North Carolina. This is their third trip in two years. When they came on their first trip, they were all in Jr-High and there were only 13 including leaders. Now they have grown to 26 with 4 leaders. The original leaders have moved to TX, so it's a new group of leaders. I asked why the group had grown so large. The one leader said, "Because when the kids come back they are so excited, they get everyone else wanting to come!"
This is such a great group to work with....they encourage us so much! When we are home on furlough in the Fall each year, we stay in the home of one of the girls who has come each year. They feel like famly to us.
I'm so looking forward to this week! All weeks are good, but this week is special!

Also there is a group of missionary wives getting together for a retreat April 24-26 at Casa de Campo. Only about 12 ladies, but I get to go! Yes! I am really looking forward to this. Some of you may know Ron Bishop's sister, Paula Hodges and her daughter, Allison. They are heading it up. We're going to each share about our ministry, what we're doing, what our plans are, our needs, concerns etc. and then have time to pray for one another. How wonderful is that???

So hope y'all are having a blessed week. Did David and Lyndie get moved????

7:05PM......
I got to talk to David and Lyndie this afternoon!!!! YES!!!! I love Alexnder Graham Bell and his wonderful invention! They sound happy, relaxed and at peace...this Mama is smiling!

they call them *lemons*

Greetings~~
Haven't been able to write for a few days....aggravated my ankles again and have been off my feet and unable to leave the apartment. Wheelchair and braces are back in use....while I am thankful to have these items when I need them, I can still wish that I didn't need them. Imagine wearing the old snow boots in August and you get an idea what my "personal foot suanas" feel like.
But Sunday I got to go to church. We went to Manny's church in Consuilito. What a wonderful time of refreshment. ((If everyone here spoke as clearly as Manny does, I could actually learn Spanish and understand a whole lot more.)) Sunday was their communion, so Manny spoke about the wage of sin is death but Christ paid it all. No one else could pay it, we can do nothing. It was so good to actually understand most of what was said.
After church, we walked over to Evangelista's home, just a couple hundred feet from the church. Her son-in-law, Esidro, works at SCORE in the maintenance. A dear brother in the LORD. His wife is pregnant (6 weeks) but 5 months ago she had a routine exam and the Dr gave her antibiotics for an infection. Esidro had Bob look at her lab results two weeks ago....she has early stage cervical cancer. Last week she had new tests, nothing has changed...which is good, but she is 6 weeks pregnant so they have to wait for the delivery of the baby before they can operate.
She is a believer. They have two other little boys (about 4 & 2). So please pray for this family and for the safety of the baby in all of this.
While we were there, Evangelista gave us a bag of fruit. They look like grapefruit. In fact Manny said they were, but Evangelista said "NO!" Dulce! Turns out they are called sweet lemons. They look like grapefruit, are the size of an orange, are called sweet lemons and taste nothing like a lemon, orange or a grapefruit! But they are delicious. Very mild, and it's what they use to make lemonade after adding mucho azucar!!! (much sugar).
Ron is here today working on plans for Kosmos 2006. So we just had a big staff meeting to discuss plans. There should be about 450 people here all in one week in June. Please pray for this special time also....it should be exciting!
So trust all is well with everyone there!

*As Seen on TV*

Have you seen the "As Seen on TV" ad for the cat claw covers? I saw it for the first time this morning while watching CNN headline news. ((Not my favorite news station,~~Robin & Co gets on my nerves at times~~ but it's the only one we get in English. Well there is DW from Germany that alternates an English/German broadcast that is really interesting, but I digress...))
Back to the claw commercial...
I kept waiting for the Energizer bunny to march across the screen "Still Going...." But for $19.99 +S&H you can get a three month supply of plastic caps (claw shaped) to attach to your cat's claws.
You will never have to worry about your cat clawing the furniture or your children. (okay, that's a nice feature) They come with a tube of glue and show a cat sitting calmly while the adult attaches them. (yeah, like that is realistic!)
They are veterinarian approved, incase you were wondering.
Knowing how cats like to lick and clean themselves, how long do you think before there is a lawsuit when someone's "Fluffy" chokes on one and dies????

Another week goes by....

