Container arrives

A container ship was sent down from the States packed fully of donations. After passing through immigration in Santo Domingo, it was finally released for delivery. It was a huge container and it got stuck in the first river crossing at 6 in the morning! Alberto was able to find a tractor willing to pull it through the river and out of the mud

It made it to the school after having to grate the next river crossing and lifting electrical wires with plastic pipes! We couldn't believe how full it was.

Thankfully we had a team all week that worked hard to unpack everything in a few hours. It was incredible to see all that was packed in this container...it filled so much of our new cafeteria. They send desks and chairs and dental equipment, medicines and bags and backpacks, and the most exciting...a playground!!! They had collected from various playgrounds that were being taken out and we can't wait to see these kids have the huge blessing and fun of a real playground, which includes a bridge!!

It is awesome to see what happens when so many people work together, on both ends of the deal! This took huge amount of time and effort to collect and pack the container, and lots of sweat and muscle to unload it on our end. It'll be so worth it all to see these guys jumping around on their new playground and enjoying all the other goodies on the container!

Summers

Summer for Kids Alive means lots of teams! We are no different here in Caraballo and are happy to have nearly come to the end of a great summer of teams. It has been incredible the work that has been done, and worth all of the planning and organizing and some sweating as well. I did a lot of translating and talking, but it also helps open my eyes time and time again to all that is around me when I see it through fresh eyes...and middle schoolers! We've had a great team to lead each part of our teams and it's been a fantastic summer, despite the swollen feet and sweat!! (all "in-action" pictures taken by B.Brown)

Good-byes

One of the hardest things about living here is the transient nature of friendships. Because we all sign up for certain terms, it often means that friends leave after 6 months, a year, it's a constant transition of friends. Robin and Ashley have been here for ages though, and it's been awesome to have them around so long. They both left this week, Robin after 3 years here, Ashley after 2. It's exciting to hear what is ahead for them and I am so thankful for all that we shared while here and look forward to hopefully meeting up in the States!!

Blessing the baby

A few weeks back, despite all the busy-ness with teams, my friends had a little get together to bless our little man. We played some games and ate great snacks and they gathered around and prayed lots of blessings for our baby. I feel so...blessed (a lot of that word for one posting) to have friends like these that surround me and love me and support me in ways I can't even describe.

Beach with groups

One of my favorite parts of the week is when we get to go to the beach for some worship and talking time. It's a nice way to wrap up a week-long trip and talk through what they did and saw. Last night was no exception, it was a great night to share and hear from everyone. We had 2 fantastic teams from Wisconsin with great leaders and great middle schoolers working hard! We love groups like these, they are very special!

Cafeteria painted!

They did it! After lots of work, the team was able to finish painting the new cafeteria expansion. It looks incredible and it's going to be awesome to welcome the kids back to a bigger and better cafeteria!!

Building

Our summer teams continue to work hard as we have the expanded cafeteria almost finished! It's been awesome to see the dedication of these teams to help us fit more kids in. It's going to double our cafeteria size which means a lot more space and more kids!!

Summer program finishes

It's hard to believe, but our summer program has already come to an end. We have a 5 week program that is very similar to VBS. This summer, we had a fantastic turn out and the attendance was impressive! On the last day, the kids presented some of the things they had learned through their classes and we had a special lunch. As they headed out the door, they were given a gift bag with donated clothes and shoes and the team that is here helping us this week got to be involved in this whole day. I also got to love on Angelica, one of our teachers bitty little 3 week baby (she's just about 6 lbs now!)

Loving the prego's

I just wanted to share how much Dominicans love their pregnant ladies. When you are pregnant in the D.R. you don't have to:

-wait in line

-carry anything

-park far away (special parking sign at the supermarket in that picture)

-exercise

-bend down

I'm kind of just expected to sit around and rest and that's okay with everyone! It's amazing the type of queen treatment I have been upgraded to, simply for having a belly! On the flip side, I do get some comments when I try to be a pregnant American and bend down for something or carry something or exercise...but I'll deal with that for the star treatment I get the rest of the time!

Family

Ariel's brother is married to a lovely lady from Norway, and last week, her family came to visit. We went to Maimon on the weekend and got to share eating fish with their heads on. Ariel still takes the head off of mine before I eat it, but it was a good time to be with the family and especially those neices and nephews! Their faces never fail to put a smile on mine!

Construction

We have been filled with rocks and dust at the school, but it is well worth it to see the progress that is taking place! The cafeteria has long been too small for the 200 kids that we feed altogether. When everyone is present, kids have to sit in the windows and sides of the cafeteria. This also means that we were restricted to growth, as there is no where to have the kids together to eat. Well, soon that will be a problem of the past as the cafeteria walls are coming tumbling down. So far they have worked amazingly fast to get the roof ready and the walls and floors prepared for our summer teams to continue work. Already I am excited as I see the room that we are going to have. In just a few weeks, we should be able to fit more kids, so in anticipation of the fall semester, we have begun enrollment for a new 4 year olds class!

Summer teams begin

Well I got back on Wed afternoon 1.5 weeks ago to receive our first summer team Thursday! This group came from Indiana and worked hard moving wheelbarrowful after wheelbarrowful of dirt and rocks as well as laying the foundation for the stairs up to our second story! They sweated a lot and worked hard and I bet they're in weather shock back in Indiana now!

Leaving the States

This was a perfect good bye to the States. I got to watch an amazing sunrise over New York during my 4 hour layover. Beautiful.

Growing baby

We got to see the little baby a few times in the last week while I was in Oregon. We went for a few sonograms and the little one was kicking and moving and dancing around. He (gender neutral "he", we still don't know) was even sucking his little thumb. They checked every little piece of this baby and I can say that he is perfect. Every little finger joint, his heart...it is amazing.

