"It was great. I loved it!" Part 1

This past weekend I had the chance to return to Juan Dolio to visit with SCORE International and also visit Freedom International Ministries in San Pedro de Macoris.  On that trip I was frequently asked, "How's your school? How do you like Santiago?"  And when I returned I got, "How was your weekend?"

The continual questions made me realize I should have a better response than "It was great. I love it!" which had become my typical response to both questions.  

What was great about it?  Why do I love?  Those aren't easy  questions to answering.  Here's my best attempt to answer that without just giving you a boring outline of what I'm up to.  (Thursday I rode the bus. Friday I went to school. That night we had youth group.  That doesn't really tell you  much and it's definitely boring.) 

Visiting the Freedom school gave me a chance to see and participate in a ministry I've been watching grow since 2008.  My very first visit to Freedom was after my student teaching in December 2012.   It has been nearly a year since then and I enjoyed the chance to see all the precious kiddos again and meet new ones.  While waiting for school to start Friday morning,  I made it my goal to learn as many names as possible from the PK4 class.   Many of them were familiar from Freedom's frequent Facebook posts (alliteration unintended).  It made the rest of the morning so much easier since I was able to address nearly all the students by name.  I'm definitely going to take the time to do that when I sub in elementary classrooms from now on!  On Monday, I did the same with the K5 class. Once I'd finally gotten the  names of two or three kids straight I'd mix them up on purpose.  That joke was a guaranteed burst of laugher, no matter how many times I pulled it.  :D I suppose if I wasn't a teacher, just sitting at a school for half a morning could get really boring, but I loved it. I'd ask students "Do we start making letters at the top or bottom of the line?" I'd show them how to turn their notebooks right side up--more than one of them were tracing letters with their books upside down!  I helped with centers, puzzle building (hey, when you're 4 its hard work to put those foam pieces together and even harder to be okay with connecting your pieces to some one else's),  read a story, and practiced the months of the year. One girl claimed me as soon as she got on the bus Friday morning and ran straight to me when she saw me on Monday. So precious!  I'd have to check my pictures from last year but I think she might have been with me then as well.

One of the things I love about my visits to Freedom is seeing what it would be like to live in San Pedro and work for that ministry.  Ever since high school, that possibility has been in my mind. Friday after school, I had a chance  to stop by Freedom's land and see how their building project is coming along.  It's just a skeleton of a building right now.  Digging through coral to pour the footers is slow going. They just recently poured the first few columns  for the walls which really gives some shape to the building.  One cool fact I learned is that Freedom modeled it's building off Santiago Christian School's layout; that made it really easy to 'see' what the finished building will look like. I  even got a few pictures of myself in what might be my future classroom.  If that happens those pictures will definitely be hanging on my classroom walls. :) (Before anyone asks, this is just a someday idea.  I'm still planning on being at SCS for at least these three years.)

The other half of my weekend was filled with a visit to SCORE.  This gave me the chance to see friends from this summer and hear how the different ministries and people I worked with have been doing since I left.  I spent Friday and Saturday night with my friend Sarah and her husband Robersy.  We managed to pack so much adventure, fun, ministry, and laughter into two days.  I started off Friday evening with a short visit to see my Lily House kids.  Most of them were gone because of school, but I was able to see one of my special girls, a 4 year old with Cerebral Palsy.  I loved visiting her this summer, talking to her, and giving her a chance to get some exercise (she can't walk or even sit up on her own so she's in her wheelchair much of the day). Resources for special needs individuals are almost no existent in this country.  It's my dream and prayer that some how she could receive physical therapy daily for an extended period of time.  As I was holding this special girl on Friday, her 5th grade sister walks in from school.  The instant she sees me she yells, "Kelsey!!" and came over for a hug. It meant so much to me that she remembered me and my name despite the hundreds of Americans she must have meet over this summer and since.  Sometimes I wonder how these kids handle the constant wave of visitors.  

