At long last....(with a L_O_N_G post!)

Wow...this post is so far overdue it's ridiculous.... I think of things to post, but then get sidetracked....or ill..or busy..or the power is down.... (Warning: this is LONG! It' making up for lost time! ha!)

Two weeks ago I was quite ill. On Friday we thought it was just a plain old garden variety head cold (itchy eyes, sneezing, scratchy throat). By Saturday I did not want to move, and by Sunday I could barely get out of bed. I ached horribly, and had NO energy or strength. Fortunately, NO fever! It left me drained for a week afterwards, and with a nasty, hacking cough for a week. At one point I was taking three different cough meds just so I could get some sleep...impossible to sleep when you are coughing to the point of gagging... But I thank the LORD for medicine and that I am over what Bob called a 'respiratory flu" (as opposed to intestinal flu)

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On Friday when I thought it was just a simple head congestion, I started sewing a doll for Yoselin. Due to the fact that I was not thinking clearly, it was quickly nicknamed *frankenbaby*. For some reason, I thought I had sewn the arms in wrong, so I took them out and restitched. It wasn't till the doll was finished that I realized that I had resewn them in a permanent "praise the LORD" position. Which is not bad ~~ just impossible to get the sleeper on it! So, I removed the arms, which created a problem because I had already completely assembled the doll (stuffing and all) and had nicely done re-enforcing stitching to be sure no limbs would come loose in the future.

I was working under a time-frame since Tuesday was mail day, and with many meds, ......so that's my excuse, the replacement of the arms caused them to be *miss placed*. Definitely not some of my best sewing.

Poor thing...even the ears are lopsided and different sizes! What med was I taking?

Lyndie has been quite kind and is renaming it Lucy....David, thinks it should be Helga! Me thinks I should make a new one and not torture my dear granddaughter!

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Last Saturday Tim, Evelyn, Bob and I left for the northern coast. Bob had located a nice resort in Las Galeras (all-inclusive) at a good rate. It was beautiful! relaxing! French owned so it came with a French chef. I want to personally thank the chef for the Swan cream puffs on Monday's night buffet. I ate two before the main course! And we're not saying how many after dinner, and back in the room!

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This was one of our many meals! In the morning we had chickens walking around eating whatever food we *dropped*

We spent much time under a palm tree on the beach reading and relaxing. Walked the shores and gathered seashells. Would you believe I found a rusted horseshoe? Bob and Tim went sailing

Tuesday morning we travelled back to Samana (still on the north coast). It's only about 25km but took 45 minutes to get there due to the condition of the roads. But we went out on a large boat to go whale watching. We headed from Samana Bay out on the Atlantic Ocean.

We saw whales! humpback whales! One pod of 5, and then another 2 together in a different location. Regulations require that all boats keep a certain distance. Unfortunately, every time the boat stopped to observe the whales, the boat would rock, and rock, and rock, and rock. So, every time the boat stopped, I *fed the fish* over the side of the boat. But I really did love seeing the whales!

~~Unfortunately, I am still experiencing motion sickness 4 days later...not happy about that.~~

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Thursday night Noah arrived, and yesterday the rest of the group! What a joy to be reunited with friends, and brothers and sisters in Christ! This morning the group is heading over to Monte Criste to the almacen (storage facility) to do some major sorting and organizing. I'm planning to go over to SCORE to spend the afternoon with them.
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Unfortunately, with being sick and then away, the laundry didn't get done. (The maid never shows up here! hmmph!) We are experiencing power outages here about every 7-10 days. They usually last about 8-10 hours. They're not hard to endure, just inconvenient. While the power company plans them to conserve power, they don't alert us as to when they will occur. I had a load of laundry started yesterday morning when the power went out. I was able to finish it at 10:00 last night. But now while I have power today, I need to get at least one, hopefully, 2 loads completed.

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All in all, our life is wonderful! I truly praise the LORD for allowing us to be here. Yes, there are frustrations, illnesses, inconveniences, and oh, how I miss my family! But I feel blessed that the LORD would want me here. That He would allow me to be part of all this!

Currently, we have missionaries here representing Argentina, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Panama and the United States. What fun it is to interact with so many different cultures and know that we all serve the same wonderful, glorious LORD and Saviour!

This is Diana from Costa Rica. Oh, what a blessing she has been to me!

