It's Tuesday so I'm suppose to write a new blog post, according to the goal I set for myself. Despite the fact that I haven't met that goal for the past three Tuesdays, I'm making a go of it tonight.
If I go all the way back to three weeks ago, February 25 was the Elementary Independence Day Program. While its not so fun to stay at school until past 9pm I really did enjoy the program. I love any chance to learn a bit more about the culture so it was fascinating to see how Dominicans present their present their own culture. I can look at things from an outsider perspective, ask question, or talk to those who have lived here longer. I can even ask Dominicans, but its still a conservation between a Dominican and an American. The Independence Day Program was planned by our Dominican staff with Dominicans as the intended audience. ( Plus, the gringo staff members.) Each class 1st-5th grade was given a period of Dominican history to portray through dance and drama. The programs began with Columbus leaving Europe and ended with today's culture. In between, the various cultures and historical events that make up the Dominican were shared. I couldn't catch every detail since it was in Spanish but it was fun to see students acting and dancing--street vendors, domino players, bachata and merengue.
The following week, I did manage to write a short post on Wednesday. If you want the scope on that emotional roller coaster read my post Emociones Mexclada.
This past Tuesday, March 11, I had just returned from my visit down south. Stacy had flown in Thursday night. We spent Friday in Santiago so she could she a snippet of what I do here. School, dinner, mall, and even taxi rides. Saturday we head Southeast and made it to SCORE in about 3 1/2 hours. It takes two buses to get there and the second one doesn't offer luggage room. We just showed up at the station and hoped for the best. Well, the bus was pretty full by that time but they got us on and stuck Stacy's big suitcase in the front by the door. It was pretty funny watching them move it in and out every time someone got on or off. I guess sometimes playing up the gringa card can be helpful :)
It was wonderful to spend a few hours at SCORE catching up with friends and hanging out again. It was also nice to have Stacy around as a photographer. Since leaving SCORE, I've wanted to create a website that would help create business for Leche y Miel Plaza the shops built to support the Lily House ministry. I don't actually know anything about creating a website as that's not often in 1st grade curriculum. Amazingly, God provided a contact how found two people who actually know about websites and all that. Even more amazing is that they are willing to do all the work for free. A major focus of this site is high quality photos of the plaza shops and their products---cinnamon rolls look sooo much better in a picture. After that, we had a few hours to spend at the beach before heading over to Freedom.
I've always loved my visits to Freedom International Ministries (five years ago someone from Freedom might have suggested I teach in the DR after college, but I'm sure that's unrelated). I loved seeing this ministry grow from nothing over the past five or so years. I love the conversation I have when I'm with Freedom people. I don't know how to explain this exactly; its refreshing--to talk with them, to hear how they think, to see their vision, their passion, their plans. I love talking about real topics. I love learning about Central Romana, Edesur, and suddenly I'm engaged in talking about the government. I'm rethinking economic development (Okay, I've actually never studied economic development, but I've really wanted to the past few years.) OH! I haven't even gotten to the children yet! Snuggling up in my towel with one little girl as we make the windy bus run before school on Monday. Running a center with Chicka-Chicka Boom-Boom during classes. And, oh, recess. I had one little boy on my back almost the whole time as we where taking pictures of everything and everyone. Bonus: when I left Freedom I got to ride the moto taxis to the bus station.
Best part about all that was doing it with STACY!! It was so much to be together again for a few days. We were sharing clothes and talking way too late into the night, just like we've always done. by Sunday I was begging (to no one in particular) for a huelga on Tuesday. I was not ready to go back on Monday. I come to two conclusions at the end of the trip. First, my next visit to Freedom need to be at least a week. These two or three day things are way too short. It's hard enough to learn the names of students I see everyday. Every time I think I've gotten the Freedom kids figured out they move and I'm all confused again. Second: I'm super excited about moving in with Stacy for the summer, even more than I was before. The fact that Kate works at Panera is most likely unrelated to that excitement.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Mezclada Emociones
Have you ever been at the point where you don't know what to feel and your emotions are all mixed together?
I don't mean one situation that you can't decide where you stand, but that you're simultaneously happy about one situation and hurting about another.
That's where I'm at this week. I have so much to be bouncing off the walls with joy for. I have so much that I'm sadden by. Happy, sad, joy, sorrow...all completely unrelated situations.
I'm beyond excited that Tyler and Jessie are finally ENGAGED!! The proposal was on fire, literally, in typical Tyler fashion. Jessie is an amazing friend to me and I can't wait for the day I can officially call her my sister. And an upcoming wedding lets me justify my Pinterest addiction. ;) When the youngest of the Wilcox family heard the new he asked, "Does this mean I have to go to another wedding?" My own feelings couldn't be more the opposite!
