"I wanna be in the light, as you are in the light..."

Quick update on the weekend, and then on to my current thoughts...

Okay, Friday & Saturday...we (my roommies and I) babysat for Sara, a friend and Doulos fellow-staffer. We soaked in every moment of being in their American house, whether it was snacking on American food, watching movies, talking on the phone, or using the internet. (Aaahh, the lap of luxury.)

Saturday, we went on a walk with the kids (Micah-1.5 and Risa-3), and I grilled us some amazing sausage-brats for lunch on the you-guessed-it-GRILL! Hooray! I think I'm more like a guy in my cooking preferences -- I absolutely looove grilling!

Then, we went to our friends', Erin and Patrick Pace's house, for a potluck where there was lots of yummy food and lots of sweet community of friends present. The potluck was in honor of Pachi and Ricki who used to work at Doulos. Pachi lives in TX now, and Ricki lives here in Jarabacoa for the time being. They have a little girl named Priscilla.

My heart sings with joy when I am in a house full of warmth, also packed with love and friendship -- and homemade goodness (food) -- oh, list almost complete but forgot the music!

Afterward, we headed to our friends' house (the girls' house) to watch "Bella," which I have seen before. I recommend it.

On the way home, Kymberlee, Laura (works for YoungLife), and I were walking slowly full of exhaustion. We got some hisses and "Rubia!" hollered after me. Then we heard "Teacher!" We continued to walk on, ignoring them. The truck pulls up slowly beside us, and the driver and passenger both break into laughter. It was two of our high school boys. Now they know, that's not the way to get our attention--pranksters.

Sunday -- a day of rest!! FINALLY! I slept in and enjoyed every minute of snoozing. I read, had sweet time with the Lord, practiced my Spanish. Then, I went over to Kyla's house and hung out with her and her lil' man, Judah. We went on a walk to Bon, the ice cream place by the park. Strawberry cheesecake ice cream in a cone on a hot, hot day was heavenly. Two ten-year olds came up to us with pamphlets, sharing the gospel and Christ. WOW. Brave. Can you imagine doing that to foreigners at that age? I can't. God is good.

Jess's sister is here at YL camp, Pico Escondido. She spent time up there with the group and then joined us for dinner -- homemade empanadas and fruit juice. Yumm.

WHAT a great weekend. I can't remember if I talked about Clemson being here at the YL camp, but they were. It was SO much fun to visit them last week and be with friends - or even strangers to me, when we all shared the following places -- South Carolina, Clemson, and America in common! What comfort. Plus, we had killer s'mores.

THOUGHTS...
So, last week I struggled with negativity, sadness, loneliness and complaining. Blech. Here's some verses that I've come across to help me combat all of this nastiness.

• Philippians 2:5 -- Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.
• Philippians 2:3 -- Do nothing our of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
• Philippians 2:14 -- Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault...[GET THIS!] in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life...
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16 -- Be joyful always; pray continually...

Hope these fill you with joy and challenge for your days. LOVE y paz!

Cultural Brief

Okay, per request of a special friend (hey, Jenny!), I am adding in some quick cultural notes:

-Every other Friday at school, we have club meetings. My favorite to watch is dance. There's a lot of newest rap-dancin' moves thrown in and combined with salsa-esque hip sway. Dancing comes naturally to lots of these kids. I can't imagine my friends in high school dancing so freely -- and particularly, so well -- during dance club.

-This afternoon, I went to the Villas down the street for a business run, to give some money and collect a receipt. We first greeted each other with kisses on the cheek, asked how the other was doing, and then she proceeded to ask me to please sit. Before even getting to why I came, we shot the breeze and talked about random bits of our lives. This is typical.

-For lunch today, I ordered a wrap; however, the lunch plate served was like the national dish, La Bandera. There was white rice, saucy chicken, and slaw salad. The plate is always served with juice -- usually tamarind(o) or limon. As previously mentioned, it is impressive for Doulos students to form a line around the lunch serving windows in a very American style. Lines are nonexistent here in the DR. We like to observe this heavily, so us teachers rarely cut.

-Cafe is a daily part of life here for many, like many Americans' routines. However, here it is brewed fresh from beans harvested from Doulos' coffee farm, Spirit Mountain.

-I had a specialty with lunch...the few and far-between Dr. Pepper. It can be found basically at one place in town, on the outskirts near YL camp.

-I am about to walk home from school and will most certainly get "hissed" at multiple times, about every few steps by guys driving by on motos, or those who are standing or sitting across the street, or you name it. Culturally, the DR is very machismo. I am thankful to be in a Christian work environment, allowing freedom from this idea during the day. It is normal for men to behave in this way, and often times I am thankful I don't speak fluent Spanish. Just call me "Rubia."

-At morning flag, the song we sing (or I hum) is very dramatic and orchestral with an operatic-like male voice singing the pledge.

-I need to stop by the bank on the way home, where I will exchange my money beside a bar that is always open. Next door, there will be another bar most likely with men sitting there who have been relaxing in this way for quite some time today. Merengue-type music or reggaeton will also most likely play in the background.

