A Full Five Years

Five years ago, my reality looked a little something like this:

I was finishing up my undergraduate studies at MTSU with an Education degree in my hand and a terrible pain in my heart because the time had come for all of "the girls" to go our separate ways. I sat on the cliff of an encroaching Dominican adventure with my feet dangling over the edge but my hands still gripping tightly to the comfortable familiarity of the known. I was unsure of what letting go all at once would be like, so I decided 3 months would be enough.

Here's a glimpse at what those 3 months looked like:

My internship with Orphanage Outreach in the Dominican Republic was exciting, challenging, fun, and rewarding. I taught pre-school in the mornings, English in the afternoon, and fell in love with some of the most beautiful kiddos I'd ever met. Still, I felt like I was in a dream world and that "real life" was just on hold for a while. I figured this experience would give me a more well-rounded resumé that would help me stand out against my peers and, even during my internship, I sought after and applied for teaching jobs in the States.

After 3 months of quitely listening as I plotted and planned out the direction my life was to take, God chimed in and let me know that, even though my intership was over, my time in the DR had only just begun. He made it clear that after celebrating Christmas at home, I was to return back to Monte Cristi.

The next year and a half of my life went something like this:

I joined the Orphanage Outreach staff, and my amazing group of co-workers and I worked around the clock to coordinate programs and facilitate volunteer experiences for a countless number of internationals. Every week, we would orient them about what to expect from both our program and the Dominican culture, and then lead them into the public schools to teach English or out to the banana farming communities to provide medical care. I lived at the same location where I did my internship, so much of my free time was spent hanging out/cultivating the relationships with the same kiddos who stole my heart during my first 3 months.

The spring of 2010 brought the end of my time commitment to OO and another season of trying to figure out just what in the world I was supposed to do next. I spent the summer in the States applying for practically every teaching job I was qualifed for, and after submitting about thirty applications and receiving responses of interest from zero principals, I began to rethink my options. 

Ya see, there was one principal who I knew was more than interested and willing to have me join her faculty. The only catch was that the school was located in...you guessed it...the Dominican Republic. I remember thinking, "Well, you can keep trying to get into all these places where no one wants you, OR you can move to a place where they're waiting with arms wide open." That was pretty much the starting thought that lead the way for the ensuing 3 years. 

Here's a quick look at what these years have held:

Each of the past 3 years has lookd COMPLETELY different. I've taught in different schools, lived alone and with roommates, spent much of my time in MC hanging out with the kiddos on the weekends, and then traveled around the country when many of them moved away. At the end of each year, I always reevaluate and ask the Lord where He wants me next. His answer has always been for me to stay put...until now...

In the Fall of 2012, some drastic changes got me thinking that I might be approaching a closing chapter of life here in Monte Cristi. I slowed my pace a bit so I could listen, and sure enough, divine encounter after surprise email after ordained conversation lead me to agree to make the cross-country move to San Pedro de Marcoris and join the staff at The Palms Bilingual Christian School!

This last collage is an idea of what's to come. The map shows the trek I'm about to make, the top-right pic is the school, in the middle is the church, and the 2nd floor of the house on the bottom-right is where I'll be living.:

The Palms is one of the ministries of DR Vision, which is a ministry of Daystar Baptist Missions. I will teach 4th grade English, Math, and Science in English, and my teaching partner will teach Spanish and Social Studies in Spanish. The majority of the student population is Dominican, and the faculty works hard to provide American-quality education while remaining sensitive to Dominican cultural norms. The move will not only be good for me professionally, but will also put me in a solid community of like-minded people who share my love for the Lord and the Dominican.

It is SO HARD to leave the place the people who taught me about what it takes to live life in this country, and I know a huge chunk of my heart will remain in MC long after I've moved and settled in to my new routine in San Pedro. The move is 100% exactly what is supposed to happen next, but that doesn't keep it from being any less bittersweet. However, if there's anything I've learned over the past 5 years, it's that when Papa Dios speaks, what He says goes. He gives us the choice of acting quickly or taking our sweet time to figure out a "better" way but, in the end, He wins. He. always. wins. 

And, when we realize He's GOOD and KIND and has THE best plans for us, surrendering to His will tends to feel more like the sweetest of victories instead of a nasty, ugly defeat.

We Remain

"Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.

In faithfullness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope."

Isaiah 42:1-4

This weekend, we had plans to go visit a friend and offer her a way out of a risky situation. We were pumped, packed, and ready to go when BOOM...the plans were derailed. We were sent back to square one and left looking up asking, "Okay...what now?" What happens when we're trying to faithfully do our job to bring forth justice and we are halted in our tracks?

We stop. 

We pray. 

We listen. 

We wait. 

We keep our hands open so as to not grasp too tightly onto our own plans. 

