Before and After

So I'm home. It's strange, but I feels like I never left. My heart knows differently and I truly miss being there. The carpet feels odd under my feet, I had to turn a fan on to have some noise when I slept, and I swore I heard a cow this morning, but it was actually the neighbor firing up a chainsaw. I ran errands, took a nap, and went to a graduation party today. Typical American day. It's so very good to see family and friends! At the same time, I don't want to forget or just go back to life here.

I had to fight back tears as I was leaviing Monte Llano. As I pulled out of the school and taking in my last time in the streets, my heart sank. I love these kids. The last day was precious. The normally rough and tumble pair of Marta and Regina sat on my lap for a good half hour, when they got up, Felix climbed in, then came Neifi...next was Diori. It was a sweet time of just holding them and praying over their lives. God is big enough to save them and change their lives. Saying goodbye to staff was quick as I am the worst person ever with goodbyes. I can't stop thinking about them though.

I forgot to tell about the second to last day. I had taken Angel with his mom to the denist at the public hospital. This was one of the worst experiences of my life. When we walked in the Denist was so rude to the mom and Angel. She asked me to take a seat and attempted to numb Angel up. Not slow like in the states, but within one second the entire amount was in...along with him screaming out. She waited a minute or two, he knows what's coming and starts to stress out. She keeps making threats, he's hanging on to his mom who is holding him down for dear life. Then she starts in with the instrument. I try to get up to hold hand and comfort him, but she tells me that "it's ok if I want to stay seated over there." I watched in horror as Angel is screaming and pleading at the top of his lungs, his body is shaking...not the I'm scared shake, but the uncontrolable shaking you get when you are experiencing so much pain. I could feel myself getting angry, wanting to ask her to give it a few more minutes, and tears rising with my grip tightening on my shirt. Thankfully, the rest of the tooth came out quickly...with a blood bath. I am a nurse. I love blood. It does not freak me out...but there was a lot of blood coming from that mouth! Mom did great though and didn't pass out. The dentist wrote a script for antibiotics and sent us on our way. By the time we get the medicine, Angel says to his mom, "I can't feel the side of my mouth now." Are you kidding me? 45 minutes later and he is just now feeling the effects? I know he was probably just losing it and was scared so he didn't know he probably couldn't feel much before, but I also know that he felt plenty. He was dying for a bag of chips on the way home, so for 12 pesos, I bought him some. At that point I probably would have bought the kid a years supply. Angel being the sweet kid that he is gave me a hug on the last day and thanked me for taking him to the dentist.

Diori's foot got infected but looked better after I did some serious cleaning and removal of flapping skin.





Luis Miguel head looks so much better, thanks to an antifungal pill that he still chews rather than swallows.



And I ate steak tonight...=)


I'm thinking the blog will be coming to a close. I may write a couple more as I process through everything I saw and experienced. Chris Tomlin's song "God of this city" is stuck in my head. I think God put it there on purpose.

Highs and Lows

Fifteen things I will miss...
1) Having a little hand in mine at all times
2) Conversations in Spanish and actually getting the jokes
3) Taking time one on one to care for a child and calling them by name
4) Walking miles a day between public, school, pharmacy, hospitals and exercise
5) God honoring times in prayer and study with each other
6) Talking and walking all over the DR with Kara
7) Laughing, dancing, singing at any given point in time with the staff
8) Being needed...even for little simple things
9) Rice, beans and chicken
10 Taking kids with their parents to the doctor and good conversations along the way
11)Friendly people along the walks
12)Cows, horses, chickens, dogs, and cats in every street
13)The people I share life with
14)Seeing the cycle of poverty slowly but surely change due to believers being faithful
15)Children running to me down the street with arms wide open yelling "Laura!"
Bonus thing: Spending time at Cabarete, eating great food and making friends with the locals

Ten things I will not miss...
1) Never, ever looking like I care about myself...hair a hot mess and heat edema
2) Feeling dirty all the time
3) Sweating the second you wake up to the second you fall asleep
4) Taking a shower and 2 minutes later having black feet
5) Not having a microwave
6) Not being able to drive, although I'd be scared to drive here anyway
7) Flying cockroaches that attack
8) Ginormous spiders that stare at you and then run faster than anything you've ever seen
9) Waking up with new bites every morning from who knows what
10)Not being able to put toilet paper in the toilet...and never flushing until truly needed

My time here has been one of the best things I have ever experienced. No regrets. Even the things that I won't miss, I would gladly put up with for another month if I were able.

