The "Day of The Dentist" will go down as one of the most traumatic days that Vivian and I have experienced so far in the school for the Deaf here in Hato Mayor. One of our teachers set it up for some dentists to come to the school and treat the children. I agreed that it would be wonderful. In my inexperience with this culture, I was thinking they would examine the kids, perhaps do a cleaning and set up for them to visit a dental clinic. Oh no, that was so wrong! They set up the dental clinic right here in our school. With the most archaic and unhygenic manner they began to pull teeth, fill teeth and what they called "clean" teeth. Several of our kids were so scared as we took them into this space with these dental couches and all the needles and equipment that with eyes filled with pure terror they began to scream and hold on to the walls and try to escape. I was so upset that I told the dentist to just leave them alone and not to force them. So, four of the kids didn't get any work done. They all needed it but there was no way I was going to allow the dentist to hold them down and force their mouths open. One girl had three terrible cavities down to the gums. I had to stand and watch as they put three injections of pain killer down into the roots as she writhered and screamed! AAAHHH! What a day! I cried with them. Afterward, we had to send three of the kids home to rest. I found out that each public school has a dental clinic in it and they do this with the kids on a regular basis. It was free so I was trying to be thankful because the parents are so poor that they wouldn't be able to do any of this for their children. One thing that I couldn't understand was why they didn't numb the gums before the injection of pain killer. When they left, they left behind all of their garbage of blood and gore. We bleached and cleaned for an hour! I keep telling myself, "Welcome to life in the D.R."
We have met some americans from Pennsylvania who are missionaries here. They have invited us to go visit their mission's compound tomorrow. The great surprise is that they have a Deaf son and have signed for years and have done some Deaf Ministry in the past in the U.S. Wow! instant connection!
Vivian and I and one of our teachers traveled to the Capital, Santo Domingo last Friday for a teacher workshop. I shared some at the workshop and learned some interesting things from Peggy Blevins, another missionary to the Deaf. Riding the bus there and trying to manipulate through the city in taxi's was very tiring but well worth it. It was good to return to Hato Mayor, which seems like "home" now.
The children are doing so well...learning...growing and understanding more about who Jesus is everyday. Today I had Bible Class and at the end I taught them a short bible verse, "Yo soy El Camino, La Verdad, y La Vida..." I am The Way, The Truth, and The Life..." They were a little confused about it but when I began to erase one word at a time and ask them to sign the missing words, then they got excited and most all of them learned the verse and could sign it when the blackboard had been completely erased.
I now have the two Deaf children from Maimon here. They are 12 and 13 years old. They cannot read much but have awesome Math skills. Already doing fractions and pre-Algebra, I will get two more Deaf kids next week. That will make it 18 students!
The church has given us two options about the house. At this point, neither option will fit what God has put in our hearts for the school. The church needs this house for their preschool but they don't want to lose us and want us to stay here. We are not sure what that means so we will have another "meeting". We are still praying for God to provide us with a bigger house. We want to grow and expand as there are so many Deaf children in this town that we have not reached yet. We also want a Deaf Church and we want to be able to host missionaries. The one new student that I will get next week comes from a town called El Seibo, which is about twenty miles form here. The mother is running for the governor of the province. She said, that if I would come and start another Deaf school in El Seibo and if she wins her race, that she would give me a building and provide everything that I would need!! I told her, if God wills it, then I will do it after this school is strong and standing on it's own feet.
Those of you who pray for this Ministry, please pray for me personally as I have come under a great attach from the Enemy. I know that God is in control and "Greater is He that is in me" but I also need my brothers and sisters to "rally around" me for awhile!
God bless you!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
One step at a time!
Life in the D.R. can be very challenging at times.
I have so much sympathy for the people who are so poor that they have to go looking for their "daily bread" each and every day. We in the States, at least most of us, have our refrigerators, cupboards, and freezers full of food. If we don't have money then we use our credit cards, and for the poor there are free food cards, food banks, and many churches and organizations that provide a meal. No one need go hungry in America. I am always impressed by the prayer that most Dominicans pray at meals, "God please provide even a piece of bread for those who have nothing today." Most of our kids come from poor families and when 10:00 a.m. comes around each day (surprising that they watch the clock) they are ready to eat. We provide bread and milk and sometimes fruit each day. It breaks my heart to see the ribs showing on some of the kids and how appreciative they are for this food.