Friday night it poured just before youth group turning the dirt road between SCORE and the church into sticky, yucky mud.  I think  I had about 5 pounds of mud on each shoe by the end of the night! The rain meant youth group attendance was low, but that gave us the opportunity break into small groups with the students for a few minutes.   Sarah had a women's mission team  she was translating for this week so I joined them for Saturday and Sunday morning. A huge blessing from this was being with the group when one of the ladies from Lily House shared her testimony.  I'd known this lady all summer and never heard her story.  Honestly, it's a horrible story.  She's been through things I can't even imagine.  Yet, I see her healing revealed in her ability to share now when she didn't this summer.   Later on, I went with the group to put up flyers advertising the opening of the Lily House businesses, Leche y Miel Plaza, to the public.  I loved being a part of that and seeing these business grow beyond customers from visiting mission teams. I'm not a business major but to me it seems that this salon/spa, gift shop, and bakery will be much more sustainable as public business. On top of that, I made a contact with one of the ladies from the mission team about creating a website for Leche y Miel for tourists and vacationers, a goal Erica and I had talked about way back in August. 

Saturday afternoon Sarah and I took their truck to a Dominican car wash to get all the mud from Friday night off and surprise Robersy.  It's always a fun adventure to have a new cultural experience--this definitely wasn't what you'd get in American.  After that Sarah and I got to crash guys night with Robersy and the only 3 male intern/GAP student/MK around SCORE.  We headed up to the Capital for a movie and dinner afterwards.  It was so much fun to just hang out with a friend and be on my own (no internship director to get permission from).  It really did make the DR seem so much less like a foreign country and make working here seem more like real life.  This isn't just a temporary 3 month visit; somehow visiting a friend in another city on the weekend and going to a movie made that more real.  

Sunday morning the women's team, Sarah, and I when to Pasitos de Jesus to give the girls a Sunday School type program. Once again I was blessed and surprised by the number of girls that remembered me.  What a joy it was to see those girls again, hug them, hear them sing, and take pictures with them! Sunday afternoon Sarah and I spent a couple hours wandering around the shops and beach near her apartment just talking, laughing,  and catching up.  

This has gotten so long already and I didn't even get around to answering the "How's your school? How do you like Santiago?" questions. That's gonna be Part 2, so keep an eye out for it :)

Huelga Day=Jarabacoa Visit

Preface Uno:  Last year I student taught 1st grade at a school in Jarabacoa.  I've wanted to go back to visit Jarabacoa since the day I knew I was returning to the DR (even when that was just Juan Dolio for the summer). My job at SCS moved me to Santiago, about an hour from Jarabacoa.  Since then, I'd been hoping for a chance to visit Jarabacoa when my students were in school. Visiting during the school day is really the only way to see nearly all my students. Unfortunately, I quickly realized, that would be nearly impossible since all my days off are the same holidays that school would have off. It was looking like my only option would be to take a personal day.

Preface Dos: Huelga! I experienced a strike at the Nicaraguan/Costa Rican boarder about 5 years ago.  Truckers blocked the road for miles with their semis seeking easier conditions since they cross the boarder so frequently. They stopped traffic for about 8 or so hours. We just waited and waited and waited until finally they allowed traffic to pass.  The strike last week stopped traffic again, but by different means and for different purpose.  The neighborhood near my school would like the government to fix the road that leads to it. That also happens to be the same road my school is on.

Monday morning I arrive at school like any other Monday--excited for staff worship. Riding to school I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary that would make me suspect anything. (Well, I did see a SWAT truck but that looks just like the National Police except black instead of camo. A little different but it didn't seem like something that would end up affecting me.)  I get to staff worship and that's when I first here of the strike. The community is blocking off the road with rocks and lighting tires on fire. About 5 minutes later we're informed school is officially canceled and to head home before the road is completely impassible. 

I'm back home before 8:30am. I'm sitting on Facebook (because what else is there to do on a Huelga Day than post a status about it?) when suddenly it dawns on me--this is the day I've been waiting for. I'm off work but there no reason why JCS (my school in Jarabacoa) wouldn't be open. I think it over for a few minutes and quickly realize this would be one of those things I'd regret if I didn't go for it. I ask one of my house mates (apartment mate, suitemate?), she's in and we leave about 20 mintues later. Both if us like to have a plan and know all the details; this had spontaneous written all over it.  But worse case scenario we can't visit at the school so we have a few hours to hangout around town. It was a win-win situation. Having lived inn Jarabacoa for 3  1/2 months, I'm plenty familiar with town to wander around for a while (and there's always Yogen Fruz for backup).