We give thanks for peace. 

We accept that He doesn't need us. 

We remain available. 

We remain faithful. 

We remain.

Sometimes we get the blessing of being down in the nitty-gritty, dirt under our nails, clothes soaked in sweat, hearts and minds raw with emotion. 

Other times, we do the workouts, buy the gear, and get all suited up for the game...only to be benched before the first inning even begins. 

The Lord isn't expecting us to fix every problem that we encounter; He just requires that we be ready. If that means taking two steps forward, then two steps forward it is. If He commands us to back-track and re-route, then back-track and re-route we must. And, if we're told to just put it in neutral and keep asking Him what we're to do, then we'll ask in faith knowing that in His perfect timing, He will reveal whatever direction He wants us to take. He's proved Himself to us over and over and over again, so we have no reason to doubt that He will do it once more.

Not Forgotten

Yesterday was one incredible day of God-woven moments and I need to share them with you all.

First of all, I got to spend the afternoon with one of my old college buddies, Miss Katelyn Hiett.

Katelyn's been doing mission work in Sudan, Africa for just about as long as I've been in the DR. It's been almost 2 years since we've seen eachother because we're never in America at the same time, so spending a few hours together in the Dominican was a special gift!

Katelyn was here visiting one of her friends, Katie, from seminary. (Side note: Katie is from Omaha, Nebraska, which happens to be where my wonderful sister, Stephanie, lives! She worked as a nanny before moving down to the DR, which is also what Steph does! Crazy...) Katie is doing her internship in Santiago, which is about 2 hours away from Monte Cristi. Part of her internship involves volunteering at an orphanage for children with special needs.

Pause. I think I've shared with most of you that over the past few years, many of the kids who lived at the orphanage here in Monte Cristi have been moved to other places. The most recent one to have left is this sweet bundle of joy, Mery Risa.

She's my gurrlll, so figuring out where she'd gotten off to, just like we have with some of the others who have gone before her, was never in question. The thing is, locating these kids is an adventure in and of itself. Straight, direct answers about addresses, phone numbers, city names, etc. can be tricky to acquire and the process often involves many twists and turns. 

At first, when the kids started leaving, it was kinda scary. We wondered if we'd ever cross paths again and were concerned for their well-being. However, as the Lord teaches me about His calling on my life (and every Christian's life) to defend and care for the fatherless, I've come to realize that the immense love that I feel for each and every single one of them doesn't even hold a candle to His love, affection, and jealousy for/towards them.  Now, instead of worrying, we simply say, "Welp, time to travel some more and figure out how to stay involved!"

So, after Katie told us that she volunteers at this orphanage, we began to explain a little bit about Mery. She then asked what she looks like and I whipped out my phone to show her the picture above. Katie's response? 

"Oh yeah, I know her." 

"What? You do?" 

"Yeah, I mean, I've only seen her a few times, but I know her." 

"WHAAAATTTT?!?!" 

"Yep. Do you want to go see her?"

She didn't even need to ask twice.

Within a matter of minutes, we were in a car and on our way. Honestly, I had my doubts during the whole ride. What if Katie just thought she recognized Mery? How could she possibly be sure it was really her in the picture?

As we pulled up to the orphanage, all of the doubts snapped away because there, hanging out on the front porch just watching the world go by, was OUR GIRL! It took a moment for her to realize it was us, but as soon as she did, no one could contain her excitement! She grabbed Heather and me by the hands and marched us all around her new 'home.' We found out that visiting hours are from 8am-6pm daily, and because we'd arrived so late in the day, we only had about an hour together. However, since the visitation time is so accommodating, we can basically go and visit WHENEVER WE WANT! 

The whole bus ride back to Monte Cristi, I was practically dumbfounded with awe as I thought about the crazy-yet-so-Divinely-purposed events of the day. Here in the Dominican, I got to spend time with an old friend who is usually in Africa; she brought her friend who is originally from Nebraska but is doing mission work here in the DR; this friend volunteers at a special-needs orphanage and recognized Mery from a picture; she took us to said orphanage and we got to spend time with our girl! If that's not the Lord showing His favor on His children, then I'm not sure what is!

I want to leave you all with this song that's been rocking our world since it's release last December. It's called "Take Back" by United Pursuit Band, and the part when he says: 

"I know God has not forgotten all that's lost and broken. So come and see the turning of the times, come and see His sons and daughters rise. For how could He who did not spare His own Son, not freely give us victory against the darkest of nights?" 

gives me goosebumps and makes my heart swell every.single.time. He has not forgotten the ones who society has deemed as outcasts, and, as His sons and daughters, we are an extension of Him and are therefore called to remember them as well. He will give us victory over that which seems impossible because it's all for His Glory. He works all things together for the good of them who love Him and are called according to His purpose!