A day in Jen's life...

WHAT DOES YOUR DAY LOOK LIKE?

I have been asked several times, "what is your day look like?".  Often that is hard to answer because every day with 5 kids is full of surprises.  AND every day living in a third world culture is full of even more surprises!

2 inch slug in our house

Ollie caught a lizard and a cricket

I am still awaking to a baby who has been stuggling with diarrhea(from a parasite/amoeba) and the wonderful rash it brings, a hungry toddler, and either fighting or laughter by the oldest three.  I begin to pray for electricity so the coffee pot works and then do a quick 'floor check' in which I usually discover a slug or spider that hasn't made it into hiding yet! Thankfully with gas stoves, we usually have fire to do eggs ( we have power 12 hours or less a day. When we do have power it charges batteries that give us power the rest of the day. We have gone many days without the batteries/inverter working).   Clean up from meals is a must, unless you enjoy sharing your home with tropical insects.  We then attempt homeschooling.. the tempatation of lizards, spiders, slugs, and roosters cockadoodling is overwhelming for young minds.  If that isn't distracting, the fact that we live in a community house brings other things or people unannounced.  Time for the baby's nap...she must get a bird bath by mom because she has been crawling on the dusty, dirty, and yes...dead bugged floor. It is a very dusty area and with no air conditioner, windows need to stay open inviting the above in.  (Good news, our bodies are acclimated better to the heat and I no longer look like I am in the middle of a heart attack with sweat pouring off me) Tim the tool man, Josh, built a nice card board baby gate since she fell down 4 cement stairs!) Who needs Babies R Us?

Ready for  a walk!

I start another round of meals for lunch..do the dishes and sweep the floor for round 2...and hope the oldest three will nap at 2.  Nap time allows me to work with Tate on more school or catch up on things for the ministy.  Dinner follows and there are no options to grab Chic-fil-A so I repeat my meal routine!  If we don't have Bible Study at night or another commitment, we start our nightly routine of Parlyn taking a bath in the kitchen sink (fill with water, add clorax for 15 minutes, and sometimes boil a kettle of hot water if we don't get hot water that moment).  The older have learned to shower themselves, although Miss Finley usually requires our presense or she will dump the entire bottle of shampoo on the floor to use her little body to slide on (Finley is our curious, determined, and strong willed child). Prayer time...and buenos noches (good night!) kiddos.  Josh and I then catch up on emails, life, plans, or maybe an episode of 24 (we have no TV so we use dvds on our laptop that were left or donated).  And many times we just flat crash from the daily heat and brain power used from learning a new language.  This may sound similar to many of your days- the busyness that is.  When we have a team visiting from the states...this whole schedule is different. 

Our street right outside the Mak House

It is easy to be frustrated because I am doing what I did in the States...but with added inconveniences.  I often wonder, "Lord, what is my purpose here?"  But He has been gracious in reminding me that THIS is what He called our family to do ( we asked, He answered), we had peace about it, and He provided the ways to get here in just 4 short months.  It is easy as a mom, through the daily grind, to feel like you are accomplishing nothing and yet you are dog-tired by 8 p.m.  It is easy to want to 'get out there' and think I am making a difference because sometimes that daily grind of nurturing 5 kids doesn't seem heroic.  It is a continual mental battle to take those thoughts captive and know that I have 5 disciples to minister too.  And that will be fruitful one day!

Friends Sylvia, Miguelina, Ines

People have told me they feel bad complaining to us because of our what we experience daily.  The truth is that this is where God has us and therefore He will provide if we are in His will.  Now, do I do great at trusting in Him 100% of the time? No! Do I let my thoughts over run me at times? Yes!  Do I do the things I wish I didn't do? Yes!  Being on the mission field has just forced me to face the things I struggled with in the States.  I think if I was forced to return to the states tomorrow, I would be hesitant in fear that I would fall back into my trust in other things and not in the Father.  So for those of you faced with decisions to step out... it may be rough, it may be lonely, it may get ugly when faced with your sin....BUT finding your joy IN HIM and allowing Him to prune you no matter what the cost will be worth a deeper relationship with your Creator. 