My Spanish is starting to pick back up...working in the clinic and having to explain medicines and how to take or apply them is helping with that. Plus, Diana from Costa Rica is helping me tremendously. I can understand her Spanish, and she knows how to reword (and reword) until I can understand what she's telling me! Smart girl, that Diana!

Marianella (recently from Costa Rica but my mind just went blank on what South or Central American country she originates from, it might be Ecuador) Anyway, she speaks a little English, but she helps me too.

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I love my time in the pharmacy. It can be a challenge, but I know it's what the LORD has for me at this point in my life. Never did I picture myself doing this! But "I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me." An added bonus is that I really do enjoy being in the pharmacy! Having people return from a previous visit and show how they, or their children, have recovered is a tremendous encouragement!


We had a little girl who was in the clinic 3 weeks ago. She was one years old and weighed 12 lbs 4 oz! We gave the mom all the soy formula we had, thinking it might be a food intolerance. Mom brought her in on Thursday. In three weeks the baby has gained over 1 pound! This time the little girl was sitting up and alert!



Monday I am hoping to actually go out with the group on a med clinic in a village. Please, pray that I recover from this motion sickness before then. A 75 minute bus ride with motion sickness before I start is not appealing.

But again I say: My life here is wonderful. Praise the LORD for allowing me to be a part of this!
~until the next time~

love,
~anna~

Just for Deanna

Well, since Dee so kindly published all those lovely pics of snow at her house, I figure I could return the favor.

As of today we have three med teams and one surgical team for the week!!!This is probably our busiest week of the year. So Friday morning we took a couple of hours to walk to the beach and spent time walking the shore, collecting seashells, and sitting on the beach reading.

Bob knows which kind of seashells are my favorite. So, he always collects a few for me!

This is a little restaurant that sits out on the water. It is part of an All-inclusive hotel. Sadly it is not open to the public, and we have never seen any one in it (except for the employees)Marissa, this is the beach that I felt impressed to walk and pray for you!

I would rather be stomping in the snowdrifts, but this is very relaxing!

Yes, my toes with their lilac polish warming themselves in the sand!This little crab popped his head out just about a foot from Bob's head!

So, Deanna~~did these help you to warm up just a bit!

....and the seas will roar....

I've had the flu the past couple of days, so I haven't accomplished much. Spent many hours resting, reading and sleeping. Consequently, at 3AM today I was awake. Although, it could have been the incredible body aches that had seemed to settle in my back, making it impossible to find a comfortable position.

But as I lay there awake, I was aware of a sound. Not the normal sounds of cars, trucks, motoconchos; or the daytime sounds of construction going on; nor was it the sound of birds that I hear continually from my balcony.

No ~ this was different. It took a while but I finally figured out what it was. It was a *roaring" sound.

I so wanted to follow the sound to its source. But I knew that the night time was not the right time to follow it. So, I patiently waited. Yes, I did get some sleep...not much though.

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At 10:00 this morning I got ready and followed the sound of the roar. Five minutes from our apartment is the Caribbean. Bob told me a while back that I could go there by myself during the day. Now is the tourist season, so I wouldn't be alone on the beach.

As I exited the short walkway leading to the beach, I knew for sure that this was the sound I had heard in the early morning hours. The waves were constant, and larger than normal. Why, oh why, did I not bring my camera???

I wish you could hear and see them right now. The sun is glinting off the waves and the surface of the water. There are no clouds! The sky is a beautiful shade of blue. The sound from the waves is drowning out all other sounds.

I walked for a ways and gathered seashells. Yes, that's them displayed on my table in the pic at the beginning of this post. You can tell which kind are my favorite. The waves were inviting, but I had worn a simple skirt and top so I could not enter completely. Of course, that did not stop me from allowing the waves to splash on me as I stopped to pick up the shells. Yes, the lower half of my skirt was almost dripping.

I walked part way back to where I had begun and finally sat for a while and just watched. It was glorious! I didn't have these verses memorized, but thoughts like these were what was going through my mind and heart as I sat there.

Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.

Psalm 89:9

The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.

Psalm 93:4

Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.

Psalm 96:11

This was the song that I was singing. (Okay maybe not outloud as to disturb others, but quietly to myself and the LORD)

Shout to the Lord, all the earth,Let us sing

Power and majesty, praise to the King;

Mountains bow down and the seas will roar

At the sound of Your name.

