Nothing good comes from a dare.

So maybe you don't know, but I really miss the Dominican. Being in 2 wintermesters over the holidays has really allowed me to have a great appreciation for the time I was able to spend out there this summer. I don't really know if anyone reads this but if you do, and you are right now obviously, I wanted to share a fun story with you from this summer. My pictures from this summer are something very dear to me, because at any moment when I feel overwhelmed by the pressure of school or something else, I can go back to those moments and remember how happy my heart was in that moment. As I am currently overwhelmed and trying to finish this winter math class, I found myself looking through those old pictures and remembered the ridiculous story behind one in particular.

It was the last week of the summer when just the interns decided we wanted to hike El Morito, a mountain (or what felt like one) close to Bobita. The hike up wasn't bad, I was pretty winded but we made it, however the hike back down was an adventure in itself. Coming up upon something we couldn't quite decipher between a foot deep mud pit or a foot deep cow patty pit it was trouble waiting to happen. As we approached it, I remember Hunter daring me to run across the sick pit of mud. As a dare wouldn't normally mean anything to me, many know, I am pretty open an accepting to any potentially dirty situations. Wearing my Chaco sandals I backed up and made a run for it through the sickness. To my surprise about halfway through the mud dash the mud patty pit ate my Chaco sucking it down into it's abyss. It was a dark moment when I discovered this meant either getting in the mud and digging for it or hiking back another 2 hours to the car without a shoe. So I went where probably no human in their right mind has gone before and started digging. And much to my surprise Hunter, Haley, and Chad all got down in the mud sticking their hands as deep as they would go trying to find it. I never felt so special as when 3 of my friends got down in that poopy mud to dig for my shoe. Nonetheless we spent about 30 minutes looking for it when this Dominican lady, known to be very different and eccentric, came up to us and insisted on helping us. So she gets down in the mud and sure enough finds the shoe on her FIRST try! I was laughing so hard I couldn't hardly believe my eyes. Just one of the many crazy stories for this summer but I wanted to share it with you, and honestly relive it myself.

Just thoughts

How fast time really does seem to fly. Sorry it has taken me so long to finally sit down here and write an update. Life here not only moves fast but each and every moment seems to be filled with purpose. It has been so nice the last couple of days to take a break and slow down. We have been able to have about a 4-5 day break period where we have gotten some much needed extra sleep and been able to take a trip to Jarbacoa to go white water rafting which was incredible.
I guess I never really doubted the fact that being out here this summer, working on the front lines in my Christian life that Satan was not going to use each and every thing he could to distract me from my mission out here. I feel as though the past couple weeks I have really been learning where those attack points are, how to recognize them, then how to present those in front of the Lord. What an amazing gift I have been given to give those to the Lord. I remember one morning a couple weeks ago just waking up with such a drained and tapped out spirit. I'm sure you can imagine when you dont daily lift your burdens up to the Lord and give those to Him the will gradually but surely build up to a point to where we as human beings cannot "sweep them under the rug" or deal with them any longer. I was so blessed in this hard morning that the Lord gave me such peace in finding the perfect scripture to soothe my spirit. So many moments like this one He has directed me and further steered me back into the correct direction when I have really and whole-heartedly given my burden or distraction to Him in prayer. I guess it is no surprise that being out here, as well in my request to Him for growth, that He has really pin-pointed out to me my weak points and how to deal with them so that I can use the perserverance as an opportunity to grow. I hope that makes sense. It does to me :)
Nontheless I, again, am so blessed that I have been given this place. The day I have to leave will probably be the hardest yet because of the relationships and equal lifestyle I have found corresponding with my own.
I just today finished a book called the "Screwtape Letters" which was very different but really had some valueable points. One thing I really feel like the Lord spoke to me through this book was the importance of the Present. The Present moment is the moment in which one really and truely experiences how to effect and change eternity. Worrying about the past which is stale and stuck in time does one no good, and dwelling on what the Future may hold only takes away from the Present. I do the book and the point I am trying to convey no just in what I just said but I guess what really stuck out to me was the true importance of every moment we are given. With each and every Present moment so fletting I've really begun to see the importance in not worrying about my Future, which I so instictively do, and really utilizing the Present moment to shape who I want to be and how I want to effect others. What a blessing to know that whenever you divert from the right path you have the very next present moment as a gift to redirect yourself and a new start. I really think that the Lord gives us such grace with the gift of time. For me, my personal goals for the rest of my time out here are to continue establishing lasting relationships with the local people and really going out of my way to spend time with them and serve them. Also to lift my daily distractions up to the Lord and to focus on the present moment I have been given. To recognize where I need improvement and thank Him for opening my eyes to that. And lastly just that with the next 3 weeks I am here I will leave all that is in me with this place and these people, so that when I leave I will know not one more ounce of effort or energy could have been put into the work we are trying to accomplish out here. Those are my current goals. Please continue to be in prayer for me and our work out here, but also that the Lord will show you what areas in your own life you can strengthen. Then when He does, by lifting them up to Him in prayer I believe you will truely be blessed in His response.
I love you all :)
Audrita

