Much more available to those who ask

" Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock and the door will be open for you."  Matthew 7:7

Sometimes I marvel at how prayers are answered.  How a puzzle is formed with many different pieces that God has intricately placed in various areas of our lives that are magically woven together to create a miracle, or an answered prayer.  This is the story of how God used many people months ago to heal un nino precioso (c'mon, I am in Spanish class).  Please bare with me and be blessed by our Saviour and how he listens to the heart of a mother crying out for her son.

Meet Julian.  He is a vibrant, energetic, happy two year old who fell from a ladder last year.  He broke his lower left leg, both the tibia and fibula.  He was placed in a yeso (caste) for 6 weeks and told he needed to wait until he was five for surgery.  Perhaps his small body would correct his malalignment.  Time went by and his difficulty ambulating worsened and his tiny leg continued to deviate medially at a 30-45 degree angle....which is a lot (too many med terms??).  Clearly his leg could not be corrected on its own.  It is concerning when a child is that young to have a limp for so long as his entire body started malaligning creating compensations in muscle, tendons and the beginning of scoliosis.  Yet, again the Dominican orthopedists wanted to wait.  Julian desperately needed to see a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, which is extremely difficult to come by.

Left leg malalignment

Notice the complete shift of the Left bony structures

 

Connect Julian with Marsha.  Marsha was my Mom's sorority sister in college.  We have never met.  But, God led us to each other and when she found that Christ was leading me to the DR she became one of my first supporters.  In addition we have formed a Godly relationship and she has served as an immense encouragement to both myself and ministry.  Marsha lives in North Carolina and has led many religious retreats.  Several years back she met a Physician, Dr. Beemer who left his practice to serve with the Christian Ministry- Cure in Santo Domingo.  She graciously placed us in touch with each other.

Dr. Beemer and I began emailing in May.  He had been relocated to Honduras a year ago to begin a hospital and no longer served in the DR.  Wonderful that medical missionaries are spreading to other countries, but not worthwhile for us to connect.  Or so I thought. 

Last Monday I began my first day of Spanish class with Catalina.  She is the mother of Julian.  When I saw her son I gently asked for details.  Catalina had been praying and praying for a year how to help her son.  She intrinsically knew waiting was not ideal.  That if he didn't have surgery soon, he may forever be impaired.  A physical disability is debilitating anywhere, but especially in a developing country where blue collar and hard labor prevails.

But, she simply couldn't trust the opinion of the Doctors she had seen.  Her only hope was saving money and traveling to Germany to hopefully see a pediatric orthopedist, as Julian's father is German.  This plan would take years.

Catalina and Julian

Backtrack to Dr. Beemer, who "just happened" to be asked to spend the month of August back in Santo Domingo at Cure's hospital.  Hmmm, I thought.  And so, I did a little research.  Cure is a ministry that takes care of children with bony deformities and traumatic injuries (Cure.org).  A smile began forming on my face as I spoke to Dr. Beemer and realized that he in fact is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon.  He would only be in the country until Friday August 24 but if I could get Julian to the capital he would see what he could do.

On Tuesday August 21; Catalina, Julian and I made the trek to Santo Domingo and met Dr. Beemer.  Wednesday August 22 at 5 am we returned to the capital and Julian underwent surgery, by an experienced pediatric orthopedic surgeon for 1/10 of the cost it would be elsewhere.

waiting for surgery!

Still a little sleepy from anesthesia

Madre y hijo!

Discharged!

Friends, we serve an unbelievably loving God who hears us. 

"You receive the healing that flows naturally from My Presence, whether you seek it or not.  But there is more- much more- available to those who ask."  Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

He hears the cry of a mother as she is yearning for healing of her son.  He places the correct people in our lives before we even understand their purpose.  He opens doors and opportunities, if we just listen.

This story is overwhelming, powerful and humbling.  Selfishly, I needed to be involved in medicine.  I needed this encouragement to continue studying Spanish (languages are definitely not my forte).  I needed to know that I'm where He wants me.  And, I can confidently say, if helping Julian walk and have a normal life is my only purpose here then the last couple years of preparation was worth it.  But, I know the plans He has for my ministry are great.  And I know over and over again, I will be reminded of the one that we choose to love and serve.

Pinch Me

Pinch me.  Please.  No really.  Otherwise I don't know if I can truly believe that I am waking to my third Saturday in the DR.  Wow.  Wow. 

