Prayers answered

Yesterday marked exactly 30 days since I returned from Christmas holiday. It's been a fairly busy 30 days with getting readjusted, welcoming my first guest to the island, and figuring out my revised schedule since the changes in the mobile clinic.   As I thought about this last month, I am extremely grateful for the many prayers answered.  Hopefully, many of you received my Christmas update letter that provided updates on my Praises and Prayer Needs. In case you don't remember, here it is below. 

So, let me testify about some of the prayers that have been answered already! Forming friendships when you are living outside of your home country is challenging for many reasons that are varied and complex. About 3 weeks ago, a lady stopped by the house and introduced herself. She was looking for someone to practice English with and I guess the word on the street was that the ladies who live in the corner house speak English. Small community, word travels I guess. Well, Melanie who is the superb English teacher extraordinaire is extremely busy, so this nice lady was introduced to me. Maybe Jewel can help. We chatted and exchanged some basic information and made a plan to meet. We have met together just 2 times so far, but our times of conversation have really been a blessing. My new friend is named Carola. She is a sweet Christian woman who happens to live just down the street. Our 2nd meeting/English lesson was really more of a devotion time. We read the Our Daily Bread devotion (www.odb.com) in English and discussed how it applied to our lives. Carola is also helping me with my Spanish so we are spending about half the time chatting in English and the other half chatting in Spanish. I count that as 2 prayers answered with one stone.

Another prayer need was the suspension of the medical clinic. Unfortunately the clinic has not yet been restarted, so please continue to pray. However, I'm thankful that one of the 3 staff members has found another employment, which means he and his family can stay in the country a while longer! He is super thankful to be working again in the medical field. This is temporary work, so please pray that a permanent opening will become available. For me, it's been really difficult not having a health focus as part of my ministry here. This week there has been a short term medical trip less than a quarter mile up the street from the school. The team is mostly Nurse Practitioners, Physicians and Dentist from Indiana Purdue University. I had the pleasure of working with them for 2 days this week. Oh the joy of doing patient care again! They were so surprised to find a FNP here and I was so grateful to God for sending them my way!

Thank you for partnering with me in prayer! I read once that we should make more of a habit of writing our prayer requests down so we can clearly see how God is answering our prayers. Try keeping a journal record of your prayer requests, like a prayer log, and start crossing off the many prayers that God is answering.

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16 NIV

God Provides Food to Eat

I hit the ground running a week ago yesterday. After a quick reunion with friends and family here, I jumped right back into kindergarten classes. One of our challenges and goals for the new year is finding more ways to integrate the word of God into our classes. January started the lesson on FOOD!  Our kids are having fun learning the difference between fruits and vegetables and chapel last week centered on the creation, specifically day 3 when God created fruits and vegetables (Genesis 1:3). We used that as a springboard to a fruit tasting.  The kids enjoyed sampling fruits and expanding their vocabulary with new descriptors like sabrosa, jugosa, crujiente, gustosa and the lists goes on. We celebrated the warm weather of this island that permits certain fruits to grow here that are not available in other countries like the US. One of my favorite new fruits is guanabana, aka soursop.

I was introduced to this fruit on my first trip to the DR almost a year ago. I remember the laughs as we all tried to pronounce guanabana. I still smile as I think about Vicki and her attempts to say that word. So, I will break it down... gwa - na - ba - na,  say it again ... gwa - na - ba - na. My host dad makes a really yummy juice with gwa - na- ba - na.

Who created fruit?? GOD!! and vegetables?? GOD! We give praise to God for the food that he provides for us.  During the week, our science and social studies classes have centered on fruits and vegetables, with each lesson providing an opportunity to remember how God provides for us.

What a powerful lesson for these little ones to learn, that God is our provider. I looked out at the faces and thought about some of the really hard family situations, where families are struggling to provide food and clothes. I landed on one little face, who more than likely was squirming in her seat, giving love 'taps' to a friend or any other mischievous behavior. Our cook describes her as "the smallest little girl who eats a lot".  Her mom came to school the other day. "Is it true?" she asked, referring to a conversation the principal had with her husband the day before. "Yes, it's true."

