Who thought $4 gas price would make me happy?

Time to celebrate!!!! The government here sets the price of all fuel. Gas prices are revealed every Friday night and most be changed by Saturday morning when the stations open . So, no going around the block to another station to save a peso or two.

Just a few weeks ago gas was at RD$204 or, $6.00US~~(peso was at 34= $1). This morning when we were driving home from church we noticed the sign at the gas station... $141.20. ~~or, $4.00 ~~(peso is at 35.20 = $1). WOW! It has been slowly dropping each week, but this was a 14 peso drop from last Saturday! What a major savings that will be for everyone!

Our new vehicle, which gets about 40mpg, should be in port this week. Yes, our new vehicle actually is being shipped here from Japan and is arriving supposedly tomorrow on a container ship.

Then it has to clear customs, go to the dealership and have the 'defensas' installed. "Defensas" are tubular safety bars mounted to the front of the vehicle that prevent the radiator and other engine parts from being damaged in a 'minor' accident. Believe me, they are not a luxury add-on but a much needed accessory!

We might just have it within 2 weeks. But this is the Dominican Republic, where 'manana' (that should have the little wavey thing over the first 'n' but I can never get my computer to do that, sorry Dee!) can actually mean tomorrow, or it can mean "Yes, I am saying tomorrow, because I have no clue when it will really happen, but it will make everyone happy if I say 'manana'. And I will continue to say manana, until manana is the day it actually happens."

So we are being told about 2 weeks. We'll let you know how that goes.

Pictures will be posted when it arrives. A couple of good things that Bob discovered~~ The vehicle we are getting is the Diahatsu Terrios 7 seater...which is the same model as the Toyota Rush. But the Rush sells for much more, because it says Toyota instead of Diahatsu on the vehicle! Also, he couldn't find any negative customer comments about the Terrios when he researched it online!

Fuel savings aside, I'll be very happy to finally have a vehicle where the AC and the windows work properly!!!

love,

~~anna~~

I live "The Wonderful Life"

The past 10 days or so I have really had it impressed upon me that I am truly living a wonderful life. These are some highlights from those days.

The first three pictures were taken over at SCORE, where Avy & Gladys Prado and their two teenage children, Joel and Sophya, live in one of the small apartments. They are Costa Ricans (Ticos) who have been working there with SCORE for a number of years. In August they moved here to help establish a couple of new churches. They are a fun couple with a wonderful sense of humor and are always ready to serve others. Their children are also a delight! Fortunately, for me they all speak English. But they have offered to help me with my Spanish!

Gladys is actually Argentinian, so when we went over to their place they served us an Argentinian barbecue. It seems that in that country meat is cheaper than veggies or potatoes or rice. So the traditional Argentinian BBQ consisted of sausage, chicken, pork and beef. Small pieces of each and oh so delicious! Served with a small salad.


Bob, Tim and Avy at the grill! Yes, that's a pool in the background, too!

Avy is an incredible chef! The sausage (Longinista) is served on a bun with lettuce, tomato and salad dressing. It is unbelievably delicious!

Gladys and Evelyn~~Two dear sisters in Christ

Then on Tuesday I came home from an afternoon in the clinic pharmacy. After a quick dinner I told Bob I would like to go for a walk. So we did~~we walked the shore of the Caribbean! Less than 5 minutes from our apartment!

Wednesday and early Thursday I had a migraine (THAT was not part of my wonderful life!), so I didn't eat much. Thursday night when I got home again from the clinic pharmacy I was starving! Bob was offering me different ideas of what he would make for us...a big salad or eggs, veggies, hashbrowns, etc. Nothing was going to do it. I told him I wanted to go to Giulia's (Pronounced "Julia") Italian Cafe. Giulia's is owned by Judah, a Jewish man from Jerusalem, who makes the best cheeseburger ever!!!!
~~Yes! a Jewish man who owns an Italian cafe in the Dominican Republic right across from the Caribbean who specializes in American cheeseburgers!~~
So, we walked up to Giulia's at the end of our street, where we discussed U.S. politics with Judah. Obviously, Judah does NOT want Obama elected. Neither can he understand why anyone in the States would vote for Obama!

Papo, our caretaker, has given us fresh fruit twice in the past week...papaya and some fruit I haven't a clue what the name is. They are bigger than a cherry tomato, have a skin similar to kiwi, but have the texture of a grape, but are very sour! Oh and fresh papaya is nothing like the orange chunks in cans of fruit cocktail. It has a delicious flavor and real texture! He also gave us two coconuts fresh from the tree!

Sunday morning during the church service at SCORE, Bob gave a 10 minute devotional. Avy has asked Bob to do that each week. Bob's doing it, obviously, in Spanish; and he is doing a wonderful job. I can tell, because the people are nodding their heads, so that means they know what he's saying!