Well I managed to make it thru doing three loads of laundry, making simple curtains for two windows in the SCORE orphanage, along with sweeping, dusting and dishes before the smoke drove me crazy!!!! or crazier, as the case may be.
Dominicans are always burning something. Seeing smoke or flames is very rarely a cause for concern. Instead of clearing a field, burn it! About 50 feet away from the front gate of our apartment, someone decided to burn some trees and brush in two different lots today. I could hear the crackling in the laundry room (which is on the backside of our apartment). When I went to look, the flames were quite tall and the smoke very thick. That started about 11AM. While I could smell the smoke, it wasn't too bad. That is until the wind shifted! When I go back, my house may smell of smoke..but, oh well.
Had a crazy end of the week. Thursday the landlord, Joe, and Pabo, the caretaker, decided they were going to fix the ceilings in our apartment. Last year we had a problem for a short time with leaks in the ceiling. During one particularly bad storm, I had 9 pots out collecting drips (BIG drips!) Pabo took care of the problem, but this is a cement bldg with a cement roof. When he sealed the leaks, it trapped the moisture in. As the moisture evaporated slowly over time, I guess it affected the paint in the ceilings as it began to bubble and eventually turn to powder and fall off. The worst was my sewing room. I had a circle of bare cement three feet out from the ceiling fan and spreading! There were spots all over that room that were flaking. I couldn't even use the room to work in any more (with all the paint dust, burn soot that makes it in along with dirt it was really getting annoying!)
Anyway, they had to scrape ceilings in all but one room (Bob's tiny study has a perfect looking ceiling---most people's bathrooms are bigger then his study). So, besides the sewing room they scraped and painted the kitchen/living room, bedroom and the bathroom.
They used drop cloths. But it would have been more helpful had they folded them up and shook them out before moving them to the next room, but that's just my personal opinion : }
At the same time they were *fixing* the toilet. Bob and I got quite a chuckle out of this one. They spent literally 4 hours *fixing* the toilet. It wouldn't stop running, wouldn't always flush, occasionally had water running out of the back. They tried working with the current parts, they bought new parts, they tried jerry-rigging those parts, they re-installed the old parts. Finally at 5:00 Joe declared they were done. All of the ceilings looked great! I went in a few minutes later to flush the toilet----it didn't flush! Bob came in, I told him and in less than 5 minutes he fixed it---shortened the chain and bent the bar. ~~sheesh~~
Friday was a delightful day! Bob and I spent the day at Guavaberry. That's the wonderful beach less than 5 minutes from out apartment. We walked the beach several times; sat on lounge chairs and read, drank diet Coke, ate lunch in the outdoor restaurant (our burgers were 5" tall with the lettuce and tomato---alot of two-handed squishing required). There was a really strong breeze that day and no clouds. We sat under the shade trees and relaxed. I read outloud several chapters of "End of the Spear" by Steve Saint. Then quietly enjoyed my James A. Michener book, *Texas* --I think I only have about 250-300 pages left in that book.
Saturday Bob had to work on realigning both of our vehicles with Wilkins help. Then the cupboard in my laundry room needed some reinforcing. They finally realized they would have to remove it from the wall, reconstruct it, make new reinforcements and remount it. Three hours later I had the room back to reassemble! But I no longer fear my cupboard falling off the wall if I put another can of soup in it. This cupboard is about 8 feet long.
Yesterday I woke up with a stomach bug...let's just say I am very glad the toilet was fixed and working properly. Bob went to church, I stayed home drinking many cups of ginger ale...no Vernor's here though!
Right now we don't have any groups here so this is when we take care of the *normal* things of living. So, how's your life?

Neon signs in church

Did you ever sit in church and as the message began you felt like there was a big neon sign over your head with a flashing arrow pointing right at you and a statement saying "This one's for her!" That was my experience today!
If any one of you read my post yesterday, you know I was not a happy camper. I was extremely frustrated and annoyed at our neighbor for his loud *music* (although I still contend that a continual repetitive bass beat with no notes is not music).
I had a beautiful day with no responsibilities. I had several hours of uninterrupted time. I planned on sewing curtains for the orphanage. I was looking forward to this time. BUT our neighbor blared his *music*, so I became extremely annoyed. ~~yes, notice the emphasis on *ME*
Then I went to church this morning. In Dominican churches at the beginning of the service, they read in unison the passage that the pastor will be preaching from. Today we read I Corinthians 13. That well known passage on *LOVE*. Oh yes, the neon sign was glowing brightly and flashing quickly!!!
Learned alot today even if it was in Spanish~~
We breathe because of God's love and mercy; we stand because of God's love and mercy; we walk because of God's love and mercy; we exist because of God's love and mercy. We are nothing without God's love and mercy.
Because we are His children, we should love the Father.~~ we love Him because He first loved us.
Because of our love for the Father, our whole life is to be a service to Him--If we lack godliness, then we cannot love and truly serve others. ((OUCH!))
Love is not a sentiment; Love is an action and the direction of our life.
The Lord allowed much testing of Job, but Job still served God --"The LORD giveth and the LORD taketh away; blessed be the name of the LORD."
from Deuteronomy 13:3 "...for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your mind."
Psalm 119 vs 157 "Many are my persecutors and my enemies; yet I do not turn from Your testimonies."
Psalm 119::163 "Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble."
My actions and attitude yesterday did not reflect God's love. For those of you who read that post, please forgove my complaining spirit, and lack of love. Yes, the music was obnoxiously loud and annoying; but I know I didn't handle it right. Instead of mumbling and complaining, and having a horrible attitude, I could have been praying for them. Yes, I had things I wanted to get done, but I could have prayed and asked the LORD to help me to overcome the circumstances. There were any number of things I could have prayed about, but I chose to complain, be self-centered and become bitter.
I'm sorry if I caused any of you to become discouraged, also.
I would ask for you to pray for me that I will show the love of God. Before we moved here a missionary, Jay Munoz, preached one night and he basically said "Don't go into fulltime missions, or come to the Dominican, because you love the country or you love the people. You won't always be able to love the people. Come because you love God and want to serve and please HIM." That is what I need to remember and focus on...remembering God's love, patience and mercy for me...focusing on Him...then serving Him because of my love for Him...and allowing His love to flow through me.

