The Greatest Blessings Made Simple

In my home in Michigan, I have tiling and carpet that cover my floor. I have screens on my windows to keep all the creepy crawlers out at night, doors for all the rooms, a dishwasher to clean the dishes for me, paint to cover the walls, and a bathroom with a toilet that works. To most poeple those things are normal to have. But for a moment imagine what it would be like to live in a place where your floor is made out of dirt, your window is a just a square cut out of the wall. Your doors are made out of curtains and your dishwasher is a big metal pot with water on the ground. Look at your walls and imagine them being bare cement blocks, your roof made out of tin, and your toilet a plastic bucket. This weekend, I got to live out this kind of life; simple.

Our family friends, Joci, Miguel, and their three daugthers; Omira (15), Neomi (12), and Estefani (9), are a wonderful and loving family who have blessed my family by just being apart of our lives. Whenever we come to the DR, we always make seeing them our priority. Joci invited me to stay the night in her home on Saturday. And of course I said yes. I couldn't wait to spend more time with them. Don't get me wrong, I was tad bit nervous also. It was the first time I was going to be staying overnight in the community (Pierda Blanca) without my parents. It's not that it's a bad area, BUT I am a "gringa" a.k.a a fair skin, blonde hair, blue eyed, teenage American girl that guys (doesn't matter what age) would just love to ge to know. Luckily my dad's main homeboy (homeboys are a group of friends my dad has), Miguel, is a pretty big guy. He told me, and I quote, "Any man that comes to that window, is a dead man." I knew then that I was going to be perfectly taken care of and I didn't have to worry about anything. Spending the weekend in their home really gave me a new prespective. I knew they didn't have a lot of money, but actually living they way another person lives is different than just knowing or understanding. I hand washed dishes on the floor in a big metal pot with water inside, I helped the girls read a book in English by candle light since the electricity wasn't on. I watched Omira pick up an empty class beer bottle on the side of the street and put gasoline in it to use as fuel for the motorcycle. And, I used an outhouse for my bathroom. And no, it's not like an outhouse like at a baseball game or anything. It was a small wooden shack, and inside was a hole in the ground. There was a reason why I tried no to drink too much liquid, but hey you have to go at some point! It wasn't the fact that I didn't want to use it, it's the fact that I didn't want Joci to be embarrassed or feel bad.

I love this family so much and I don't see them any different than me. Yes, we have different skin colors. Yes, we live in two different countries. Yes, our lifestyles are completely different. But one thing we share in common, is the love we have for one another, and the love we have for Jesus. God created us to love, and to love each other. With love, nothing can be broken. When I sat in their house, I didn't look at them as strangers, or question why they live like they

do. None of that matters to me. What does matter though is our friendship. We are family and I definetley feel that I am apart of their family. In Pierda Blanca when their is no electricity or anything to do, they spend time with each other. People are constantly socializing, drinking coffee, laughing, and enjoying each others company. Whenever I go over to Joci's house, I'm not just at her home, we go and visit to at least five different houses, meeting, talking, and spending time together. The word that I feel fits perefectly with this community, culture, and country, is family. Everyone is apart of your family whether by blood or not. This is why so many people fall in love the people here. And I, am one of them.

Week 2

"Time flies when you're having fun". This saying truely reflects this past week. I can't believe I've been here two weeks arleady. But that's a good thing becuase it means I've been having a great time.

Last Saturday, Nancy, Anna, Philipe (Nancy's son), and I took a trip to Santiago. Santiago is about a 45 min drive from Jarabacoa....and it was raining. Not only was it raining, but the windshield wipers didn't quite work well. Once we got to Santiago, it was bright and sunny, and hot. Me and Anna spent some time at the mall; window shopping. Then we went to the big supermercado to do some grocery shopping. Nancy also took me to the Monument. It was built for when the Dominican Republic got their independence from Haiti. At the top of the monument you could look over the city. It was so pretty. It was also a tad bit windy outside. On our way back from Santiago we got some fresh coconut juice and HUGE grapes off the side of the street. I don't think I have ever seen grapes that big before in my life. Best treat ever :) That night
I went to one of my classmates house for a party. We did kareoke, dancing, and of course some food. Me and Melissa (one of my classmates) started off the kareoke with some good ol' Justin Beiber, that made people laugh. The music was so loud that the next day I could barley hear and my voice was almost gone from singing too much. And of course what's a party without some dancing. I didn't want to dance but my friends insisted. I kept on telling them I didn't know how (which is a lie). So they taught me how to merengue. I'm a shy person, but at this party I didn't feel the need to be shy. Never would I have thought of singing kareoke in front of people I barley even know. But I'm only here for a short while so I better make the best of it :) And I'm glad I reached out of my comfort zone, or else I would have never had such a great time.

Sunday I went up to Pierda Blanca where our good friends Joci and Miguel live with their three wonderful daughters. Joci picked me up on her motorcycle :) I spent practically the whole day with them visiting friends, walking around the community, playing monopoly, and being in their beautiful new home. Joci and Miguel recently have built a new house. In June, we took a missions trip down to the DR and helped build part of the house. It has defenitely improved since then. I was so happy to be sitting in their new home. I took lots of photos becuase I know people are going to want to see it. I love their family, and I'm so happy I have friends like them that are in my life. According to Joci, I am her "daughter". I am so glad that I can be apart of their family as well.