Which leads me to today. Avy flew back to Costa Rica for a few days and arrived back last night. He brought back a friend of his, who also happens to be a hairstylist that has his own beauty shop in San Jose, CR. This friend came just for 48 hours specifically to do the hair of all the missionaries with SCORE. So, today I got my hair cut by a Tico hairstylist! It's so different than anything I've ever had. ((Avy offered to drive me back to our apartment and introduce me to Bob)). He also offered to drive Bob to the hospital if he had a heart attack. Fortunately, Bob loves it and so do I!
Sophya, Joel, Dianna, Erica, and Evelyn are now also sporting new styles! Gladys not only got her hair styled, but also had highlights put in! We're trying to figure how we can raise $$$ to being him back every few months to maintain our styles! :)

Sophya & I with my new hair style while it is still wet. The bottom picute is after it has dried. It isn't set, just finger combed into place! I keep running my fingers thru it or looking in the mirror to see if I still like it~~I DO!


So, the LORD has impressed it on my heart and mind these past few days that I am truly living a wonderful life. ~~ eating delicious BBQ's with Argentinians and Ticos; walking on the shores of the Caribbean, serving in a clinic pharmacy, eating exotic fruit and drinking fresh coconut milk, discussing American politics with a Jewish man in an Italian cafe, getting new hairstyles and listening to my hubby give the Gospel in a foreign country but in their language and I was able to understand what he was saying!

Early morning~~

I woke up at 5AM this morning.
Not by choice~
Not because I set my alarm for that time~
Believe me, I so wanted to sleep ~~
But I found myself asking God: "Why am I awake at 5AM???"
His answer, "I want to spend time with you."
I resisted at first, but then it hit me: I have been missing time with my own children and grandchildren. How much more God has been missing spending much time with me!
So, my LORD and I spent some early morning time together.....

• I miss hearing from my own chidlren~~how much more God misses hearing from me.
• I want to have 'quality' time with my children ~~ How much more does He desire more than just snippets of my time.
• I want my children to want to know me ~~ How much more my LORD longs for me to want to really know Him.
• I want my children to know how much I love them ~~ But the love of God far surpasses any earthly love.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jeses Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and withut blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved." Ephesians 1:3-6

Snatches of my days

Well, the meeting with the staff went well Tuesday afternoon. They were stunned by the news I think...as can be expected.

But then yesterday the Dra showed up late ....staff is supposed to be there by 1pm and she arrived without explanation at 2:15. She does that if she's trying to make a point...usually, that she is not happy with us. She just succeeds in reconfirming for us that changes need to be made.

Please continue to pray for the staff and for us as we head into a new phase of the clinic ministry.

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This is my new toaster oven that we purchased in Santo Domingo 2 weeks ago. May not seem very exciting probably, but I am really happy!!!

My previous one was purchased used from Goodwill atleast 6 years ago. For the past few months, I could only use it to toast with constant supervision, as the cord became quite hot really fast!

All the ones we had seen previously were $60-$75. yeeouch! Imagine our surprise when we found this one for just under $30!!!! Besides toasting, I can use it as a small oven, which means less heat in the main part of the house from the oven. ((Our kitchen, dining room and living room are one room.)) This toaster oven sits on a ledge in the laundry room, right under a small window opening to the kitchen.

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These are pics of a jumper I made on Wednesday for Shiloh. I purchased the fabric a couple of years ago in Santo Domingo. The daises were from a trim I bought at Walmart when they were closing out their fabric department. (Can't even say how unhappy that decision by corporate Walmart made me!)

They were attached in one long 'ribbon' so I cut the daisies apart and sewed them on by hand (much easier than it may sound.) They are randomly placed on the front and back.

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I so miss Fall with its cool, crisp air, the colors and the smells!

But this is the view out my front door this afternoon.

It is beautiful, though, don't you agree?

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These days I am missing spending time with our family. I long to play again at Lake Superior with Shan, Stephan, Samuel & Shiloh. I miss seeing David & Lyndie & Yoselin and hearing the sound of their voices. I want to hold Yosi and experience the joy of her adorable smile. But I pray for peace, because I KNOW this is where the LORD desires us to be. Don't read that as 'depressed' or 'discouraged'. I just love my family and long to have time with them.

love to you, ~~anna~~

Clinic changes coming

When we were in the States, we shared that there were changes coming for our Medical/Dental Clinic. Bob had meetings in the States with those involved in the medical ministry of SCORE. Then last week he met with Eddy (DR Administrator for SCORE) and Dr Tollentino, (Dominican medical director for the clinic). They all agreed that the changes were needed. The two of them also agreed that Bob should be the one to tell the staff that we will be letting them go
So, tomorrow Bob will inform Meoli (receptionist), Jacqueline (cleaning lady) and Doctora (Dra) that we will be letting them go at the end of the month..
Starting November we will be open all day on Thursday and Bob will see patients and I will be in the pharmacy. We used to be open all day Tuesday & Thursday, but Dra accepted a new job and informed us a while back she would only be in the clinics in the afternoon. We got one day's notice that our entire clinic was changing!
Meoli is a very sweet Christian girl, but is not the right one for that position. Jackie was hired as a cleaning lady, which she does a wonderful job at. But she also does the pregnancy tests, breathing treatments, speaks Creole and Spanish, fills in as receptionist when Meoli is sick, etc. She is going to school to become a nurse's aide. We will be rehiring her in a new position. (For some reason Eddy says we have to fire her first, and then rehire her. Don't know why.)
Dra....well....she needs to move on. The needs of the clinic will be better met without her there. We are not going to put it to her quite in those terms though! :) They will be told that the ministry is changing and that the clinic is going in another direction, and so different staffing will be required.
Please pray for Bob when he tells them. Pray for clarity of thought and speech. Pray also for all the attitudes of those involved and affected by these changes. Pray for us as we begin this new phase of the Medical/Dental clinic.

