wherever it may lead: February.

Do you ever have those mornings in which you are just so grateful to be alive? I spent this morning with overwhelming gratitude for the little things. For iced coffee, the roosters crowing outside my window, for the feeling of a warm shower, for speaking to a friend through Skype.

In this week of reflection after the tragic death of a staff member, I have found myself as we so often do in times such as these, thanking the Lord for the breathe of life. That He would even give us the opportunity to live amongst His creation. This gift that so often we overlook because it's all we have ever known. But, how precious it is. Every part of it.

Life continues to flow in the DR. I have found this to feel more than ever like home as we as a staff and a community have been involved in all aspects of a full life....with an unfortunate funeral, the planning of a wedding, the welcoming of new staff. All very different facets of life, yet very much a part of life here on Earth.

We are in a season of preparation. In two weeks we will have a month of teams. A time when once again our base will be alive with youth and energy.

I just returned from a week of service in Las Terrenas with Sowers of the Kingdom. The very organization started by faithful christians from my church in NY that brought me to the DR five years ago. It was a joy to serve alongside brothers and sisters in Christ from NY and spend time in another part of this country which has captured my heart (about 3 hours east of Jarabacoa).

I continued to meet with Milagros for regular blood pressure and blood sugar checks until last week when she went to the capitol to stay with extended family. This was her original plan before we started meeting; to have a parotidectomy in February when we as an organization do not have teams and she could have vacation time. This plan was made before she understood that no matter how much she wanted surgery now, until her co-morbidities were controlled no surgeon would operate.

Last week, without my knowledge, she moved to the capitol temporarily to follow-through with her plan and stay with extended family. My initial thoughts were dismay. Who would operate on her? And once again she would be spending so much money only to be told that she would need to wait. And after all the hours of education, monitoring, exercising with Sissy and Betsy; Milagros is doing what she thinks is best and not listening to what those around her are saying.

But, this week I have found peace. Most likely she won't be able to have surgery at this moment. But, perhaps spending time with family in Santo Domingo will give her the support she needs. Maybe regularly meeting with her various specialists, will help her finally understand what we have all been trying to teach her. So, please join me in continuing to pray that Milagros will have the healing she needs...emotionally, physically and spiritually.

This afternoon I am reminded by how vast my role as a missionary truly is. My roommates and I will be taking 15 youth (some from our volleyball site, others that we mentor) to see my friend Nestor Ortega in concert in a town at the bottom of the mountain (La Vega). Nestor is a Christian rapper who is becoming very well known, especially abroad in the states and Spain. I met him when serving with Sowers of the Kingdom several years ago. I love when various aspects of ministry collide. We serve a great God, don't we?

I hope and pray all is going well with each and everyone of you and that the brief reprieve of cold weather this weekend rejuvenated your spirit and you can join me in appreciating the world and life that has been created for each of us. And please, if I may so ask, keep our grieving staff in your prayers as we remember the life of one of our own.

Some highlights from this past month:

Las Terrenas