Time

I know I often comment how fast time is flying by here in San Juan, but in the past, time was never at risk of running out. I still always considered the amount of time I would have here in San Juan indefinite. And although we do have plans to return at some point, now that our August 6th leaving date is coming closer, I feel both the excitement for the next step and the panic that we're almost "out of time."

With June always being full of reports and deadlines within the nutrition program and student sponsorship, it was easier to keep focused on the tasks at hand and keep "the move" out there somewhere. Now that we've hit July 1st and all of the reports are turned in, it's a little unnerving to say the least.

As conversations and visits with Nicole and Kamanda have begun to take shape for the transition, I often think back to the beginning. The amazement and the joy I felt when first winding our ways through the mountains to the campos to visit families in the nutrition program. The jokes and fun made while trying to figure out the process of student photos. It was so crazy, so confusing, that laughing about it was the only way to get through some days. 

Pics from my first ever trip to El Cercado.
It's easy to see why I fell in love with it.

Over the years I have had to be more conscious, more intentional to celebrate the small victories, to count and recount the blessings. At times it has been easy to get bogged down by the challenges, the sadnesses of life here. But together it's woven a rich tapestry. Yesterday as I attended CCED's end of the year luncheon, tidbits and snapshots of almost 6 years working alongside them flooded my mind. It's all been a bit of a wild ride, and I remain thankful.

CCED Luncheon
(Happened to be where Wellington and I got married)

So with that, I'll leave you with some photos, and ask you for prayer. This move is BIG both individually and as a family, for our family here and our family there. Please pray for buckets of unity, patience, and understanding for Wellington and I as we maneuver through this, and a little fun in the midst of it wouldn't hurt either. Thank you for the many ways that you have poured out your love and support over us.

Whether with the CNP families or students at the school,
Owen has brought joy and opened new doors for connection.

As I was going through my drawers, I came across

this gem. My friends in PA are the best and hilarious.

One of them made me this "magazine cover" as I 

prepared to move here in 2011. I am looking forward

to being an "in person" part of life with them again.

And, of course, my two biggest blessings.
I never would have believed you if you had told
me that they'd be part of my journey here.

Changes Ahead

While spring isn’t as easily defined here in the DR as in PA, the rains have started, the flowers on the tree outside of our apartment are blooming, and the El Cercado mountains glow in their re-found green-ness. I’ve always loved this time of year. New life. New beginnings. It’s been fun to have teams who saw me pregnant last year, return again and get to meet the little boy who had been growing inside of me. It is a meaningful season, and it is also the start of a bittersweet season for Wellington and me.

Quiet time on my balcony is always a gift.

Wellington was recently approved for a residency visa from the United States. It’s crazy exciting news for our little family, and it’s also sad and difficult news. It means that we are on our way to new adventures, but also that we will be leaving San Juan, at least for the time being. When we married, we knew our life would be a bit complicated, knowing that if one of us lived near our family of origin, it would mean that the other would be far from theirs. Now having Owen, we feel this at a new depth. However, we are trusting God to continue to lead our steps.

So many factors played into our decision to start the residency visa process, but ultimately it was listening to God moving through it all. You might remember how we hadn’t been successful at obtaining visitor’s visas for Wellington in the past two years, which has been a game changer for us in thinking about the future. While my family has been amazingly supportive of us being in San Juan, even as my father has had an especially difficult past two years battling stage 4 metastatic appendiceal cancer, this has also weighed on our hearts. The residency visa process has gone faster than we ever imagined, way faster than what we understand the normal to be, and I feel like perhaps God was erasing any doubts that I had about this being the right decision at this time for our family. Imagine, it took less than 8 weeks from first submitting the petition to have the processed visa in hand. They can take up to 90 days just to approve a petition; ours was approved in 2 days. Wellington’s interview at the embassy was maybe 5 minutes long before receiving a “yes,” and we were out of the embassy by 8:15am. It usually takes two weeks to process the paperwork and visa; his was ready the following day.

We are excited to see how God leads us during this time. While we know we’re heading to Pennsylvania, we’re not sure of much else. Tentatively we’re looking at making the move towards the end of July/beginning of August. Our goal is for Wellington to obtain citizenship, which will open opportunities for our family that we would not otherwise have. That will take at least three years living in the states. So, we’ll be searching for housing, for furnishings for our home, for jobs, for transportation, for language learning for Wellington. For a slew of things, but we’ll stop there before I get way too overwhelmed! One step at a time. Just as God has gone before me moving to San Juan, we know that He will go before us as we move to PA. There are many things to look forward to, especially being able to be an in-person part of life with family and friends there, and sharing favorites with Wellington.

