When Life Just Is

I've been MIA on the blog front for a couple months and before more life passes by, I have sat down to check in.

I got married! TWICE! :)  (Many ministers here in the DR do not have the legal power to "officially" marry couples, so that means a civil ceremony with a judge for the legal paperwork and then a church wedding if the couple wants that too- which we did.) :) I was blown away by the love poured out on Wellington and I through words, encouragement, acts of service, prayers, and gifts during this time.  We thoroughly enjoyed our celebrations and also spending time with my family and friends that travelled from the states to join us.  So fun. So special. and SO glad that we agree that we never want to plan an event like that again! ;)  It was also especially meaningful for me to make the connection that it was 10 years ago in January 2005 that I first stepped foot in San Juan and felt that there was going to be more for me here, and now 10 years later in 2015, I was not only living and working here, but marrying my best friend. 

with my mom and sister

4 of my very best friends made the trip. HUGE.

and who could forget these awesome ladies..

As they say, the wedding is just one day-- or in this case, two ;) , but it's the day in, day out that makes a marriage. Wellington and I are happy to be on this journey with its twists and turns, and with a sense of humor, we are learning how to combine our lives. We each might be just a little more set in our ways than we originally thought! But the blending of lives and cultures and loves is BEAUTIFUL in all of its fun and messiness. And it's even MORE beautiful with God in the center of it.

My puppy is getting LARGE

There's been some more health struggles lately too. Chikengunya finally caught me and knocked me out for a bit, Wellington had a couple bouts with the flu, and I'm now just getting over Shingles. We're still praying that the job comes through for him, even as we are very thankful that he is loving his classes at the university this semester. All of these changes have messed with my head and heart a bit, too, if I'm being completely honest. Where and in what (or in whom) do I find my identity, both individually and as a couple? I am increasingly grateful for the support system that we do have that walk alongside us in the highs and lows of the journey of life, and yet sometimes I STILL hesitate to open up and lean into them in the ways in which I should, knowing that we truly were created for community and sharing the ups and downs of our journeys. We DO trust that God is at work. We desire that HE be glorified in and through it all.

Despite the health difficulties, work goes on! The end of February, I finished and submitted a grant application for the Child Nutrition Program. We won't find out until the beginning of 2016, but it was fun to dream about possibilities for growth within the program, to be in conversation with the other key players in the CNP about planning ways to meet our goals. And I realized how much I really kinda missed compiling data, report writing, and all that nerdy goodness that goes with it. It was good to evaluate our services and recognize areas for improvement, like better evaluating/tracking of our outcomes. Regardless of whether we get this grant or not, it is always great to define purpose and continue to provide services in partnership with the families in a way that respects who they are and the way that we want to represent God's love in our work. Our partnership with Amway in providing  micronutrients to CNP kids will also be an important way to follow their progress. I will be in no shortage of reports to write between monitoring these outcomes and quarterly newsletters! (Maybe I should take back expressing that wish to find ways to better "professionally" represent the important work that we do?!)

A round of meetings with the schools' principals renews my animo. It's been exciting to see them excited in thinking of the possibilities of what the upcoming increase in sponsorship rates will mean for their students and schools and the projects they have wanted to complete, such as computer labs, building projects, and music programs, but just haven't had the resources to get them done.

We had a uniquely special time with a group the other week. People who really get that the following of our hearts to be here and serve God here also means the readjustments of relationships back in the states, the saying of good-byes, the feelings of and/or fear of being forgotten. They reminded me of my worth in Christ, the perfectness of imperfect people striving towards community. There have been many, seemingly small, yet large in impact, moments over these several weeks with group members, with family and friends, with my husband, that I will treasure. 

When I quiet myself and my, at times, anxiety-ridden mind, I can hear the smooth harmony and feel the danceable rhythm that these highs and lows and ordinary moments are creating; the whole crazy, beautiful, bittersweetness, that is life.

La familia Rodriguez :)