Tuesday was proabably one of the most fun and exciting days yet. I went to Young Life which is sort of like a youth group. I have never had so much fun before. It was an event night so we played the game clue. But it was life like. Adults had dressed up as celeberties and changed their names. Some of which included Brad Smitt, Rebecca White, Bustin Jeiber, and Beyonthay. They were placed all over Jarabacoa and we had to go and solve clues to find out who murdered Taylor Swift. So we ran all over the city. I guess this is what I get for not exercising in a while. We had to do silly tasks like sing "All The Single Ladies" for 30 seconds all together, flag down Justin Beiber on his moto and shout "I have Jeiber Fever!", and best of all, Lissette got to wear a diaper on head in the park. Don't worry it was bran new. We came in last but it was the best night yet. The teens are so energetic and lively. I have so much fun with them. I'm so ready for the next Young Life!

School is going great here. I feel really comfortable and my classmates are awesome. Surprisingly the class I find most difficult is English. Yes, I know English is my first language but it's still hard. For one question our answer had to be 300 words long. I about freaked out but I got it done. Another thing is my school day is 7am-3pm. Each class is an hour long. So I'm not quite use to sitting in each class for an hour, but alteast the students make it interesting. It's been a pretty good two weeks so far and can't wait for more weeks to come :)

- Katie

El Primero Dias de la Escuela

When you go on trips, you have to be open to new things right? So does that mean I have to be open to going to school at 7:00am? I guess so. Doulos (my school) starts their day from 7:00am and goes til 3:00pm. A whole hour longer than what I’m use to. But at least the classes are fun. There are only 10 students in my Junior class. Not just my math class, my GRADE. So going from 230 students at Western to only 10 is a bit of a difference. But I love the people in my class
and everyone is like family. I ‘m really excited to get to know everyonebetter. Since I can't speak Spanish fluently, I have a Spanish tutor. Nelly is from Colombia, and ONLY speaks Spanish. There are two other students in my class though, Kaden and Adam who are 10 and 11 years old. They know more spanish than me so they help translate a lot. They are two very hyper little boys. It can be frustrating at times when I don't understand what Nelly is saying or I can't find the words to speak. Sometimes I wish that the language could just roll off my tounge. But it's only my first week and I know it'll get easier with time.

Like I said, there are only about 10 students, including myself, in the entire 11th grade. We are basically a family. Everyone is comfortable with each other and no one is afraid to embarass themselves. I love it. I would describe the students in classroom as: loud, crazy, personal, funny, energetic, brotherly sisterly love, and passionate. The students have really made me feel welcomed and made it easy to be myself. I actually like participating in class discussions, asking questions, and being in school. Wow, you'll never here that from me again. It's a totally different environment, it's fresh and new. If I could, I would bring Doulos to the states. Either that or my parents and I can just move down here :) ehhem...mom? dad? Well, that might not be very possible but I plan on soaking up every moment I have here. I can't wait for me next eight weeks of school!

Week 1

I arrived here in the Dominican Republic at the Santiago airport last thursday night. I finally made it! From Miami to Santiago was my frist solo flight. The whole way there a verse kept on popping up in my head, "For I know the plans I have for you delcares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future."- Jeremiah 29:11. I wasn't nervous or worried. God had put a sense of peace in my heart telling me that everything was going to be just fine. And it was. The man next to me on the flight spoke only French and very, very little English. He was trying to tell me to have a good flight but said most of it in French so I didn't quite understand. But with lots of hand motions and guessing I figured it out. When I arrived at the airport I was expecting Christa, the director from Doulous, to pick me up. To my surprise all my classmates were there standing outside of the airport waiting for me. By far, the best welcome I have had. I was so excited to see my "sister" Lissette :) I couldn't believe that I was finally with her again after waiting for 2 1/2 months. I could tell from that point on this trip was going to be amazing.

The family I am staying with is wonderful. Nancy who is my host mother is so wonderful and generous. She doesn't speak any english but that has really challenged me in my spanish. Everyone morning I have Papaya milkshakes and eat platanos at least once a day. She is a pretty awesome cook. Anna is 16 years old and goes to Jarabacoa Christian. Anna is great and I love talking with her. She does speak English so thats helpful when I can't explain something to Nancy, and so I don't have to speak in spanish constantly. She has some really cute clothes and loves photography. Their house is beautiful and is right on the Avenida (the main street). Every night I get to listen to all the motorcylces passing by beeping their horns, and the dogs barking. But hey, it's all about the experience!

My house is located right, and I mean right, across the street from Doulos. So it takes me less than a minute to walk to school. My first day here last Friday I didn't have to go to school but I went to get a tour and to see my classmates. Lissette was so kind to have asked me to get up on stage with them to perform a drama. I thought it would be fun so I did. Now everyone knows who the new "gringa" in school is.

My first weekend here I attended a Womans Retreat in Jarabacoa with Lissette and our friend Mariana. A lot of the teachers from Doulos went so it was neat to get to know them before my first day. It's so different how the students and the teachers interact with each other here. They way I see it, the teachers treat the students and talk to the students like teenagers. It's hard to explain, but it like it. The weekend consisted of Individual time with God, getting to know people, Worshiping and Praising Jesus in both english and spanish, and just being girls. I enjoyed getting to know Mariana and my new friends, Zahra, Claudia, and Rosa. We were the youth of the camp. It was a good time to reflect and be at rest. On Sunday I attended church at 3:00 pm, which is different because in the States church is usually in the morning. Then Monday there was no school becuase it was a national holiday. So I had a 4 day weekend while all my Ameican amigos had to go to school :) On Monday I went horseback riding.....for people who know me, I don't really like horses. But it was a chance for me to get to know some of Anna's friends and to have a new experience. It started to rain, so I was wet, and on a horse...not very comfortable. Least to say I am very sore and won't be going again for a while.

So this is just a taste of my experience :) I'll be writing another post about my first day of school since this is pretty long. Sorry if anyone got bored while reading this, I didn't really realize how much I got into writing about my trip so far. But don't you worry, there's lots more to come!

- Katie