Last week here

Hi everyone!

I hope July has been a wonderful month for you all.

This past week in Monte Plata has been memorable, fun, and HOT!

Class has been going very well. The kids have been safe, healthy, and we really enjoyed our time with them. We have moved from Moses to David's story, so it was a fun week of change. This week we will finish up with class and have our parent's day on Friday. Please continue to pray that lots of parents show up :)

There is a little girl in our class who is very challenging, for a variety of reasons. She has taught me so much; I always thought I was patient with children, but being with her and teaching/learning from her has taught me that I have a long ways to go, and that God alone can give me the patience I need with her. 

We went to the beach today next to the capital and it was just what you would expect in the Caribbean; white beaches and clear turquoise ocean. It was beautiful, but strange to be away from Monte Plata. Americans are not very common except on the northern coast (where we area headed in a week), so it's a bit uncomfortable for me still to be stared at etc, even though it happens every day here in Monte Plata. 

One of the girls we live with turned 21 yesterday and we are having a big birthday party for her here tonight. It should be a lot of fun, and great to see a Dominican celebration.

Funny story: the girl I teach with, Andreina, brings me plantains and mangos every week because she found out I like (LOVE) them, and thought it was very strange because "most americans just like bread and american food" (plantains and mangos are like apples and potatoes back home, and just as cheap). There is a little baby at church, Arturo, who is ADORABLE and we joke that all I need are some plantains, mangos, and Arturo in my arms, and I'd be in heaven. I visited Andreina's house last week, and her aunt said "Oh you're the american girl who loves plantains and mangos!" I guess that's my personal preference legacy.

Andreina is my best friend here. We have had some wonderful conversations and she is a remarkable person. Her Mom had bone cancer and now has terminal lung cancer. Please pray for her, Andreina, and Andreina's family that they can find comfort and patience in God through this pain.

Tomorrow we are headed to a Haitian church plant about 30 minutes away. There is a lot of discrimination between Dominicans and Haitians, and there are many Haitian immigrants here in the DR. Tomorrow will be eye-opening for sure.

In a week we'll be headed to the beach to meet up with the other interns. And next Tuesday I'll be headed to New York to see Claire (My sister. I am so excited to see her!), then home to Portland on August 3rd. I miss Portland so much. I love it here more than I can say, but there is nothing like flying home to Portland. We live in a beautiful city!

I have grown so much here in the last five weeks. I have realized more of my strengths and weaknesses, grown in my relationship with God, and am learning how to give my future to Him, especially with my desires to be a Mom. It's been an incredible summer, learning and growth wise especially!

Other prayers: a great end to our summer school this week, safe trips home for all of us, continued growth and safety of those here.

Love you all very much! Thank you again to my supporters and to everyone praying back home. 

All my love,

Elizabeth

4 weeks here, 2 weeks left

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a great Fourth of July. We had a wonderful time at the orphanage, sans fireworks. I missed my family for the first/only time so far over the Fourth of July.

Yesterday all of the short-time missionaries met up at the capital (only about an hour away from Monte Plata) and we saw museums, churches, an old military base (Marty and Michael you would have loved it!) and Diego Columbus's house (Christopher Columbus's son). It was a lot of fun to see all of the interns again and be a tourist for a day. We are back in Monte Plata now, and getting ready for our second to last week of school.

I wanted to let everyone know what the landscape/nature aspect of the area is like. Monte Plata is supposedly the hottest place on the island, and I believe it! It's probably around 90* everyday, plus A LOT of humidity. It is green everywhere (like Oregon), and there are these little lizards all over the place. Mango trees are as common as apples are in Oregon (Washington apples are imported and VERY expensive!). My teachers here know that I LOVE plantains (as common as potatoes in Oregon), and mangoes, and bring me both at the beginning of the school week. We have eight or nine mango trees in our backyard, and they are just now starting to fall. Monte Plata has about 10,000-60,000 people, depending on who you ask and if they are talking about the town or the providence (both of the same name). Monte Plata is VERY impoverished and just what you would expect to see in a third world country.

The little one (the girl I talked about last post) wasn't at school this past week, but we had some new students and are now averaging about 8-12 a day in first grade (5-8 in second grade and 8-12 in kindergarten). We have gotten into a nice rhythm, and one of my other teachers (Andreina, a University student) is my closest friend here. We have had some amazing talks, and I have been so blessed to be able to know her.

I know these last two weeks will go very quickly! Please pray for the continued safety and health of the kids and us (so far no severe injuries or health issues!). And pray for a wonderful end to our summer program. On our last friday, we invite the parents to come see all the learning and work that their children have been involved with for the past five weeks, and last year only a handful of parents showed up. We are really hoping that oodles of parents can come and support their children!

Thank you again to my supporters and all of your prayers; this has been an incredible experience.

Mom, Cara Lynn, and Anne Marie: we gave a lot of the things you donated/gave money to to the orphanage last week! THANK YOU!!

Nanny, I love you and think of you a LOT!

All my love,

Elizabeth

Halfway

It is INCREDIBLE to think I've been here for three weeks, with only three weeks left. Yet I also feel like I've been here for such a long time. 

This week went really well at school. We are in a routine and the kids are learning, happy, and mostly healthy. My teachers and I are getting really close and I have had some wonderful conversations with them. Yesterday we went to the orphanage and then all of us went to the river. It was so much fun and so relaxing. The kids had a blast, and we just splashed and cooled off. More like we got splashed. All the little boys just ATTACKED the three American girls with water...