It's so hard to leave, but I take comfort in the fact that there is a strong staff that God has put in place, He is working, and I am planning to return for a bit in November in between nursing assignments if I do this whole travel nursing thing.

I forgot my camera at school, so I will post pictures tomorrow if I can from the Miami airport...I have a 4 hour layover. I have before and after pics!

I have no clever title...

Today was a nice day. It stormed yesterday, so last night and today were actually cooler than what I have been getting used to experiencing. There was no electricity at school, but I was kept busy by the plethora of lacerated and hurt feet. If you know me, you know I hate feet. I think that they are incredibley gross and dirty...being down here only deepens my thought, but since I am here to serve, I would wash feet and wounds all day if needed. Jesus washed dirty and gross feet too. Diori's foot actually looks better. I had been washing it everyday, gave antibiotics when he started developing a nasty infection and today I cut away all the extra skin. I was actually quite please with the results even though it still looks terrible.

Junior made a guitar out of a piece of wood, can, nails, and fishing line. He busted out in song to each of us ladies and we all had a good laugh. He sang in a mock Louis Armstrong voice and it was so funny to listen to him make up lyrics that actually rhymed and were in spanish...and I could understand him.

The electricity finally came on for about 40 minutes for the afternoon class. We fed them outside all the while building the anticipation for them to watch Aladin in Spanish. I have never seen kids eat so fast or sit so quietly. These children are never quiet, but they were so into it. Camille and I shared quite a few smiles when the kids would all get the same joke and laugh out loud. Little things that warm your heart. Next thing we knew, power is out and the kids are sad.

I made my way to try and catch public. A 7yr boy named Robi decided to walk with me, offers me a piece of mango, I politely say no and then he tells me to give him 5 pesos. What? How did that just happen? I didn't, but we kept up conversation until I went to check the girls apartment to see if Robin had left. I hear the rain getting harder and try to make it to the main road. By now it's pouring and I decide to hide under a tin roof and wait it out. I hear "Laura! Ven!" I look to the door next to me and there is Robi and his grandmother inviting me into their house. How sweet! It's at this moment I see Kara running down the street. So I call to her to wait with me and grandma offers a towel. Sometimes Dominicans can be so kind. The children know how to share. It's funny, you would think that with having so little you would hoard all that you have or is given to you, but this is not often the case. On numerous occasions the children at school will buy, find, pick or come with something they are eating. Withing seconds they are either calling their friends over or just giving pieces to those around them. I have a lot to learn from them in this aspect.

Only 1 1/2 days left. I'll try and make a funny post for tomorrow instead of a super sappy one...but no promises. And I will try to post pictures when the internet decides to cooperate.

Village Day!

Since the interns arrived yesterday, we took them all over Puerta Plata, Tamarindo, Pancho Mateo, and Chichigua. I love going to the villages. I love how one child spots you and then in seconds there are children everywhere! I will miss the interaction between the people while walking through and sitting in their homes with them. It rain and stormed later in the day, but I was thankful since it cooled down.

Walking to Pancho...

A Dominican and Haitian together. This is a sweet picture if you knew the history between these people...

A laughing boy

Let the little children come!

Why is there a limo stopping by a roadside fruit stand...must enjoy the simple things in life...


We had an all staff dinner of spinach and chicken enchiladas with colorful salsa, topped off by frickin' bars...which got their name because they are frickin' awesome. After dinner we sat around and sang praises to our Savior and Perfector of our faith. I have decided that nothing causes my heart to fill more than to worship our God, focus on Him completely, and to do this with others who understand and love the Lord as well.

I can't believe how close I have grown to the staff here. I woke up sad this morning that I only have 3 short days left. The interns are a lot of fun and I am excited for them to have a life changing summer. Everyone is just so great, it's like a little family here...well a family of about 22 people now.

Tonight we sang "Hosanna" which is one of my most favorite songs. I will leave you with the words that I prayed before I left, during my trip, as I leave and for the rest of my life...

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me

Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your Kingdom's cause
As I walk from Earth into eternity

27 Waterfalls? Yes, Please!

A little known fact about me is that I am a little bit of an adrenaline junkie. I love skydiving, white water rafting, repelling, and hiking when I get the chance. So, when Kara and I decided to go to jump some waterfalls...I was all for it! All these things should be done atleast once in your life.