Tomorrow morning Stacy is flying to Santiago!!! Words cannot contain how excited I am for this weekend. I get to see my sister while visiting SCORE and Freedom. Less than 24 hours, now.
In the midst of all that excitement, I received some crushing news. Last Spring Break I spend a week with a team from Trinity on a mission to Chicago. Yesterday, I learned that one of my team members from that trip had passed away unexpectedly. I can't go two seconds on Facebook with mention of it. My Newsfeed has been taken over by posts and memories of Eli. My notifications have blown up as other team members go back to my photo album from our trip. Eli was goofy and loving; I was blessed to have him on that mission team with me. Eli lead worship for our team that week (and for many others as well). I pray that everyone connected to him might hold on to the truths of God that Eli so often sang. Truths like those in the songs "Our God" and "Running in Circles", both of which there's videos of him singing; one mine from our trip and one on his Facebook.
As I was wrestling between excitement and sadness this afternoon, I was reminded of the Psalms. This mix of emotions is found in that book as the authors often seem to quickly jump between topics and emotions.
I don't mean one situation that you can't decide where you stand, but that you're simultaneously happy about one situation and hurting about another.
That's where I'm at this week. I have so much to be bouncing off the walls with joy for. I have so much that I'm sadden by. Happy, sad, joy, sorrow...all completely unrelated situations.
I'm beyond excited that Tyler and Jessie are finally ENGAGED!! The proposal was on fire, literally, in typical Tyler fashion. Jessie is an amazing friend to me and I can't wait for the day I can officially call her my sister. And an upcoming wedding lets me justify my Pinterest addiction. ;) When the youngest of the Wilcox family heard the new he asked, "Does this mean I have to go to another wedding?" My own feelings couldn't be more the opposite!
Tomorrow morning Stacy is flying to Santiago!!! Words cannot contain how excited I am for this weekend. I get to see my sister while visiting SCORE and Freedom. Less than 24 hours, now.
In the midst of all that excitement, I received some crushing news. Last Spring Break I spend a week with a team from Trinity on a mission to Chicago. Yesterday, I learned that one of my team members from that trip had passed away unexpectedly. I can't go two seconds on Facebook with mention of it. My Newsfeed has been taken over by posts and memories of Eli. My notifications have blown up as other team members go back to my photo album from our trip. Eli was goofy and loving; I was blessed to have him on that mission team with me. Eli lead worship for our team that week (and for many others as well). I pray that everyone connected to him might hold on to the truths of God that Eli so often sang. Truths like those in the songs "Our God" and "Running in Circles", both of which there's videos of him singing; one mine from our trip and one on his Facebook.
As I was wrestling between excitement and sadness this afternoon, I was reminded of the Psalms. This mix of emotions is found in that book as the authors often seem to quickly jump between topics and emotions.
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Enjoy The Moment
I. drop. everything.
Well, all breakable things, I mean. Specifically, electronics.
Cell phone. Dropped it.
Zune. Dropped it too.
Camera. Let it fall off a bus seat. It was in my backpack but still broken.
Needless to say, that's left me without a good camera option. And the Droid I was so hoping would be a convenient option messed up my SC card. Even the Droid was dropped on the road before my little bro recovered it for me.
My fancy shmancy new laptop has a webcam (so thankful), but it's not exactly portable for all the candid moments.
I love my rooftop for reading and devos and the awesome view across the city and the mountains all around. I so wish I could share pictures of that with you. Of a recent rainbow that filled the sky; one of the brightest and long lasting rainbows I've ever seen. Or of the breathtaking sunset I enjoyed a few days ago.
Yet without a camera, I'm learning to enjoy those moments. It's so easy for me to get so busy taking a picture that I forget to really enjoy what I am photography. I'm learning to slow down and appreciate the beauty and remember why I love sunsets and rainbow. I'm reminded to thank God for such blessings, for all the little things that He knows specifically fill my heart with joy.
I'm learning to just let it be a moment between me and Him.
So, I encourage you to put down the camera. Enjoy the moment and be present with your Creator.
Well, all breakable things, I mean. Specifically, electronics.
Cell phone. Dropped it.
Zune. Dropped it too.
Camera. Let it fall off a bus seat. It was in my backpack but still broken.
Needless to say, that's left me without a good camera option. And the Droid I was so hoping would be a convenient option messed up my SC card. Even the Droid was dropped on the road before my little bro recovered it for me.
My fancy shmancy new laptop has a webcam (so thankful), but it's not exactly portable for all the candid moments.