On Monday I started language school.  People told me it would be exhausting.  That my brain would hurt.  That I would need a nap after four hours of one-on-one tutoring.  As usual, headstrong Rachel shrugged these "warnings" off....and my butt has been kicked.  When you are sitting with a language tutor there is no daydreaming, there is no mental break, you constantly have to be on; and let me tell you- I love to let my mind wander.  I also had the pre-conceived notion that if I could make it through grueling PA school, language would be nothing.  Admittedly, my confidence got the best of me and I have already been humbled.  But, I am pleased to say that I am having fun while being reminded of how little I truly know.  I am consistently amazed by how patient Dominicans are with Americans attempting to learn their language.  I still don't know how I will possibly be fluent enough in January to open a clinic and start a community health site!  But, as with everything else....trust I will, or at least try my hardest.  We know this is one of my greatest challenges :)

In conversing with several friends and family members this week, and answering the age old questions- How are you?  What's new?  I realized I needed to share with everyone a list of the top ten things that are different/take forever to accomplish in the Dominican compared to the States (or norteamericana).  So, here's my stab at it....

Top Ten Lifestyle Differences in the DR

(1)  Shower- I have not truly had a warm shower since arriving in the DR.  Dominicans prefer a cool shower (which when the temp is in the 90s and humidity is as close to 100% as it can get I suppose you understand why).  But, if I want to attempt to have a warm shower I can turn on the water heater, which takes at least an hour to achieve lukewarm water.  I truly am American as I always forget to turn the heater on- so a shower is very quick and consists of jumping in and out.  Brrrr.  When I do remember to turn the heater on, I usually forget to turn it off- which consumes quite a bit of expensive electricity.  I have been scolded several times for this.

(2) Coffee- we use a small metal "kettle" over the gas stove.  It takes about 15 minutes, and you have to keep an eye on it.  There will be no fires here!!  Especially without a fire alarm and fire station, ya know those "must haves" we take for granted.

(3) Electricity- consistently goes out for several hours every day.  But, I would much rather that than at night....sleeping without a fan is tough.

(4) Cockroaches, lizards, ants, mice....everywhere!!  They love to be inside when we have tropical storms.  And...since we live in cinder block homes there are no walls for them to hide!

(5) Driving.  There are zero rules of the road.  Seriously.  People usually stop at stop signs.  Occasionally follow the two stop lights in town.  But, it's pretty much a free for all.  Which leads to cars, motos, dogs, people and the occasional cow all over the place.  Pretty wild.

(6) Toilet Paper....never to be thrown in the toilet.  Ever.  Enough said.

(7) Agua.  I've alluded to the fact that we cannot drink our water.  But even for cooking we have to soak all fruits and veggies in purified water and bleach.  And while brushing teeth.  Must keep mouth shut in shower.  Let it be known if I ever end up sick with a parasite it's because I forget to close my mouth while bathing.

(8) Food goes bad in a day or two....which means multiple trips to the markets and panederia.  And I hate grocery shopping.  But after two weeks of PB&J and Yocastas concern that I do not know how to cook, I'm adding food shopping to my daily routine.

(9) Locks, gates and keys.  There are 3 locks and padlocks to get into my house.  Which is fun with groceries.  And most houses have a gate on the outside of their yard.  So you have to drive up, jump outta your car and open the gate then jump back in, drive, jump out and close the gate.  Time intensive...and not fun in the rain. :)

(10) Car wash.  We all know I have an awesome "new" (to me) car.  It's pretty dirty.  I know things get dirty here.  But it's someone elses dirt, which is just different from my own dirt.  So, I wanted to get it cleaned.....ya know washed and perhaps vacuumed.  Guess how long....3 hours!!  Guess who hasn't done it yet because I can't wrap my head around it taking that long??  Haha.  Dirt vs time.  Which will win?

Hope this gives everyone some images of my day-to-day challenges.  Over-all I believe I'm transitioning very well.  I am so grateful to Christ for all of your support and His continued provision.  The SI missionaries have truly embraced me and really helped to ease my way into this ministry and life here.

On Thursday we had a national holiday due to the inauguration of our new President.  I had the awesome opportunity of hiking one of the surrounding mountains.....here's the view from the top!