Hope you all are having a wonderful day!

thump-thum-thumpthumpthump

Today started off with a *bang*...actually it started off with a very heavy bass beat compliments of the neighbors at 7:30 this morning....gggrrrrr....
Neighbor doesn't even live next door, simply owns it and every few months decides to have an all day party. Picture 2 six foot speakers and a keyboard set to automatically play the same beat all day and you have the *music* for the day! the beat is ~~thump-thump-thumpthumpthump
Every once in a while someone decides to actually *play* the keyboard, which means they find three keys and play them repeatedly for about 5 minutes! Our landlord has tried to get him to turn down the music, even went to the police station and found out "Yes there is a noise ordinance! It goes into effect at 11pm" Something to look forward to at least!
This is the same neighbor who technically had his electricity cut-off for non-payment, but simply had someone connect a new line on thursday in preparation for today. The same neighbor who pays someone to clean the place for his parties but not to do the clean-up afterward, so his inground pool becomes a cesspool of mosquitoes! Last week there was still about a 10" deep by 10 foot across puddle of brown sludge in the *deep* end of the pool. With malaria and dengue fever on an increase here, and since these are spread by mosquitoes, and mosquitoes breed in standing water, this is a real annoyance!
I have an entire day free with no other responsibilities that I had planned for sewing. SCORE is partnering with a pastor in starting an orphanage. They currently have a very nice home in LaRomana with a woman, Josephina, to care for the children. There are 4 children--- 1 girl and 3 boys. But there are no curtains on any of the windows.
So, I have fabric, a sewing machine, the desire to sew and now I have curtains for 10 windows to make. I have the 2 sets completed for the girl's room --very pink and girlish. The set for the dining room is done--Waverly fabric in a really pretty floral. I tried working on the boys' curtains today. About one hour's worth of work left, but the thump-thump-thumpthumpthump from next door was driving me to insanity so I had to leave.
Have now been away from it for 3 hours "hiding" out here at SCORE. I told Bob I had to leave the apartment before I lost my Christian testimony..~~ time to go back and give it another try.
Incase you ever doubted, yes, missionaries have really bad days also!
Days when I remind myself that I am here because I love the LORD and I want to obey and serve however He desires and with the right attitude. Keep praying that this is a reality for me today!
Hope y'all are having a much calmer day!

Oh where, oh where did my caffeine go?

"The principal reason that caffeine is used around the world is to promote wakefulness. But the principal reason that people need that crutch is inadequate sleep. Think about it: We use caffeine to make-up for a sleep defecit that is largely the result of using caffeine." ~~T.R. Reid, National Geographic Jan 2005, p.16~~

Woke up this morning intending to have my customary 2 cups of morning coffee. But I think I needed the actual caffeine before I tried to make the coffee.
Normal routine--remove the permanent type-filter---just empty, rinse, replace in coffee maker and add coffee grounds. Simple right?
Next add water and hit *start* simple right?
Well, to start with I did empty and rinse the filter, I added coffee grounds, poured the water in and hit start. Now I only had just enough bottled water to make my customary two cups as I forgot to ask Pabo, the apartment caretaker, to bring me up a 5 gallon bottle yesterday.
I heard the pot sucking up the water and brewing my pot of coffee. The smell was *heavenly*---it was Starbuck's Verona blend that someone gave me this Summer. Imagine my surprise when I re-entered the kitchen and saw coffee and grounds streaming down the outside of the pot and across the counter!!! YIKES-O-RAMA!
It would appear in my haste to make coffee I forgot two key things---I didn't re-insert the permanent filter--I put the grounds right into the basket without the benefit of a filter. I also failed to screw the lid on properly on the Gevalia Thermos coffee pot! This tends to create problems!
I pulled out the pot thinking this would stop the coffee from flowing, NO! Fortunately, I had another Gevalia thermos coffee pot handy (gift from another missionary whose Gevalia coffeemaker bit the dust). Put that pot in place... and began the clean up process...12 paper towels later, I discovered I actually had 1 1/3 cups of coffee between the two pots!!! Really only 1 cup because when I tried to drink that final 1/3 in the pot, I discovered I had a mouth full of coffee grounds...BLECGK!
For all of those who have Broadway Joe or Montage in your plans today, drink a nice strong one for me!