Main street in Los Ciruelos, Montellano. Walking through the neighborhood.

Things I am learning: have JOY in the Giver and not the Gifts, how to love the unlovely  (psalm 133), repent more often, have grace with my spouse, know that I am given grace more than I deserve, many of you are teaching me about giving beyond, and to trust in Him in all things (meaning I don't need to control all situations).

LESS SERIOUS NOTE:

Oh, I must share. I now drive by myself (and my ducklings) to the La Sirena to grocery shop! At first I was scared to death because the law of driving here is... well...there is no laws from what we see. So, I have learned to pass on the right, honk as a way of saying 'move over', run a red light if I feel like it, and cut people off to not get myself cut off! I told Josh, I felt bad because I honked loudly at a 'newbee" driver at the round about the other day. You have right away if you are entering the round about and you don't if you are exiting. Well, the newbee in front me sat in the middle of the road frozen and fearful of entering....so I kindly gave them a loud honk to prevent me and the kids from being rear ended. I felt bad and should of given grace since that was me a month ago! Yet, I was proud of myself for being sucessful on conquering the trip there and back DOMINICAN STYLE.  Once in the store, we are stopped in every isle so the locals can pinch Parlyn and Finley's cheeks.  Which calls for another bird bath after the grocery store trip.

Holding the chicken

"Finley Funny"  We are teaching the kids Spanish and she is very receptive.  She also uses it to yell at people..  As the ladies in the grocery store pinch her cheeks she yells, "no mas" to them (no more!).  She also takes Parlyn's bottle out of her hands and gets in her face and says, "say, 'por favor! say, 'por favor!"  demanding her to say please.  (Parlyn only says 'moma' and can moo and meow!)  No mercy for little P.

GOAL: 

At the Makarios School

I am hoping to figure out a way to be at the Makarios School more and in the community more to build relationships. Today, I fit in a walk in the neighborhood. As I was walking, a lady came out of her house and snatched up Finley and took her inside to show her off I guess...they were rattling off in Spanish. STRANGE!  I had to follow her in to make sure nothing happened. I am learning this is part of the outgoing culture here. (This happens often to Finley... not surprised people love her, but it is making her very guarded.)

RECENTLY:

Essentials for D.R. quiet time: candle, coffee, raid, bible.

We hosted Thanksgiving Dinner for all the staff.  We did the turkeys and some sides and others brought side dishes.  We were concerned how to cook a turkey for 4 hours in ovens that function with heat levels 1,2,3,4, or 5...and tend to jump temperatures for no reason.  Josh cooked the best turkeys I have ever ate!  We all had a wonderful fellowship and comida (food)!

Best Turkeys Ever!!  Found Butterball from NC! REAL Treat!

Thanksgiving with the Makarios Staff

Also, the Miles family, who had signed on this year to be the Principal of the Makarios school have decided to part ways with Makarios.  It is nothing that Makarios has done, but their hearts are directed elsewhere in the D.R.  Josh did a great job in leading our team through this, focusing on the letter to the Ephesians regarding the Body and how it functions with many parts.  When the parts are functioning correctly, then the Body can function as a whole.  The enemy could have used this to tear apart our team, but instead unity has continued.  Praise to Him.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks for all the prayers, emails, support, and cards!

Chicken, rice and beans (not pictured) National lumch food.  Seriously every day!

Blessed,

Jen

Update and Medical Team Visit

This past week we hosted our first team.  The team was a medical team from Ohio.  It was made up of a Pediatrician, PA, EMTs, and nurses.  They were wonderful!  They come once a year and give physicals to the students at the Makarios school, as well as their families.  They also see the Dominican/Haitian staff members along with their families.  Each child recieves PinX, a deworming medicine at this time, whatever treatment is applicible, as well as their physical assessment.  There was even time for visits to near by villages, Pancho Mateo and Chichigua to check on these residents.  The team worked very hard to see 300+ people!  They were joyful to share that it is so awesome to see the kids at the school thriving since when they last came.  Every year they are seeing healthier children, much due to the food, vitamins, and care from the school that Makarios provides.  Many of these children were malnourished greatly before attending Makarios.  The week was a blessing to all of us in many ways.  Read more here www.makariosinternational.org