As for me, I am totally recovered from this second bout of "flu". My appetite has recovered and I am blessed to have enough food and a wonderful Dominican sister in the Lord to cook it for me.
For us just the daily chores of life here can be challenging but then become habit and almost normal. Like heating up water to take a "pour over the head bath" or the day after day rain that has been falling. Just pouring at night and leaking through the ceiling. But still blessed to know that I have a nice warm bed and my room doesn't leak. The lady who cooks for us has been so upset with this rain and says that she is so cold every night and her house leaks alot. Several of our children have missed school this week because of this "unseasonal" rain. They live in such muddy places that it floods and the streets are unpassable. Our little street boy, Eduardo, has missed lots of school this past two weeks. We are concerned about him but cannot visit him because of the rain. I shudder to think what could be happening if he is cooped up in the house with his step-father who abuses him. Eduardo is so hyper that he can be very "challenging" and it is very hard for him to sit still or concentrate. We pray for him and love on him but feel so helpless as how to help him out of this abusive living situation.
We are still "searching" for a new house to have the school. We met a local Pastor who wants to help us. He has teams who come to work and minister in the D.R. and has offered us a team to help us. We know that whatever house we get will need lots of work so we believe God will show us soon. We need prayer for this!
My sign language class is growing! I am so excited as more and more people from the hearing church are getting interested in Deaf Ministry. A group of teens from the church came a couple of weeks ago and asked me to teach them a song in Sign Language that they planned to perform in church. They learned so fast and did it so beautifully! I was very impressed as feel hopeful that perhaps one or two of these girls will become Interpreters for the Deaf one day.
I sit here on the front patio of the school and there are dogs barking, motorcycles buzzing past, neighbors yelling at each othere and loud latin music blasting. The sky is dark with rain clouds, it is humid and around 70 degrees. The air smells fresh because of all the rain and there is a slight breeze. It is February 10. My home is thousands of miles away over much water and land and there is still snow on the ground and the temperature is around 32 degrees. My precious husband is there and I am here. I have to pinch myself sometimes to see if it is all real. Thank you Jesus for sending me here! Thank you Jesus that you love little Deaf kids that have no hope or future! Thank you Jesus that you came and died for each one of them! Thank you Jesus that these Deaf children are so valuable in your sight that You sent this old grandma here to tell them of your love! God is good! Never doubt it even when the times are challenging and you are not sure what is going on in your life! I trust Him for each and every day here!
God bless you who read this Blog and pray for me and the Deaf children of Hato Mayor, D.R.
I have so much sympathy for the people who are so poor that they have to go looking for their "daily bread" each and every day. We in the States, at least most of us, have our refrigerators, cupboards, and freezers full of food. If we don't have money then we use our credit cards, and for the poor there are free food cards, food banks, and many churches and organizations that provide a meal. No one need go hungry in America. I am always impressed by the prayer that most Dominicans pray at meals, "God please provide even a piece of bread for those who have nothing today." Most of our kids come from poor families and when 10:00 a.m. comes around each day (surprising that they watch the clock) they are ready to eat. We provide bread and milk and sometimes fruit each day. It breaks my heart to see the ribs showing on some of the kids and how appreciative they are for this food.
As for me, I am totally recovered from this second bout of "flu". My appetite has recovered and I am blessed to have enough food and a wonderful Dominican sister in the Lord to cook it for me.
For us just the daily chores of life here can be challenging but then become habit and almost normal. Like heating up water to take a "pour over the head bath" or the day after day rain that has been falling. Just pouring at night and leaking through the ceiling. But still blessed to know that I have a nice warm bed and my room doesn't leak. The lady who cooks for us has been so upset with this rain and says that she is so cold every night and her house leaks alot. Several of our children have missed school this week because of this "unseasonal" rain. They live in such muddy places that it floods and the streets are unpassable. Our little street boy, Eduardo, has missed lots of school this past two weeks. We are concerned about him but cannot visit him because of the rain. I shudder to think what could be happening if he is cooped up in the house with his step-father who abuses him. Eduardo is so hyper that he can be very "challenging" and it is very hard for him to sit still or concentrate. We pray for him and love on him but feel so helpless as how to help him out of this abusive living situation.
We are still "searching" for a new house to have the school. We met a local Pastor who wants to help us. He has teams who come to work and minister in the D.R. and has offered us a team to help us. We know that whatever house we get will need lots of work so we believe God will show us soon. We need prayer for this!