PS to previous blog.  I was immensely blessed by the team from Hopewell Reformed Church who came down to the DR at the beginning of July.  Several of the girls came to Yocastas house and decorated my room with tons of pictures, bible verses and notes.  AND there were written notes from a bunch of youth on my bed in an envelope.  What an amazing surprise on move-in day.  I feel anything but alone in all this.  Xo

The love I received :)

"See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me." Isaiah 49

I can't believe it hasn't even been a week since I last wrote.  So much in my life has changed, again.  The changes just keep coming!!  I am so thankful this week to rest in the notion that each of us are so close to our Father that he keeps us engraved on his hand, he is carrying and holding us, and he knows absolutely every challenge that lays before us.  I keep falling back to this verse from Isaiah as I feel so far from home and from things that are familiar!

On Saturday I relocated from living with Dick and Mary Ellen who are American missionaries and live on Students International's base, to residing with my host family- Yocasta and her 15 month old Inesa.  This has been a huge change.  Living in the DR with a Dominican is much different than living in the DR with an American.  Yocasta is a wonderful, positive and grateful single mother who couldn't wait for me to move in, as she believes her house to be too big for just a mother and daughter!  Dominicans love to be around people- all the time!  I think sometimes she may not know what to do with me when I spend prolonged periods of time in my room.

Me and Yocasta

My Suzuki and house on the right, we live on the
bottom floor

Our front door

the front porch

the living room

kitchen with Yocasta!  water jugs to the left,
two burner stove straight ahead,
small fridge in the corner

dining room, my room is in the corner

Dominicans also share everything and believe in raising a child in community.  Both are beautiful practices, whats mine is yours.  I am getting very accustomed to having a toddler around, and I quickly learned to keep my bedroom door shut!  Yocasta doesn't have much, but she didn't think twice about bringing the rest of our delicious dinner yesterday to a neighbor in need.  And man can she cook!  I am learning to cook delicious Dominican rice, beans, plantains, eggplant and cabbage salad.  We don't have a microwave, oven or stove.  We have two gas burners and a small refrigerator.  This means everything we cook is fresh!  No artificial ingredients here.  We also have to use bottled drinking water for everything and soak all fruits and veggies in yado blanco (for all intensive purposes, bleach) for 7 minutes before eating.  Needless to say, food preparation takes much longer then I am used to...from start to finish, including cooking, eating and cleaning our rice and beans meal took 3 hours!  Luckily, the missionaries are all on vacation this week so time we have!

Inesa and Yocasta

Rice and Beans!! Best made on a gas stove

Yum yum!!  But very time intensive!

 We live in a safe neighborhood on the first floor of a two story building.  Our landlords live above us.  I had the privilege of meeting them last night when we caught two mice in a trap and neither Yocasta or I wanted to get rid of them....perhaps a negative of two females living together!

My bedroom is decent size with a bathroom attached.  SI is hoping to have Yocasta continue to host Americans even after I leave.  So, Jayson and his wife Lindsay (SI site director) helped me "Americanize" my room.  Initially, there were no curtains; a small alcove for a closet in the corner without a clothes or curtain rod, and no door to my bathroom.  We remedied all those situations and now I feel much more comfortable in my room.  We were also able to get internet, which I am so thankful for this to communicate with everyone back home!

La Avenida la Confluncia,
the "main road" my street is off of

My room!!

Americanized!  With lots of gifts from people special to me!

A curtain over my closet!

A curtain for the bathroom!

This weekend the entire SI staff is going to the beach for 3 days as a staff retreat.  They are celebrating the completion of 14 straight weeks of short term outreaches!  Then on Monday I start language training.  The American in me cannot wait to get onto a routine!  Yocasta is bilingual and the past week we have been communicating in English.  Next week that changes, and our conversations will be diminished into a preschooler's lingo.  I'm hoping that I will want to speak with her so badly that my Spanish will progress quickly!

I have noticed two huge prayer requests that have been answered in the last two weeks.  The previous short term trips I have taken to the DR, I have never felt quite comfortable.  Throwing toilet paper in the toilet and not drinking the water was so foreign.  Just not natural.  But, as soon as I arrived I didn't think twice about these things.  The same goes for walking by myself down the street (don't worry I'm being safe).  Also, I am feeling much less timid speaking Spanish.  Thank goodness because this is the difference between someone who can learn and someone who will never learn Spanish.  So, hopefully my language training will be successful!

I continue to keep all of you back home in my prayers and look forward to hearing from you...and remember you too are in the palm of His hand.  :)

Rachel,

I am hoping you will find this letter worthy to share with your supporters as they are responsible for some valuable lessons I have learned.