I love my rooftop for reading and devos and the awesome view across the city and the mountains all around. I so wish I could share pictures of that with you. Of a recent rainbow that filled the sky; one of the brightest and long lasting rainbows I've ever seen. Or of the breathtaking sunset I enjoyed a few days ago.
Yet without a camera, I'm learning to enjoy those moments. It's so easy for me to get so busy taking a picture that I forget to really enjoy what I am photography. I'm learning to slow down and appreciate the beauty and remember why I love sunsets and rainbow. I'm reminded to thank God for such blessings, for all the little things that He knows specifically fill my heart with joy.
I'm learning to just let it be a moment between me and Him.
So, I encourage you to put down the camera. Enjoy the moment and be present with your Creator.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Sometimes
Sometimes I wonder how I ended up here. At SCS. The exact school I specifically avoided because I didn't want to student teach at it. I didn't want to teach rich kids. Yet here I am.
Sometimes its hard to explain how teaching rich kids is ministry. Especially when my mind is filled with images of Batey Lima or San Jose or walking the streets in Juan Dolio one night with the Lily House missionaries. It doesn't seem like Santiago could be in same country as those towns.
Sometimes I feel as if I'm not living in the DR. Times when friends say they've been without power for 3 days. I have an inverter. When friends don't have running water for days. When friends can't get to church because of too much rain.
I don't get me wrong, not for a second have I regretted taking a job at SCS. Not in the least. But I never expected this is were I would be. But this is exactly were God put me. And he's using it teach me so many things. Things I'm realizing 'on my own' and many things that come more indirectly.
Over the past few weeks as I've begun to do develop relationships with my SST students I've noticed a shift in my perspectives. I haven't quite figured out a new perspective but I can see it beginning to form.
As I've talked with my students and heard the stories I've learned that many times rich kids don't have anything. Their lives, families, or homes may be falling apart behind the fancy houses and expensive clothes. They need loving teachers to model Christ just as much as any of the 'poor' students I've worked with. When I type that out it looks so straight forward. I'm sure if I'd read that a year ago I would have agreed with it, but now I really see it in a way I didn't before. A way that, I think, with change the way I approach working with the 'poor'.
Now, I don't think that my passion has changed. I'm pretty confident God has plans for me to work among the materially poor one day. There aren't many days without thoughts of San Jose, Batey Lima, or somewhere like them. But I'm leaning that this socio-economic thing is way bigger than I'd though and I'm just beginning to touch the edges. I'm learning that God's power to transform lives is way bigger than economic statues...even in a country were so much placed on that status.
Last Thursday I began volunteering at a Christian school down the street for SCS, but worlds apart. I spent half an hour working with two 2nd grade barrio boys practice reading in Spanish. That's right I was helping them read in Spanish. I'm hoping I didn't teach them wrong. But in that half hour my heart was filled with a joy in a way that just doesn't happen at SCS.
Sometimes I wonder how I ended up here. Living in the DR. Teaching in the exact country I've thought about teaching in since 2008. Where teaching rich kids and poor kids is a 5 minutes walk apart, so I'm able to do both. Because all kids need to see Christ's love and know that God is good.
Sometimes I imagine were I might be in the future. And sometimes I remember Ephesians 3:20 tells us God can do more than we could ever imagine. I'm here now and that's more than I ever imagined.
Sometimes its hard to explain how teaching rich kids is ministry. Especially when my mind is filled with images of Batey Lima or San Jose or walking the streets in Juan Dolio one night with the Lily House missionaries. It doesn't seem like Santiago could be in same country as those towns.
Sometimes I feel as if I'm not living in the DR. Times when friends say they've been without power for 3 days. I have an inverter. When friends don't have running water for days. When friends can't get to church because of too much rain.
I don't get me wrong, not for a second have I regretted taking a job at SCS. Not in the least. But I never expected this is were I would be. But this is exactly were God put me. And he's using it teach me so many things. Things I'm realizing 'on my own' and many things that come more indirectly.
Over the past few weeks as I've begun to do develop relationships with my SST students I've noticed a shift in my perspectives. I haven't quite figured out a new perspective but I can see it beginning to form.
As I've talked with my students and heard the stories I've learned that many times rich kids don't have anything. Their lives, families, or homes may be falling apart behind the fancy houses and expensive clothes. They need loving teachers to model Christ just as much as any of the 'poor' students I've worked with. When I type that out it looks so straight forward. I'm sure if I'd read that a year ago I would have agreed with it, but now I really see it in a way I didn't before. A way that, I think, with change the way I approach working with the 'poor'.