love,
~~anna~~

PS~~Just a little on the cost of living here. 34 pesos = $1.00. Note that this change transpired in one month's time. Of course, large eggs, which we generally purchase, cost more.
Sep 01 - Pack of 30 small eggs - $119 pesos.
Sep 14 - Pack of 30 small eggs - $142 pesos.
Sep 20 - Pack of 30 small eggs - $160 pesos.
Oct 05 - Pack of 30 small eggs - $173 pesos.

I LOVE low water pressure!

Yes, that's right! I LOVE low water pressure!
Not always, but I am so thankful for low water pressure yesterday.

If any of you have read my earlier posts, you know about our 'occasional' neighbor. "occasional" because he only shows up at his property next door when he's having a party.

The last party the *music* (thump-kerthump-thump-thump-kerthump-thump-thump) began at 6:09 on Friday evening and finally ended 27 hours later at 9:20 Saturday night with a vist from the local police! We are not talking gentle easy listening music. This is >LOUD< with a heavy bass from a keyboard that just kerthumps continually. Then there is other music played over top~~seemingly in an attempt to drown out the "kerthump". But the kerthump never ends!

So, when the owner showed up on Tuesday to orchestrate the cleaning of the property, we were dreading the weekend. He even came over to talk to Bob, which he has never done before. He assured us that even though he was hosting a birthday party Saturday, it would not get out of hand and that they would keep the noise level down. Me thinks he was trying to subtly tell us he was hoping we would not feel the need to call the police again.

Since his last party ended May 17th, he had not returned. Which means the propety had not been cleaned, nor the pool completely emptied. The foot or two of water that remained in the deep end of the pool was brownish green and covered with garbage and mosquitoes.
With all the hurricane rains, the roof and windows leaked and the walls of the rooms inside were covered with mold.

Starting on Thursday he had hired people to give the entire grounds a thorough cleaning. They cut the small sections of grass, hauled out garbage, emptied and hand scrubbed the pool. Yesterday they used a power washer for over 7 hours on the inside, the patio and the pool.

In the almost 4 years we have lived in this aprtment we have never seen him spend so much time and effort in cleaning the place. We figured this must really be some gathering!

But since we returned from the States on the 18th of September, we have experienced very low water pressure. Taking a shower has been a real experience with the water fluctuating from a trickle to some spray, to pretty good spray, back to a trickle. Real fun when trying to get shampoo out of my hair!

At 10:00 last night Papo, our caretaker, called up to Bob. When Bob went out to the balcony, Papo thanked him for "talking to God" because the party was moved to a different location further down our road. Guess there wasn't enough water pressure to refill the huge pool by party time!

This morning Papo fixed the problem with our water pressure!
But I am thanking the LORD for yesterday's low water pressure!

Why I don't drive much~~

Why we covet your prayers for our safety on the roads!

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These pics are from our trip to Santo Domingo on Saturday, which is usually a slower traffic day!

Now you should understand better why I do very little driving here. Once, a couple of years ago, Bob had me drive thru Santo Domingo (with him very alertly playing co-pilot!) just so I could get used to it, incase I ever needed to do it by myself. Yeah, right! We now chuckle over that idea. Why, oh why, would I ever want to subject myself to these conditions????

Especially, when I have a far more important job of trying to remain calm while Bob navigates all of this! :)

Yes, there is a man bracing himself on the side of all this furniture. There are ropes around the items, but his position looks just a tad bit precarious to me!

You've heard of Kmart's blue light specials?
I need to get a better pic of all the street vendors at the busy intersections. As soon as the light turns red, they come selling avocados, cheese, peanuts, phone cards, windshield wipers, cell phone accessories, bottled water, homemade candies and kites, etc.
The traffic lights were out, so it quickly became a free-for-all with the largest vehicle winning!

What can I say? If there's an inch, they will quickly take it irregardless of what is already there.
Actually, these motoconchos were driving nicely. Most of them weave in and out and around, and not usually exhibiting much caution or care for themselves or anyone else!

If you look between the bus and the Induveca truck, the lady on the
back of the motorcyle is carrying a white plastic kitchen table with
the legs secured underneath. They got away too fast for us to get up
close and get a better pic! They made it around those two large
vehicles when the light changed and were quickly gone from sight!