time

Well another two weeks have gone by. I am sad to say that I had a whole blog typed up last week but suddenly lost the internet and lost the whole thing so that is why it has taken me so long! The group came in very early this week so I apologize in advance for how short this post will probably be. The past couple have weeks have been incredible. It is amazing to me how the Lord can work in such a short time span. With my dad and Nathan visiting I received the boost I needed to finish the summer. It truly is hard for me to believe that after this group I will be half way through the summer. Within this realization I have been able to reflect and look at in my life and time here in the Dominican what I still want to accomplish in my mission out here. On of the areas I want to expand and grown in is establishing deeper and more profound relationships within the community after prayer for this last night it is incredible how fast the Lord worked in response to my prayer. Today I was able to sit with Carmen, our cook, in the kitchen and talk to her about her family and her mother who is sick right now. And although talking and holding a conversation may come by easy to most, when in spanish it takes much more time. Well as I'm typing this I just got called to devo. I'm so sorry that I have not had the time to pour my heart out on here lately but know that I am pouring my heart out into this work and these people. I will update you as soon as possible. Please know that I love all of you and the Lord is blessing me every moment I have here.
Con todo mi amor (with all my love)
audrita

Just scratching the surface.

Well I'm beginning to realize that it is hard to explain my experience out here because God's work that is being done is so hard to put into words. We just sent the first group home and it's pretty powerful for me to look back on this week and see all of the things that the Lord has shown me. Before the group got here I was somewhat nervous because of the fact that I just really had no idea what was going on and how to run this place. Thankfully we had Rich and Audrey to help us and the group was very patient with us. I would have to say that the thing that stuck out to me the most was the hospital day. Basically on Puerto Plata day we go into Puerto Plata, which is about a two-three hour dihatsu (the name of our open bus) ride, and visit the hospital and the dump. However, it is nothing like what you would expect a hopsital to look like. With very little nurse care random people just hooked up to IV's, very different and dirty looking, we can't even wear open toed shoes. When we got there we split up into our groups and just went around to each room, where there are about 10-15 beds with people in them, and just prayed for them. The whole ride to the hopsital was such a build up for me because you could imagine the intimidation going into a hopsital where everyone spoke spanish, people were very sick and poor and just sad. When we got there we split up and began going to the different rooms and people and began praying for them. I would go up to a persons bed and say, "Puedo orar para ti?" meaning "Can I pray for you?" and they always said yes. I tried each time to say the prayer in Spanish, but it always ended up where I would get half way through and have to go back to english. This one lady, as I was praying for her daughter and she was sitting by the bed, started to cry as I tried to pray in spanish. It really took all that was in me to keep my own flood gates closed. It was incredibly hard yet powerful. All the people were so delighted and had so much joy when we would pray for them and give them the goodie bags. I can honestly say that my faith and relationship with God was shook that day. I reached a new level of appreciation and greater love for the Lord and my own life that I have never clearly seen.
