jarabacoa

Someone asked me what my favorite thing about the Dominican Republic was. My quick answer was- the children. Then they asked, what is your second favorite thing? I didn't have to think very hard about this one either. I love the mountains in the DR. They remind me of the Cinco Muertes (if you catch that reference, I will be very proud). The mountains are lush and green, rising high above the pueblos. Every time I think about the Dominican Republic, I think about the children that I love so dearly and how in awe I am of the mountains....

I was able to enjoy both of these things when I traveled to Jarabacoa on Wednesday. I spent some time on Thursday and Friday observing classes at a care center called Palo Blanco. Palo Blanco serves about 200 kids (almost all Dominican- I only saw one Haitian little girl) and sit at the base of the mountains outside of the town of Jarabacoa. I was able to work with the the co-directors of the Palo Blanco program, Jan Berkey. Jan has been a missionary in the DR for 19 years! She has built an impressive program. The classrooms at Palo Blanco looked much like the classrooms where I grew up learning in the States. The resources that they have are incredible. The Dominican teachers are well trained and very passionate about teaching. And the children were eerily well behaved compared to my little terrors in Caraballo.

I was also able to have a lunch meeting with Jan and Ann Van der Molen, another missionary that has done amazing things with curriculum and teacher's training at other Kids Alive sites. We discussed some schedule changes, the implementation of curriculum, and teacher's training for Caraballo. I am really excited about having their support and help in the process of bringing some changes to our program. It's a very important time for our care center! Please pray for the work that will happen in the next several months!

Being in Jarabacoa was wonderful as usual. I am heading back down that way on Thursday evening (si Dios quiere) to help with a kids camp that will take place during the Kids Alive directors meeting. It’s always nice to be in Jarabacoa- there is amazing community of people there. Things can be a bit lonely in Montellano, but I feel very blessed to have support from so many people in Jarabacoa!

Please keep me in your prayers!

love,
GA

bienvendio a miami

Luckily, I am no longer in Miami. After two days of traveling, a bird stuck in our landing gear, a night in the Crowne Plaza Miami (compliments of American Airlines), lost luggage, and several very rude American Airlines agents, I am back in Montellano. It's great to be back here... I even had pico pollo and yuca for lunch. This wouldn't be strange, but I have a stock pile of cheese and tortillas that I bought in Austin. It's pretty amazing that I passed up my cheese stash for Dominican food!

I had plans to travel to Jarabacoa to observe in a care center called Palo Blanco today and tomorrow. Unfortuantely, the delay in my arrival nixed these plans. Instead, I will spend Tuesday and Wednesday here at our care center, then will travel by bus to Jarabacoa on Wednesday evening to observe Thursday and Friday. I'm trying to trust that God has a reason for the change in travel plans! I am so excited about being able to observe at Palo Blanco. Please pray that this is really productive time for me and for the teachers there.

Also, my luggage is lost! It should arrive tomorrow. I am trying not to be too optimistic in case it is actually lost forever. Please pray that its simply sitting in Miami and that it will arrive here tomorrow afternoon!

I had a fabulous time in the States. My best friend from home, Meghan, got married to a amazing guy. I couldn't be happier for the two of them. And the wedding, of course, was a blast. I also had some good family time in Murrells Inlet with my parents and brother. And I squeezed in a trip out to Texas to see Ryan and to attend some of his friends' wedding. We had a blast and my trip was over all too soon... It was so awesome to see everyone! It just went by too quickly!

Love to all. Please keep in touch.

Georgia

octubre

I cannot believe how quickly October has arrived! I have been here for a month and it finally feels like home! Many things are still very challenging, but I feel like I have assimilated to some extent. More importantly, I am happy and feel like I am going to be able to do good work here.

I had an excellent weekend. The highlight was travelling down to Jarabacoa to visit Vic and Leslie Trautwein and their kids. They have been working in the DR for several years and I have had the pleasure of getting to know them during my visits here. All of the members of the Trautwein family have been blessed with the gift of hospitality. I always feel so welcome with with them. Vic and Leslie have four very intelligent and spunky little kids. It was so nice being around a family and visiting old friends. I feel very renewed and feel so blessed that they live on the same island as me! I look forward to spending more time with them.

Jarabacoa is in the mountains (which is my second favorite thing about the DR- the kids are the first). The air was much cooler and thinner there. I actually got to sleep under a blanket!! I also was able to go tubing in one of the rivers down there with the Trautwein's and another missionary, Erica. We had a blast. I got banged up a bit, and sitting is a bit painful at the moment, but we had a great time.

Luckily, it was much cooler in Montellano when I returned last night. Usually, when we don't have power at night, its difficult to sleep because its so hot (without a fan). Last night was great! When the power came back on in the middle of the night, I actually hhad to turn my fan off because it was too cold. Praise the Lord!!

More news... I found a roommate! She is from Austin (Georgetown), Texas. Its a little ironic that she is from the Austin area. It has given us a lot of common ground though. I feel like we have a lot in common. She will be moving in November. I am so excited to not live alone!!

I return to the United States (only for about 11 days) on Wednesday. I'll be attending Meghan's (my best friend from highschool) wedding in Charleston, spending some time with my parents and brother in Murrells Inlet, then heading out to Austin to visit Ryan and go to two of his friends' wedding. I am so excited to see everyone! I know its going to go by too fast, but I am thankful to be able see people that I love and miss so much!

Love & Blessings,
Georgia