Love,

Mom

 

Insights I have gained watching my daughter go through the fundraising process to become a full time missionary:

 

An Open Letter to my Daughter,

How many times during the past two years have I heard you exclaim "I can't believe I am still here!  I want to be in the Dominican Republic where God wants me to be!"?  After two years of "wanting to be there", you are!  You arrived in the Dominican Republic one week ago.  I now know one reason God kept you here for 2 years - it was for me, to prepare my heart.  Two years ago I would have sent you off with sadness and worry, last week I said goodbye with a bit of sadness, but an overwhelming sense of peace, trust, and joy. Rachel, you are where you are supposed to be.  I believe it with my heart.

I want to share some of the revelations to come my way these past two years.

It took me a while to become accustomed to saying "my daughter is a medical missionary".  In fact, I used to accentuate the medical part because it felt weird to say missionary out loud as a profession. People can relate easily to a medical provider, they can't relate as well to a missionary. It would seem to me a missionary would be raised in an exceptionally strong Christian family.  Us? Your father and I? I am a believer, I am involved in my church, I do read the Bible, but I fall far short of the ability to raise a "missionary"!  I lay credit to all the believers God has placed in your life through the different stages of growth.  When a child is baptized, the congregation is asked to assume a responsibility for faith building in that child.  I thank God for all the people who said Yes to God through their faith building actions in your life.  Next time I am present at a baptism, as I, too say those words they will take on new meaning.

 

You would come home after a fundraising event and say, "Mom, I am so tired of people thinking I'm amazing. I'm just doing what God wants me to do."  We would laugh and I would reply kiddingly "Next time tell them about the attitude you have with your mother sometimes!"  Truly though, what makes you appear amazing is that you ARE saying Yes to God.  You are LOVING God first as he commanded.  That is all too rare in the world we live in.  It is my prayer that you will continue saying Yes and continue loving God first throughout your life.  May I do the same.

 

When you began fundraising, your father and I were very uncomfortable.  Ask our friends for money, our families?  You asked for names and I would only give a partial list, we had our own "do not call" list. Remember?  We couldn't get over the notion that missionaries needed to fund raise everything!  We frustrated you time and time again, when we would say things like "you have to pay for your flight there? you have to raise money for medical insurance?" on and on.  In a society like ours and in a family where we have come to expect to be compensated for our profession, it was difficult to wrap our heads around this concept. It is thanks to your supporters that we finally got it.  To witness their belief that God was working through you was incredible.  Some of your supporters don't even know you, but they were nudged by God to contribute and did so.  Initially, it was a no-brainer for us to become one of your monthly sponsors, you're our child.  When I first wrote out the checks it was because we wanted to take care of you.  Now I write them out as one of your supporters who believes God is working through you.  In the years to come, when I see other missionaries in need I pray I won't silence a nudge from God to offer support.  

Incidentally, there isn't a "do not call" list any longer...

 

Finally, a few months ago, I had a long talk with God.  I was kind of angry because I kind of liked our first dream.  You know the one where you lived nearby and  I had grandchildren to spoil.  Because honestly, one of my fears is that your commitment of 3 years could lead to a life of overseas missions.  So I was pretty angry at the whole situation and I expressed this to God.  I even insinuated that I just loved you so much that this was pretty darn unfair.  Through the next week God showed me He loved you MORE. The way all the events of your journey to the DR have unfolded, the people He has put in your path, the blessings bestowed along the way, only God could have paved this way.  It has been amazing to witness this journey.  As a parent I would do anything for you, but God can do MORE.  You are in God's loving hands, you always have been. I am choosing to trust God.

 

I know there will be times when we miss one another deeply, but always remember you go with my love and great joy that you are following God's call.

Love,

Mom xoxoxo

I'm here! I'm here!!

I hope that you forgive me for my absence in the blog-o-sphere.  I know to many people right now is the "exciting stuff," but to those of us who have been through the crazy transition of returning home from MTI then saying a hundred goodbyes (literally) and then relocating to another country- this is perhaps a bit of chaos.  I decided it was best to live in the moment during my initial chaos, then start blogging once I felt a little more stable.  So, here I am.  Here I am.  Here I am.  Here I am.........

HERE I AM!!!!  IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC!!!!!!!!!!  No, I am not yelling at you.  This is me jumping up and down with a huge, joyful grin praising the Lord and thanking all my wonderful supporters for bringing me here, at last!!  I'm here!  I'm here!