I sing for joy at the work of Your hands,

Forever I'll love You,

forever I'll stand,

Nothing compares to the promise I have in You.

My Jesus, My Savior,

Lord, there is none like You;

All of my days

I want to praise
The wonders of Your mighty love.

My comfort, my shelter,

Tower of refuge and strength;

Let every breath,

all that I am

Never cease to worship You.

Shout to the Lord,

all the earth,Let us sing

Power and majesty, praise to the King;

Mountains bow down and the seas will roar

At the sound of Your name.

I sing for joy at the work of Your hands,

Forever I'll love You, forever I'll stand,

Nothing compares to the promise I have in You.

I eventually had to get up and walk. I planned to stop at Guiulia's Cafe for a cafe-con-leche and wanted a dry skirt when I entered. I walked quite a ways. As I turned and was walking back, I got to remembering the time I was in a wheelchair and braces and could not walk. I wondered if my life would ever be back to *normal*. Which brought me to thinking of Marissa.

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Marissa, I walked a stretch of the Caribbean beach for you. But I didn't just walk it. I walked it and prayed for you. That some time in the future the LORD will heal you, so that you might enjoy His creation in all its fullness. That you might take steps for His honor and for His glory.

I don't tell any of you this to bring honor to myself; but Marissa, I want you to know that you have been on my heart much since your accident. The same God who controls the roar of the sea, who first formed your body, is the one in control of your healing now.

And our God is an awesome God!

He reigns from Heaven on high

with wisdom, power and might

Our God is an awesome God!

It's MONDAY morning again! HA!

Well, it's Monday morning and so far no tarantulas (dead-or-alive), and I am NOT sick. YEAH!
I am fully recovered from last week's illness and conjunctivitis.

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Bob and I got our apartment decorated for Christmas on Friday, went to another wedding on Saturday. For any of you who have been here and remember Elias, it was his wedding. Wedding was scheduled for 4pm, and four of us had 'bets' on the actual starting time. Manny won ~ he guessed 4:45 and it was right on the dot! Dominicans are NOT known for punctuality.

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Yesterday was another great time in church. Bob is teaching the English SS and going thru I Corinthians. We had a great discussion on the foolishness of man vs the wisdom of God. So, often we want to complicate the gospel when talking to people. We will NOT convince them with our 'enticing' words, or by arguing science or philosophy. It's the Word of God thru the working of the Holy Spirit that will draw them in.
Good discussion....great study.

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After church we stayed while Hugo put on the TV all the pics he had taken of Manny and Olga's wedding just three weeks ago. Manny and Olga loved it! Esp when Hugo told him he was making them a CD, too.

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Once we got home, we decided it was a pleasant day for the beach. NOT too hot with low humidity. So, we packed a simple lunch of apples, hard boiled eggs, cheese and crackers; packed books, beverages and towels in our totes/backpacks and walked to the beach at the end of our lane. We were able to stay for two hours, and read, relax, swim and walk the shore. Very relaxing~

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A week ago while shopping at La Sirena in Santo Domingo, I finally found molasses. The entire time we've lived here, I have never seen it in the stores. Linda Fourman brings it in her suiticase when I ask. Molasses is a by-product of the sugar cane process, and it goes into the making of rum. So, I was elated to finally find molasses! Yesterday afternoon I made a batch of Ginger Molasses cookies. Moist, chewy and delicious!

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Today is our 5th anniversary of moving here. We flew into Santiago on MFI (Missionary Flights International) in the afternoon, were met by Kiko (SCORE bus driver) and a rented bus with driver, broke into tears when the custom officials told us we would have to come back the next day for them to approve the removal of our 2500 pounds of belongings, (Tears worked, as making a woman cry, esp an American woman, embarasses their macho-ego) and we arrived at SCORE at 9:30 that night!

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In official celebration of this momentous anniversary occasion....our power went out at 9:45 this morning. Since, it's been a little over 2 weeks since we've had a full day power outtage...My guess is that it's going to be off for the entire day. Guess I won't be fixing our chicken in the crockpot after all.

ah...welll...welcome to life in the Dominican Republic!

We won't need electricity to go snorkling off the beach this afternoon though..he-he! (No groups till the day after Christmas, so it's time to relax!)

love you all,
~anna~

another not-so-fun way to start my week....

I had planned to come up with a much longer post today with pics from last week. But my day has not gone well.

Had a cold of sorts over the weekend, but thought I was doing better.

