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Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Home...New York or Jarabacoa?
The countdown is officially to one. One day until I head back to NY, to my family, friends, familiarity...ENGLISH!
When I was little, we lived far from my grandparents. I had a joke with my Grandpa that he couldn't get too excited to see me....because if he jumped up and down too much he may create a hole in the floor and Gma would just not be very happy about that. That's how I feel right now...I'm sure that if my house wasn't built on a concrete foundation and out of cinder blocks there would be a massive "excitement" hole in the middle of my sala (living room...see before long you will be speaking Spanish too!).
If I am THAT excited...then how come I'm a bit nervous too?
In Mission Training (MTI) it was recommended that as missionaries we stay away from our home culture for 18 months...yup one year and a half. I adamantly refused to accept this proposal. No way. There was absolutely no way that I was going to adhere to missing Christmas in New York, or friends weddings or medical conferences. Especially since I live only a 4 hour plane ride away. C'mon. People live farther away in the states, it's not like I'm in Madagascar.
Five months after living out of culture I kind of understand what they meant. Where do I belong? At this juncture I can still vividly remember every house I passed on my way to work, or what the hospital cafeteria check-out clerk's name is. The people at Odyssey will still remember me and I will remember to avoid the squeaky 7th stair (sorry Dad) in my house. But will all that change by Dec 2013?
And, as long as I have lived in Jarabacoa (already 5 months!), and as much as driving up to my house in my Jeep with my two pups feels like a house I live in....it doesn't quite feel like "home."
And so begins the "homeless" life of a missionary. One foot in both countries. Is it possible to live in the DR, to give my all, to serve without reservation and still have a big part of me in the states?
Going home, is no longer like traveling home when I lived in Philly. Going home means visiting a wealthy culture with conversations and materialism a part of life. Pop culture has continued that I am blissfully ignorant to. Life has gone on without me, people have changed and so have I.
One of my greatest fears when I left the states was that I would grow to resent the culture I grew up in. But, miraculously the opposite has occurred. I have developed a deep love for our customs, traditions, cold weather, organization, laws, etc. So much so, that my desire to help others achieve the same opportunities has grown. The need for community development has strengthened in my mind.
And so, as I literally count down the minutes until I step foot on American soil and look forward to seeing my warm breathe in the cold air (shout out to Dad #2...pls remember my winter jacket!) I rest that going home will be a mix of emotions. It will be joyful, wonderful, overwhelming and probably a little hard. But, I also know where my true home resides and that never feeling truly "settled" or like I belong until I am there is ok- estas bien.
Si Dios quiere- te vere pronto!!!
Con amor y fe!
When I was little, we lived far from my grandparents. I had a joke with my Grandpa that he couldn't get too excited to see me....because if he jumped up and down too much he may create a hole in the floor and Gma would just not be very happy about that. That's how I feel right now...I'm sure that if my house wasn't built on a concrete foundation and out of cinder blocks there would be a massive "excitement" hole in the middle of my sala (living room...see before long you will be speaking Spanish too!).
If I am THAT excited...then how come I'm a bit nervous too?
In Mission Training (MTI) it was recommended that as missionaries we stay away from our home culture for 18 months...yup one year and a half. I adamantly refused to accept this proposal. No way. There was absolutely no way that I was going to adhere to missing Christmas in New York, or friends weddings or medical conferences. Especially since I live only a 4 hour plane ride away. C'mon. People live farther away in the states, it's not like I'm in Madagascar.
Five months after living out of culture I kind of understand what they meant. Where do I belong? At this juncture I can still vividly remember every house I passed on my way to work, or what the hospital cafeteria check-out clerk's name is. The people at Odyssey will still remember me and I will remember to avoid the squeaky 7th stair (sorry Dad) in my house. But will all that change by Dec 2013?
And, as long as I have lived in Jarabacoa (already 5 months!), and as much as driving up to my house in my Jeep with my two pups feels like a house I live in....it doesn't quite feel like "home."
And so begins the "homeless" life of a missionary. One foot in both countries. Is it possible to live in the DR, to give my all, to serve without reservation and still have a big part of me in the states?
Going home, is no longer like traveling home when I lived in Philly. Going home means visiting a wealthy culture with conversations and materialism a part of life. Pop culture has continued that I am blissfully ignorant to. Life has gone on without me, people have changed and so have I.
One of my greatest fears when I left the states was that I would grow to resent the culture I grew up in. But, miraculously the opposite has occurred. I have developed a deep love for our customs, traditions, cold weather, organization, laws, etc. So much so, that my desire to help others achieve the same opportunities has grown. The need for community development has strengthened in my mind.