Then we (the four Americans) came back to our house and made apple, pineapple, and chocolate pies until 11 PM. We just talked and laughed and didn't burn one of them! (A wonderful feat with an oven you aren't familiar with!) Today we are going to make chocolate cake for 80+ people for a fundraiser for church tomorrow as well. Loving the baking here! Then tonight we are headed to the orphanage because it's one of the little girl's birthdays today as well as Fourth of July! We're going to have marshmallows (tropical flavored was what the capital had), the three pies, and a BBQ. Fourth of July is VERY different when you aren't at home. But it's wonderful to have a few Americans and some very sweet children to celebrate with. I just spoke with my Dad on the phone back home, and my ENTIRE Mom's family is at our beach houses on the WA coast (which happens to be my favorite place in the world). Even my sister Claire is there from New York. Everyone except my Aunt Katie, cousin Lee, and Mike, and me. Both my Mom and Dad's families mean SO much to me. It sounds like they are having a wonderful time, and I'm really excited to hear about THEIR fourth celebration as well. Fireworks at the beach is a spectacular tradition in our family :)

Papa, you always said there were three things that were most important in life: God, our family, and our country. You raised a family who is emulating that today, together/in the DR, on Fourth of July. I love you and think of you constantly.

Earlier this week I made peanut butter cookies with the little girls at the orphanage. It was very different (soupy, $6 can of peanut butter), but delicious and we loved it :)

This week we are headed into our third week of class. Please pray for continued safety and health for all of us, open/clear communication and hearts, and learning on all ends. Thank you to everyone for your support and prayers; they are working!!

I love you all very much!

Have a fantastic, blessed Fourth of July!

All my love,

Elizabeth

Peace

I have to share two/three little stories.

The first is about a girl in my class. She is SUPER tiny and nicknamed "the little one".  She has told me numerous times that "Ya se leer" or "I know how to read now". Her excitement in learning is an inspiration. The 1st graders have not yet learned to sit in their seats, and we constantly are reminding them. The little one will come up to me throughout the day in the middle of class, reach her arms up to me and say "beso" (kiss) and wrap her sweet arms around my neck and give me a kiss on the cheek. She is a beautiful reminder of His love and why we might be here.

During recess today I was swinging with another little girl backwards on my lap, and she was playing with my cross necklace and she said "I have one too, in my house." I love their noticing of Jesus in so many aspects of the day. The theme for this summer is "Yo veo Dios" or "I spy God", and they never cease to let us know when they do.

One last thing. I swing with the little one almost every day, and she leans her sweet head on my chest, and I seriously think I've never had a more peaceful moment. God is working in her little heart and has made her MARVELOUS and has blessed me with being able to see that.

Have a wonderful Independence Day weekend!

Mom, I love you.

All my love,

Elizabeth

This Beautiful Place

Mike Hohnholz's song "This Beautiful Place" plays in my head so much here. There are so many stories, so many sweet faces, and so much growth that is happening in only 6 weeks.

My daily routine:

-All the teachers come to our house and we prep and pray for the day. 9-12 class: 8-12 1st grade children (Thank you Mom, Cara Lynn and Anne Marie for your presents. We use the pencils, toys, papers and supplies EVERY DAY! Such a blessing). 12-3 rest/run (yes, I run in this heat! I went for a run the other day and got VERY lost. I believe it is now a given that I get lost. I got lost A LOT during Rose Festival, in Seattle, in Costa Rica, and now here. But I was Guided to safety and actually enjoyed getting to know the town. VERY WELL!) 3:30-5:30 M/W/F orphanage (games, baking, and activities with the sweet kids!) and come home and rest.

We went rafting this weekend and it was BEAUTIFUL! I've been before, but this was the most beautiful trip I've ever taken. 

It is difficult to put into words how sweet these kids are. They love to be loved, and every day I am BLESSED to be greeted by their smiles, hugs, and I have the opportunity to be their "caballo" horse every day, picking them up and running around. This Beautiful Place is filled with beautiful, resilient children. 

Thank you to everyone for your prayers. It is such a blessed experience, and we have been mostly healthy, very safe, and are loving the "work".

Thank you as well to all my supporters; this place is incredible, stunning, and it is such a blessing to have been able to come here.

Prayers:

-The children, that they are safe in their homes and that they come to school rested, happy, and eager to learn about our Creator.

-Sarah (the other intern) and I, with our Spanish, our hearts, and where our focus is

-Our other teachers, that we can continue to become one unit for Christ and these children.

All my love,

Elizabeth

I'm here!

Happy Father's Day!

I have been here in Monte Plata, DR for about three days now. We were in training last week in Jarabacoa, and then separated to our locations a few days ago. We start school tomorrow; first grade. I am teaching with two Dominican young women who are very sweet. We are very excited, but I have heard the 1st grade class is a bit rowdy; pray that they are eager to learn and willing to listen and participate!

It is beautiful here. Every single Dominican I have met is absolutely stunning. I live with Sarah, another intern, and Rebekah, a full time missionary, on the school grounds. We have two Dominican girls living with us as well. Thank you everyone for your support, thoughts, and prayers. I can hardly believe I am here but am truly excited for the next five weeks. We have driven around town quite a bit, and the poverty here is unlike anything I have seen. Yet so many people smile, talk with you, and are truly eager to help. It's a beautiful place to be.

I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying your summers with your family. Have a blessed Father's Day and talk with you soon.

All my love,

Elizabeth