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Our Ford Explorer has a display that shows the outside temperature. While in Sto Domingo, it registered 100*, but most of the time it hovered at 95*. Shortly after exiting the city, we watched as the temp dropped to 89*, 84* and then finally, 79*. Then this torrential downpour began. All motoconchos and many cars were pulled off the road. Bob had our 4 way flashers on and wipers on hyper-speed to keep up with the rain!


Yes, that is actually a lane maker (NOT all roads have them) and yes, we are straddling it. There was too much ponding of water on the left side to drive in that lane! I wish this rainbow had shown up better. It was brilliant
for a while, but every time I tried to snap the pic, there
were trees, bldg, or vehicles blocking. But it was nice
to have that reminder from our Creator!

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These next three pics are from our trip today back into Santo Domingo. We don't normally make 2 trips in three days, but we are checking out car dealerships trying to make a decision on our new vehicle.

In the 1st pic notice the location of the red sign to the right. Then notice the surroundings. It is a very busy corner with a car repair shop offering wheel alignment and balancing, change of oil, batteries, air conditioning, etc.

Just 10 feet to the right of this red building (But hidden in this photo) a man is changing the oil on a car.

However, when you read the red sign~~ Oven baked chicken with class!

And they deliver!

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OOPS! Yeah, yeah yeah! I know I already showed you this pic. But somehow I added it

twice and couldn't get it to delete. I've already redone this entire post twice, so ENJOY!

I've got to figure out how to delete pics. I tried everything...but until then ~ENJOY the pic again! :)

Look, Lyndie! I finally learned (sorta!) how to add pics!

love,

~~anna~~

Sunshine on my shoulder makes me happy!

Two mornings in a row of sunshine! Just a couple of little wispy clouds, but nothing really to write home about. Temperature is back to normal, which means it is H-O-T!

Don't get me wrong~~ I love a cool, windy, rainy day. I love lots of cool, windy, rainy days. I could take a whole week of them! They are wonderful!

But then I live on the 2nd floor of an apartment building that has a non-leaking roof.
Quite unlike most Dominicans whose homes may not even have screens on the windows, let alone louvers like we have.
Where we have concrete floors, they probably have dirt (at least in the sugarcane villages).
Where I have a concrete roof (newly repaired in January), they may have rusted corrugated tin barely held in place.

So, thank you LORD for sunshine and blue skies!

By the way, Tropical Storm Kyle that is headed toward the eastern shore of the US? That was tropical wave 93L that dumped all the rain here this week, then strengthened after it left the island!


But thank you LORD, again, for sunshine and blue skies!

Just when I thought it was over...

Woke up this morning at 6AM to a brisk wind holding our bedroom sheers at a 90* angle from the window, and a steady rain.

But by about 9 rain had stopped, I could see streaks of blue thru the cloud cover and the sun was doing it's best to peak thru.

Satellite image showed the worst as being over. It had appeared to fizzle out somewhat.

HA! For the past hour it has been a torrential downpour. Rain is coming in windows on two sides of our apartment.
This morning the water in the pool was less than 2" from the top edge. Now it is even with the top. Hopefully, the caretaker Papo will decide to turn on the pump and drain it some. Fortunately, there is no one living in the bottom apartment closest to the pool.

The following was posted on the DR1 forum~~((San Pedro is the next town over from us and where we attend church))

San Pedro de Macoris is impassable - in some areas even the firemen cannot get through. The main street is under too much water for vehicles of any type. And it is still raining

Please continue to pray for the situation here.

Plip! Plop! Drip! Drop!...

While we were in the States, the Dominican Republic experienced Hurricanes Gustav, Hannah & Ike . NOT direct hits, but, none the less, lots of rain and some strong winds. During Ike, Ken & Sara, who were staying in our apartment, had to place the boards on the open windows of our laundry room, and were without electricity at times.
Wel, now we have Tropical Wave 93L. It has already hit Puerto Rico. PR in places has received 20-30 inches of rain and it's still coming down there! The front edge has finally hit here in Juan Dolio, where it started raining about 10PM yesterday. At times it is quite heavy. They are predicting rain thru Wednesday.
I just watched CNN Headline news and they gave brief coverage. Since it does NOT have strong winds, such as a hurricane, it doesn't seem like a big deal in the US. But believe me it is!
Last year Tropical Storm Noel & Olga caused more damage then Hurricane George in 1998, which made a direct hit in Juan Dolio.

Check out this site to give you a better picture:
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/flt/t1/loop-rb.html


Villages can't take continual rain, esp with dirt roads, and often times dirt floors in their homes.
We are on the 2nd floor of our apartment bldg, and, thankfully, the landlord repaired the roof after Noel & Olga. So we are high and dry. But please pray for those that are not!
There is a med team here from Indiana. They have med clinics planned today, tomorrow and Thursday. Please pray that the buses will make it in and out of the villages. Also, that the people in the villages will actually come to the clinics. Usually, we have an abundance of patients, but when it rains, they don't want to come outside. Can't blame them for not wanting to sit or stand in the rain for hours either!

One benefit of the rain, is that it has cooled off our apartment building, so we aren't having to run any fans at all! That is really strange!