Now, I don't think that my passion has changed. I'm pretty confident God has plans for me to work among the materially poor one day. There aren't many days without thoughts of San Jose, Batey Lima, or somewhere like them. But I'm leaning that this socio-economic thing is way bigger than I'd though and I'm just beginning to touch the edges. I'm learning that God's power to transform lives is way bigger than economic statues...even in a country were so much placed on that status.
Last Thursday I began volunteering at a Christian school down the street for SCS, but worlds apart. I spent half an hour working with two 2nd grade barrio boys practice reading in Spanish. That's right I was helping them read in Spanish. I'm hoping I didn't teach them wrong. But in that half hour my heart was filled with a joy in a way that just doesn't happen at SCS.
Sometimes I wonder how I ended up here. Living in the DR. Teaching in the exact country I've thought about teaching in since 2008. Where teaching rich kids and poor kids is a 5 minutes walk apart, so I'm able to do both. Because all kids need to see Christ's love and know that God is good.
Sometimes I imagine were I might be in the future. And sometimes I remember Ephesians 3:20 tells us God can do more than we could ever imagine. I'm here now and that's more than I ever imagined.
 |
| My Ephesians 3:20 t-shirt, given to me by a mission team just before moving to Santiago. It's one of my favs. |
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
This and That
1. I've started reading Revelations this past week during my devo time. Revelations is one of those books that I've never been super excited about reading. Probably because I don't understand it that well. But I've been reading through the New Testament and finally made it to Revelation. While I've been reading I've noticed there's a good number of verses in the first few chapters that praise God. Those have been a good reminder and blessing to me this past week.
2. We recently had a staff member return to the States for medical reasons. I've been moved from substitute teacher to SST, what we call special ed here. I now have a weekly schedule rotating 17 kids for pull out sessions. I'm slowing getting used to everything, but I'm super excited to have my own schedule and students. I've only been in SST about 9 days so I can't tell you much yet, but keep an eye out for updates. I've spent the first few days trying not to be overwhelming as I go through all the materials the students had been using. I'm getting close to having a basic idea of what I'll be doing each week. I'm so blessed to be in this new position and have an opportunity to build deeper relationships with these students.
3. Huelga, again. This is the second time in as many weeks. Last weeks was a strike of the transportation industry so taxis and other forms of public transportation weren't running. Tomorrow may be the start of a two or three day commerce strike meaning stores would be closed. So far neither strike has closed school, but we're still all hoping we can get a little break out of this.
Finally, since I'm obsessed with Spanish worship music....here's my latest obsession: Evan Craft with Spanish versions of Christ Tomlin's Awake My Soul and Hillsong's Oceans. Disfruta!
2. We recently had a staff member return to the States for medical reasons. I've been moved from substitute teacher to SST, what we call special ed here. I now have a weekly schedule rotating 17 kids for pull out sessions. I'm slowing getting used to everything, but I'm super excited to have my own schedule and students. I've only been in SST about 9 days so I can't tell you much yet, but keep an eye out for updates. I've spent the first few days trying not to be overwhelming as I go through all the materials the students had been using. I'm getting close to having a basic idea of what I'll be doing each week. I'm so blessed to be in this new position and have an opportunity to build deeper relationships with these students.
3. Huelga, again. This is the second time in as many weeks. Last weeks was a strike of the transportation industry so taxis and other forms of public transportation weren't running. Tomorrow may be the start of a two or three day commerce strike meaning stores would be closed. So far neither strike has closed school, but we're still all hoping we can get a little break out of this.
Finally, since I'm obsessed with Spanish worship music....here's my latest obsession: Evan Craft with Spanish versions of Christ Tomlin's Awake My Soul and Hillsong's Oceans. Disfruta!
Monday, January 20, 2014
Professora Wilcox
Hello, allow me to introduce myself. Miss Wilcox, Spanish Teacher.
This school year I've taken on many different roles as a substitute teacher. I've taught every grade Pre-K3 through freshman. I've taught library, art and, music.
Today was different. Today was the first time I've been a Spanish Teacher. Now I wasn't just teaching Spanish, I was teaching in Spanish. I have to admit it felt pretty great. :)
Okay, confession time. I wasn't completely by myself. The (real) Spanish teacher was still in the classroom, but she'd injured her back and was in a lot of pain. The first class I couldn't do much. It takes a bit of warming up before my brain switches to Spanish. By the last class of the day, I'd seen the same lesson twice already and had gotten my warm up in talking to students in smaller groups. When the last class came in I asked the teacher if she wanted my to take it. She let me and I went for it.