While on one hand this feels like a “see you later” rather than a “good-bye” to our San Juan community, it will not be an easy adjustment to not see our friends, co-workers, and DR family on a daily basis. This is (also) our home, and we’d like to be here and a part of Solid Rock again in the future. Yes, we’ll be able to flush toilet paper, enjoy warm showers, and count on 24-hour power, but those are little things in comparison to what all this involves. 

I want to end well here. I find myself reminiscing already. There have been tremendous moments during these last 5 ½ years that I have lived in San Juan. I want to honor my relationships and work by leaving well. That will mean being present and real and vulnerable, and well, I, we, need your prayers. It’s only been with the crazy amounts of support through prayer, encouragement, and finances that you have poured out on me and my family that we’ve gotten to this point. And while we’re stepping away from San Juan for now, I, by all means, hope that the relationships we’ve formed with all of you continue into this next phase too. 

So much gratitude pondered in my heart.

La familia Rodriguez

When Things Don't Go As Planned

You may remember that when last I wrote, I was looking forward to a few weeks visiting my people in Pennsylvania, and then returning to San Juan refreshed in July.  I have truly enjoyed reconnecting and spending time with family and friends in PA.  It is always good to be able to be with my loved ones in person, 

With my sister-in-law, mom, and sister at my baby shower.

Backyard fun with my niece and nephew

and, well... I'm still here.

While Wellington and I very much respect the OB that I was seeing for the pregnancy in San Juan, we were also looking forward to me being able to check in with doctors here in the states during my visit. What we weren't expecting, however, was that they would come back with the recommendation for me to stay put until after the baby arrives due to health concerns. It took a few weeks for those pieces to become clear, and it took us a little longer to process what that would mean both for our family and for the ministry; ultimately coming to peace with the decision to follow those recommendations and so, here we are. 

My niece and I skyping with Wellington

Baby boy appears to be healthy and developing normally- HUGE praise!- and we pray that things will continue to go well for both of us. (Join us in those prayers?)  Can't wait to meet him towards the end of September! :) 

I am truly grateful for SRI's understanding and flexibility in adjusting to this news as well. I think we've come up with a great workable plan. Although my work will look a little different, I will continue to manage pieces of the Child Nutrition Program and Student Sponsorship remotely (Wellington and an amazing crew will manage the work on the ground), as well as help out with other administrative tasks while I am here in PA. As soon as the little one and I are medically cleared (probably 6-8 weeks after delivery), we will head to San Juan, and I will continue to ease back into work until I begin full-time again in January.

My view these days :)

In the midst of the uncertainty of what was going to happen, someone (unaware of the turmoil) commented that I had so much to be happy about. At the moment, I was stuck on the negatives of how my husband would not be able to be with us to experience the rest of the pregnancy and miss being present for his son's birth, and how if I stayed in PA, we would end up being apart for more like 5 months rather than the 4 weeks we had planned. However, that small comment helped me to flip the switch and allow myself to open to the opportunities in this situation as well. Yes, it's still hard. It's still complicated. But there is so, so much to be thankful for as well, and it all certainly goes so much better when I let go of my notions of how this should have gone and focus instead on the positives that exist because of what is.

Transitions and Whatnot

As most of you know, over the past months, we have experienced transition after transition in our SRI family. Dan and Kari left for their sabbatical. Jeff, Kamanda, and Braegan transitioned into the guesthouse. Nicole and Monchy headed to the states in April for a bit. Our Dominican staff have taken on new responsibilities to help keep things going strong. With each change, new adjusting, new relating, new norms arrive. More changes are coming fast upon us. In three weeks we both will be welcoming Dan and Kari back to the DR and saying goodbye to Jeff, Kamanda, and Braegan as they move to Phoenix. As one who has been a "stayer" throughout these changes, it has been a mix of emotions and experiences. I care deeply about my team- they're my people here, and I celebrate the new experiences that they have been given, and I'm sad to say goodbyes. And I do my best to remember that in the scheme of things, God is moving on a broad scale and also individually in each of our lives. Selfishly, I want to have all my people here with me, happy, healthy, all of us living and working in peace. Yet I also know that while even we don't always understand it, our paths weave in different ways, lead in different ways. With that come new hello's and new good-bye's. As with all things, I am learning to not check out because of changes I may not be a fan of, but rather to give thanks and celebrate the "what has been" and the "what is," to also mourn for some of the pieces in that process, and trust that God keeps being God and will care for all of us no matter where we find ourselves.

