Como Roca Son

The other night while I was fixing a snack I overheard my roommates' conversation about the future, what that might look like, and how God's working.  Again, my minds was brought to Ephesians 3:20, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." As I've shared before, God has made this my 'theme verse' since accepting my job at SCS. This verse just keeps popping up on me--in a Bible study or devotional, on a t-shirt, in song, or some other way. 

With this verse in my head, I took my snack back tomy room to begin my devotions.

I've been reading through the book of Joshua, which isn't nearly as exciting as I remembered in being.  Once you get toward the second half it's chapter after chapter of land allotments and boundary lines.  This is Joshua 13:9,  ^"It extended from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and included the whole plateau of Medeba as far as Dibon."  To be honest, it gets a little dull verse after verse, chapter after chapter.  Many of my journal notes for these chapters when something like this: "God what's the purpose of this?  I get that it's helpful for historical notes or creating a map of Israel at that time, but what am I suppose to learn for this?"

I open my Bible to Joshua and turn to the next chapter, Joshua 21.  It starts off just like the past several chapters have.  With Ephesians 3:20 still in my head, I reach the last verse of the chapter.  Joshua 21:45, "Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled." In that moment I knew this is what I'm suppose to learn from reading all those boundaries lines. Those lists of cities were the fulfillment of God promises.

"Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled."

This is the God that Israel worshipped, a God who keeps his promises.  This is the God who Paul wrote about in Ephesians.  Our God, who has the power 'to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine''; the same power that provided Israel with the Promise Land.

Two days later at church, one of the songs we sang contained the words, "Tus promesas como roca son (Your promises are like rock).

Ephesians 3:20, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us."

Joshua 21:45, "Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled."

Why Huelgas?

Huelgas have become almost normal to me by now.  Not that they happen all day, every day, but I’ve gotten used to them coming around every often.  If you don’t speak Spanish, you might be wondering what in the world I’m talking about.  ‘Huelga’ is the Spanish word for strike.  With the most recent strike this past week a co-workers four year old daughter asked “What’s the Spanish word for ‘huelga?” Mom tried to explain.  Well, actually ‘huelga’ is Spanish, the English word is ‘strike’.  The daughter remains unconvinced. 

Now that we’ve gotten the language straighten out, it’s time for another clarification. Strikes here are a bit different that the typical strike in the United States. In the States I think--School unions, labor unions. Maybe some signs in car windows about teacher contacts. A few picket signs on the side of the road, people not coming into work, workers wanting better contracts. Honestly, I never thought much about strikes in the States.

Strikes are different in other countries. Truckers blocked miles of road at an international border. Stones, rocks, and burning tires thrown into the streets is pretty common. Transportation strike: public taxi companies aren’t open. Commerce strike: businesses closed.  These are all strikes that I’ve experienced. Sitting on the Nicaragua-Costa Rica border for 8 or so hours was exactly something I’d care to repeat but it has certainly made a good memory.  Burning tires make for a good reason to cancel school. (We don’t get snow days here!)  And a commerce strike is basically non-existent if you didn’t have plans to go to the store.  

From what I’ve experienced, these strikes are meant to be an inconvenience not violence.  Burning tires smoke and smell, effective toward the most basic goal—stop traffic.  Rocks or semi-trucks are also effective in this. This also creates a situation that has the potential for violence, especially when we remember a lone individual or group can start something else such as an explosion or riot. That being said, I won’t voluntarily want to be around one, but neither do I feel threatened or unsafe.

So, why huelgas?  Huelgas give people a voice.  

People need to be heard. They need to have a voice. So often the huelgas I’ve witnessed result from people feeling as if they have no other voice. The community by my school has been promised a sewage system from the government but that hasn’t happened.  Sometimes I wonder how effective these huelgas are; I can’t imagine them achieving much progress. If they did, that community would have had it sewage system a long time ago.  So why continue?  My conclusion is that most huelgas result when the people feel they have no other voice. 

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly, defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

These words from Proverbs 31: 8-9 show that God not only cares about those without a voice but has a plan to do something about it. While this is just two verses, this is a theme I see carried throughout Scripture. Christ stepped in and took our place when we had not voice, when our righteousness was like filthy rags. This is the command we’ve been given.

This is the opportunity we’ve been given.  The community huelgas disrupt school and can cause general chaos among students. The huelgas also created the opportunity for several SCS staff member to meet with the leaders of the community.  We can’t build the sewage system they need, but we can begin to build a relationship with and discover other needs that we may be capable of meeting.

 

Catching Up

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.

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.

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.

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.  

My Ephesians 3:20 t-shirt, given to me by a mission team just before moving to Santiago. It's one of my favs. 

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!