Today, the first and second grade classes learned the j and g sounds. Our practice words were; gemelos, girasol, jefe, and jirafa. I even learned something new about Spanish myself. In Spanish, the letter g changes sounds depending on which vowel it is with. When g is with an e or an i it makes the equivalent to the English h. However, when g is with a, o, and u it sounds like the English g. For example, gato, gomas, and gustar.
Hopefully, for her sake, our Spanish teacher can return to school on Wednesday without any back pain. I told her, however, if she's not I can manage the classes--just don't count on me being fully fluent by then :P
This school year I've taken on many different roles as a substitute teacher. I've taught every grade Pre-K3 through freshman. I've taught library, art and, music.
Today was different. Today was the first time I've been a Spanish Teacher. Now I wasn't just teaching Spanish, I was teaching in Spanish. I have to admit it felt pretty great. :)
Okay, confession time. I wasn't completely by myself. The (real) Spanish teacher was still in the classroom, but she'd injured her back and was in a lot of pain. The first class I couldn't do much. It takes a bit of warming up before my brain switches to Spanish. By the last class of the day, I'd seen the same lesson twice already and had gotten my warm up in talking to students in smaller groups. When the last class came in I asked the teacher if she wanted my to take it. She let me and I went for it.
Today, the first and second grade classes learned the j and g sounds. Our practice words were; gemelos, girasol, jefe, and jirafa. I even learned something new about Spanish myself. In Spanish, the letter g changes sounds depending on which vowel it is with. When g is with an e or an i it makes the equivalent to the English h. However, when g is with a, o, and u it sounds like the English g. For example, gato, gomas, and gustar.
Hopefully, for her sake, our Spanish teacher can return to school on Wednesday without any back pain. I told her, however, if she's not I can manage the classes--just don't count on me being fully fluent by then :P
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Semester 2
I've been back in the DR for just over a week after a wonderful Christmas break in the States. It was wonderful to be back in the States after nearly 7 months here in the DR. Here are a few of my highlights:
--seeing family: parents, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles
--decorating my parents' house for Christmas
--2% Milk,
--seeing friends
--Thrifting with friends
--snow
A few lowlights are
--not getting to see certain friends
--not going downtown Chicago
--and not going ice skating
Those last two had been planned for weeks, but once I got to IL we quickly realized that the weather was just too cold for such a trip to be in enjoyable.
Now that I'm back in the DR it's has been nice to start getting back into a routine (even though I miss getting to see my little brother everyday!) Here's a few things I've enjoyed since getting back:
--a laptop, finally! It's so nice to have a real computer again after my broke last Spring. Writing this blog is sooo much easier and you get pictures now :)
--I have stuff--I hadn't exactly planned on living and working here when I packed in May. While it was definitely worth going without some things last semester, it feels a bit more like real life to have my own personal things again. My pillow, bedding (I'm so thankful for this; it's much cooler here now), work clothes--teaching work, not messy work (I'd brought plenty of those for my internship), dishes, decorations, and more. All stuff I didn't need or was provide for me during my internship.
--my roof. I love love love my rooftop. Its beautiful--great view looking down on the city, mountains all around. It's a great place for afternoon devos or chatting with friends while watching the stars.
Until next Tuesday!! PS--I didn't proofread this.
--seeing family: parents, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles
--decorating my parents' house for Christmas
--2% Milk,
--seeing friends
--Thrifting with friends
--snow
 |
| Family: Goofing off with my new webcam |
 |
| So glad there was snow for me to enjoy |
A few lowlights are
--not getting to see certain friends
--not going downtown Chicago
--and not going ice skating
Those last two had been planned for weeks, but once I got to IL we quickly realized that the weather was just too cold for such a trip to be in enjoyable.
 |
| New Year's Eve with the friends I did get to see and the one's I'd hoped to go to Chicago with. |
Now that I'm back in the DR it's has been nice to start getting back into a routine (even though I miss getting to see my little brother everyday!) Here's a few things I've enjoyed since getting back:
--a laptop, finally! It's so nice to have a real computer again after my broke last Spring. Writing this blog is sooo much easier and you get pictures now :)
--I have stuff--I hadn't exactly planned on living and working here when I packed in May. While it was definitely worth going without some things last semester, it feels a bit more like real life to have my own personal things again. My pillow, bedding (I'm so thankful for this; it's much cooler here now), work clothes--teaching work, not messy work (I'd brought plenty of those for my internship), dishes, decorations, and more. All stuff I didn't need or was provide for me during my internship.
--my roof. I love love love my rooftop. Its beautiful--great view looking down on the city, mountains all around. It's a great place for afternoon devos or chatting with friends while watching the stars.
 |
| View from my roof: Sun bursting through the clouds |
Until next Tuesday!! PS--I didn't proofread this.
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