"Where is here?" you ask.

This I understand because for the last two months I have been a bit of a nomad.  Some would say homeless. I prefer to say faith-filled wanderer.

I arrived to the DR Friday July 27.  I was so worried about that flight.  Not because I am deathly afraid of airplanes, but because my incredible parents and brother all accompanied me to the airport, and this I knew would hurt.  And, it did.  But, we got through it.  And I tried to be thankful that I have people in my life that rock my world so much that it tangibly hurts when we part.  I'm sure it will not get easier each visit home.  But, just part of the whole missionary deal.

My morning view

This past week I have stayed at Students International's base in Jarabacoa with an amazing missionary couple, Mary Ellen and Dick Meyers and their granddaughter Kylie.  They have welcomed me graciously into their home and helped so much with that initial leap.  SI is wrapping up hosting our last short term mission trip student out reach for the summer.  They leave tomorrow and then I move in with my host family, Jocosta who is a single mother in her 30s and her beautiful 15 month old daughter Inesa.  I will be living with them until the end of October, at which point I will move into a beautiful house with two other single girls.

Students International Base

I have been relatively busy since arriving.  Such a blessing, as I haven't truly worked since June 10....which has been semi killing me; ya know the work-a-holic and need to be productive tendencies that encompass who I am.

Monday I spent all morning getting a Dominican cell phone.  My first lesson in what should take 15 minutes took 3 hours.  Ay mami!  Then I learned how to actually take money out of a bank...pretty sure I will have to run through that lesson a few times.

Tuesday I "helped" at the microfinance site.  In quotes because what do I truly know about helping someone start a business?  But, it was amazing to have the opportunity to see another missionary's site and how he incorporates ministry of both American students and Dominicans into his vocational skill.

Preschool in el Callejon

Wednesday I worked with Jocosta (host fam) at a preschool in el Callejon (a small, impoverished community close to base) where she is the site leader.  This was great to get to know her better before living together.  She is bilingual, but we already made a pact that as soon as I start language school (August 13) she will only communicate to me in Spanish.  She already bought a white board to place in her kitchen so she can help me with my homework....can you tell she's a teacher?  Some things are the same regardless of culture!!

The previous art site at SI painted beautiful murals throughout
the community

Thursday I had the privilege of returning to el Callejon, but this time to work with Kim Streeter (my dear missionary friend and mentor) and Daisy (a Colombian missionary leading the site for 5 years!).  This was my dream day.  A day that I have been working towards for 10 years.  A day that in a few short months will be repeated regularly.  Thursdays, Kim and Daisy meet with their female teen and middle-aged groups.  Even though I hadn't prepared and had no supplies, I was given the opportunity to begin teaching.  Daisy introduced me and told the women what we hope my role will be in the future- to speak with them on a monthly basis about various topics and to have regular medical clinics.  These women trust Daisy and Kim, therefore they trusted me.  And we got down and dirty quickly.  Touching upon subjects these beautiful women would never feel comfortable speaking about with a male doctor, if they even had the means to see a doctor.  It kind of felt like old school Loveline, but less vulgar and more love and Jesus!  But you can imagine the topics we covered!

And in that 15 minutes I had with each group, God affirmed loud and clear that I am where He wants me.  With the poor, forgotten, broken women in the Dominican.  Where I can create a safe environment for them to speak and learn about their bodies, their children and public health.  I am overjoyed to work towards these sessions.  I know I still have months of Spanish and site preparation but I am so thankful that this is the work Christ is calling me to  :)

Helena, an intern, helping to bandage the foot of a child who
stepped on glass- lots of teaching on wound care,
wearing clean socks and shoes, etc.

Today has been a successful day of tying up loose ends.  I purchased a car!  Which will be ready Monday.  Perfect timing as Jocosta doesn't have transportation and as I won't be living on base I was getting slightly worried that I would be stranded in town, away from the missionaries.  I also secured stateside phone numbers to keep in good contact with everyone I love back home!  Then, tonight we have the end of outreach banquet.  We do this the last Friday of each outreach to celebrate the service the students have provided while working in the DR.

As you can see, I have been abundantly blessed through my first week, at a time that could have been ridiculously tumultuous.  I think I am living proof that when we faithfully place our lives in God's hands He will take care of us even more abundantly than we could ever hope or imagine.  Stay tuned.

"As the scripture has said 'Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water." John 7:38