Light and Dark

What a wonderful week it has been and will be! Sunday I got to meet new people at church as well as catch up with Kerry. Amanda will be back next week. I think it's funny how the Lord has let us all meet and strike up a friendship. I'm a nurse, Kerry works with Americore and Amanda is a social worker...apparently we are all like minded when it comes to helping others.

Today I had lunch with my good friend Kara...you remember her from the DR. She is in PA for the time being and will be here while I am. Since she is only about 40 minutes away, we are planning on not being strangers and being buddies here as well! Oh, how I have missed that lady! It was so incredibly nice to catch up with her, hear about how things are in the DR and the excitement that is her life. She has such a wonderful attitude and it's just a blessing being around her. I am amazed that we just pick up where we left off almost three months ago. Once again, so thankful for the bond of Christ! Here we are after our lunch in Chesnut Hill.

For those of you back at Dayton CMC...I have hung out with Casey and we plan on hanging out again soon. She is doing great and is still her sweet and funny self. I filled her in on as much as I could and we both agree that we miss you all terribly.

I work the next three nights, but my parents arrive this weekend! I am so excited to see them in person instead of on Skype, although we have passed many hours on it. We plan to tackle downtown and the history of our country. I'm excited since I am so into history anyway. I can't wait for Dad to see everything!

On a more dissapointing note...it's not all bliss all the time. There is a saying that Philadelphia's anthem are the sirens you hear constantly. I didn't notice them until I was told this and now I notice every one. Within one week of just working 4 days, we had a severe abuse case taken to the trauma room of which the child later died, a gunshot wound and another kid with a knife stabbed into his head. A domestic abuse case playing out in the hallway and numerous child vs. auto cases. I don't say all this to make you think...wow...things must be rough there. I can't imagine. I say this all as a reminder to myself that people need Jesus here just as much as any other place. A reminder that it is my job to love and care for people who feel so alone and helpless in this city. God is the same God that is in Dayton, the DR, and here. Who am I that I get to be God daughter and live out the gospel in the flesh.

I am currently reading Francis Chan's book called Crazy Love. You need to read it. Period. This is comimg from a girl who never takes the time to really read books. It will wake you up and spur you on.

That's all for now...will post next week sometime after downtown and ocean city!

Yes, I'm in Philadelphia...

I have heard the cries of the people (all two of them) and decided to blog every now and then to keep everyone posted that I am still alive and well. Although, it was very hard to leave this...

Ok, so here's the story. As most of you know, I decided to take a travel nurse position at St.Christophers Hospital for Children in their ER. I will be here until November, at which I return to Ohio to join the team and head down to the DR for another week. CAN'T WAIT! Mom and I headed out to drive through the night and arrive on the first. I figured, since I work nights, I would be fine to drive in my can't-move-an-inch-it's-packed-so-full RAV 4. However, since we weren't planning on leaving until the next morning and I didn't get a nap, I got tired at 5am, not too mention that I could no longer feel my rear. We decided to stop at a hotel and be out by 10am at check-out. The first room they gave us hadn't been cleaned and smelled like something had died in there. I really thought I walked into a crime scene. The mattress was flipped over and there were sheets and towels thrown about. A while later we were in a different room. We left and got to the apartment at the time we originally thought 3p, which was good considering they moved my funiture in at 1p. Getting all my stuff up to the fifth floor was a trip. We had no dolly and it's a tiny european style elevator with no air. A couple hours later we ventured out to find a wal-mart to get the necessities. On the way back we ended up on a not so great side of town, mom's panicking and refusing to leave me in this town by myself. Thankfully the next day we found the good parts on town and mom's heart was set much more at ease. She and dad had no problem with me going to the island of the DR by myself but put me in the #1 murder spot and city of "most dangerous" driving, they are a little bit more on edge. I assure you that I am very cautious! Here's some pics of my apartment
My bedroom, there's two closets and two huge windows

looking from my front door through the living room, dining room into the kitchen

looking to the bay window

standing at the bay window toward the fireplace

My apartment is so cute and much bigger than one person needs. If I were going to live here the rest of my life it would have the potentional to be the most adorable place ever. Not having to pay a dime of the rent or utilities makes me love it all the more. It has a beautiful lobby, a gym, sauna and pool. It was built in the 1920's and restored in the 1998. There's a ton of character! Google it! Alden Park Apartments

I have started going to a church called Liberti and met a couple of girls who just recently moved here as well. We all did lunch yesterday and it's nice to have people to call if I want to go get coffee or just someone to hang out with. The people at work have been so incredibly helpful and nice. Believe it or not, I have yet to get sworn at...don't worry, I know my day is coming.

Mom and I took the train into downtown...super nice! I love the train! We did some sight seeing, but we are saving most of it for when she and Dad come to visit in a couple weeks. I'll post more pictures then.

I'll also post more about travel nursing, why I am doing it, the people and observations when I have time to seriously think it through...which could be soon! haha

Lessons learned...

It's almost midnight, there's an awesome storm and I am wide awake. Probably thanks to a coffee too late in the evening, but shared with good conversation. As I have been back I have started to slowly get back to life, but part of me is desperately holding onto the things I have learned...about the Lord, about life and about me in general.

1) I realized about myself that, until I am otherwise told, I usually always assume that I get on the nerves of those I meet. It wasn't until the last weekend in the DR that I verbalized to Weston that I was pretty sure I annoyed him all the time, that he assured me that I didn't and I could finally be comfortable around him. I don't know why I do this. Maybe it's a form of protection. I can't assume that someone doesn't mind me until their words or actions tell me so.

2) I'm invisible. And I mean that in the most shallow and the most deep sense. But it doesn't matter. I don't get my self worth from others. I may feel like I am never the first choice or that there is always something better that is coming along, but to Christ...I am everything I need to be. I am His. He created me. If that means that throughout my life I need to be looked over, passed by, or the second choice, well I am ok with that. This only happened once while I was down there, and it was for a very dumb and superficial reason. However, it served to remind me what life was like back here. I am not number one. I'm always on the "B" team, but I am so grateful for that. It's humbling. I was chosen by Christ. Not because he wanted someone else and it didn't work out so he settled for me. Not at all! He chose me! He initiated and pursued me!

3) I like living a selfless life. All life consists of there is serving others. When you are stripped of everything and all you have left to rely on is God and those he put around you, you begin to understand what God meant when he said "42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
I felt like every person I met was an opportunity to love like Christ loves me. This didn't mean that we gave handouts to everyone or let them sit around like a bum while we worked our tails off. I can honestly say that all my needs were met...not by my own doing, but by others. Hopefully I was able to meet their needs as well. There is so much joy to be found when you are miserable. The world holds us back. We have too much. Not once did I miss a cell phone or tv! When you have little, you are thankful for so much more. I think that was the most thankful my heart has ever been. I am not the center of the universe, this life is not about me. It was nice to live in an "others" focused setting. I feel like I was my true self there, just lost in living life the way God intended it. We all were there sharing our gifts, doing different things, but in everything we were serving Christ and He was our main focus. I love living simply.

Sorry that this is probably not the most uplifting post. I am sure you can tell that I am still deep in process. All I know is, I don't want life to just go back to how it was. Not that it was bad or that I had a bad outlook. I just think God has further molded my outlook to desire to go deeper and live for Him even more.

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