Went out on the balcony to trim some plants (BIG) and within 5 minutes was very nauseated.

Came inside and it eased up, so I went downstairs to take the trimmings outside of our apartment complex and just across the dirt road (more like a wide path that cars drive on).

By the time I got across the path, I seriously began to wonder how I was going to get back. Everything was going black, and swimming before my eyes. All I could think is "Oh LORD, please don't let me pass out right here on this road." Made it back inside the gate and had to sit on a ledge with my head down. Papo started cleaning up my plant trimmings, when he realized I wasn't feeling well.

It started to clear some, so I was able to make it upstairs. Once in our apartment the room started going black again. So, I took a shower fully clothed while kneeling in the tub. Unfortunatley, Bob wasn't home. I thought maybe I was overheating, but I have never felt this week and shaky after I cooled off.

I don't know if it's a weird reaction to some sort of bug (virus), or if I way overheated (eventhough I didn't think I had even gotten hot), or if I am just worn down and didn't realize it.

Please pray that this passes soon...I hate feeling like this. So, much for the plans I had of things to accomplish today....

love,
~anna~

NOT the way I want to start my day!

Went into my laundry room, ((right next to our kitchen by the way)) looking for a new roll of trash bags. What to my wondering eyes should appear??? But a tarantula!!!!
Urgent call has been made to Bob to put vehicle in reverse and get home NOW!!!

I HATE TARANTULAS!!!!

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Update: My knight in shining armour arrived home and dispatched with the wicked critter!

The box with the rolls of trashbags is stored in a corner that is hard to get at, since once I get a roll of bags out I don't need the box for a long time! What I needed was on the bottom, of course.

As I reached for the box, I saw the tarantula less than 6" from my hand! Fortunately, when I jumped I did NOT hit my head on the wooden cupboard right over me!

Then the frantic hunt for my cell phone, only to discover that it was without power, since I hadn't plugged it in to the charger for a few days! Plugged it in, (Why does the signal always seem to take forever when you're in a hurry?) called Bob...while imagining this black furry thing crawling out of it's previously hidden location.

Praise the LORD! Bob wasn't too far away, and arrived home *muy pronto*.

He could not believe how far into the corner the thing was...it is a very small area which made the whole procedure quite awkward. Due to the design of the laundry water hookup and drain, he only had a 12" wide area to work in. But with flashlight and a HUGE can of Raid, he commenced with his duties. I stood nearby with a 2nd can of Raid, just to be sure it did not escape....only to discover it was a DEAD tarantula.

I guess if I have to have a tarantula, that is the best kind to have.

I wonder if this is the mother to the baby one that was in my cupboard last Christmas Day?!

I HATE tarantulas...but I love my knight in shining armour!

ALL in a day!

Last week was incredible. What a joy it was to have Mike & Linda and Danny here and to spend time with them. Watching Danny speaking and interacting with the people here was a true blessing. We are so thankful to have a pastor and church who truly are involved in the ministry here! I'm not posting pics of Danny in the churches, yet, since he hasn't even seen them.

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Sunday was a full day. It started with our church service at SCORE with Ron Bishop giving the message and Aby Prado translating. Church was full since we had a number of people 'left over' from last week's baseball clinic.

Ron, (right) preaching while Aby translates. I made the curtains behind them a couple of weeks ago, as there was such a glare due to bright sun!

It was interesting for us to see how Aby translated some things. At one point Ron said" I'm just a dumb coach..." But when Aby translated he left out the word 'dumb'. Bob & I asked him later about that. His response, "I wasn't going to make him look bad in front of these people."


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Immediately following the service, we all walked back to the SCORE pool for Carolina's baptism. Carolina is married to Giovanni, a Dominican SCORE missionary. He is very involved with the sports teams that come thru here. Because of his status as a former Dominican basketball player, he has no problem getting our teams in to places to play. But most importantly, he and Carolina, truly desire to serve the LORD with their lives.
Aby, Carolina and Ron





Carolina and Gio. In the background is Sarah. Her and her hubby, Hugo, are our newest missionaries, having arrived only 3 weeks ago with their 16 month old son, Mattias.