~~"For a man to be away from his coffeemaker is a sorry state of affairs, Mrs Graves," he said..."Bring your nostrils over that and tell me it isn't the aroma of heaven." ~~
~~As if gazing upon aqua vitae itself, he grasped the container and held it up to the window. 'Ah, the hue of steaming coffee is a thing of beauty, is it not?' he exclaimed with wondrous pride in the liquid he had created. ~~Michael Phillips, *A Rift in Time* p. 214 & 215

Something new in the DR....

Please pray as the *national gas association* for this country has decided to protest something ~~so the gas stations are going to only sell current supply and refuse deliveries of more gas until the govt complies with their wishes. That could get bad fast! We personally use on the average about $75-$100 a week and gas is currently just under $4.00 a gallon! We're hoping that they don't intend to raise the price even higher.
All of this could greatly effect SCORE with the consumption of fuel in each bus and the van.
Along with this, the value of peso is once again falling --- it was at almost 35 to one US $1...now it is down to 31 in less than 2 weeks. This may not sound like much but it begins to effect things quickly.
************
Thursday's update on the gas situation~~
The 'gas association' has given the government until this Sunday to reach some sort of agreement. Sunday is when the current supply is predicted to run out. Right now, we're just keeping our gas tanks full and praying for the best!

Alabama Conference

Well, I finally have time to sit down and write about our trip last week to Alabama. To say it was "incredible" would be putting it mildly. We felt welcomed before we ever arrived. The correspondence with several from the church in the weeks preceeding was so encouraging.
Of course, stepping off the plane into 38* temps was a little eye-opener! Fortunately, the couple who came to pick us up had an extra coat in their car and Patsy is my size!
We had expected a church of about 1,000 from all we knew they were involved in. This is actually a church of about 350 where everyone is very committed to serving the LORD. They just do the work of a 1,000 or more people who love the LORD! Of course, we were there for a missions conference so the emphasis was on missions. But everyone we talked to ---and this was a very friendly church, so we talked to a lot of people!!!--- had either been on a missions trip at least once, was in the planning stages of a trip, or someone in their immediate family had been or were going on a trip.
There were 5 other missions represented. A *retired* couple serving in Nicaragua, a young single lady serving in Peru, a couple going to Togo, W Africa (He grew up there as an MK), a family with 4 small children home on furlough from Brazil, and a young couple serving in the local public schools. This man has actually been given an office in the local public high school and is able to do Bible-based counselling, share at assemblies, etc. He had an incredible testimony (all right I know God saving anyone is incredible, but you know what I mean). We had such a blessed time just meeting and getting to know these other missionaries and to see what God is doing in other countries and other mission agencies. Astounding! God blesses more than one mission agency! :)
What was really encouraging to see was the church involvment in this conference. The kids were part of everything. Some stuff was obviously geared just for them, but many things were included with the adults. The kids had little booklets to collect info on the missionaries and their countries. I was asked for my autograph countless times along with my favorite verse!
But so many things that have grown to become part of their conference are not *church sponsored*. In other words, the pastor didn't at some point say "We are going to do.....now I need a group of volunteers to do it" A few years ago one retired couple decided they wanted to host a supper on Sunday evening as a way for the missionaries to get to meet one another along with the pastors and their families. So, that's what they did. They cook the entire meal, set up the tables, decorate, etc. On Sunday after the service we got to spend time just getting to talk to the other missionaries. What a joy that was!
Another lady thought a few years ago that there should be a luncheon with the missionaries and the retired adults. So, on Tuesday we had a delicious meal with the retired adults. This woman and her friends put on a spread that would put any restaurant to shame! By the way, these adults may be retired from their secular jobs, but they definitely have not retired from the LORD's work! These people had questions and have been on numerous trips! Not church sponsored but held at the church with the pastors there.
What ever vision these people have, they run with it and people fall in to help. The spirit of this church was so warm, and vibrant and ALIVE!
Another woman a few years ago wanted to take the words "exceeding abundantly" (*perissos* in Greek)and apply them to giving to the missionaries. We were asked to send a list of items we needed or wanted. No item too big or too small. Then she took the lists, wrote tickets with stubs and displayed them on a bulletin board. People had a ticket then to attach to their purchase and she had a stub to know what was going to be purchased and supplied.
Wednesday night was the International Dinner and Operation Perissos. I don't really want to focus on the gifts, but let me say these people gave in big ways!!!!! The couple going to Togo have to actually build the camp they will be ministering from. Their pile basically looked like someone had transferred Lowe's power tool department to them! The couple working in the public school now has more than enough $$$ to completely outfit their office along with a laptop, and scanner/printer/fax etc, etc. Some men in church have delivery companies-- or attachments to them-- so they are taking care of the delivery fees for those out of state as no way would any of it fit into their vehicles.