Ok, so first I have to get shoes...I rent the water shoes that they have which basically look like black plastic/rubbery loafers. The little boy put them on for me, I felt like Cinderella...minus the love of my life. Next, we met our tour guide...La Maquina...which translates to "The Machine". I now know why. The guy is huge and has guns! These large biceps and triceps saved my life today! He makes sure you don't fall...which is important. This excursion is not for the faint of heart. There is serious climbing, jumping, walking, sliding and hiking up a mountain at a 60 degree angle.

Literally, this man pulls you up the waterfall! It was awesome! The water is clear and cold! And seeing how it is always a billion degrees here, it felt like a little piece of heaven. It was amazing to swim around and enjoy the scenery. Kara, who is a little afraid of heights, did an awesome job. We jumped every fall we had the opportunity too...the highest being about 30 feet...I am guessing. I know one was 22ft and there was one higher. I remember thinking after I jumped, "Um, I've been in the air for a while. Kara is getting closer, but I am not in the water yet!" Some of my favorite parts were the rock slides. The rocks are smooth and you slide down and it drops off like 10ft...there were about 4-5. Loved them! It was just the three of us, Tarzan and two Jane's. It was nice, quiet, peaceful, and nail biting at some points. Our guide was a beast! He crawled up the crevasse like spiderman...a good 15ft if not more. He swims like a fish too! He would jump way after us and then in two seconds, he would be way far in front of me. Here is a picture of The Machine...



You can watch video's of the 27 Waterfalls on youtube and I recommend you do so. It's beautiful.

Dancing in the Dominican!

Last night a bunch of us girls, plus Weston, thought it would be fun to venture out to try to go dancing again. Our mission was a success! First, we had all been there all day b/c there was a huge staff meeting. Kara and I got a super cute room for $32 total...with a pool that we hung out in for a while. Next we met everyone again at LAX. We also met up with some Dominican friends. This provided lots of humor! Somehow this 45 yr old Italian guy started hanging out with them that day and was therefore with them when we met up with them. I had no problem understanding this guy. He would use a mixture of english, italian and spanish to communicate. I feel like italian is close enough to spanish that it's easy to understand for the most part. Apparently I was wrong. Robin and Cara, the two I look too when I can't understand the spanish down here, were completely lost with this guy and couldn't understand him at all and were depending on me to translate for him. Cara in particular thought that this was the funniest thing ever. We all got a kick out of how I can understand the random italian guy.

Next came the dancing...and it was fun! I did a little bit of marengue with the locals, but it was mostly our group just having fun. I love dancing. I feel like I sweat off 1,000 calories that night and our legs hurt from so much of it. I was actually surprised that the guys we were with were pretty respectful as far as dancing goes. They kept their distance and if they got to close and we pulled away...they got the hint. Needless to say Kara and I were tired and went to bed around 2am...I felt like I was back on my night schedule! We got up at 7:30, ate at our favorite German Bakery and caught a terrible guagua back for our meeting at 9.

I spent the rest of the day re-organizing, packing for home, taking a nap and then hopping on a moto to go downtown. Anne told me about this amazing little lady that cooks the best chicken sandwiches at a little stand on the corner. She was out of chicken, but I got a ham, cheese, green tomato with all sorts of delicious toppings sandwich. I decided to take a moto to the Malecon to find a cool place to sit to eat dinner. I just sat there and in typical Laura style, I ate in 5 minutes. But it was five minutes of thankfulness. For this country, for the people I've met, for the things I've seen, for what I get to witness God doing. It's a big deal. Here's where I ended up...



I took some pictures of the fort down there. It's a cool place. People sit outside it along the shade. Couples are scattered about on the edges to watch the water and just be together. It's sweet. I caught a moto back and here I am! Down to 6 days...unbelievable. Where did the month go? And if you think that the moto burn would deter me from using them...it hasn't. I still love them. I am healing nicely, even though it looks gross. I don't kow if you can see my lovely band-aide tan line. Nice.

This is the fort...

What the walk on the Malecon looks like...before you hit the shade

Two kids playing in the water


We may go karaoking tonight, but I may opt for a movie on the roof. It's been a chill day. I only have 3 days left with the kids. We have 10 people coming to live with us on Sunday. I think a night in would be good.

