Indoor Waterfalls

The sound of running water is a calming sound and I know in the States people will put out a lot of money to make indoor fountains. In my house the sound of running water means there is a big problem. Also hearing the water over the crash of thunder and excitement of lightning is near impossible. We had previously survived our first hurricane without consequence, but yesterdays thunder and lightning storm was formidable. I closed the windows and sat inside with Magi while we waited for Eric to come and give her a lift home. When I walked her to the door I realized that I was splashing to the door.

hmmm....

After helping Magi out to the car I had to find where the water was coming in... Then I saw it!

If you look closely behind me you will see a wet wall, the water was coming in our wall. There is a telephone jack and for some reason the water was pouring in through there. After inspecting the rest of the house we found the same happening in three rooms. To clean up Eric swept the rain waters out the front door while I mopped. What an evening. By 7pm all was back to normal and one of the young boys we know stopped by for a visit. He played games on the computer while we talked to Eric's parents.

For Reals

Ladies and gentlemen, here's one that I'm sure all the women who read this blog can agree with. There are really parking spaces reserved for pregnant ladies here in the DR... in more than one location! I mention this because some things are just plain different down here, and some are more comical than others. I'm adjusting to pizza with corn on top, burritos with mayo and ketchup, and an overall lack of culinary variety.

Lately I've been missing all my friends from Portland/The Beav. We've managed to stay pretty close to the folks via computer and email, but I don't get much time with the homies. I haven't been of Facebook as much as I like, and I think it means that I work too hard. Kisha saw me getting crazy last week, and took me up to the mountains for a hike. It was good times in the trees, which is apparently something I need. This past weekend we found a river that we can walk to and some hills to practice on so that we can climb Pico Duarte next year. But the trees wont tell bad jokes like Bryan, talk incessantly about gross stuff at the supper table, or wear hiking boots places that hiking boots just shouldn't be worn (I can't believe I miss being embarrassed by Bently's lack of fasion sense!). I would like any one of those three things right now!

Okay, enough sap, I suppose. I missed teaching a lot. I really like being back in the classroom again. These students are VERY different from my previous batch of rabble-rousers, but they're starting to grow on me. There are a few that I'd like to shellac, but aren't there always at least a handful? A good shellacking would be just the thing, I think :0) One thing is for sure, I can't have them run around the building as punishment down here. First of all, there's a security fence with razor wire, and I'm just not sure they could orbit the building without bleeding. Then there's the potential heat exhaustion that comes from physical activity in the Caribbean. I'll have to invent new ways! Please pray for my students :0)

In One Weeks Time

In one week I have gotten very close to officially launching my fundraising campaign for the fall quarter. I am still trying to collect my testimonies from teachers, parents and students that has proved to be the hardest part. We have set up a mass email account so that I can easily communicate. But what is even more amazing is that we received a $100 gift even before really launching the campaign. I am excited to see if my ideas will actually work. I have some fear that these fund raisers won't go anywhere.

It is times when I wonder where my fundraising will go that I have to remember that the most important thing that I am here for is relationships. I am here to love people and be loved by people. I am here to share my life, to show people God is a living being and not just words on paper. I am here because long ago these relationships were started and they have continued to affect my life. I am here because this is where the door to work was open for Eric. Our surroundings have changed but not who we are. We continue to live our lives in service to each other and our community. I used to think the life of a missionary was very different from that of a "normal person." But when I gave up the idea of being a missionary I quickly learned that brokenness is everywhere. In the church in the streets with the rich and with the poor. We all need healing.

We all need to learn how to live life in a way that heals. Jesus said he came to bind up the broken hearted. Now that my heart has been bound and healed my passion is to bind the hearts of those around me.

Remember Peace

Photography has become a great joy for me. I love framing the shot and playing with the camera. The other day I was taking photos of the street dogs. I want to make a collage of them. Some are so ugly that it is sad and other have this husky wisdom. Then there are the chiwauwaus... They are everywhere! Eric calls them Ratones which always gets a laugh. The other evening we went walking up the big hill near our house for exercise and Rod & Twilla's dogs accompanied us. Their names are Brownie and Romeo, these dogs have a sense of duty! They attacked every single moto that drove by! This was a little embarrassing but it is something watching these two rat dogs attack moving motorcycles and having the people actually be scared of them!

I have switched photo web pages so if you want to see my art you can follow me on at www.rememberpeace.smugmug.com I now have a collections of photos from the mountain village in Jarabacoa!

The 1st of the Year Is Always Crazy

As you might have guessed, the school year has started. Among other things the school year beginning means I can't hang out on facebook & blogger as much as I'd like. My sincerest apologies to anyone who feels kicked to the curb!

It's really nice to be a teacher again. I like spending my days with young people, and I'm mostly adjusted to the schedule. In many ways SCS is just like the other schools I have graced with my presence. In others, it's very different. They have a classic 43 minute class period, 8 periods a day, and 30 minute lunches. It reminds me of when I was in school. On the other hand this is the first place I've been unable to project over the sound of the class. The combination of loud students, loud ceiling fans, and super-solid surfaces (walls and ceiling of concrete, floors of ceramic tile) makes it a great deal tougher than I've ever had it. I put in earplugs during my prep period just to regain centeredness.

We're still having a good time in La Vega. Things are starting to feel normal... we have a few favorite restaurants, ice cream, frozen yogurt, and I know how to get to most of these places (which is the key). I can also get to the hardware store, furniture store, the electric company, phone company, multiple markets and at least a couple outdoor parks. Those are not things I thought would be hard to remember, but it took a while to get it all sorted out. It's a great deal easier getting around La Vega on a motorcycle than it is in a car, that's for sure. The narrow streets and crazy amount of motorcycles makes SUV's just not the ideal thing.

Keep praying for us, if you don't mind. I have a couple classes that need some discipline/encouragement (aren't those like the same thing?) that will involve a call home. I suppose it was inevitable, but I always hate to have to do it. 3 weeks and no detentions so far... I must be loosing my edge :0)