Turns out we didn't need any of those Plan B's.  We got our buses, got into town, and walked to school without any problems. We stopped by the office and I'm able to head straight to the 2nd grade classes.  I poke my head in both classes and ask the teacher it they have some free time for me to visit with the students.  Both teachers agreed and give me a time to come back.  I visit with some of the other teacher while I wait.  The first class only had about five minutes for a break,  but  that was enough time to take a few pictures.  This only had three or so of my students from last year.  The other 2nd grade class, which  is almost my entire class from last year, had a 30 minutes afternoon recess. 

One of my favorite things last year was recess duty days (weird, I know).  I loved having a few minutes to just play with the kids-run around, soccer, whatever.  That's exactly what I got to do on this visit for their whole recess--lots of running, tag, and races.  Of course, that was with my camera in hand the whole time.  Each time I tried to take a picture, EVERY girl tries to be in it.  It's crazy how quickly they all notice the camera when it seems like most of them aren't even paying attention to me at that moment.  There were so many wonderful things I got to do and experience.  This was all more that I could have ever thought possible the day I left Jarabacoa last year.  Back then, I didn't even know the  next time I'd be in this country.  Here's some of those super special moments.

1.  My 'little mouse' student running up to give me a hug every other minute. I remember last year her tiny, little whisper and cuteness that resembled an adorable little mouse or 'ratoncita'. 

2. They Speak English!!  My goodness, I was blown away by how much English they've learned since I left.  Students who never spoke in English to me last  year were able to do so without a second though! I'm so proud of them :)

3. My special needs student--Last year I had a student with some type of Autism Spectrum Disorder,  possibly Aspergers. He quickly became so dear to me. I loved seeing his face light up after accomplishing a typical easy task.  He would have this look of pure amazement, as if he was genuinely surprised at his ability.  Without a special ed department, however, there was also good deal of challenges. Hitting other students, leaving class, refusing to come to class after recess, refusing to do class work, and the list could go on.  He lives with his grandma and I don't think she had any idea what ASDs are.  I left student teaching without any hope of him getting the help he needs.  Pretty discouraging and heart breaking.    During my visit last week, I was able to talk with both his classroom  teacher and his grandmother.   The situation has improved  beyond what I could have hoped for.  His classroom teacher said he is doing much better with his behavior in school.  Talking with his grandmother was almost like talking to a completely different person than last year.  The harsh "he's a brat' attitude is gone. She says she knows he has special needs and she's  working together with his classroom teacher and the school psychologist. (Last year the psychologist left part way through my student  teaching.) I'm overjoyed to hear that he's getting support, especially in a county where special education programs are nearly non-existant. 

4.  I Speak Spanish!!  I left this visit shocked by how many people I had spoken to in Spanish. I just saw them and started a conversation without even thinking about.  Many of those conversations where with people I almost never talked to last year, because I didn't speak nearly as  much Spanish then and they don't speak English.  It's so easy to look at how much I still have to  learn and get discouraged.  When your in the same places, it can be hard to realize the progress that's being made.  It was incredibly encouraging to me to be able to have such tangible (if it's possible to consider language  tangible) proof of  the progress I've made in my Spanish since returning to the DR in May.   :D

5.  Timing.  God's timing truly is perfect.  Especially in the ways it worked out for me to see so many people, things that I never would have been able to plan for.  Teachers from last who have  moved on to other jobs that I just happened to run into.  The ONE student that was absent just happened  to be playing outside his house when we just happened to walked by.  All those 'just happened's are really God's perfect timing. 

Have I mentioned I'm feeling blessed?  This story is just one of the many, many blessings since I took this job at SCS.  Thank you, Jesus!! 

Up

No, not the movie.  The word: up. Have you ever though about what it means?  Up high, up top, the opposite of down.  That's what we'd typically consider the meaning of the word 'up'.  Yet, while recently in a kindergarten classroom I realized how problematic this word can be for an English Language Learner.

Before I go any further its important to point out that words don't always ('usually don't' might be more accurate) translate directly from English to Spanish. Even when a word does translate easily that doesn't mean that it's used the same way.  For example,'ir' is the Spanish word for 'to go'.  However, 'ir' doesn't directly replace every use of the English phrase 'to go'.  Consider this situation.  You've just eaten dinner at a restaurant and would like to take your leftovers home with you.  In English speaking areas its typical to ask for the leftovers 'to go' or for a 'to go box'.  In Spanish the proper word is not 'ir' but the phrase 'para llevar'.   This phrase literally translated actually means 'to carry'.