And so, as I literally count down the minutes until I step foot on American soil and look forward to seeing my warm breathe in the cold air (shout out to Dad #2...pls remember my winter jacket!) I rest that going home will be a mix of emotions. It will be joyful, wonderful, overwhelming and probably a little hard. But, I also know where my true home resides and that never feeling truly "settled" or like I belong until I am there is ok- estas bien.
Si Dios quiere- te vere pronto!!!
Con amor y fe!
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Mi Testamonio
Warning- my testimony was written with my Spanish...not google translate ;)
Cuando era joven mi familia y yo fuimos a la iglesia cada semana. Mi madres fue la maestrea de la escuelita biblica y mi padre fue la liturgista. Cuando tenia quince anos, mi familia y yo nos mudamos a una nueva ciudad- Poughkeepsie, NY. Despues que nos mudamos, hize nuevos amigos, bebiamos bastant y tuvimos muchas fiestas. No me importaba la escuela, Dios o mi familia. Todo el tiempo, quiria estar con mis amigos. Pero, aun asi era una buena estudiante y recibi buenas notas. Entonces, mis padres nunca supieron que fumaba y bebia alcohol.
En 2002, mi familia comenzo a ir a la iglesia Hopewell Reformed Church. Esta accion cambio mi vida. El verano del 2002 fui a Mexico con el grupo de jovenes era un viaje misionero. Nu fue un viaje medico fue solamente por dos semanas de estudio biblica. Pero, estuvimos aproximadamante cinco kilos afuera de la ciudad de Ensenada cuando conocimos las personas indigenous. Fueron muy pobre. Estuve muy triste porque muchas personas han sufrido. No tuvieron acceso a hospitales, doctores o medicina.
En este tiempo, Dios me dijo. El Espiritu Santo puso personas sin doctores y medicina dentro de mi corazon. Cuando regrese a Nueva York decidi que queria ser una ayudante de doctor. Mi corazon por las personas cambio pero, todavia no tenia una relacion con Dios. Mi estilo de vida no cambio.
Asi, los anos pasaron y fui a la universidad y despues a la escuela de medecina. Pero, no asistia la iglesia y solamente ore cuando tuve que tomar un examen. No fue bueno.
Dios es increible. Aunque no lo escuche, se mantuvo fiel.
En el 2009, me gradue de la universidad y quise hacer lo que YO quise. Quise hacer mucho dinero, vivir en la ciudad de Nueva York con mis amigas, salir a cenar cada noche, salir a bares y pasar el tiempo con muchas muchachos.
Este es cuando Dios vino a mi vida, en realidad. En Octubre 2009 me mude a la ciudad. Solamente dos semanas despues, fui a la Republica Dominicana con mi iglesia como una doctora misionera.
En este tiempo, escuche a Dios. Despues de esta viaje, no me importo mas dinero, comida cara, alcohol, ropa bonita, nada mas. Lo unico que queria fue ayudar las personas en la Republica Dominicana. Combine mi amor por Cristo y medicina. Use los regalos que Dios me dio.
No pude obtainer suficiente informacion sobre Dios. Comence a orar cada dia. Iba a la iglesia muchos veces cada semana. Finalmente, supe que es una relacion con Dios. Gracias a Dios! Siempre pense en Dios y como mudarme a la Republica Dominicana.
En dos anos regrese conco veces. Me mude a la casa de mis padres y cambie mi trabajo. Dios abrio muchas puertas permitiendome practicar medicina en la Republica Dominicana. Despues en Julio, 2012 me mude a Jarabacoa. Y, aqui estoy!
Cuando era joven mi familia y yo fuimos a la iglesia cada semana. Mi madres fue la maestrea de la escuelita biblica y mi padre fue la liturgista. Cuando tenia quince anos, mi familia y yo nos mudamos a una nueva ciudad- Poughkeepsie, NY. Despues que nos mudamos, hize nuevos amigos, bebiamos bastant y tuvimos muchas fiestas. No me importaba la escuela, Dios o mi familia. Todo el tiempo, quiria estar con mis amigos. Pero, aun asi era una buena estudiante y recibi buenas notas. Entonces, mis padres nunca supieron que fumaba y bebia alcohol.
En 2002, mi familia comenzo a ir a la iglesia Hopewell Reformed Church. Esta accion cambio mi vida. El verano del 2002 fui a Mexico con el grupo de jovenes era un viaje misionero. Nu fue un viaje medico fue solamente por dos semanas de estudio biblica. Pero, estuvimos aproximadamante cinco kilos afuera de la ciudad de Ensenada cuando conocimos las personas indigenous. Fueron muy pobre. Estuve muy triste porque muchas personas han sufrido. No tuvieron acceso a hospitales, doctores o medicina.