Along with all the candy (remember *exceeding abundantly* hence 15 pounds or more)we have a new generator (Honda---super quiet) for use in the med clinics when the power goes out or for running the video projector for showing gospel films in villages on Saturday evenings. I don't have to feel guilty about taking pictures as I have an *exceeding abundance* of film.
Like I said earlier I don't want to focus on the gifts, but these guys were sacrificially generous. We have been saying we want and need to go to language school in the Fall in Costa Rica from the end of August to near the end of December. We have been hoping to collect enough money so that we would only have to use part of our regular support to supplement it, as our regular expenses will continue here (apartment, health insurance, etc.) Someone on Wednesday went into this lady's office and said they wanted to underwrite our entire language school expenses....airfare, tuition, apartment in San Jose, living expenses...everything! This is no small amount and thru this *nameless* person the LORD has covered it totally! The two of us stood in front of the church embraced and sobbing, but that's okay because they were crying and rejoicing with us.
The couple we were staying with told us to use their phones to call our kids whenver we wanted and to talk for as long as we wanted and not to feel guilty...just to enjoy it! What a blessing that was to talk to y'all without having to worry about our phone card running out. Anytime we go back for a conference there, this couple also told us to invite our children and their families so that you could be with us for a few days. AND they mean it!!!!
Please, don't just see the material things in this post ---and there are many--- but I wish you could see their hearts, their love, their concern for us. Of course, they wanted to know all about SCORE and what we are doing, about the medical aspect of our work, about the villages, the new med clinic (Oh, by the way one man is purchasing all the cabinets we need for the clinic, took Bob to Home Depot to be sure that Bob could pick out exactly what was needed, is paying the shipping on them thru MFI, and in May he and his wife are coming for a week to install them in the med clinic! That will go along way in helping in the ministry!). But as I was saying, they not only wanted to know about the ministries, they wanted to get to know each missionary.
We came away rejoicing, laughing, crying for joy, encouraged.....I can't even begin to describe how the LORD used this week. To know that this group is supporting us in prayer is tremendous. I KNOW that the LORD has called us to the Dominican, but last week when we were flying home I just felt that extra big confirmation that we are definitely where the LORD wants us. Can't put it into words properly, but I hope you know what I mean.
We now have more missionaries to pray for and to correspond with. We can see how the LORD is working around the world, not just in the Dominican. We saw other missionaries being encouraged and blessed. Wish you all could have been there to receive the encouragement and blessing we received. PLEASE, don't just read this and see the material items...that was all just an outward display of what the LORD is doing in their hearts and lives.
Every week, every conference, every church can't be like last week, it would be too overwhelming; but to experience it for just those five days was an incredible encouragement.
Hope you all have a blessed week!

Back from 'bama

Incredible time! Will write more later....too busy unpacking all the goodies! Now where should I store the 25 pounds of Hot Tamales????

Down in Alabama

Well we arrived Saturday night to 38* temps when we got off the plane. The people have been wonderful. Every person we have talked to who has either been on a mission trip, or has a family member who has been on one. The main speaker is fantastic. He was a missionary in Okanawa for 25 years with his wife. He knows what the missionary life is about. I felt refreshed after just one service, and he's spoken twice more since then! He looks sort of like Lyndon Johnson, but has a far superior message!
From all we had heard about this church's involvement in and commitment to missions, we were expecting a huge congregation, like about 1,000. There were probably 350 people total between the 2 morning services. There are 4 other missions represented here this week. One couple going to Togo, Africa; a family of 6 returning to Brazil: a single lady returning to Peru; one couple that works within the local school system here in town. So, much fun to sit with other missionaries and hear what the LORD is doing in their lives and ministry.
Last night they had a dinner at church after the evening service for all the missionaries, so we could fellowship with one another. This morning the Pastor and his wife are hosting a brunch for all the missionaries in their home. We're going out with another couple from the church for dinner followed by a service tonight. Tomorrow Bob and I share at the luncheon for the retired adults. They may be retired from their secular jobs, but these people have definitely not retired from life.
Bob and I also present our ministry in tomorrow night's service. So, please pray for clarity of speech and wisdom in what the LORD would have us to share.
We're having a wonderful time, are keeping busy but definitely feel recharged and energized!

forgot again....