Now what does all that have to do with the word 'up'? Well, this English word doesn't translate so easily.  You can't just ask for the Spanish word for 'up' (arriba) and do a quick switch every time you see the word.  Partly because in English it doesn't have a consistent meaning.

Think about how many ways the word 'up' can be used, especially cases that have little to do with 'high' or 'top'.

After a few days in kindergarten I'd created a rather long list. (or I could say 'I'd come up with').

*Line up
*Clean up
*Sit up
*Pack up
*Stand up
*Listen up
*Look up
*Pick up
*Scooch/scoot up
*Back up

Now imagine how confusing this must be for the English Language Learner. Just when they (the students) think they've figured out what a familar word means, we change it up on them. The meaning of 'up' changes based on the words it's paired with. While teaching at this level it means that all my instructions and directions are said with some sort of visual, usually an action or physical demonstration. 'Stand up' I do so as I say the words. 'Sit down' I sit. 'Listen up' I put a hand to my ear. 'Look' I point to my eyes. How to rotate for centers, I walk to each table. 'Open your red box' I open the box.  It gets exhusting teaching like that; having to walk to 4 places around the room while giving directions is much harder that sitting in front of the class.  But I do it because to me it's that important that my students can see what I'm saying.

For procedures and routines that the students will need to do independently my principal explained it this way.

Model--Teacher does the action

Act--2 or 3 students do the the action

Practice-Whole class does the action

I kept this on a Post-It note on my desk during my time in Kindergarten. It was such a helpful reminder to me.

Take a look at how each of those English 'Up' phrases that are so common in the classroom translate to in Spanish.

*Line up--'Hagan una fila.' Literal English Translation: 'Make a line.'
*Clean up-- 'Limpia' 'Limpia las cosas' Literal English Translation: 'Clean' 'Clean the things'
*Sit up--'Sientese' 'Sientese bien' Literal English Translation: 'Sit' 'Sit right (properly)' Note: this means both 'sit up' and 'sit down' in English. In Spanish, the same phrase is used with a student who is laying down and with a student who is standing up.)
*Pack up--'Guardan sus cosas.' Literal English Translation: 'Guard your things' Used as 'put away'.
*Stand up--'Pone sus pies' Literal English Translation: 'Put on your feet.'
*Listen up--'Eschuca' Literal English Translation: 'Listen'
*Look up-'Mira' 'Mira enfrente' 'Mira arriba' Literal English Translation: 'Look' 'Look forward' 'Look up' (This would imply above your head, not the front of the classroom. Nor does it mean 'look up information')
*Pick up-'Recogen las cosas' Literal English Translation: 'Gather the things'
*Scooch/scoot up--'Mas Alante' Literal English Translation: 'More forward'
*Back up--'Mas Atras' Literal English Translation: 'More Backwards'

Real Spanish Speakers: I did not take the time to look each of these up or check them on Google Translate. I am aware that this is not perfect. Please be aware that I'm still learning Spanish.

Consider these translations. In each English the word 'up' is used. In the Spanish,  there's hardly a single repeat among any of the phrases.  The only exceptions are 'cosas' (things) and 'sus' (your). The only use of the actual translation for 'up' (arriba), doesn't even offer that same meaning as the English. I know it's best (easiest) to learn a new language at a young age, but I can't imagine the confusion this must cause for those 5 year olds.

I hope you've found this as intriguing as I did when I first began to notice how often the word 'up' is used in the classroom.  Now, I'll leave you to ponder this:  Suppose a 5 year old ELL student asked you for the meaning (or translation) of the word 'up'. How would you respond? 

New Job

Hello friends! I'm now heading into my forth week living here in Santiago.  Last post I shared how I ended up here just 10 days after being offer the job and only 3 weeks after learning that the school, Santiago Christian School, had an open position.  I might add that coming on staff at the last minute does have certain advantages.  First, everyone thinks your a saint (okay, maybe that's a little bit of an exaggeration) for coming and makes a big deal about how brave I am to do it. I guess they don't realize that staying is a dream come true for me :D   Second, coming at the last minute means that my housing had to me arranged at the last minute. So I ended up with the nicest and biggest apartment--the school just remolded it (last week they installed granite countertops in the kitchen!). 