An oldie but a goodie

Living and working in the ministry as Northamericans in another country bind us in a way that is not always easy to understand. We are instant family, yet not instant friends, but there is a connection that is not easily broken. Over time, new folks get weaved into our family, and we continue to grow even while now living in different places. (BTW- We spent a super weekend with Philip and Taylor Verberkmoes and can't wait to welcome them full-time to the Guesthouse this fall- can't wait for you to meet them!) 

I've realized that with all of these changes, and all of the upcoming ones, plus additional family and health situations that have been happening, that I'm a bit tired too. So I am looking forward to taking a few weeks in Pennsylvania towards the end of June into July, with my people there, to disconnect, reconnect, and reset my start button. I am so looking forward to it. Sadly, I need to leave my favorite fella here while I do that, since we still have not been able to get approval for a visitor's visa for Wellington to travel with me. I am so thankful for his wisdom and encouragement for me to go regardless- a decision that is not so easy for either of us to make.

my favorite fella

Part of the fun of being in Pennsylvania will be getting to share the experience of this pregnancy in person with my family and friends. That's right, we're expecting! and looking forward to meeting our little guy this fall. :) So, yes, another level of change and transition will be upon us soon. 

baby on board!

Being pregnant after a pregnancy loss, is a mix of feelings as well. There are those that think that somehow a new pregnancy erases the loss that occurred and makes everything "normal", but that is not nearly the case. There is excitement, and yet also a strange fear of jinxing this one by actually showing too much excitement. It's living with and holding the tension of love, joy, and loss. I love both of my babies- the one I said goodbye to way too soon last summer, and the one that I'm carrying now and hope to meet this side of heaven. They are both in my thoughts every single day. I am increasingly thankful for each new day of this journey, and I wish that I could say that all the fears and nervousness have subsided, but they haven't. Yet God walks with me and carries me in those as well.

In the midst of this, we are wrapping up the school year with all of our partner schools, and continuing to work to bring young children in health in the Nutrition Program. It's a busy time of year and an exciting time of year. I will definitely celebrate meeting my deadlines in a few weeks, and I look forward to returning refreshed to begin again in July.

Continuing to praise and trust in the God who is the same yesterday and today and forever...

Being Still

A staff retreat in Cabarete the end of March was the perfect way to wrap up the winter season. It was nice to have non pressured time in a fresh setting to connect with other staff members and our directors who came to be with us. Rather than exploring, Wellington and I took our free time to just "be".  It was a beautiful, and WINDY, setting to do so.

My favorite spot in Cabarete

The beginning of April, I enjoyed a day with a couple group members from Indianapolis to share more about the Child Nutrition Program and visit the site of our current project- a new home for a family in need. I will share the details of how this project came to be in the July CNP newsletter, but I so appreciate the support that we have received from Solid Rock to do something out of the ordinary. The importance that we put on partnering WITH people rather than DOING FOR people. It's an essential value to our work in the CNP and I love seeing how it spills over into the other programs of Solid Rock as well.

2 of the kids looking forward to their new home.

House in progress!

The last two weeks have provided extra time for me to work through some special projects within the schools, and work with our CNP partners in developing new methods to better monitor our outcomes in order to strengthen our program and better demonstrate the impact that we are having in combatting malnutrition. While not "flashy" work by any means, in my role here, it is essential to me to work to strengthen "the bones" of our partnerships with the schools and the CNP so that we are both honoring our donors' contributions and providing services that honor the dignity and worth of the Dominicans with whom we work.

Last Friday I took the day to enjoy the retreat provided by Velvet Ashes (an online community for women serving overseas). The sessions had to do with Communing with God, and how the closer we move to him, the farther we move from our fears. Just like last year, the theme was very timely for me, and I had a restful, restoring day that I needed more than I had realized that I did.

Coloring and Hammocks guarantee a good time :)

At the end of the retreat, it was touched upon how often after a really meaningful experience with God, we face some kind of unexpected challenge. And that we did. This week has been a tough one for Wellington and I after a tragedy struck a little too close for comfort. After spinning for a couple days, during a sleepless spell one night, I came across an emailed devotional reading titled "Devastated but not Destroyed" (from Proverbs 31 ministry).  It was the reminder that I needed that God is good at being God. My worrying and attempts to "fix" things aren't needed, and I don't need to try to fix things that he hasn't assigned to me to fix. The verse- "Be Still and Know that I Am God." Psalm 46:10 (One of my favorites).

Despite all the unknowns facing us all, that is what we are called to. So I, for one, am choosing to Rest in that, and remember Whose I am, and that God has promised to love us and never leave us. "He Restores My Soul"- Psalm 23:3

A Little Bit of Everything...