My sign language class is growing! I am so excited as more and more people from the hearing church are getting interested in Deaf Ministry. A group of teens from the church came a couple of weeks ago and asked me to teach them a song in Sign Language that they planned to perform in church. They learned so fast and did it so beautifully! I was very impressed as feel hopeful that perhaps one or two of these girls will become Interpreters for the Deaf one day.
I sit here on the front patio of the school and there are dogs barking, motorcycles buzzing past, neighbors yelling at each othere and loud latin music blasting. The sky is dark with rain clouds, it is humid and around 70 degrees. The air smells fresh because of all the rain and there is a slight breeze. It is February 10. My home is thousands of miles away over much water and land and there is still snow on the ground and the temperature is around 32 degrees. My precious husband is there and I am here. I have to pinch myself sometimes to see if it is all real. Thank you Jesus for sending me here! Thank you Jesus that you love little Deaf kids that have no hope or future! Thank you Jesus that you came and died for each one of them! Thank you Jesus that these Deaf children are so valuable in your sight that You sent this old grandma here to tell them of your love! God is good! Never doubt it even when the times are challenging and you are not sure what is going on in your life! I trust Him for each and every day here!
God bless you who read this Blog and pray for me and the Deaf children of Hato Mayor, D.R.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
THE BATTLE WITH THE SECOND "GRIPE"
I found out that the word "gripe" means THE FLU. I had it for six weeks and then went home to recup for a month and got a second strain one week after getting back in January! I thought it was going to be a mild case but it fooled me. This last week I just got progessively worse until I could not teach for two days and was burning up with fever. Finally on Sat. Vivian decided to go get the doctor who goes to our church here. After she examines me she went and got two IV bottles. tubes, needles, vials of three different medicines, and Antibiotics. I was completly full of congestion and had a throat infection. Well....she "hooked me up" and .twelve hours later she removed the bottle and I was higher than a kite on sugar water and "whatever" was in the meds. Praise God I feel much better today. She came again this morning and gave me two shots in the backside and I am due for an two this evening. Needless to say this was nasty stuff!
I do question God about "why" but I still trust in His faithfulness and guidance. I KNOW THAT I AM IN HIS PERFECT WILL! I was reminded about a long ago Healing Preacher, John G. Lake who when a missionary in Africa ministered to people who had a plague (I think Colorea) and he told his team that they would NOT become sick that when the germs came in contact with their bodies, "the temple of the Holy Spirit" that the germs would automatically die! Guess what? Not one of them became ill or had any adverse effects and went back home later healthy!
I said to the Lord, "Okay Lord if John G. Lake can have that happen why not me? Increase my faith oh Lord!!!!!
Part of the reason I think I got so bad was last Sunday Vivian and I decided to try to find two teenager Deaf kids who are on my waiting list. The only address I had was, "I live in Maimon." so we went out on the street and hailed a motorcyle taxi and asked him to take us to Maimon. Well he thought we were nuts because Maimon is nini kilometers over bumpy dirt roads. He took us downtown and after much haggling with him and his friend about price I decided that this wasn't feeling right so I told him we would go another way and we walk off. I immediately cried out to the Lord, please send us a Christian! About ten seconds later another motorcyle taxi pulled up and said, " I heard you want to go to Maimon." I said, "Yes, are you a Christian?" He responded, "Yes, I am." Praise the Lord! He took us and didn't even want to be paid....but we did anyway. What a ride!!! Picture this: both of us on one motorcyle, no helmets, hair flying in the wind, backsides numb and bruised, laughing and waving at all the people over nine kilometer of bumps!!! What a sight to behold. Two old grandmas acting like kids! Well, we found the kids and they are registered for school now. I paid the price though because all of the wind and dirt just made this Flu worse. But.......I'd do it again! LOL\
A couple of days ago a guy showed up at our school just as the kids were leaving. He is a pastor/missionary from Puerto Rico. He said he was picking up his daughter from the Christian school next door and he just feel so strong for a long to stop and talk to us. He offered us help with some of the teams he has come every year and materials and......he is going to keep his eye out for a house for us as I feel strongly we will have to leave here in May. I have peace if this is God's will. I have learned to love this house which is a miracle but do see the great need for more space as the school has grown to 17 children. The church needs this house to expand their school next door and were so kind to let us rent it this year. Pray for all of this work out perfectly in His will. I had a dream before I left in Sept. about a two story house with a screened in porch in the back. I will know it when I see it!