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Then later in the afternoon we celebrated the marriage of Manny and Olga. Any of you who have been on a SCORE trip, may have met Manny. What a joy this was to attend! Manny is now a SCORE missionary, also, and a more humble Godly man I could never imagine.
The wedding was held at SCORE in the front area. Erica Jude and Ginny Craeger, (SCORE missionaries) did an incredible job of decorating. Pastor Henry, from Quisqueya and Olga's pastor, did part of the service. Ginny, Erica and Gladys sang, Ron did the major portion of the ceremony with Aby translating. It was beautiful! (I'm writing this part in orange, since that was the color of the flowers, and the bridesmaids dresses)


Mr & Mrs Manuel Tucen!


Of course, there was the traditional wedding cake, but they didn't feed each other any cake. Guess it's not a Dominican tradition! But during clean up time Aby and Ginny decided to have some fun!

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Today is our version of Thanksgiving. The SCORE missionaries are getting together at the SCORE complex to celebrate together. It was going to be at our apartment, but there are too many people for our '6 people table'. We will have Costa Rica, Argentina, Dominican Republic, and El Savador all represented along with the United States. Should be fun!

We're taking the turkey over to Nate & Erica's at 10AM since they have the largest oven. I have the dressing in a crockpot already. Made two pumpkin and 1 cherry pie last night. Linda brought me a 3# bag of fresh cranberries, so I was able to make cranberry orange relish, too!

The rest are bringing the potatoes, veggies, rolls, and more desserts. Hopefully, someone remembers to make coffee!!!

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Hope you all have a wonderful time with family, friends, feasting, football, fellowship and fun!

love,

~anna~

Little glimpse of our past 2 weeks!

Guess I'm a tad bit slow in posting here. The past 10 days or so have been a bit crazy and busy.

I have had ear infections for over 2 weeks. First one ear, and then the other. Complete with intense feeling of motion sickness. A couple of times I felt like I had been in the back seat of a fast moving car on a very, winding road! It went from bacterial infection to a fungul infection. The antibiotic made everything taste like metal! Cuts down on snacking that's for sure. Since it's now a fungal infection, I'm off that antibiotic. (some small reason to rejoice!) One other missionary here has had the same thing, and has taken almost three weeks to recover.

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We did get our new vehicle, and that only took two trips to Santo Domingo. One trip to pick it up and another trip two days later to take it to the dealership and have the radio, spare tire mount and license plates installed.

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This is our first view of it behind the chain link fence at Customs. In 36 years of marriage, this is only the 2nd brand new vehicle we have ever purchased. The first was the month before our wedding when we bought a 1972 Datsun 1200 for $2,100 right off the lot! We thought we were in 7th Heaven back then when the dealer changed the radio from AM to AM/FM.

With this Terios we are excited to have a CD player, AC that works, seats that work, windows that work, a hatch that doesn't require a broom stick to keep it open, etc, etc.

The washers and wipers work on the front and back windows!!!!

With gas down to 130.4 pesos (34 =$1), and the increased mileage this will be a major savings for us!

It handles great, and is really comfortable to ride in! We are so thankful for all those who prayed and donated for this vehicle!

.It barely had enough gas to get it to the gas station, since we picked it up right at customs and not the dealership, It is Sonic Blue Metallic. The white you see is just protective plastic covering.

What you don't see in this picture is the fact that I am following behind Bob while driving the Explorer. He offered to let me drive the Terios, but I was nervous enough driving in Santo Domingo, let alone driving the brand new vehicle! Fortunately, here we are on the Malecon, where traffic is much lighter. And YES! I snapped this photo while driving!

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I finally finished a wallhanging that I have been working on for the past two years. I would work on it for a few days and then take a break of a couple of weeks or more. It is 4' x4'2" and hangs in the hallway leading to our bedroom and bathroom. But it is visible from the living room. It's not how I would decorate in the States, but I live in the tropics. In these photos I moved it out to our landing to get a better angle.

I pieced the background using different batik fabrics. The fish were cut from 'fish' fabric and then embelished with beads, sequins, or glittery fabric. The sea shells are actually from our walks on the beach. The 3-d embellishments that are meant to look like coral or plant life are from the Christmas decorations department at the stores here. Yes, they decorate differently here!

I'm quite pleased with it, and Bob loves it! Next project, probably after Christmas, is to actually paint the bathroom. Currently it is battleship grey with white and gold shower tiles, that have gold fruit baskets. Nothing I can do about the fruit basket tile, but we want to paint the bathroom blue and give it a tropical sea look. More photos to follow. I do have plenty of odds'n'ends from the big wall hanging to make 2 small ones to hang in the bathroom. These two pictures are close-ups of the two lower corners.

