Dar Gracias

On Friday December 19th I once again found myself in Union station, DC watching commuters pass by.  I was waiting for my 12:00 train to Philly where my Dad would pick me up and we would head on to NY.

I had just spent that past week on "vacation."  I left Jarabacoa Friday December 12th and since then had been traveling all over the greater DC area....spending the weekend with PA school friends, then heading up to Delaware for a couple days with my old roommate and finally staying with a dear high school friend in Silver Springs.

And gosh what a sweet time that was.  I haven't spent endless hours with these friends since I moved two and a half years ago.  It was incredibly therapeutic to just sit with them, laugh until tears rolled down our cheeks and share in their jobs, engagements, relationships and lives.  I am so proud of their medical and professional accomplishments.

And as I sat and shared life with them, a huge part of me longed to work beside them as a colleague.  To practice American medicine.  To have weekend barbecues. To see my family often.  To own a house.  Plan a wedding.  Be expecting a baby.  To travel.

Almost three years ago, in missionary training school, they said from now on we would always have a divided heart.  We would have two homes.  A foot here and a foot there.

And for a long time I couldn't relate to that, I didn't feel like I fit in either place.  A year after I left NY it didn't feel familiar.....yet neither did the Dominican.

Now, I can go back and forth fairly easily without major culture shock but complete love and appreciation of both places...the good and the bad.

So in my divided, dichotomous state with love for community health internationally but also American medicine; living cross-culturally but also comfortably in the states; living an adventurous life but wanting to settle; following Christ over seas but also wanting to spread the gospel in the states...where am I left?

During my time at home I have found a new love for our country.  For the professional opportunities, a future family,  the seasons (ok so I've always loved autumn), the American people; but mostly sharing the love of Christ stateside.

Lets be clear...No, it is not time to leave the DR.  

I know I still have much to do.  But how cool to know that God is growing love in my heart for my own culture.  Which can only mean someday he will call me home....

But until then... he has given me awesome opportunities to combine the DR and NY as my Dominican family came to Queens for Christmas this year!  And so on Monday I found myself a tour guide of the subway, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, the Marriot Marquis and Bryant Park.  How surreal not 5 years later after living there to be sharing "my city," in Spanish with people who mean so much to me.  I was so grateful for that gift.

And as I look to 2015, I am still excited to be living in the Dominican...there is SO much more to come in Jarabacoa!!

~Fernando and I have been asked to help a Dominican Physician open a new community health site in Santiago (the city!) with SI.  

~We are looking to open a new clinic in a rural community called Mahaguita...only 276 steps down a mountain side.  

~We will also welcome a new Dominican Assistant to help us (that will make 3!) who like Caroly and Shaki is in medical/dental school.  

~And we have 2 American nurses (Katie and April) and a public health worker (Helena, my previous intern!) coming on staff with us full time.  

Plus...we will continue to welcome students, interns and volunteers to walk beside us as we venture out into our communities and serve both Haitians and Dominicans.

So thank you.  For being interested in my work.  For supporting me.  For praying for me.  But mostly, for caring about the future of my patients and friends in the DR.

I wish you only the absolute merriest and happiest of Christmas and new years.

Love,

Rachel