So being out here has really got me thinking about my own life and where my passion lies. I think that when put in a different situation, it is so much easier to learn more about yourself and what you truely value. I have found such a pure and untainted joy in the service and simplicity of life out here. There are days when I try to picture myself and somewhat reflect on how I would feel if I was in the states right now shopping, with my hair fixed, and cute clothes. And it amazes me how I feel so far from that and from wanting that. Some people may call it "tomboyish" or whatnot but I am beginning to realize that that is not who I am. My pure joy is found out here with frizzy curly hair, constantly sweaty, covered in paint, the random city electricity that only comes on everyother day, the bugs, the different language of the people, the dirty clothes, velcro tennis shoes, and stinky chacos haaha I wear everyday. In discovering where my heart lies and what joy the Lord has placed on my heart in being out here, I can honestly say that this place, this work, and these people are what have brought me the purest and greatest untainted joy and peace I have ever found. Can you believe its only been like a week and a half? What a blessing the Lord has given me that He has shown me so much already. With so much on my heard and finding such a strong passion of mine I have no doubt that there will be some big changes for the future and in my life. Thinking about the desires and self-serving mindsets of most Americans really honestly pushes me away. It is becoming more and more clear that I cannot find the joy and passion for life the Lord has planned for me in any place like that. With that I know I have the strength and confidence to do and go where ever the Lord leads me in the future. I just want all of ya'll to know that if there is anything I have learned this week is that all of the things you have, and what you buy, what you wear, even the fancy food really mean nothing. To experience the complete joy and fullfillment you are searching for in the materialist world I am sorry to say it will never be found. By serving someone and forgetting yourself, the Lord will bless far beyond what you feel like a new pair of shoes ever could. I am so blessed to be here and I am starting to realize that more and more everyday.
Oh PS I'm 20 now! My birthday was amazing because the people out here showed me such a sweet and unconditional love. I was also able to talk to my mom and dad which brought me to tears because I love and miss them so much, but thankfully I get to see Nate and Dad today! Please be in prayer for this next week that the Lord will work through us interns and teach us and the Lake Cities group something new. Please email me or anything soon I'd love to hear from all of you adidasap24@neo.tamu.edu
Until next week,
Audrita

WOW

I dont even know where to begin! Well let me begin by saying that the Dominican is amazing. It is honestly everything that I thought it would be and so much more. The first day that I got here I quickly noticed how different the smell was in a different country. We've been keeping so busy each day. The first full day here we were able to go into the town of Bobita and meet all of the locals. They were all so hospitable! It is truly incredible how even though there homes were made from their own hands, and most of their belongings are things they have found or have been pasted down to them. Yet they will offer you their best so that you feel welcome. I really enjoyed getting to meet everyone, I think that I'm going to have the opportunity to go through town tomorrow to see everyone again :) We were also able to go into Rio San Juan to help with Vickie's (another one of the missionaries) Princessa group of girls. They were doing a spa for their mother's for the Dominican Mother's Day. Me and Haley (the other girl intern) talked to some of the girls and painted their nails. When I say talk, I mean one word conversations that I slowly tried to translate from Spanish to English haha. But non the less and am very glad that I had Spanish last semester, it has definitely helped me get a jump start on learning the language. Then yesterday we had church, all in Spanish of course, and then went to la PLAYA (beach). Honestly seeing this beach was like nothing I have ever seen before. The water is incredibly clear with so many different variations of colors of blue and green. It was incredible. I would put pictures on here but I dont have my camera connector. Then today we spent about four to five hours painting the groups dormitories because they are coming in tomorrow. Then we got to go back to the beach. Me and Rosemary, one of the girls in the children's home, got to talk and hike up in the woods along the beach. It truly is incredible being in a different country and out of your element because your really just don't realize how much you have until you see people with so much less. It really makes me question what makes me worthy of such a wealthy life. I am so incredibly excited to see what this summer holds and what the Lord is going to teach me. I am grateful for all of your prayers and I will continue to keep you updated.

Love,

Audrey