Actually, I'm surprised I still have Internet. Usually, we lose it in the rain. So far--so good!

love,
~~anna~~

Quick update: I just got off the phone with Dr Tolentino. Our clinic is closed for today. He actually seemed surprised that I was even thinking it might be open! The Dra. won't make it in fro Consuelo, patients won't come out in the rain, and the people need to stay home with their property as they don't know how bad it will get or what will happen. (Those are his words, not mine.)
This is NOT a hurricane ~~just a huge amount of rain. predicted to last at least thru tomorrow.
But in a country of coral and dirt with many people living in poorly constructed 'houses' along river banks (already swollen), a major amount of rain can be dangerous.

Adios!

Well, I haven't posted in a couple of weeks: and now, when I finally do post, it's to say "Adios!"
Tomorrow at 6:50 AM we fly out of Dayton International on our way to Santo Domingo. By the circuitous route of Dayton>Chicago>Miami>Santo Domingo. 7 hour layover in Miami. But Bob and I both enjoy our layovers, so books are packed in the carryons (But people watching os so much fun!)
This trip has gone quickly, and slowly, depending on what we were doing. We've included many things, and yet had time to rest and relax. Hard to believe that it's been almost 2 months since we first saw Yoselin! I will treasure my times with her. Camping with Shan and the kids was so much fun! Brumbaugh farm in the mud with David, Lyndie and Yosi....ahhh, what memories! (and lots of photos...really loving the digital camera now!)
We have been blessed spiritually and financially during this time! Meeting new people, and renewing old friendships has been a delight! The SCORE staff meeting in Chattanooga was a time of encouragement and refreshment!
Our trips are never how we envision them while in the DR...they always turn out so much better! Isn't that just like the LORD though?
So, tomorrow night we will be back home in our own apartment. Please continue to pray for us, as we will do likewise for you!
In HIS name and service,
~~anna~~

Get the message!!!!

Today was my final Sunday at Grace while we are in the States this time.
Tomorrow I pick Bob up at the airport in Dayton, then we travel down to Chattanooga, TN, for the SCORE staff meeting. Then we are scheduled to share in a church right outside of Chattanooga in Fort Oglethorpe, GA, on Sunday. The following weekend we travel to Warsaw, IN, to share in the church we attended for years when we lived there. Then on the 18th we fly home.

But this morning's entire service was truly one to remember. Something to recall and cherish when we get back to the Dominican Republic.

Jason, and the worship team, did such a beautiful job! The music, prayer and Scripture was so worshipful, and thus, beautiful! I almost thought it could end right there.

But thankfully, it didn't! Danny's teaching on Revelation 3:14-23 was a continuation of the blessing! How do I put it into words? You have to get the CD, or listen to it online.
What more can I say? If you weren't there, go to the church webpage and "get the message"!!!

Thank you Danny!
Thank you Jason!

Thank you LORD for my church and it's spiritual leaders! Thank you that you have provided Grace with Godly men who seek to serve You and to worship You and to make You known! Thank you that the teaching is centered and founded on Your Word! on Christ!

Narnia...and the NORTH!

Well, we've been here in Greenville for 2 weeks already! Hard to believe!
We've met Yosi! YES! Not only have we met her, but I have had the joy of babysitting 3 times~~1 afternoon for a couple of hours, and 2 full days! What a joy that was! Just in case anyone didn't know...she is adorable and so much fun to play with!

We've been able to see many while at church. So many new faces! What a blessing it has been to worship in our home church for two Sundays (well, one of them was in the park, but that was fun.)

So, right now we are in the final packing for a camping trip! YES! David, Lyndie & Yosi, and Shan, Stephan, Samuel and Shiloh and us are all meeting at a campground near Bradford for tonight. It will be Yosi's first time with Auntie Shan and her cousins.

Then tomorrow about noon, Shan, the kids, and Bob & I head up to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for about 9 days of wilderness camping on Lake Superior. She has a tent and we have Glen's pop-up camper.

Campfires, s'mores, walking on big rocks, hiking to a restored lighthouse, playing in Hurricane River, collecting rocks, building sand castles, reading on the beach, playing in the cold waters of Lake Superior, counting falling stars and satellites in the dark night sky. This is where all of us went last year for a week (well, except for Yosi who wasn't born yet).

Then when we return there will be the Darke County Fair, churches to visit and a staff meeting in Chattanooga, TN.

See you all when we return....but for now, it "Narnia and the North!"

Leavin' on a jet plane~~~

Well, tomorrow at this time we should be checking in at Las Americas airport and then winging our way to Dayton!

All the goodies for the grandkids (and, yes, the kids, too!) have been collected. Suitcases are sitting packed and ready to go. And ALL are under the 50 pound limit!

Last load of laundry is in the process right now. Just need to declutter the living room and kitchen of all those little things that are out of place. Use the vacuum sweeper on our one area rug, sweep and mop, and dust through out!

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The pool has been calling me all morning, but I'm holding off til the work is done. Then it's me, sunglasses, a bottle of iced tea, and my inflatable to float around on while reading my book!