How are we?  Well, I think we are starting to settle in more.  Don't notice the heat as much, nor the billon bugs.  Although, I was awoken at 4 a.m. this morning to 4 children running around in their room trying to kill the banana spider that kindly dropped her nest of 100+ baby spiders in their bathroom.  In my half asleep vision, I looked, processed, and ran for  "big daddy spider killer Josh"!  He then filled the entire room with the can of RAID, lets pray the kids lungs are strong!


Josh has been busy settling into his role as director as well.  He spends time overseeing things at the school, taking care of details for teams that come from the states, meeting with the staff, leading Wednesday night bible study, and getting to know the community.  Of course, his past career has prepared him well for the leadership role.  I think he is doing his role well!  He has also been practicing driving his 'motor' (motorcycle)... I think he has only fallen twice!

I had fun putting together the menu for the team of 12, shopping for them, and preparing meals for them.  I wasn't sure how it would really turn out... but I think it went well overall.  The kids enjoyed jumping in to help too.  The team leader brought his two daughters, ages 8 and 10 months so our kids really appreciated the companionship!  It was cute to see Parlyn interact with a baby her same age for the first time!  I am doing my best to school the kids during the day.  The distractions are many, but I pray they are learning just by living here!  Cooking three meals a day, pretty religiously, makes you appreciate the word "drive-through".

Tate has set his heart on writing his numbers to 3,000.  He is around 1200 right now and relentless.  It is neat to see him set a goal and strive for it.  He, as well as Oliver, spend much of their day capturing bugs, insects, lizards, whatever.  They actually put a cockroach in a baggy in which I found in my freezer today.   A plus to having boys, they will kill the bugs and throw away the dead mouse on the traps! 

Aribella is still shy, yet puts good effort into trying out the language.  It is cute to hear her try to communicate.  She does still leave notes around the apartment for us to find that say, "I wut to go bake to NC" and in her prayers she admits to missing home but also says she knows this is Gods will for our family.   She is a wonderful helper for Finley and Parlyn.  When we have a sitter, I can just say, "ask Belle"!

Finley.  Finley.  Many say she was born Dominican!  She dances the same.  She is blunt.  She is outgoing.  She loves people.  She also, is picking up the language some.  We were with the medical team at their pool on beach day and a local boy was speaking to her in Spanish and she responds, "NO SE!" ("i don't know"!).  Then he continued to try to pick her up in the water and bounce her and she points her little finger at him and says, "NO MAS!" (NO MORE!).  She not only is learning phrases, but apparently knows how to use those phrases too! 

Audrey and Little P (Darren Youngs Daughter)

Little P (Parlyn) own now 4 teeth, is playful, tempermental, and stands when holding onto something.  Since our home is surrounded by a cow pasture, she understands the phrase, "Donde esta las vacas?"  (where are the cows?)  Her eyes widen and she jerks her head to see out a window and then attempts a 'moo'.  Yes, she understands Spanish!  I just wish I knew it better so she would for sure be bilingual.  Her big blue eyes and white skin capture much attention.  They say she looks like a baby doll.  When we attend the Spanish speaking church, the women just scoop her out of my arms and love her to peices. 

Though things are going better, Satan is still in battle towards our team.  Pray for our team out here.  I have been more aware of the spiritual battles that we are against everyday.  I have been teaching the kids about Ephesians 6, the armor of God.  It is important for us all to recognize the enemy at work. 
They have had fun making a helmet of salvation, a sword of the spirit, and the shield of faith out of... a diaper box!  Hey, you do what you have to when supplies are limited in the D.R.!  (Michaels and AC Moore, where are ya?).


Even Jen got help from the doctors! Ingrown Toenail=)

Josh with Kelvin & Beliseur(teacher aides)

Eating in our kitchen as a family.