Okay, brain is totally not functioning this morning. Forgot to include the 'thanks' I originally was going to post.
1. For bright sunshine....it is gorgeous outside!
2. For Kermie---my *pet* 4" lizard that inhabits my laundry room. I see him several times a day, usually scurrying away from me...but he eats mosquitoes!
3. That Bob was finally able to find the part that connects the hose to my washing machine. I do NOT have an American style machine, but I love what I have. But I had been having to drape the hose over the edge of the machine, then lay part of it in the bottom and cover it with the laundry to hold it in place. this works, but if I forget to set a timer to remind me the tub is filling, then it over fills, the hose is released from under the clothes, and I have a fountain in the laundry room. I can go weeks without a problem, and then this week I had to mop up the laundry room twice in two days! Now I know why they build laundry rooms with drain holes out the side of the wall! HONEST! But Bob found the right connector, now the hose is actually attached, it will not become a fountain! and an added bonus, because the hose is connected, I can flip the switch that will then allow the water to flow into the 'centrifugado' and rinse the clothes while they spin. I couldn't use that feature for the past 16 months. NOW I CAN!!! I am truly a happy camper! I love my washing machine!
4. That we get to go to Prattville, Alabama for this mission conference. Always fun visiting churches. This one we only know one person. He's a lawyer, who makes regular visits to the DR and is a big supporter of SCORE.
5. That this time we get to fly Delta and NOT American Airlines. Everyone who has done the Delta flight says they will never go back to AA. Delta actually serves a meal...for those of you who have not flown recently...the size of the peanut bags is about a 2" square with about 12 peanuts max!
6. I checked and this flight is showing in-seat movies, and one of them is "Pride and Prejudice". I saw a preview on it one day and it looks so good. I sure hope I didn't misread the Delta site!

okay...time to go.

Sheesh!

Well, guess I need to get my fingers and brain functioning first! Hit the wrong button and sent an empty post....oops!
We leave in a few minutes for the airport and then to Montgomery, Alabama, by way of Atlanta. Five hour layover in Atlanta....actually looking forward to the layover time. I love airports and people watching. Fun times!
We will return on Thursday after a four day mission conference at a church in Prattville. Our correspondence with them has been great, they truly seem to want to serve Christ thru this time. Please pray for us for health (going in to 40-50* weather from 85*); travel safety (we'll now be driving on US roads and have to obey travel laws-church is providing us with a vehicle while we're there); rest (we arrive at 10:30 tonight Alabama time-12:30AM for us!); clarity in speech and thought as we present the LORD's ministry here in the Dominican; and anything else the LORD brings to mind for you to pray about regarding us!
love y'all,

So many 'thanks'

Every day is NOT like this....

Bob has had 4 weeks of non-stop med teams without a day off, other then to go to Santiago to get our mail and go grocery shopping. One med team would leave on a Saturday at noon and three hours later the next team would arrive at the airport. So.....today was OUR day!
We had heard that there was a beach we could go to near our apartment but had never gone there. WOW! Such a nice surprise to find so close...3 minutes from our front door by car. We pulled up to the parking lot and the guard let us in. We walked down to the beach and indulged in 5 hours of relaxation...no phones, etc. There are comfy beach chairs, little tables, or tables to sit at. a huge beautiful crystal clear pool with a waterfall (lounge chairs and tables with umbrellas around that), an open air restaurant. It is actually owned by the Guavaberry Golf Resort about 8 miles away. But the resort is not on the beach, so they purchased this to have beach access. If you stay at the resort, this is free. The only thing we had to do was buy a beverage (coke for 25 pesos = approx 75 cents). Since it was our first real day off together in about a month, we opted to also buy lunch. We could have had it served to us right on the beach, but we opted for the restaurant. I got the most delicious hamburger. Well the menu called it a hamburger with portabella mushrooms and cheese. It was a 1" thick steakburger! with fries, etc. Bob got a "cesar ensalada con pollo" He did ask them to hold the anchovies! But then had to send the salad back and ask them to please put "el pollo en la ensalada" For those w/o Spanish knowledge --he had to ask them to put the chicken in his chicken salad!
But this beach is very quiet, soothing music playing in the background and the sound of waves hitting the coral reef. No street sounds, no merangue music, no construction sounds...just total relaxing sounds... Not very busy either. The entire time we were there there were never more then 30 people there at the most. There is a guard so it's okay to walk off and leave your stuff on the chair.
We relaxed, we walked on the beach collecting pieces of big conch shells for our coffee table display (we decorate different here) and pieces of sea glass (broken glass that has been worn smooth by the water and sand (again, we decorate differently here!), we each had a coke, we read, we walked some more, we went into the ocean, we read, we ate lunch, we went into the pool, we walked on the beach, we read...we didn't want to leave.
What's nice is that this is a very safe place I can go to by myself on occasion. There are very few places I can do that. Even going to the store requires going thru SanPedro traffic (NOT relaxing).
So, we are grateful that the LORD has provided this place that is close to home that if we just had a free morning we could go to. We can order cafe con leche and sit on the beach and read and not feel guilty about spending money. Cafe con leche was only 35 pesos ($1.00).
I am totally relaxed ...and my hair is back to blond compliments of the glorious sunshine!