-On the corner beyond that, there is always a woman selling a homemade cinnamon, sweet corn drink that I have not (yet) bought.

-I will walk by, and cross intersections, of mad chaos where children have just gotten out of school in their blue-collared shirt and khaki bottomed uniform, where motos and cars alike are driving every which way all without street signs and traffic lights.

Tonight, I could not be more thankful to babysit for a fellow staff member and friend, Miss Sara, where my roommates and I will have the opportunity to use the Vonage phone, watch television, and use the internet. (Yes.)

Quick Updates

A few more "animal" stories for ya...

-Often times I have fly-type bugs in my food at home, and I simply take them out and keep eating.

-Last night, I came into my room to put on my pj's, while a cockroach crawled out of my suitcase. I decided to let that one be, mainly because my roommate was already asleep. (You lucky bug, you.)

-My favorite this week...I came into my room after being gone for a week, and I walked over to my drawers to put something away. I glanced first at the dead cockroach, lying upside down on my clothes and was miffed enough. Then, out of the corner of my eye I saw something else hidden behind my clothes. There was a mouse peering up at me, and out of sheer shock I let out a blood-curdling scream and jumped around, running across the hall into Jess's room. It was hilarious. Purely hilarious. Later, it scurried out of my room and into the night out the back door. Darn mouse. (I'll get you next time!)

If you could only imagine...

AH!

Suddenly, Jess cries from across the hall, "There's a hUge spider in my room!" I run over to see it first before getting something to kill it with. Well, this thing was GIGANTIC -- literally the size of my palm. Pre-historic like.

I ran to get my tennis shoe and then decided my hiking boot would be better. I was in that swing and hold position, grappling with fear before following through. I was praying out loud and encouraging myself while giggling with nervousness.

I swung and -SMACK!-missed. The spider fled down below the shelf. Maria got home amidst the shrieking shrills from the three of us. Kymberlee could no longer watch and went back across the hall.

Little abuelita Maria (comes up to my shoulders) comes in and tells us not to be afraid, while describing its bite to us. We've got two wooden rods we're using to try and trap and squish the spider.

Clothes start falling off the shelves, or we're pulling them off as the spider continues to escape in its cubby area. Screams get louder each time as she misses yet again. Little Maria comes in slowly to the corner where the spider is "hiding" and then -BAM!- tries again. Finally, she tries a tactic where she uses the broom end of the stick.

This is my favorite part. Maria says, "en el nombre de Jesus!" and then going in slowly with a sudden movement closer to the spider, she gets him! He falls to the top shelf, and once more she squishes him to his ultimate death.

PHEW. (Unfortunately, there's one twice that size still lurking somewhere.)

Maria reminded me of the Power and Might of God. Afterward, she told me I don't fear anything. What if we could all trust in Him that much?

God's big on windsurfing.

The other night I was reading my devotion, and God spoke to me through a fantastic parallel. I think He must be big on windsurfing, from what came into my head. My roommate, Jess, and I learned to windsurf this weekend -- hopefully a new hobby when I get home!

Even though you might not have tried windsurfing, hopefully this speaks to you about God's will and following His path, regardless...

Proverbs 3:1-12 ~ Further Benefits of Wisdom

¹ My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,

² for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you prosperity.

³ Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.

⁴ Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

⁶ in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.

⁸ This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.

⁹ Honor the LORD with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;

¹⁰ then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.

¹¹ My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline
and do not resent his rebuke,

¹² because the LORD disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in.

We are starved for direction, but we do not have to fear. The Wind (Holy Spirit) is our direction. There are multiple options ahead and things that could happen: upwind, downwind, crosswind; falling off and starting over, going back to shore, staying close to swimmers or other windsurfers, going farther out on our own.

Which way to go? Should we change directions? As a beginner, we don't know everything about making the best directional decision. The Wind changes, and in turn our paths change.

We try to make the best choices and hope for the best, we want the Wind to take us, we innately desire staying on the path.

We want to know all the answers, the right way to point our arms and feet. We want to be fully balanced, but sometimes -- always -- we have to align ourselves with the ways of the Wind if we ever want to go at all, or truly learn how to surf.

To get direction from the Wind, we must understand it.

Just as learning something new feels transforming and freeing, a life with God at your center is fundamentally altering. He changes our character (our posture on the board) to be in line with Him, our outlook (knowing He is in control no matter what lies ahead), and our priorities.

We can do nothing at all, especially windsurf, if we do not let the Wind guide us, bowing to its presence. Sometimes, just as with the sail's boom, we have to truly let go of control to let Him guide us. When we "jump ship" and lose our balance, we feel lost.

In truth, aside from the metaphor, we are then directed by the person God has made us into -- a new creation governed by the indwelling Jesus. When we are up and sailing, then every true victory is His. We are fully reliant on Him, praising Him and celebrating His goodness -- His direction.

As Proverbs 3 says, we must first trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding. (We refuse to lean on our own understanding -- the hardest part as a human. We acknowledge His sufficiency -- and our inefficiency in everything.) Then if we acknowledge Him in all of our ways, in everything we do, He will make our paths straight.

