Thankful

I was hoping to get a blog post posted before November ended, but I had the chance to get away for a couple days after Thanksgiving. When you're in the midst of a busy season and an opportunity arises for a breather- you take it. 

That chance for a getaway included spending a night with the Wildes- a family of precious people and one of my most dearest friends- who were spending the night in Santiago- about 5 hours from San Juan on Friday night. So after finalizing photos and letters at the Eastern school in Santo Domingo that morning, Wellington and I headed north. It is amazing what even a short time with "your people" can do.  

Yesterday was a pretty important day regarding legalizing my status here in the DR so instead of making two trips to the capital within 5 days, after saying farewell to the Wildes, Wellington and I spent a few days with aunts, uncles, and cousins that we don't see too often. I love seeing the joy on Welly's face and faces that look so much like his when they reunite. Normally, when we see them it is just passing through, so to have a couple days to just "be" really was special (awkwardness included).  Plus I got some firsts in- first time in rollers, first time with a grocery bag tied on my head as my rain cap-- after an afternoon at the salon, hair protection is of highest importance I've learned. :)

I love Thanksgiving, so it felt extra special this year to have Stacy Potter organize a feast for us, everyone adding something, and truly celebrating community and the importance of gratitude. A few weeks ago I celebrated 4 years of life in the Dominican Republic, and I am truly grateful for my life here with all its ups and downs. Ministry-wise I love seeing how the Child Nutrition and Student Sponsorship Programs have grown and have become more organized in the services we provide and in honoring and respecting the families with whom we work. Personally, what's not to celebrate about almost 11 months of marriage with my favorite guy?! But too, for me it's been a time to realize (again) that I have been dealing with chronic health problems for nearly 5 years now. It's been a new journey of mourning some of the losses associated with that, and also of growing gratefulness for the many abilities that I do still have, as well as, the wonderful family and friends that support me. I continue to learn about how to be kinder to myself which also leads to me being more present with others and continue to reprocess layers of "Is God Still Good When Bad Things Happen?" so that the knowledge continues to replant even more deeply into my heart.

Two situations that have been especially on my heart in November related to that same theme have to do with 15 year old Jenny and a dear 3 year old girl from the CNP.  Jenny is (was) a sponsored student at CCED. One of the several students out of the over 1,000 that we work with that just always stuck out to me. I learned this fall that she had fallen backwards out of a tree and landed in a life-changing way. She is currently paralyzed from the neck down, fed through a feeding tube, and only able to communicate through laughter and crying and blinking her eyes. I got the chance to visit her two weeks ago, and there aren't words fitting to describe it other than to say that it felt like I was on holy ground. Her family is doing an amazing job of caring for her, seeking medical care, loving her, and continuing to pick on her like they always have. Tremendously sad situation and, too, there is a beautiful thing happening in the midst of tragedy that I got to be witness to.

I met the 3 year old and her mother last Wednesday in El Cercado after having heard some of their story from Dr. Jazmin. The father committed suicide a year ago and the family is grieving hard. The once lively 3 year old is now stoic and withdrawn and making comments that no 3 year old should even know to say. It HURTS to see and hear their pain. I know that God holds them close as well. Tomorrow I will be starting an ongoing therapy journey with them, and I could use some prayers for that as well.

There is bitter in the sweet of life, and a sweetness mixed in with the bitter. It doesn't all make sense, and with time I've stopped wrestling so hard with the whys. I am learning and re-learning that the best thing to do is just keep bringing it all to God and trusting and resting in Him while praising even in the midst of the storms, and Repeat.

*I am currently approximately two-thirds funded for 2016. If you are interested in donating to my financial support, donations can be made either online at www.solidrockinternational.org or by sending a check to Solid Rock International with "Laura" in the memo line to PO Box 20867, Indianapolis, IN 46220.  I'm happy to share more details with you if you'd like to email me at ljdemastus@gmail.com.  All donations are tax deductible.