Another week in *Paradise*

Well here it is another Monday. I met with Erica and Lucy for our prayer time this morning. Erica is another SCORE missionary serving here with her husband, Nate. They've been here about a month and are living in the house here at the ministry center. Lucy is an intern that is here until the end of July.
Last week held lots of interesting events. I drove by myself for the very first time to San Pedro to Jumbo, (which visiting Americans say is a Dominican Walmart---yeah, right!) This may not seem like much but, believe me, it is MAJOR! Esp. given the driving conditions in San Pedro. The whole trip was bathed in prayer---part of that prayer was that I wouldn't get lost! Considering that in the States I regularly drove to Lynchburg, VA, by myself (also Roanoke, Longview, TX, etc) to suddenly lose *driving rights* is hard. I won't be driving their often, but it's nice to know that I can at least do it if I want to.
The med group that was here last week did a clinic at the fire department in San Pedro for the families of the firemen. At the end of the day, they were all given certificates. Bob is now a major in the San Pedro Fire Department. His certificate has an official embossed seal. He had already been there last year, so he has a higher rank than those that were there last week. He was able to repair some of their med equipment, train them in how to use some of it and give them a blood pressure cuff. Previous to this, they had one BP cuff to use between two ambulances!
On Friday Bob and I went in to Santo Domingo. We went to a section of the city with lots of little shops that manufacture by hand a wide variety of items~~~mattresses (remakes from the hotels, etc), cabinets, metal items, iron works, etc. There are a gazillion fabric stores. Eliminate any pictures of JoAnn Fabrics from your thinking. These are just very dimly lit, some what clean, no frills tiny shops with huge bolts leaned up against walls; plastic bags full of trim from major companies (Hanes, Fruit of the Loom, etc) jars of buttons (many of them cut from old clothing), odd colored zippers in every size and style. I got dropped off at a 3 story fabric store, while Bob actually walked to some cabinet makers checking on prices and styles for the clinic. If you could even picture this area, you would understand how busy our guardian angels were! When he got back to where I was, we walked down this one street checking out little sewing shops. I have to make some divider curtains for the rooms in the clinic and I wanted some open style rivets for the curtain hooks. Found them in one shop ~~84 rivets for 49 Pesos (about $1.50) While Bob was waiting for the clerk to count them out, (they were stored in a jar) I was browsing the store. I got up near the front looking at the trims, when Bob called for me to come back. It appears the owner wanted me back where it was safer! Guess men in the past have rushed in, grabbed women's purses and made a quick get away. But the owner did give me a piece of candy. Delicous hard caramel candy!
However, when we left the store we were walking back to our vehicle and from out of nowhere a man appeared and tried to take my purse. Fortunately, I had it over my neck and across my chest. he never got hold of the strap (YEAH, for my guardian angel!) I twisted to the right, tightly grabbed my purse and loudly said, "OH NO YOU DON'T!!!" He turned and ran down a small walking alley between bldgs. Bob said he had an accomplice who opened the gate to the alley to allow him a quick escape. So, I'm fine and still have my purse, but I twisted both of my ankles in the process. My feet were 'derecho' (straight)my body twisted 'a la derecha' (to the right), and my heart was POUNDING! So, other then church yesterday morning I have once again had to stay off my feet and rest them. Back on pain meds for 3 days...yuck! But all is well and the LORD is my shield and my defender!
Needless to say, we decided not to do any more shopping that day...bummer.
This week, Bob is doing more organizing in the clinic with the help of Lucy and Wilkins. Wilkins is now on staff full-time with the medical ministry. He is a graduate of Jay's Timothy Project and has always had an interest in medical. He's 23 and a very godly young man. He has been a real blessing. Bob is teaching him about medical, replacing brakes on cars, sterile techniques, etc. Richt now, while I type he's in the hallway singing hymns in Spanish.
So, all is well. Tomorrow is mail day which means we have a trip to Santiago! YES!!! FUN!!
and hopefully, lots of mail! Saturday we fly to Montgomery, Alabama, for a missions conference at a church in Prattville. We're there until the 23rd when we fly back here. So, close to our family and yet so far!
So, did y'all get any residual fallout from the blizzard going up the East coast? How I wish I could see snow! But thanks to David and Lyndid and our InstaSno, we have periodic snowfalls in a little dish on our coffee table. Thanks guys. By the way, I really like those purple pens you sent. When we opened the box, there was no doubt that those were NOT Papa's : } Although, I did offer him one....

love you all,,,,

Before I was a missionary

This was inspired from something we read from a church bulletin for a mission conference. The one we saw was only a few short statements. But I had to make it personal, and once I got started, well....
This is in no way to be taken as whining or complaining...it's just our life as we live it here in the Dominican....