En este tiempo, Dios me dijo. El Espiritu Santo puso personas sin doctores y medicina dentro de mi corazon. Cuando regrese a Nueva York decidi que queria ser una ayudante de doctor. Mi corazon por las personas cambio pero, todavia no tenia una relacion con Dios. Mi estilo de vida no cambio.
Asi, los anos pasaron y fui a la universidad y despues a la escuela de medecina. Pero, no asistia la iglesia y solamente ore cuando tuve que tomar un examen. No fue bueno.
Dios es increible. Aunque no lo escuche, se mantuvo fiel.
En el 2009, me gradue de la universidad y quise hacer lo que YO quise. Quise hacer mucho dinero, vivir en la ciudad de Nueva York con mis amigas, salir a cenar cada noche, salir a bares y pasar el tiempo con muchas muchachos.
Este es cuando Dios vino a mi vida, en realidad. En Octubre 2009 me mude a la ciudad. Solamente dos semanas despues, fui a la Republica Dominicana con mi iglesia como una doctora misionera.
En este tiempo, escuche a Dios. Despues de esta viaje, no me importo mas dinero, comida cara, alcohol, ropa bonita, nada mas. Lo unico que queria fue ayudar las personas en la Republica Dominicana. Combine mi amor por Cristo y medicina. Use los regalos que Dios me dio.
No pude obtainer suficiente informacion sobre Dios. Comence a orar cada dia. Iba a la iglesia muchos veces cada semana. Finalmente, supe que es una relacion con Dios. Gracias a Dios! Siempre pense en Dios y como mudarme a la Republica Dominicana.
En dos anos regrese conco veces. Me mude a la casa de mis padres y cambie mi trabajo. Dios abrio muchas puertas permitiendome practicar medicina en la Republica Dominicana. Despues en Julio, 2012 me mude a Jarabacoa. Y, aqui estoy!
Sunday, December 2, 2012
....made to do
Today the Spirit moved strongly and passionately through my life. What sweet words to utter with complete confidence and conviction.
On Wednesday, I spent the afternoon visiting communities with Brian who is the director of Students International in the DR. Finalmente! We got down and dirty and started planning and talking and vision building and dreaming. It seems the Lord has clearly been speaking to both of us about my site and our visions align.
What the Dominicans and Haitians need is healing. Physical healing from years of living without clean water, proper nutrition, residing side by side with animals, inadequate shelter and clothing. But also spiritual healing from strained relations cross culturally and idol worship through voodoo or various improper forms of Christianity among other things.
But the populations placed so heavily upon our hearts are the "least of these." Those Dominicans who live so far outside of Jarabacoa that electricity and running water is non-existent. Those whose primary modes of transportation is by foot, which is entirely useless with a medical emergency. And the people who run to see who is actually driving by in a car, not often seen in those areas.
On Wednesday, I spent the afternoon visiting communities with Brian who is the director of Students International in the DR. Finalmente! We got down and dirty and started planning and talking and vision building and dreaming. It seems the Lord has clearly been speaking to both of us about my site and our visions align.
What the Dominicans and Haitians need is healing. Physical healing from years of living without clean water, proper nutrition, residing side by side with animals, inadequate shelter and clothing. But also spiritual healing from strained relations cross culturally and idol worship through voodoo or various improper forms of Christianity among other things.
But the populations placed so heavily upon our hearts are the "least of these." Those Dominicans who live so far outside of Jarabacoa that electricity and running water is non-existent. Those whose primary modes of transportation is by foot, which is entirely useless with a medical emergency. And the people who run to see who is actually driving by in a car, not often seen in those areas.
Not such a bad view from my new office, huh?
Tucked away inside these majestic hills are pockets of communities, perhaps only 10-15 houses each, who don't have the opportunity to receive routine medical care, let alone emergent care. These are the places I will begin relationship building and hopefully start regular clinics and teaching sessions. This is where I am being led to set up shop...part time.
The rest of the time will be spent with Haitians...a culture completely different from Dominican yet inhabiting the same regions. SI recently was placed in partnership with a Haitian man, Ivenor, who is trilingual and has a huge heart for helping Haitian refugees in the Dominican. I met with Ivenor Wednesday and asked what the best way to start building relationships with this culture whom I have very little experience. What would seem to be the obvious answer he stated when inviting me to church.
And so I went. Today. To a Haitian church. Just thought I would throw some Creole into my brain as its just now becoming decent in Espanol. And, as I was sitting there as the only white person in the place I felt the presence of the Lord and knew that He will move among these people. At the end of the service I spoke a few words, in English and Spanish that were translated to Creole and shared my desire to partner with them in the future. What an honor, to stand before these brothers and sisters in Christ who have been layed so firmly on my heart.
So this week will continue meetings with SI leadership, Ivenor and community leaders as we plan the amazing work ahead of us.
And right now you will find me smiling. Knowing and trusting that this is what I was made to do.
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