We decided that this little one NEEDS to stay with us all day. See, her family took her out of the all day program which includes lunch, because they couldn't afford the extra $150 pesos a week ($3). We had noticed, that this little one was coming to school hungrier than ever and a few afternoons she actually showed back up on the school steps 3 hours later because there was no food at home. You see, often the way that God provides for others is by using us, you and I, to be the hands and feet of Christ. Can you imagine the relief on this mom's face to know that the youngest of her 3 children, is now receiving breakfast and lunch daily. Yes, God does provide!

December Reflection

A Christmas tree in the barrio.

I'm sitting in the airport, preparing for a journey back home-home;  to borrow a system used by a friend to designate home in the states from home where God has placed her for a season. Last night, I let out a yelp of anticipation as I thought about my next shower would be a hot shower! Woo-Hoo!!  I wish you could have seen the big cheesy grin at the thought of a hot shower. Oh, and how I'm looking forward to seeing my family and friends. 

As I think about the last 3 months, I'm amazed and so grateful for the warm welcome that I have received in Santiago.  I was invited to a Christmas service last night at a house church in Santiago and it was absolutely the best way to wrap up this first trimester of my journey.  We clapped, sang, danced, played and basted in the warmth of that humble place and in the joy of Christ. How awesome!  Today, I can't stop thinking about the warmth that lit the room, the laughter in the kitchen as we all chipped in to get dinner prepared,  the children who sang with reckless abandon, and the little faces that ran to greet me. 

The anticipation of going home to 'home comforts' has been building the last 3 weeks, but in that moment I experienced a sweet peace. Christmas is often such a hurried, worried, busy time and I'm delighted to have been able to enjoy a slower pace this year.   From  the mananita -  drumming and Christmas carols at 5am, to learning new Christmas songs, and new vocabulary in Spanish to share the story of our  Savior's birth, this Christmas season has been unlike any other.  So, as I return to the states and re-immerse myself into old Christmas traditions,  I pray that the true and most meaningful parts of Christmas will be what shines brightest in my life. The value of family and friends and time spent together, the birth of a Savior, who is the Great Hope, and the importance of serving others and not aborting the vision that God has for each of us here on Earth are all at the heart of Christmas. 

The kindergarten class.... I love these children! 

I imagine that at the end of this vacation, it will be tough to say good bye once again to family and friends. I have this picture of myself and the 18 kindergartners (2 were absent this day) to remind me of why I'm here, in Santiago. God has blessed me to be able to plant seeds in the lives of these little ones but they have taught me so much more, in the sweet innocent way that only kids can do.  They really are an amazing group of little ones.  As we go into the second half of the school year, perhaps, you would want to contribute to some of our classroom needs??!! I brought an extra empty suitcase home in the hopes that we can fill it with classroom supplies. If you can help, please check out our needs on the wishlist tab by clicking here.   

Merry Christmas and God Bless You!

Jewel

November in pictures

It's amazing how quickly things have shifted into full gear. Lesson plans, Bible memory verses, craft activities, clinic schedule and the list goes on and on. I haven't posted many pictures lately, so I thought I would do a highlight of November via pictures!


We have a teen helper at school who is such a blessing. It's nice to have an extra pair of hands to help out and especially someone as sweet and loving as this young lady. She came over one afternoon for a special outing and we had a fun time baking pumpkin bread!










At school, we were blessed to have students from the 9th and 10th grade Bible class at Santiago Christian School onsite at our Cienfuegos school for an afternoon of homework tutoring. Before leaving, the youth took prayer requests from the little ones and had a special time of prayer with them.

Another highlight this month was saying goodbye to avocado season. The last avocado fell, was consumed and thoroughly enjoyed. I tried purchasing avocados at the supermarket and I was so disappointed. It was like eating a bland green cardboard compared to the sun ripened avocados of the last 3 months. On the bright side the first mango has appeared on the mango tree in the back yard! In 2-3 months mangoes will be falling from the skies.... .... at least that's what I'm told.







Lastly, I shared a Thanksgiving dinner with my host family and friends on December 1st. The turkey was yummy and moist (well done Melanie!), homemade mashed potatoes, a green salad and I made my mom's mac and cheese.  We rounded up the night by going around and giving Thanks.


For me, I'm so thankful to be in this country, surrounded with new friends, and the blessed opportunity to share God's love with an amazing group of little ones!

Youth from SCS spent an afternoon with some of our afterschool kids!