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Before I was a missionary - I never knew what it felt like to be a race car driver. I never imagined that if we obey and acknowledge the policemen on the side of the road when they lean on the side of their car and half-heartedly gesture for us to pull over, we will just be adding to their corruption. I never realized that stop lights were only suggestions.

Before I was a missionary - I never realized that traffic actually flows easier when everyone pretty much disregards the lights, signs and laws. I had never known the real value of being able to ask for directions --- derecho and derecha are NOT the same (straight and to the right)

Before I was a missionary - I had never panted between songs to keep cool while worshiping in church. I did not know that all creatures great and small visited church services. (goats, dogs, chickens, roosters, along with mosquitoes and wasps )

Before I was a missionary - I never knew the real value of window screens. I never had to plan how I should kill the taratula at the back door or the cockroach scampering across the floor. Crabs were at the beach; NOT scurrying out of my bathroom. The same could be said of frogs! (By the way, frogs stink when they decide to jump down the bathtub drain and then proceed to die! And, it take days for them to clear!)

Before I was a missionary - I never suspected that I could almost cease to be bothered by vehicles coming at me on the wrong side of the road. I just make allowances for them. The next time I'm on that same road, I may be traveling in the wrong direction, and they'll make allowances for me.

Before I was a missionary - I suspected that the U.S. used far too many orange construction barrels. 1-3 small cones 10 feet away is more than enough warning for any and all road changes; and they only need to stick a branch in a really deep pothole if it has filled up during a rain storm.

Before I was a missionary - I never knew that headlights and taillights are luxury items. CD's serve well as reflectors on the front or back of any vehicle. Spare tires on the other hand are a necessity, and several can be stored on top of a vehicle.

Before I was a missionary - Learning to cook from scratch never seemed a necessity of life. (That's what take-out was for) I drank water out of the tap and did not worry about the ice in restaurants. At the market, I never had to choose my spices by smell alone. I did not know that what I threw away would later be gone through and eaten.

Before I was a missionary - I never knew how many pieces a chicken could be cut into. I never thought to cut the chicken breast into 3 pieces. I never knew how many ways rice could be part of a meal. I thought that *supersize* was just a regular size portion.

Before I was a missionary - I never thought I would use my mini-Dreml to remove the rust from my kitchen knives, serving utensils, and my graters and sieves. I never imagined having to periodically wash my wooden spoons in bleach to remove the mold caused by high humidity. Or, that upon returning from the States after two months, I would have to wash ALL of the clothes left in our apartment to rid them of the smell of mildew.

Before I was a missionary - I never thought I would be telling my guests: "We love lizards! Lizards are our friends. Lizards eat mosquitoes. Please don't chase or in any way attempt to harm that lizard. He is valuable. I want him in my apartment!"

Before I was a missionary - I never knew how much I would look forward to *Mail Day*. I never imagined how important the Internet would become. Or, how precious an envelope filled with family pictures. Any and all Christmas family newsletters are worth their weight in gold! (And when they include pictures of the family---even better!)

Before I was a missionary - I never knew that a rat could climb up the side of a frig. Or, that the same rat could drag a loaf of bread across the top of that frig, and then devour a large portion of that loaf of bread. I never knew that if I trap and kill the rat, I should discover first if it is a mama-rat; and, if so, where she has lft her nest of babies. I never knew how much 3 very small baby rats could stink up a sewing room once they die and go undetected for 2 weeks.

Before I was a missionary - I never knew how blessed and encourged I could be while worshiping in a church service where, at most, I understood 25% of what was said. I never knew that "Surely the presence of the LORD is in this place" could be so real! I never knew how much it would mean in the middle of a sermon to have the Dominican pastor stop, turn to us and in English say: "Do you understand? I was just saying...." and then go on to give us a brief sysnopsis of his message up to that point.

Before I was a missionary - I never knew how real "We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the LORD" would really become. I never really comprehended the power and love behind "Mi hermana en Cristo"

Before I was a missionary - I had never seen love expressed through actions when words could not be shared.
I never completely understood the sacrifice Jesus made leaving His home in heaven.
I had never known it was possible to be so homesick and at the same time be so content knowing I am serving the LORD in a foreign country that -- though it is far different from what I am used to --also feels like home!

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Have a great one!