Now to answer a few questions that I've been asked often these past weeks

What's it like? Well the SCS Family is amazing. From the minute I got here I felt welcomed into the wonderful staff community. Friendships began to develop almost immediately and the fellowship among the staff amazed me. I'm so blessed to work with people who enjoyed starting each day of in-service with worship. And a school where each week begins with Monday morning worship. Hey, maybe Mondays won't be so bad :)  I've felt so welcomed and cared  for these past 3 weeks--staff cook-outs, a snorkeling outing, returning staff members who take us running, shopping, out to eat (and refuse to let us pay), or to church.  

What grade am I teaching? I'm not teaching any particular grade. I'm a full time substitute. That means I could be in any K-12 class on any given day.  I'm the primary elementary substitute so I'll mostly be there but I will also sub for the secondary classes when needed. Sometimes I may have my subbing assignments in advance but other times I might not know until the day of...you never know when a teacher might wake up sick.  This week Thursday I begin 8 days in a Kindergarten class while the teacher is in the States!! I've been with this class most of the time since school started last week and already love them to pieces.  

So what do I do if there's no one to sub for?  The last few weeks have been interesting. Since I don't have my   own classroom I've had lots of free time during our in-service weeks. I bounced between classrooms, helping teachers set up, helped make bulletin boards for the library, and somehow volunteered myself as Data Entry Assistant. I´ve spent the past few weeks working on a new dismissal system for the school. I assigned each of the nearly 400 families in the school a number to be used as a dismissal code. Rather than having to call all four names of the children in one family (as we do now), all four siblings have the same code.  1 thing to say instead of 4. We're hoping once the new system is introduced in September dismissal will run much more smoothly.

Where will I live? SCS arranges housing for their staff. I've been blessed to be in a huge, beautiful apartment that's just been remodeled. The school's trying to sell to so eventually I'll have to move out, but that probably won't be for a while yet. Typically, (single) SCS staff would share with other staff. This semester instead of rooming with staff members I'm sharing the apartment with two loving student teachers. Having student taught in the DR myself just last fall, I'm pretty familiar with what that's like. 

Don't b afraid to send me your question if I didn't answer it--it could a great topic for my next post :)

Now that it's taken me all week to get this written, I'm not longer heading into my forth week as I said at the beginning. I've nearly done with it. Hope you enjoyed my ramblings :)

Good Things

Let all that I am praise the Lord, with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord. May I never forget the good things he does for me.  Psalm 103:1-2

It's been quite a while since one of my 'weekly' blog posts. It's about time I share with all of you how I ended up where I am now--living and working (yes, working: a full time paid job) in the Dominican Republic. The answer is actually just one word, God. However, I'm guessing you are reading this because you want the story behind all that and how God lead me here. Great! I'm hoping so :)

I'm a chronological thinker, so I'm going to write this out in timeline form. So from the beginning:

May 11, 2013: Graduated from Trinity International University with a degree in Elementary Education

May 25: Flew to the Dominican Republic for a 2 1/2 month internship with SCORE International. End date was set as August 3.

At this point I had no job lined up once the internship ended. I planned to apply online to Lake County school districts or schools near my parents. During the first week I discovered that completing online applications with an iPad proved difficult and tedious. That combined with my responsibilities as an intern meant I didn't get very far in the job hunt process. 

June 25: I decided to Google English taught schools within the Dominican Republic. I'd heard of a few and thought I'd find out more about them.  The Santiago Christian School website would not load on my iPad; I didn't think much of it.

June 26: While at Highlands (the sports complex), I ended up talking with the board president of a Christian school in Santo Domingo. His school was holding a soccer camp there. He was not sure if there where any open positions but gives me his email and says to email him my resume. I told him about my Google searches the night before and he said maybe this is what they call 'God coincidences'.  I send my resume in the following Saturday and he replied saying he'd sent it on to the Head of School.

July 5: I sent a follow up email to the school in Santo Domingo. I never heard back from the board president or the Head of School. This planted in my mind that it might actually to possible to work at a school here. Yet, at this point, I still continued to work on a job application for a US school district. 

July 8: TIU Division of Education sends an email about an opening at a Christian school in Paraguay.  Not the DR but still a Spanish speaking country.  The email includes a link to the Mission: Teach website, which lists positions for Christian school worldwide. Roadblock: I can't upload my resume from the iPad.

