Yesterday my alarm rang at 4:30am and I begrudgingly rolled out of bed. By 5, I was in the truck and, in the darkness of that hour, headed to the capital. See, I had an appointment at the Embassy at 8am, plans to do an end-of-the-year wrap-up meeting at the Eastern school, hopes to get a document translated, a visit to the Ministry of Foreign Relations for a document stamp after paying the tax for this stamp at the bank, and shopping for sponsor gift supplies (with donated money that team members had left for that purpose) all before returning back to San Juan later that same day... and I was doing it all by myself.
It's a busy time of year here, which means that it just didn't work out for anyone to go with me this week. I admit that there may have been a bit of whining in Wellington's ear the night before, but I was also determined to follow-through on what I needed to do and when I knew I needed to do it, rather than put it off until someone else could help. (Do you ever tend to rely too much on others rather than step out in confidence, you and God together? I do. I'm working on it.)
Have you ever had one of those days that you're just not looking forward to? or more than that, completely dreading?? Yesterday was a prime example of part of what God is working in me. As I poured my coffee into my travel mug before heading out the door, it hit me... as much as I was dreading the day, I was also overlooking the opportunities that existed within it as well. It might really be about being open to the possibilities, and choosing my attitude after all. Gag, I thought. ;)
Sometimes, it's definitely not that simple, of course. But yesterday, yesterday turned out to be just that.
The drive between San Juan and the capital is a gorgeous one, one that winds through such a mix of landscapes from fertile agricultural valley, to nearly desert-like landscape, mountains to flat plains, a glimpse of the ocean and so much more. As I drove past some of my favorite spots before the early morning light hit, I could only see dark shadows, and yet I knew the promise of beauty that those shadows held once the sun rose.
How often in my life do I struggle in those dark shadows unnecessarily because I don't trust that beauty is coming? How humbled am I when I realize that with God in the mix, no matter the length of the darkness or level of shadows, a promised beauty IS on the horizon?
By the time I hit the stretch between Bani and San Cristobal and the sunlight was dancing on the tips of the waving sugarcane in the fields, my mood had significantly lightened. Now, the morning after this crazy day, I smile.... for lots of reasons.
My name is officially changed! Yes, there's still the follow-up work with all the various and random places I have accounts, etc, but now, through Social Security and a new passport, I have a new name. And the people that work at the Embassy really are pretty nice too.
I am encouraged time and again by the folks at the Eastern School in the capital. People with heart pouring into their students, families, and communities. We had a great wrap-up meeting, got some new pics of the students in their classes and at recess, and heard more about the new dental ministry that the church/school will be offering to the community. It's exciting stuff, and I'm so glad that SRI (and I) get to be a part of it!
The somewhat shady lawyer/translator that Nicole and I use for our legal documents, was actually in a good mood, and got my criminal background check translated within a half hour (unheard of!). The line at BanReservas where you have to pay the tax for the Dominican apostille was only 30 minutes long too, and then top it off with only! waiting another 30 minutes at the Ministry of Foreign Relations before walking out with stamped document in hand.
I'm currently in the process of getting my documents together so that this summer I can re-apply for a residency visa. Being married to Wellington should guarantee approval, but it is the same cumbersome, time-consuming and costly process.
So the timing of my day, may not sound overly exciting to you, but keep in mind that Nicole and I once waited 5 1/2 hours in just one office to get only one of the stamps we both needed on a couple of our papers. 5 1/2 hours. And I had just gotten all of the above things completed in that same timeframe- spread from one side of the capital to the other. Cause to Celebrate!
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| View Leaving the Minstry of Foreign Relations |
How does one celebrate, alone in the capital, you ask??? WENDYS. That's right. After pulling my second super parking job of the day, I settled into my table at Wendys with an Apple Pecan Grilled Chicken Salad. There were blue cheese crumbles, people. Blue Cheese Crumbles. I savored every. single. tasty. bite. and then satisfied, headed on my way.
A stop at Sirena (the Dominican Walmart) allowed me to pick up some fun sponsor gifts for our older students- like ear-bud headphones, books, art supplies, and other trinkets. Thank you to the generous folks that left money to pick up these items- we hope that the older students will feel particularly loved by receiving them from their sponsors.
I rolled back into San Juan just after 6pm, in time to catch the same scenery- the palms, the rice fields- enjoying some of their last moments of light for the day. Exhausted. And happy to be home...
Just a note on what else has been going on around here-- It's been a busy time! Check out the link here to learn about the Medical Operative that we enjoyed in the CNP last Saturday. We're also getting our information together to report on our first 6 months of our partnerships with Amway and the use of their NutriLite LittleBits products with our CNP little ones, and we're working to organize a "Community Charla" for our CNP families in Hondo Valle. The schools are starting to go into final exam mode and wrapping up the school year. We've had 50 new sponsorships (if I'm counting right) since the beginning of 2015- AMAZING! Kari, Nicole, Kamanda, and I got to share in an online women's retreat through Velvet Ashes and be reminded of important lessons on Releasing and Living Freely. We also had a team weekend in the gorgeous mountains of Jarabacoa- I rode a horse. :)
In addition to me working on my visa paperwork, Wellington and I are also working on the paperwork for him to be approved for a visitor's visa so that he can meet more of my people in the states and see where I'm from. Getting approved is extremely difficult, so we know the odds aren't in our favor, but we still want to try. He will have his interview at the Embassy in June, and your prayers are appreciated.
We are so thankful for all of your ongoing support of me, of us, of the ministry. Whew! It just means the world. Thank you.
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