Un poco mas...

So, we managed to get the kids to the eye doctor. I am not completely satisfied with the results. The doctor said it was just allergies, gave them some drops, and then said they needed to see an allergist. The allerigist is in Santiago which is a couple hours away. I will see them again in a week if not sooner on the sea walk and hopefully the drops will have helped. I kinda laughed b/c the doctor asked him if there are any dogs, cats or other animals around. Um, has he stepped out of his office? There are dogs and cats and cows and chickens and horses everywhere. Not to mention this is a super poor area with dirty nasty water that the kids get into, as well as people in an out all the time and a constant breeze by the water. Oh well...what can you do? Just your best...

I leave a week from tomorrow and have mixed emotions about it. There are things I hate here, but there are more that I love. I don't ever see myself living in another country long term, but I can definately see myself going where I am needed for a few months at a time. Coming here for a month has been one of the best decisions of my life. It has streched me and molded me in ways I was not expecting. I highly doubt this will be my last trip back...

It was a good spanish day. I was able to navigate with the doctor, mom, receptionist, moto drivers for all, as well as have full fun conversations with the kids at school. As always, the guagua was an adventure. I told the cobrador about five times where we wanted off. When it was missed and I yelled "Aqui, donde puede!" and he ignored me, the entire van yelled in unison "Aqui!Aqui!" In a strange way I felt protected. I always feel like the stupid gringa, but they were helping us! A guy told me to not pay the full amount for the ride since the guy dropped us off further from our stop. I told him I didn't know how to fight in spanish. He said, "You know plenty. Don't pay the full amount, the cobrador can fight with me about it." I thought that was kinda sweet.

Hope you enjoyed a few more pictures that I forgot yesterday.

Surroundings...

Here's a little taste of what life looks like down here...








This is actually the best looking dog of all the mangy mutts down here

And no lie, I watched a man not only go down the road in a horse and buggy with motos and cars, but he also parallel parked the horse with the buggy attached. I must say, that's the first time I have seen that.

Sharla, Shara and I went for a run/walk on the Malacon (Sea walk) where we met two boys who live in a poor poor area. They were there collecting trash that they can use as toys for the other kids in their neighborhood. One of the little boys eyes look awful. We rode with them to their house full of 10 kids. We decided that Shara and I are going back in the morning to take the little boy to the doctor. It's probably something very easy to fix. His eyes are a weird irritated color, but not red, sometimes itch, but hurt all the time and give him headaches. I would assume that it was just sand in his eye, but he has it ALL the time and his brother does too...interesting, hopefully we figure something out tomorrow.

Ladies and Gentlemen! The Greatest Show On Earth!

That's right! 3 American women, 2 Haitian twins and 1 Moscow Circus in the Dominican Republic. Does life get better? Seriously though, it was so much more fun than I was expecting. Isaak and Jakob LOVED it! We walked there and got a ride home. The boys went straight to sleep...our plan worked perfectly. I was highly impressed. Everything you hope to see at a Circus, we saw, but it was better. The acrobats and tight rope walkers made me extremely nervous. And the contortionist was amazing...no human should be able to bend like that. I loved seeing the giraffe, tigers and bear. No lions though... Passing a cow on the way to the circus, because who doesn't pass at least one cow everydayHolding Jakob when he got tired of walking. We went from back to side to other side to front to shoulders

Isaak and Jakob so into it. Very glad we took them!




Woman balancing on tight ropers head, next was with a 10ft pole, next was one foot and then he went uphill with her on his head still!
This is sign language for "Wow!" We did this to Isaak a lot tonight. Sorry about my appearance...it was super hot and humid in the tent.

Honestly, who sees a circus when they are in a third world country?

Gringo Day!

It was a very American day today. I had pancakes and eggs for breakfast. I talked to my family via Skype, so it was like I was there. We took the twins to the store to pick up some very American foods such as oreo's, lay's, and coca lite (Diet Coke). The boys did awesome and loved looking around the store. A little later I ended up getting my first Moto burn...I'm an idiot. How many times have I gotten on and off a moto or my Dad's motorcycle and never even come close? I heard the sizzle of flesh in my head and pulled back quickly. However, it still got me and I have a couple blisters. It looks and feels way better than I thought it would. It only stung for an hour or two, now I forget it's there. Praise God! Here's what it looks like now and hoping that it doesn't look worse by morning.Tonight was Gringo Night. We had some other gringo's over to hang out. We ate hamburgers, cheetos, sunchips, pasta salad and bread! It was wonderful and everyone had fun playing apples to apples and catch phrase. The two haitians you see are the two children that live with Rachel.Alright, it's now 9pm and dark and I am tired...I'm going to watch a couple episodes of The Office and call it a night.