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Last Monday was our 36th wedding anniversary; Thursday was my 56th birthday, and Friday was Bob's 58th birthday. So, we spent three days relaxing and having fun. We went to the capital and strolled El Conde and ate there at Hard Rock Cafe. Had the best bacon cheeseburgers while laughing at some of the old music videos playing on screens mounted by the tables. "House of the Rising Sun" was our era! It's a bit pricey to eat there, but it was our anniversary!

Thursday we spent the day at the all-inclusive relaxing on the beach while reading under palm trees. Friday we went back to the capital and went to a mall (Bob's idea!). By the end of Friday, my legs and ankles were just about killing me with pain. I didn't think I had done any more walking on Friday than when we've gone shopping before, but for some reason my body rebelled. Tylenol, Advil and, eventually, a stronger pain killer, so that I could even fall asleep. Took it easy on Saturday, needless to say! Aging is hard on my body, I guess!

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Bob had a med team on Tuesday and Wednesday, so I spent some time sewing some Christmas presents. Can't say what, as perhaps David & Lyndie may be reading this too! Pictures possibly after Christmas. Sewing for me is relaxing, so to have two days in a row to work on projects was a real treat!

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This afternoon Danny and Mike arrive. Although we just discovered that their flight has been delayed in Atlanta. Not due into Las Americas now til about 5. We're going early to the airport to eat (Burger King) and watch the planes take-off and land. We each take a book and sit and relax! We're easily amused!

Til later~

~~anna~~

Short Post---Good News!

Eddy Gil (SCORE Dominican Field Director), who is handling our new vehicle purchase, just called!

We have to be at the car dealership in Santo Domingo at 10AM this morning.

Please pray.....I may have to drive the Explorer back thru Santo Domingo.

Stay tuned~~more news and pics later!

Thank you LORD!

God Bless America

If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land.

II Chronicles 7:14

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We have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us! It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.

~ President Abraham Lincoln, in National Proclamation of Prayer and Repentance, 1863

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Such being the impressions under which I have, in obedience to the public summons, repaired to the present station, it would be peculiarly improper to omit, in this first official act, my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe, who presides in the councils of nations and whose providential aide can supply every human defect, that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States a Government instituted by themselves for these essential purposes; and may enable every instrument employed in its administration to execute with success, the functions allotted to his charge.

~ George Washington, in his first inaugural address, 1789

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My country,' tis of thee,

sweet land of liberty,

of thee I sing;

land where my fathers died,

land of the pilgrims' pride,

from every mountainside

let freedom ring!

4. Our fathers' God, to thee,

author of liberty,

to thee we sing;

long may our land be bright

with freedom's holy light;

protect us by thy might,

great God, our King.

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The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; He directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.

~ Proverbs 21:1

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My first act as President is a prayer. I ask you to bow your heads.

Heavenly Father, we bow our heads and thank You for Your love. Accept our thanks for the peace that yields this day and the shared faith that makes its continuance likely. Make us strong to do Your work, willing to heed and hear Your will...

...The Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers; may He not leave us or forsake us; so that He may incline our hearts to Him, to walk in all His ways... that all peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other.
George H. W. Bush~--Inaugural address, January 20,1989

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To preserve our blessed land we must look to God... It is time to realize that we need God more than He needs us...

Let us, young and old, join together, as did the First Continental Congress, in the first step, in humble heartfelt prayer. Let us do so for the love of God and His great goodness, in search of His guidance and the grace of repentance, in seeking His blessings, His peace, and the resting of His kind and holy hands on ourselves, our nation, our friends in the defense of freedom, and all mankind, now and always.
The time has come to turn to God and reassert our trust in Him for the healing of America... Our country is in need of and ready for a spiritual renewal. Today, we utter no prayer more fervently than the ancient prayer for peace on Earth.
If I had a prayer for you today, among those that have all been uttered, it is that one we're so familiar with: "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace...." And God bless you all.
Ronald Reagan~A Prayer for Healing~From a speech to the American people, February 6, 1986

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Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

I Timothy 2:1-2

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" God Bless America, Land that I love.

Stand beside her, and guide her Thru the night with a light from above.

From the mountains, to the prairies, To the oceans, white with foam

God bless America, My home sweet home. "

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!