July 13: I am able to borrow a laptop to upload m resume to the Mission: Teach website. I send an inquiry to the school in Paraguay, but then begin to look through the schools listed to see if any are in the DR. Santiago Christian School had both 1st and 3rd grade positions listed as open.  I immediately send an email to the school.  About 8 hours later, the elementary principal has emailed me back--there's currently an open position for a full time substitute. There was definitely some screaming, cheering, and excitement as I shared this news with my fellow intern girls!! Three week whirlwind begins.

July 16: After 2 1/2 days of working on the SCS job application--resume, work history, personal essays, testimony, medical forms and contacting references--I submit the completed application and related documents. (And thanks to Haley for the use of her laptop.)  A few days later a job interview is set up for Monday.

July 22: Skype interview with Santiago Christian School. I felt it had gone very well.

July 25: Officially offered the position as full-time substitute. 

July 29: After much prayer over the weekend, I officially  accept the position. God reminded me of my quote at the top of this blog, 'Go to the people. Live among them.'

August 4: I move to Santiago!

I began this blog with Psalm 103:1-2. That last line really sums up the past few weeks.  "May I never forget the good things he does for me." When I first flew to the DR this summer, I had packed for an internship. Shorts and t-shirts, stuff that could get muddy and sweaty in Bateys (sugar cane villages). Not exactly the stuff you wear to teach in. My suitcases were actually the lightest   I've ever packed them. I was even able to take a few books out of my carry-on and pack them in my checked bag. I didn't need bedding, towels, or kitchen supplies since I'd be living at the SCORE complex. 

Once people found out I had the job, even before it was certain, I started to receive all sorts of things. My intern director allowed me to look through the ministry supply closet for clothes and other items I could use. I found clothes, shoes, an alarm clock, Sensodyne tooth paste (this in itself is a huge blessing since my wisdom teeth have been cutting all summer), towels, and bed sheets. Various groups had given us interns all their left over toiletries. My roommate and I spilt what we had; I still ended up with over 3 ziplock bags (2 1/2 gallon size) full of sunscreen, bug spray, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and more. There's more than enough to get me through the entire school year. 

A few days before my move, I'm just chatting with one of the leaders from the group that week. I told her about this new job.  A few hours later, myself and another intern are helping her with the donations her church brought. She asks if I need anything and starts digging through this huge pile of clothes. She somehow pulls out all really nice clothes that I could wear to work. Then, she takes me to her room and gives me one of her very own skirts. It's super cute and looks practically brand new.  Blessings, blessings! So many blessings. 

By the time I was all packed up my suitcases could barely close. These suitcases were right at 50 pounds when I flew down here and easily had room for more stuff. One man who, thankfully, helped me carry them up two flights of stairs estimated they were close to 100 pounds each!

This post is so long already and I'm just to moving day now.  How these first two weeks in Santiago have gone will have to wait for the next post. 

Thank you everyone for all your prayers and support. Thank you Lord for the millions of blessings I've been given!

Faithfulness

Each week here a new group comes in for their short term mission trip. Well actually, there's usually many groups heree but the interns typical stick with one group for the week. That allows us to connect with the group and get to know them a little bit by the end of the week.  However, this week after 3 days I still felt like I hadn't connected much with the group. In the van, I mostly talked with the missionary/pastor/driver and during ministry times I was mostly with the Dominican youth that were working with us. That's great for practicing Spanish but it means I didn't spend as much time with my group.  That being said I was quite surprised by the response I got from them on thier last night.  Two of the girls made a bracelet for me and another team member gave me a hug and thanked me working with them this week. 
That made me realize that sometimes I can't see the impact I make on people, but that doesn't mean no one's watching.  All week I'd gone in and given my all to whatever ministry we were doing.   The first two mornings were VBS with kids so it was pretty natural for me to jump in and start doing stuff.  According to one group member, I was 'rocking out' to the worship songs with the kids.  On Wednesday, we had a work  project building a fence around a church. This mean cuting down trees and branches for posts and stringing barbed wire. Tools required: machetes, hammers, and several metal poles as post hole diggers. It was great hanging out with older people (over 9 years old) during the day; they'd even help correct my Spanish which was very helpful.  One girl even taught me how to 'mow' with a machete. You use a hooked stick to hold the grass/weeds back and then swing the machete below that to cut the grass off near the ground. Throughout this week I was faithful to serve where I was needed each day, even though to me it seemed like I wasn't making much of a difference to the team.  In return, God was faithful to me and allowed me to see that during those times I wasn't with the team they were still watching me; that made an impact on them without me knowing it.