I need Thee every hour...

The past two days have been ones of much needed tranquility. I woke up to rain...ahh, finally, the Earth had cooled off. The group of people I share life with down here are some of the most interesting and genuine people I have ever met and had the privilege of serving with. We are able to be vulnerable with each other and carry each others burdens. It's a sense of community I have craved and missed for a while now since I am away from my house church. We literally spent hours in prayer yesterday, but they felt like minutes. It was such a sweet time. This is the type of community we long for and what a blessing to get to experience it.

I went to Pancho Mateo with some girls yesterday as well. I love this place. It was so fun to get to see the little ones 6 months later. They've changed! Life goes on. I love hearing little kids yell "Laura! Laura!" with their little spanish accents. When I started walking out to catch a moto, the little girls followed me. Oh My, please don't tempt me, I would bring them all home in a split second. Check out the little girls holding onto barbed wire.

Angry baby before in November...

Angry baby now...

Super cutie before...
Super cutie now...

I am doing much better now, but last weekend as I sat in the house by myself taking care of twins, I worked myself into being slightly homesick. Thankfully, this was fixed as soon as I was able to hear my parents voice and see them on the computer screen. Who knew what a voice could do! You have to be here to understand, but nothing here is convienent. Travel, food, heat, communication, electricty...it all takes a lot of effort. Nothing is easy, it's not that it's hard, it's just not what you're used to. It starts to wear on you and then one child comes up, hugs you, grabs your hand and says your name. That's it. That's all you need. You see instanty why you are here when you could be somewhere else where you are comfortable. But I don't need comfort, I just need to know that I am doing what I am called to do. I just need to know that I am being obedient and recognizing that God is so much bigger than me and that he has a specific purpose for me while I am here. It's not to heal every kid and solve every medical problem. I can't do it. But I can show Jesus to these children and their families. I can use the skill that God has given me.

Kara, Cara, Robin and I decided to go to cabarete to get a room and go dancing. Little did we know that since today is the national election that the world stopped at midnight. We went to LAX and chatted for a while before making our way to Ohno's to dance. We were thinking the party was just getting started and danced for one song (Outkast's Hey Ya) when they turned on all the lights and said to go home. All day there has been no music or alcohol...not that I care about the alcohol, but it just makes me laugh that for 24 hrs you can't buy any. Needless to say, our girls night out turned into a going to bed earlier than expected night. We did have a sweet room though. The window was HUGE and faced the ocean with palm trees. The bed could have fit all of us, but there was another room with 2 twins and another table and chairs. Not to mention a bathroom and small kitchen...all for the price of $28 a person. Would have only been $15 if we didn't want air...we did and we all got the best sleep we've gotten in a while, and we woke up to the Ocean yet still in an air conditioned room. Kara is displaying the massive window, while Robin and Cara chat outside

On a sad note, last night while we were walking around waiting to go back to the room we spotted two OLD men with two YOUNG dominican women who were obviously prostitues. This is common in Sosua, but the first time I saw it in Cabarete. It made me so sad. The two men said "Good Luck!" to each other as they parted ways with the girls. I just wanted to grab these women and tell them, 'You are so much better than this! Your life could be so different! Let me tell you about what could be yours!' But I didn't. I'm kinda mad at myself for not making an effort. It took me by surprise and I didn't react quick enough. This only reminds me that I am always to be on guard,with sure footing, ready to react. I hope to see the girls again, not at night, but at some point where I could get to know them as a person.

On a random note, Kara and I on the guagua again sitting perfectly uncomfortable. It's quiet. It's crowded. Out of nowhere, this woman in the very back starts belting out a ballad for the whole van to hear. What in the world? Singing is so serious here. It would be like an RTA being double stuffed and then some woman singing as loud as she could "Wind Beneath My Wings". Weird.

And this made me laugh...