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Just so you all understand~ as excited as I am to be coming back to the States~ I am leaving HOME for 8 weeks. Honestly, I can't imagine what it would be like to live in the States again. If the LORD calls us back there, then we will obey His call. But this is home! This is where He has placed us. This is where we are content to be ~even with all of the little quirks about life here!

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But going to the States for a visit is always eagerly anticipated!

With that said, I'm still obviously excited about spending time with David, Lyndie, Yoselin, Shan, Stephan, Samuel and Shiloh! Hope to see everyone else on Sunday!

Time's a tickin'

Well its a very hot Sunday evening in mid July. What a blessed time worshipping in church this morning...eventhough it was extremely hot! (No AC and only 3 fans!)

Hard to believe at this time next week we will be in Greenville. Lord willing we will have seen many of you in church that day!

We fly out of Las Americas airport Thursday afternoon, have a layover in Atlanta and then arrive in Dayton about 11pm. Glen will be there to pick us up. Had envisioned seeing Yosi in her parents' arms waiting for us, but alas, that is not to be due to the time we arrive.

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If all goes as planned, we should finally be able to actually meet Yosi between 6-6:30 Friday evening, when they bring her over to Glen's house where we'll be staying. Only 5 more days!

I'm so hoping she won't be afraid of us. She's used to everyone else by now I'm sure, and knows them by sight. We are going to be strangers to her. I just so want to hold her and get to know my granddaughter!

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In the meantime, there is a frig to defrost, laundry to be totally caught up, an afternoon working in the pharmacy, packing of suitcases, cleaning an apartment and other last minute projects to complete. Monday and Tuesday Bob is working with a team doing medical clinics at the old folks home in Monte Criste and Gallareta..

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There's a couple from Iowa coming on August 1st. They have come several times on med trips and even stayed for a month or more at SCORE while being involved in the medical ministry in the past. Ken and Sara are a dear couple. They are our age, but Ken took early retirement. She is an RN, so while we are in the States they are coming to stay in our apartment and she will cover the pharmacy days in the med clinic. Such a nice feeling knowing we are leaving everything in capable hands!

I've sent her pics of the pharmacy and written detailed instructions of how we do things in there (plus Evelyn will be with her for 2 days in the pharmacy, before Ev & Tim return to the States for 5 weeks also). But I have to get instructions to Ken & Sara to explain all the *fun* little things about our apartment. Such as they will only have hot water if they turn on the hot water heater and then wait 45 minutes for it to heat. After that, there is only hot water in the shower.

Have to explain to her how to wash dishes, including rinsing in bleach water.

Then there is my Daewoo washing machine.....totally unlike anything that is sold in the States!

So, guess I better get to getting and get their info typed out!

Looking forward to seeing many of you while we are in Greenville!

The LORD is our strength....

We arrived back from Costa Rica Thursday night at the Las Americas airport 35 minutes ahead of schedule (11:40 PM instead of 12:15 AM), and Bob has been busy ever since!
I had a dusty, dirty apartment to clean. Even with all the windows closed, black dirt makes its way in and covers everything.
We had a 4th of July cookout with all the SCORE missionaries Friday evening. As being an American was not a requirement, we had Costa Ricans, Dominicans and Argentinians celebrating with us. They even tried joining in on the singing of "God Bless America". Since some of the Americans were a little unsure of all the words, it was a little weak at times.
Erica had brought the big American flag from the main ministry area over to display, and a group last year had brought little US flags to distribute. Some of the flags were still around, so they were in glasses on the table. No fireworks, fire crackers or sparklers! But, fun, food and fellowship was enjoyed by all! Of course, my camera was sitting in our apartment, so I didn't get any pics.
Saturday our group came in from Dallas, Georgia. Only eight in the group inluding the two leaders, but they are a delight! Brad and Tammy, the leaders, were here our first summer, and once since then; plus we have visited their church. What a dear couple! The groups they bring of young people are always such a blessing with their willingness to serve!
Eventhough they don't have any med people with them, they still like doing a med clinic. So, yesterday Bob had arranged a clinic in a small village. He saw the patients, Tammy and others oversaw the pharmacy, and everyone pitched in where needed.
I really wanted to go and had planned on doing so, but my system has NOT re-adjusted to the heat and humidity after being in Costa Rica for 2 weeks. Bob said at first that if I went I had to go over to the med clinic at 6AM to have an IV before I ventured out. After sleeping on that thought, we came to the conclusion that it would be best if I reserve my energy. I am in the pharmacy at out med clinic today and Thursday, and hope to go with the group on Wednesday when we all do the historical tour of Santo Domingo. As it turned out, Bob said that I would have overheated anyway and I could not have taken what ended up being a 15 hour day (without being out of commission for the next week!)
Bob's day was L-O-N-G yesterday. He went over to SCORE at 6:30 AM to be sure everything was ready. They left for the hour ride at 7:30. When they finished treating about 60 patients, they packed up and then headed over to Monte Criste because the shipping container of food and med supplies had finally been released from port and was ready to be unloaded.
The team, and Bob, helped with that; then they returned to SCORE about 5:30. Bob said they no sooner got the vans unloaded of all the med supplies, when he was informed that an intern and guys from the visiting High School baseball team were sick. When I got there at 6 for dinner, I was able to assist him in caring for all of them. Patients in four different rooms scattered around the complex. Intern is being treated for bronchitis. The baseball players all were treated for dehydration.
Fortunately while we went to the med clinic to get the supplies, the team leaders moved all the sick players to the same room, which made it much easier to treat them. By the end of the night though, we were wishing they had chosen a ground floor room. Those stairs kept getting steeper and steeper! All four players ended up with IV's hooked up to them, and rec'd 2 liters each!
Iv bottles were hanging from wire clothes hangers suspended from the top of a closet, 2 from the side rail on a top bunk and the top curtain rod up by the ceiling (for the guy on the top bunk).
Then there was a lady from another team with earaches, which turned out to be infected, so we got antibiotics for her. Just as we were finishing up with the four guys,and giving them and their leaders final instructions~ I looked and realized that another young teen had curled up on a top bunk! He had a low fever and headache, but had been guzzling water all day, so atleast he wasn't dehydrated. Which is good since we were out of IV bags by that time!
Somewhere in all of that Bob managed to get a 15 min break to eat dinner and we finally arrived home at 9:30. Needless to say Bob was exhausted after his 15 hour day!
Today our group is back at Monte Criste at the old folks home. They are washing down the walls and beds with bleach water, mopping etc.
At some point Bob has to stop at a pharmacy to replenish our IV supplies, before returning to the clinic building to give guidance to another group that wants to help with some organizing.
When he left this morning, he was hoping there wouldn't be any more of the baseball team that were suffering from dehydration!
I leave in another hour or so to go work in the pharmacy for our med clinic that is open this afternoon.
After that, the plan is dinner and group devotions...hopefully, everyone will be healthy!