PRAYER UPDATES
1. Spanish-I'm learning more everyday but I'm not sure if I'll be fluent before I leave.  Pray that I'll be proactive in practicing Spanih and not give in to fear and shyness.
2. Financial-My goal is to raise $1,500 in support to cover airfare and other expenses. So far I've just over $500. Pray that the remaining money needed to cover my expenses would be provided.
3. Future Plans-As of now, I still don't have a job after my intership ends. Pray that I would know where the Lord wants me to be this fall (and afterward).

Translating

Well, by week 3 I'd missed writing a weekly blog post. If I'm keeping my dates right I just finished my fifth week as an intern here in the DR. My time is flying by and I'm already dreading how fast August 3rd is approaching.  As you probably already know my primary goal over this summer and my time overseas is to focus on practicing my Spanish and to be able to serve as a translator.  So after 5 weeks it's about time I give you all an update on how that's going.

I arrived knowing a decent amount of Spanish and would frequently help translate small conversations. For example, when we take groups out to a village I'd translate one-on-one converrsations between a kid and a group member. Some groups have member who know a fair amount of Spanish while others don't.  One common request amoung the kids is "caballo", they're asking for a piggy-back ride. (That's actually the Spanish word for 'horse'. Makes a lot more sense to me. When have you seen someone rid a pig??) These small conversations/translations were fun and the longer I'm here the better I am at them. Still, the idea of tranlating to an entire group seemed  to far beyond me.

However, that began to change about 10 days ago; I translated from Spanish to English for the entire group. I'd been with the group for the past few days and as they prepared the leave the village for the last time everyone--Americans and Dominicans--gathered for prayer. The group had spent the week doing ministry with Omar, a Dominican who works with one of the SCORE missionaries, but he doesn't speak English. Somehow (God's creativity, I presume) our official translator wasn't present at the moment, so I ended up translating for Omar.  All in all, what I translated was rather short--"Thanks for coming. We're sad to see you leave. Have a safe flight."  But the fact that I did it for a group of about 20 people amazed me. It was such an encouragement to have that experience and realize I really can translate.

Then this past week I was really put to the test. Another group had come in; the ladies and I were at a morning devotional with a group of Dominican women. The Dominican lady giving the devotional asked if I was translating. "No way." I said. However, the missionary said that I'm able to translate and kindly forced me to do it. I sort of tag teamed with a Dominican women who knew some English. I would translate from Spanish to English and she would translate from English to Spanish. I have to admit I pretty much hated translating during the entire devotional, but at the same time knew it was the best possible way to practice so I was also super thankful for the opportunity. Translating requires a lot more than simply knowing two languages. It's a constant cycle of listening to the Spanish, mentally translating it to English, remembering it while hearing the second part of the sentence, translating the second part to Spanish, and then speaking the entire sentence in English. It was such a stressful process but I'm so glad I'm able to say I did it.  Obviously, as my Spanish get better the translating will get easier.

So far the best way to practice Spanish is with those who don't know English. Like Omar, who knows some English but not enough to make speaking English easier than Spanish. I'm also able to practice with the bus drivers. One of them, Nino, is especially helpful; he basically forces me to speak Spanish and when someone tries to translate for me he replies, "No, no, ella sabe. Ella sabe."  "She knows. She knows."  It's definately encouraging to have someone show so much confidence in me when I don't always feel that way.  Granted there's times we don't alway understand each other the first time something is said but we're usually able to figure it out.
Besides translating, I am beging to understand more and more spoken Spanish. This past Sunday at church the entire sermon was in Spanish but I was able to understand the sermon  nearly as well as one preached in English. I'm still learning everyday, and at times I get discouraged, but everytime I use my Spanish I'm encouraged that I can do this.

To end, here's a few Dominican Spanish words.  Many of them are different than what I learned in school or have a different meaning.  Do you know the meaning of any of these??

-Mame
-La guagua
-Guapo
-Mata
-Guineo
-Que lo que
-Un chin/ una bina