We are not using God, but acknowledging Him in everything, and then we can clearly hear and feel Him directing our paths through that intimate relationship.

Goodbyes can be hard.

Mosaic's work team left this morning, and a huge piece of me left with them. However, a huge piece of them stayed behind [with me]. Seventeen people came aging from twenty-two and upward, with four girls and thirteen guys. Here 's some thoughts from the week...

-At one point, we were praying after us girls led devotion. Ted, the pastor, was giving thanks for us sharing our hearts as women in the group. I realized when he said that I had completely forgotten we were so outnumbered by guys. That's huge in my book because I have felt uncomfortable around guys most of my life!! I know many people find that hard to believe because I've got lots of guy friends, but most of them are more of acquaintances than anything else. This week, I felt loved on and encouraged by guys of all ages, both single and married. I had godly examples in each of them, as they challenged each other and embraced each other as the unique individuals they are. I think I also felt comfortable around them because God is bringing me so much freedom in Him with each passing day here, more so than I've ever come to know before.

-I've got seventeen new, amazing friends who love the Lord in different ways and who are extremely different from each other.

-I don't know the last time I've laughed so hard or been so entertained; Mosaic, you need to start a stand-up comedy night. You'll raise all of Doulos' support for the entire school in thirty minutes.

-I felt empowered by God's gifts, grace, and strength through our service projects throughout the week; I don't remember the last time I worked so hard in the form of manual labor. (PHEW! I am sore in every way.)

-I did things I have never done before. We built a bridge to cross the creek at the Doulos coffee farm (Spirit Mountain), and we cleared and created a trail for mountain bikers to use. What hard, rewarding work that gave me hope and excitement for the future, with the knowledge that so many people are going to enjoy God's handiwork performed through us!

-I saw the most beautiful blanket of stars I think I've ever seen in my life one night when we were camping on the mountain...God stirred me in the night, and I opened my tent to a breathtaking view!

-I was FREEZING for the first time since I've been here; literally, I could not put on enough clothes. It was cloudy, rainy, and downright cold.

-We gardened and cleaned up the landscape outside of school and on the road. In America, we wouldn't have been on the median and in the street when cars and motos were whizzing by. Dominicanos were filming and taking pictures, enjoying the sight of us working so hard maybe??

-I was amused with myself and the growth God's pulled me to when we were building the bridge. After we had the posts in place (for the most part), it was time for the decking. I was walking across placing the wood slats down as we went, with gaps in between the boards. I used to be so afraid of heights, and I couldn't believe I was walking across an unfinished bridge confidently to add the decking! Hooray for positive change.

-Yoshi, my new friend, called me "outdoorsy." I used to want to have that word describe me, and now it truly does. That makes me smile.

-I held a beautiful, black and yellow snake on the mountain, and it was so fun to see God's creation so evidently in the palm of my hand!

-We spent the last night sharing encouragement with one another, learning in the Word, and praising Him through beautiful music filling the space at Las Villas. ("Oh, what a night...")

-I learned LOTS and LOTS about coffee. You should only buy organic. I usually don't say "should" as a highly suggested [mandate] to friends, but you should only buy organic. Did you know that everything else you're drinking is grown artificially with chemicals and pesticides out the wazoo?? Since the beginning, coffee has been a shade-grown plant. Next time, read your labels and make the best purchase decision! How was your coffee grown, or the better question is what do you really want to put into your body??

-A huge realization for me this week was wow, I'm growing up. At various points, I felt so mature but also like a grown woman. I had desires to hold infants that were around me, and not only hold them but truly love them. As I write this, I realize further that I am not simply maturing as a woman on this earth, but as a woman in Christ. He is maturing me just as He says we will become in James 1:4. I've had lots of things to persevere through in my life, but if this is where those struggles are bringing me -- bring it on!

-I learned some sign language from Olivia, another new friend who is amazing at sign, and I re-learned how to spell my name in ASL for the bazillionth time. While she helped me with that, I actually taught her some Spanish and how to ask our Haitian friend, Papito, questions. Man, sometimes we really do know more than we think we do!

-My eyes were further opened to everything Doulos Discovery School is doing here in the DR. At the coffee farm, there are sustainability efforts evident and nature is there for everyone to enjoy. There are mountain bike trails and walking trails, and creeks. The view is breathtaking, but the coffee plantation in that setting really does so much for the community both here in Jarabacoa and there in Manabao. A water source was extended to the community members that live below the farm, so they now have water inside their homes. A dream and vision of Chad and Krista is to one day build a pre-K/elementary age school in the valley to help children learn to read before going to public school. Maybe one day when that school is open, those children can receive scholarships to Doulos. Profit from the coffee farm is put right back into Doulos. The majority of the workers are Haitian who are paid well and truly have a relationship with Chad at the farm. Eagle scouts created outdoor facilities on the top of the mountain (kitchen and water source) as their final project, and now it's there for all to enjoy.

...TO BE CONTINUED...off to the beach (Cabarete) for the weekend! Finally.