Out of Water
So, after about twenty attempts at writing this, I chanced to ask Jonathan for some ideas of what we have been doing in the office over 
the past month or so…his reply: ‘uh, learning your job’. Thanks John. Luckily, I think that has sparked something (I was a little skeptical at first). Actually a big part of ‘learning my job’ is in learning how to handle the chaos. Here in the DR and KAI in general, we are in the midst of trying to improve the sponsorship system. It’s quite the taxing process…on my brain at least. But it’s not only sponsorship that needs organization. I can’t begin to explain the number of things here that just plain out need to be organized! I tend to like things organized (or else I will never remember anything), and when things are unorganized, my entirety cannot rest until I do something about it. And there is my problem. I have entered a culture that is passive about the state of their affairs! Water might be shut off for days, weeks- the poop is flowing out of the toilets and yet nobody goes to the water company and does anything about it! (Yes this has happened). In fact, this past week I was out at Palo Blanco (one of the day care centers), I had been there for awhile and was in need of a washroom break. So I went on a search. I popped into the first bathroom, popped open the toilets, and, yes, a disaster in the toilet. Ooh. Ok. I continue my search. The girl’s bathroom, I stop at each toilet. Hmm, hmm, same story. Ok. Something suspicious is going on. I go into the kitchen to try and wash my hands and then I realize that there IS no water. And there had been no water for the past few days. Well, that explained the massive explosion in the toilets. But could you imagine…a whole school with a hundred or more kids, with no running water and thus NO TOILETS?! No don’t imagine it’s not pretty. But this is normal. Really. It’s a normal occurrence to walk into the bathroom and see poop. It really doesn’t faze anybody here. 
(pictures: Top left: a weekend at the beach. top right: easter painting. left: the view from my back porch. right: my living room…with furniture!)
Speaking of no water, my house has been out of water for the past two days. The novelty of a bucket shower is has just about worn off by now. Especially when I’m stepping into the shower, turning the handle (the ‘C’ (for cold) handle), and nothing is coming out. Then I look down at the bucket and its empty, meaning I have to run out to the back porch to get water. It’s actually kind of exciting. I even tried boiling water last night. (Yes, this time I tested the faucet before I got in the shower).
Living and Learning in the DR
Ok really quickly because I have to run off to Spanish class, a little about the mysteries of living and learning here in the DR. I went to a new church this past Sunday, and the topic was based around palm Sunday. As she was preaching I was trying to picture Jesus and his donkey and the people lining up and down the streets throwing their jackets, cloaks, palms, etc. down on the street for him. What jumped out though, was the fact that Jesus most likely did NOT have paved streets like ours in the US. His street would probably have been very similar to the street I live on. Dirt. And let me tell you, a dirt street means everything is a LOT dirtier (who would have guessed?). Our house should be swept once a day (ahem…should). I ride a motorcycle
…when it hasn’t rained in a while (which it hasn’t), the dust gets kicked up…but not only that, in order to decrease the dust Dominicans will stand on the side of the road and water the road. No, no their lawn, they water the road. Their nice service to the motorists does keep the dust down in some areas, but it also creates lots of mud, and puddles. As for washing clothes, it requires a lot of time to use these Dominican washers. I really can’t explain it. It’s just a huge production in which you cannot leave the house because you have to do all this switching and moving and loading every 5 or 10 mins. So, I was re- thinking the whole Palm Sunday scene and actually thinking about the people throwing down their ‘clean’ clothes onto the dirty road for the King of all Kings. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but I picture Jesus coming down the road, reaching the big water ditch that crosses my street right in front of my house (the one that always gets me muddy, no matter how hard I try!) and instead of mud and water in the channel, it’s my neighbor’s fresh linens and jackets that were drying on the lines a moment before.
Mark 11:8-10
Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
"Hosanna! [a]"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" [b]
10 "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!"
"Hosanna in the highest heaven!"
(pictures: top left- easter card painting. top right: the most beautiful girl in caraballo
Prayer Requests:
On April 2nd, Jonathan will be leaving, and I will get the driver’s seat for sponsorship on the island. Pray for a smooth transition.
Continue praying for language learning- motivation and encouragement for the frustrating times.
There is a HUGE need for a public health program (something I am very interested in). One little testament to God’s timing and encouragement…I was briefly having a heart to heart with another missionary about my interest in public health. I mentioned it to my boss, Vic, who proceeded to tell me about this need for someone to do public health in our programs (not to mention all programs here). However, there is no curriculum in spanish anywhere (if you know of some- let me know!) BUT this past week I met someone on a work team who might be developing a curriculum specifically for the DR!
This would be a huge program to set up, and obviously it’s in its infancy, if even that. Please pray for clarity, encouragement, open doors, maybe even someone to partner with me in setting up such a program.
