So much on my mind...

Today, I was hit with many thoughts.

I will be helping out with the high school English class (and possibly teaching it) and ended the day with that period. Their most recent assignment was to write some form of sponsorship letter, to colleges or to an anonymous recipient. Stories of parents leaving their children and families, parents dying while the student was at a young age, and students struggling to overcome was the overwhelming air. One boy wrote a touching letter sharing his heart for the Lord, his missionary background, and the fact that he is a boarding student during the week here at Doulos, living apart from his family -- now an hour away in Constanza. Another wrote of the tragedy in Haiti, why others should come together and help support a nation where currently about 10% of people have their houses remaining. He said something to the words of "where there was once a ceiling, now there is sky."

My heart was breaking for these students who read, write and speak two languages, fairly fluently with little struggle. Their obvious joy for life and love for each other is exactly that -- obvious. This alone makes me thankful God sent me here, to see how real others' struggles are yet how much they persevere and succeed. Talent and skill, along with passion and a genuine zeal for learning is present in the majority of the students I have been around and interacted with. I pray that whoever reads their real letters when they send them, whether in a year or a few months, reads them and sees the gem of a student behind the typed words. I pray they have the opportunity to attend whatever school they desire, where God will draw them closer to Him, where they are challenged, and where they can become the best versions of themselves.

I am thankful Clemson was a picture of that for me. (God is good and merciful when we deserve nothing.)

Today's Happenings-
I couldn't resist the smell of Dominican desayuno (breakfast) at the cafe this morning while I received more job training. My dry cereal breakfast I already had at home a couple hours earlier simply would not suffice, and I gave in to the mouth-watering scents wafting my way. Mangu (mahn-goo) with onions and sausages was the plate of choice. Mmmm. The scent and taste is coming back to me all over again writing about it.

This campus is beautiful, and it is hard for me not to smile when I remind myself of the tropical paradise I find myself in. Of course, it's not hard for me to remind myself of that either when the mango tree is the center of campus, a vibrant orange flower grows from the tall tree outside of my office window, and the Pre-K students are learning down the hill in a bohio (bow-hee-oh) that looks like something you would imagine from Swiss Family Robinson.

Doulos days start off with staff prayer and announcements, all done with hands held forming a large circle in the library. Next, we head to the amphitheatre where students lead more announcements and the Dominican pledge to the flag. The pledge is sung to old-fashioned, triumphant sounding music with words I do not yet have memorized nor understand (in my rudimentary Spanish). My favorite part of this morning routine is "the Doulos" for the day. A student jumps on stage and does some form of motion or shouts something vocal for everyone else to do afterward on the count of three (1, 2, 3..."Doulos"!)

This morning was especially touching when one boy courageously stood in front of the crowd of students to announce the upcoming talent show the 8th graders are going to host for Haiti support. It's called "Hope for Haiti: Doulos got Talent?" I could not be more excited about this upcoming display of student talents because I am going to miss the annual talent show held the first week of June. I can't wait to see what hidden talents the students pull out!

Shelly, my boss, took me on my second half of the campus tour and then another tour of town. We checked out the fruit market, where she bought four bananas and a mango for four dollars. Around the corner, we stopped by the vegetable market where she got who knows how many vegetables for only four dollars! How I wish it was reversed in the states-fresh fruit and vegetables for cheap, instead of processed food in boxes, bags and cans! The man at the stand cut open a beautifully ripe, dark purple beet for us to eat after Shelly asked how to prepare it. I don't even like beets, and this tasted delicious -- I think I'll start eating them like apples back at home too. I agree with Shelly when she said anything dark purple's gotta be good for you. We strolled past Dominican markets of trinkets and art, some of which Shelly called "chanky" (or cheap) and others that were full of genuine art that was truly Dominican and not made in China. I learned where the bus stations were and taxi stands, the best places to exchange money -- don't worry, I already stopped there -- what is the best coffee to buy here, and a few other things. We stopped by the grocery store to make a run for some other essential items, and I restocked on my Colombian yogurt that tastes heavenly.

Yet again, that's more than enough for now. Tonight I get to join in Bible study with a group of female staffers, and I am pumped to see what God brings and how he perfectly melds our dynamics together. The plan is to read Beth Moore's "Praying through Scripture." Until next blog.

Paz y amor-Maddie