the best msgs aren't always by the main speakers....

Well KOSMOS is over! There were more than 550 young people at the SCORE sponsored conference here in San Jose, Costa Rica, last week. The purpose was to impact a large group at one time thru teachings and practical ministry opportunities.

Bob and I, along with Mike and Linda Fourman, headed up the dental/medical ministries. We were able to lead teams into Los Guidos (a very poor barrio of Nicarauguan residents) for 4 days. Bob also gave medical care to several of the attendees!

There were 3 teaching sessions each day, along with 6 hours devoted to the practical ministry.

All but one of the speakers were men..pastors at various churches in the US. Most were quite good. There was only one that Bob and I were very disappointed by. He spent 8 minutes of his alotted 40 minutes on his intro. But what he shared in those 8 minutes, while on the surface was funny, it took the mind along a path that was not edifying. I had a hard time listening to anything he had to share after that.

Late Friday afternoon the speaker was Carrie McDonnell, who served as a missionary with her husband in Iraq. Her husband was killed there along with 3 other missionaries. She survived 22 gunshots to her body! Her testimony was uplifting and encouraging.

One of the things she shared had a real impact and one that needs to be shared more. If as a young person you feel you have been called into full-time ministry, you should NOT be dating someone who does not have the same call. If the person you are dating, does not share a similar calling, they will pull you away from where you should be headed.

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But I heard my best message after the conference was officially over. It wasn't even given by one of the main speakers, or anyone up on the platform at all.

There was a missionary couple attending that had served in Israel for a few years, but are now back in the States. They have been to the DR at SCORE in the past at a time that I wasn't there. But we spent some time talking on the bus one afternoon. I enjoyed their company and their attitudes so much.

All week I had noticed how nicely the wife was dressed. NOT flashy, not drab blacks/browns, but in colors and styles that were becoming, feminine and stylish. What I noticed was her gracefulness and quiet beauty that was reflected in the way she dressed. She had such a sweet spirit about her.

As we said goodbye, she was turned to speak to someone else, so I told her husband that he had a beautiful wife. He agreed, of course! She then turned her attention back to us, and I made a comment that I had noticed how nicely she was dressed each day. Her response?

"I am dressing for the King!"

WOW! What a response! I love it! Yes, I know I am a child of the King, but does my dress reflect who I belong to?

In contrast there was a young woman here yesterday morning that was dressed for church in something so inappropriate as to be offensive. Her dad is actually the pastor of one of our supporting churches in the States. To me she appeared to be about 16 years old and what she was wearing was appropriate to sleep in NOT to wear in public. I was able to pull her aside to tell her that it would be best if she changed. Bob and I had cared for her physically earlier in the week, and she knew us from our visits to her home church, so it wasn't that she was a total stranger. She took it well ~~ but her 2nd choice wasn't much better.

I hope I don't sound judgmental, but after the 1st lady's response of 'dressing for the King' I just felt that I should say something. What really threw me is that this girl is NOT 16 but 24! I wanted to cry for her. Somehow she has gotten the message that revealing her body with her choice of clothing was allright.

Where have we failed our sisters, daughters, grand-daughters, friends, etc, when we have neglected to let them know that they are "dressing for the KING!" I am not saying that our emphasis should be on clothing; that we go on an expensive shopping spree, etc. But does our clothing reflect whose we are?