Vivian has been such a blessing to me and this ministry. She was only here one week when I had to have here completely take up the school for two days this week. Cati was such a help and they worked together great! Shows me that I certainly not irreplacable. Thank God!
My husband is surviving without me but we miss each othere more than ever. I am still praying for him to come back with me as we need him so much. I tried playing kickball with the kids two times. Some of them are running all over the field and missing every base. Meanwhile I am screaming and waving my hands to no avail as they cannot hear me. One boy, Luis, got it immediately and did an awesome job. I know how much Jet likes sports and he could be our PE teacher and all-around painter/handiman too. Pray! It's so hard sometimes to make that first step in faith.....but afterward pure joy!!!
God has been sustaining me in His Word! I do not know how christians can survive with the basking, studying, and meditating upon His precious Word. The Word and Prayer are the two most basic foundations of a Believer's life and must be disciplined every day of our lives with ceasing!
I love you all!
I do question God about "why" but I still trust in His faithfulness and guidance. I KNOW THAT I AM IN HIS PERFECT WILL! I was reminded about a long ago Healing Preacher, John G. Lake who when a missionary in Africa ministered to people who had a plague (I think Colorea) and he told his team that they would NOT become sick that when the germs came in contact with their bodies, "the temple of the Holy Spirit" that the germs would automatically die! Guess what? Not one of them became ill or had any adverse effects and went back home later healthy!
I said to the Lord, "Okay Lord if John G. Lake can have that happen why not me? Increase my faith oh Lord!!!!!
Part of the reason I think I got so bad was last Sunday Vivian and I decided to try to find two teenager Deaf kids who are on my waiting list. The only address I had was, "I live in Maimon." so we went out on the street and hailed a motorcyle taxi and asked him to take us to Maimon. Well he thought we were nuts because Maimon is nini kilometers over bumpy dirt roads. He took us downtown and after much haggling with him and his friend about price I decided that this wasn't feeling right so I told him we would go another way and we walk off. I immediately cried out to the Lord, please send us a Christian! About ten seconds later another motorcyle taxi pulled up and said, " I heard you want to go to Maimon." I said, "Yes, are you a Christian?" He responded, "Yes, I am." Praise the Lord! He took us and didn't even want to be paid....but we did anyway. What a ride!!! Picture this: both of us on one motorcyle, no helmets, hair flying in the wind, backsides numb and bruised, laughing and waving at all the people over nine kilometer of bumps!!! What a sight to behold. Two old grandmas acting like kids! Well, we found the kids and they are registered for school now. I paid the price though because all of the wind and dirt just made this Flu worse. But.......I'd do it again! LOL\
A couple of days ago a guy showed up at our school just as the kids were leaving. He is a pastor/missionary from Puerto Rico. He said he was picking up his daughter from the Christian school next door and he just feel so strong for a long to stop and talk to us. He offered us help with some of the teams he has come every year and materials and......he is going to keep his eye out for a house for us as I feel strongly we will have to leave here in May. I have peace if this is God's will. I have learned to love this house which is a miracle but do see the great need for more space as the school has grown to 17 children. The church needs this house to expand their school next door and were so kind to let us rent it this year. Pray for all of this work out perfectly in His will. I had a dream before I left in Sept. about a two story house with a screened in porch in the back. I will know it when I see it!
Vivian has been such a blessing to me and this ministry. She was only here one week when I had to have here completely take up the school for two days this week. Cati was such a help and they worked together great! Shows me that I certainly not irreplacable. Thank God!
My husband is surviving without me but we miss each othere more than ever. I am still praying for him to come back with me as we need him so much. I tried playing kickball with the kids two times. Some of them are running all over the field and missing every base. Meanwhile I am screaming and waving my hands to no avail as they cannot hear me. One boy, Luis, got it immediately and did an awesome job. I know how much Jet likes sports and he could be our PE teacher and all-around painter/handiman too. Pray! It's so hard sometimes to make that first step in faith.....but afterward pure joy!!!
God has been sustaining me in His Word! I do not know how christians can survive with the basking, studying, and meditating upon His precious Word. The Word and Prayer are the two most basic foundations of a Believer's life and must be disciplined every day of our lives with ceasing!
I love you all!
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