Winter fell into a pretty regular rhythm around here, and spring is finally on its way.  Believe me- I'm excited for warmer temperatures for lots of reasons, but especially so that my morning showers don't feel quite so freezing cold! :)  As a staff, we've been focusing on improving communication and also setting time aside to spend time together and support one another apart from the daily grind of work.  This has been a real blessing to me, and I believe a help to all of us as there's just four of us here for these few months.

February was a welcome month and included a visit from my mom. I don't have words to express how much she means to me. She is a willing sounding board, cheerleader, counselor, support for me, and a whole lot more.  I love seeing my mom and Wellington together, and love them practicing their limited Spanish and English together.  It was the best of weeks, and I so needed that.  She also brought with her letters and photos from various family and friends. Honestly, it means the world to get a short note, a pack of gum, a reminder that we are remembered and loved.  It made my year.  

I have been enjoying a mix of Skype "business" meetings that I have had lately- those days where I remember that I am a professional. Not that I'm not on other days, but much of my position here swings on the informal side of the continuum, so those days where I get to use "big words" sometimes bring a special joy - especially when I remember those words in English and don't get tongue-tied switching between languages like often happens. :) 

We're up to some exciting things in the CNP, which I can't wait to share with you soon.  I'm also learning about water purification systems- something I can't say that I ever thought I would do, as I've been pinch hitting as a go-between for the Clean Water Project at CCED and the Solid Rock committee back in the states. And this week we're super excited for the group of educators that we are hosting from Arizona that will be doing observations and professional development in some of our schools.  Looking forward to sharing more about this with you.  So thrilled for teachers and principals pouring into other teachers and principals.

Besides my mom's visit, what has topped my list for this past month and a half is the progress that we've seen in Jenny.  I mentioned Jenny before- she is the former sponsor student who was paralyzed after a fall at the end of last summer.  Wellington and I have been keeping in touch with the family and her former sponsor, and we were so encouraged by our last visit. Jenny is now able to eat normally without relying solely on her feeding tube.  While she does not speak, she is much more attentive and interactive, and is making strides in using her arms.  We give praise for the progress she has made with the support of her family and medical and therapeutical team.  Please continue to carry her and her family in your prayers. I share her story (and her photo) with you with permission from her family, as we together continue to trust in the power of prayer and community when we go through struggles.

Continue to celebrate the little moments of life...

Possibility

How is tomorrow February 1st? 2016 is already starting to fly by. But before we go there, I want to back up a little bit.

The holidays here regularly get a mixed review from me, but this past December, two great gifts reminded me what I LOVE about the season. Wellington's sister and nephew who live out of the country came to visit, for the first time in FOUR years! Being a part of the surprise, watching the family reconnect, wow, it made my heart smile. Plus San Juan has the GREATEST holiday display ever. My second big God moment of the season was the Sunday after Christmas. Routinely the protestant churches do not do much for Christmas (there's lots of reasons behind that, that I won't get into here), and I MISS singing and hearing Christmas hymns. As Wellington and I entered, there was a palpable feel of LOVE and JOY. And then a tiny elderly woman stood up, introduced a small choir that she put together especially for this time of year, and they sang O HOLY NIGHT. Goosebumps and tears. Wellington whispered "now I understand part of what you miss. That was incredible."

My beautiful mother-in-law and sisters-in-law

And now, 2016! I've been pretty open about struggles that I've been experiencing, and I've been working to reclaim hope. I'm not so into new year's resolutions, but I am a fan of picking One Word as my focus for the year. Inspired by a bracelet that a dear friend gave me (Thanks, Nicki!), my word for 2016 is POSSIBILITY. My goal is to be mindful of the possibilities that exist in each moment, relationship, situation. It is never as dark as it feels sometimes. There always exists a possibility of light.

So here we go!

The CNP continues in full swing. We have such a great team. And the first SRI groups of the year have been so generous with us, to help us provide even more for the families we work with. Thank you! I'm excited to see what this year has in store.

Back into the swing of groups, sponsor night continues to be a favorite. Yes, there are a lot of phone calls, and a bit of nerves as we wait for everyone to arrive, but the joy of the night certainly overshines any of that. Relationships are being built, families are connecting, people feel that they matter. Love.

And, too, January has brought the celebration of ONE YEAR with my favorite fella. We've been married one whole year! Ups and downs and twists and turns, and I love doing life with him. We had such a good weekend getaway on the southwest coast to celebrate...

And well, we try to create fun, wherever we roam...

What possibilities does 2016 have in store? 

I guess we'll have to wait and see, but let's be always watching for even the smallest of God moments, and together RECLAIM HOPE.