I don't know if I'm expressing myself well in this post. I do NOT want to come across as pointing fingers, etc. But I just want us all to know, to realize and to be able to say;

"I am dressing for the King!"

Some days are better than others...

Had a really crummy day today due to a misunderstanding with someone I care for dearly. Just felt lethargic as a result. It's been hard to get into the 'groove' to get organized for our trip leaving tomorrow morning for Costa Rica.
Took me most of the day to do a few basic things to get ready. Felt like I was walking around in circles unable to concentrate while the whole time I was hoping for an explanation to arrive in my email so the situation could be resolved. I hate days like this...feel like I wasted much of the day. It amazes how being out of sorts emotionally can have such an impact on one physically. My many tears caused weariness of body and soul. I was finding it hard to find anything good in the situation. I allowed myself to be robbed of joy.
But thankfully an explanation has come thru to clear-up the situation. So, all is well. Thank you LORD.
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We leave for the airport at 6:15 AM. Flight leaves at 8:45 and we are in San Jose, CR, by 9:50AM (11:50 our time). Looking forward to seeing many brothers and sisters in Christ we met when we were there for 4 months almost 2 years ago for language school.
Monday people start arriving for Kosmos 2008. There should be about 550 people (mostly young people) attending.
Tuesday-Thursday morning Bob and I along with Mike & Linda Fourman will be leading a med team into a poor neighborhood to conduct small clinics. At this point we don't know how big the team will be. The outdoor activities have to be in the morning as this is the rainy season in Costa Rica and it usually starts to rain about noon or 1PM.
In the afternoon and evenings,there will be teaching sessions with a variety of speakers.
When Kosmos ends, Bob and I have arranged to stay a few extra days to get a small time of relaxation in. A dear brother and sister in Christ a few months ago gave us $$$ to take a small trip, so this seemed like a good time to use it!

I'll be taking my computer. The SCORE villa in CR, and the hotel where the meetings are going to be held, should have Internet.
Please pray for my strength this next week particularly. I recently started taking medicine for an underactive thyroid, so my energy has just started coming back in the past 10 days or so. Next week will be long, active days with not many opportunities to rest. So, I shall need prayers to make it through. It will not be of my own accord that I make it through, but then is it ever? "The joy of the LORD is my strength"
Now to be sure I haven't forgotten to pack anything....I wasn't even organized enough to make my customary check-off list, so this could prove interesting.

The Love of God!

I heard this song for the first time when David was just a baby. We were living in Winona Lake, IN, and it quickly became my all time favorite hymn! The words are just incredible! It was written by Frederick M Lehman in 1917 in Pasadena, CA. I find it amazing that many hymnals do not include this one!
There were two books by John Fisher that David and I read together when he was in 5th or 6th grade~~ Saint Ben & Saints' and Angels' Song. The 2nd one uses the words to this hymn as its basis.
Bob has been instructed that at my funeral ALL three verses are to be sung! Since I don't know how soon I'll be going to heaven, why not take time right now to read~~I mean really read~~not just skim the words, as in "Oh yeah, I know this one already~~but let the words and their message sink in.

The Love of God

The love of God is greater far

than tongue or pen can ever tell;

it goes beyond the highest star;

and reaches to the lowest hell.

The guilty pair, bowed down with care,

God gave His Son to win

His erring child He reconciled,

and pardoned from his sin.

O Love of God, how rich and pure!

How measureless and strong!

It shall forevermore endure:

The saints' and angels' song!

When years of time shall pass away,

and earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,

When men, who here refuse to pray,

on rocks and hills and mountains call,

God's love so sure, shall still endure,

all measureless and strong;

redeeming grace to Adam's race -

the saints' and angels' song.

O Love of God, how rich and pure!

How measureless and strong!

It shall forevermore endure:

The saints' and angels' song.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,

and were the skies of parchment made,

Were every stalk on earth a quill,

and every man a scribe by trade,

to write the love of God above

would drain the ocean dry.

Nor could the scroll contain the whole,

though stretched from sky to sky.

O Love of God, how rich and pure!

How measureless and strong!

It shall forevermore endure:

The saints' and angels' song.

Lost in translation.....

Bob and I went for dinner tonight in one of the All-Inclusives near by. It was a late Mother's Day dinner. On Mother's Day we went into Santo Domingo to the aquarium and shopping and I was too exhausted to enjoy a nice meal after that.
Turned out tonight was Mexican night at the restaurant. By each dish on the buffet is a card with the name of the food item writen in Spanish, English, German and Italian (to cover all the foreign tourists from Europe). But a few dishes lost something in the translation.
Here are the ones I can remember:

• Tomatoes rellenos (sp?) = tomatoes backfill
• burritos de pollo = donkeys of chicken
• pollo a la mexicano = chicken to the mexican
• (Pork pieces) can't recall their wording in spanish = back of hog

The food was delicious...just best not to read, or ponder for long, the descriptions!

love to you all,

~~anna~~