We are going to be watching some measurements and changes in his brain, but what we ask for are your prayers that all will be developed properly. We know our baby is perfect and that God makes no mistakes in forming these little ones, so we trust and pray for all to be positive.

Oregon did the baby bump very good and I am looking more and more pregnant these days. The baby is very active and my mom and Ariel both have felt him moving from the outside. He really likes the mornings when I drink orange juice and the evenings when I stop moving from the day.

I am excited, so excited I can't even put words to it. Pregnancy is incredible. I have never experienced so many emotions in so few months. From sheer joy to absolute terror, and everything in-between. Whenever I feel overwhelmed about becoming a mom, I just remember that in the early weeks of pregnancy (I found out I was prego at 4.5 weeks!!) I dedicated this little one to God and I try to always remember that this is His baby that He lets me have for awhile. What a blessing. It is exciting to go through these steps with Ariel, to see our marriage grow as we each change, and I can't wait for what is ahead.

Newport Marathon

My time in Oregon was happily filled to every last minute! It was incredible all that I was able to do and be a part of. My brother ran the Newport Marathon on my last weekend, so I got to stay the whole weekend at the beach with his family and my parents in a house they'd rented months ago. We got to rest (except for John who ran 26 miles), go to the tide pools, eat a lot, visit the beach, and let my mom go crazy with taking pictures. I loved it all, especially time with my neice and nephew...I just can't get enough of that!

More friends!

This was such a fun trip to Oregon because I got to meet up with so many old friends that I haven't seen in many years. I do have to give most of the thanks to Facebook, who keeps us in touch, but it's so cool that after all these years we still can be getting together. I got to have dinner and Voodoo donuts with two friends from high school, Lauren and Shannon, and it was so nice to just talk about our lives now and catch up. Even through all the years...I don't think we've changed all that much!

Carrascos visit

When I was in high school, we had a student from Nicaragua come and stay with us...and he became part of our family! Alan has been like a brother from the beginning and he lived with us for many months, went back to Nicaragua, then returned to live with us. He has since gotten married and now has a family and they all live in New Mexico. It happened that while I was in Oregon, he took is family for a visit for the weekend! It was awesome to get to spend time with his kids, I hadn't even met the littlest one.

Make new friends, but keep the old

Heather and I became friends in Kindergarten and today we got to get together again! We haven't seen each other for years, but talking today felt like it had been no time at all. When we were little I wanted to marry Heather, that's how close we were! I didn't understand that it doesn't work that way...I even wrote her name on the wall. It's funny how kids think, all I knew is that she was such a good friend and I wanted it to stay that way forever. I'm happy that we are still friends after these years!!

Beau-ti-ful

I've been doing some walking since I got home, rain and all, and enjoying every minute of it. Oregon is beautiful, especially right now with the Spring flowers after all the rain. This morning I went for a walk and was overwhelmed as I looked around and prayed and thought through all the amazing things in my life. Blessings surround. I've got this little baby growing in my belly, an amazing husband who supports me to no end, a family who understands me, and friends that are eternal. I am so thankful for where I am in life, for all that I have around me.

The Bellers

Layne and Caitlin were missionaries in the DR for 2 years and left just last summer. They spent a year at the Caraballo site where I'm at and we learned a lot and grew together...they are special friends. They went home last summer for the birth of their beautiful little Lucy Layne and I got to meet her for the first time. They are now living in Seattle, but we met up somewhere along the I-5 in the middle. We ended up having a 3 hour lunch and an amazing time to catch up, hear about each other's lives and plans, and enjoy Mexican food!!!

Lunch

This has been the trip of lunches. I have had lunch out almost everyday with a different family member or friend. It has been fantastic!! This visit home is similar to when I was in university and had to make a list of each day what I was going to do. I have literally done that again...everyday has a visit with someone new. It has been awesome for seeing people and catching up with family and friends!

Julie visits

My dearest and bestest friend, Julie, came to visit for the weekend and it was such a great time. She brought her 3 month old little man, Drew with her, and I was so happy to get to meet him. We kind of love Twilight (I know, we're 30, but whatever). As lots of the movie was filmed here in Oregon, we went around (with my mom, who was equally as excited) to all the sights where the movie was filmed. Our first stop was the Carver Cafe where Bella and her dad ate all the time, then to the rocks where Edward sparkled and tried to scare Bella because he was so strong.

Next we headed over to where the Prom was filmed. Drew was a trooper and happily waited in the car while we snapped our pictures and looked around.

Our last stop was Multomah Falls which served as a background in the movie...plus it's just beautiful.

Drew finally gave up by the end, and this was one of the few times we saw him crying. He is such a good baby, so cuddly...I hope I get one like this! Thanks Julie for making the trip, you're the best!

Oregon

It is so great to be in Oregon! I have been eating constantly and enjoying the rain, family, and friends since I got in. I went to the midwife for a check-up and got a massive bag of baby goodies which was fun! The baby sounded great with it's heart thumping away. I go for a routine ultrasound next week to check the baby all out and I'm looking forward to that. As the belly grows (due to baby and Oregon eating), I have been blessed by maternity clothes my friend Katrina sent me as well as some shopping that I've been able to do with my mom and Julie! It's fun being pregnant with everyone here!

Baby photo

15 weeks and going strong!!

Bethany visits

I was so excited to get to spend the afternoon with Bethany yesterday. Bethany and I went to high school together and spent lots of time bonding through dance team all 4 years. She came to the island for just 5 days, but I was thankful we got to meet "in the middle" in Jarabcoa yesterday. She's staying with family in Santo Domingo, the other side of the island, which proved to be a bit hard to meet up as the north where I live is about 4 hours away. We met at the best restaurant on the mountain in Jarabacoa and chatted the afternoon away. She came with her little man, Quinn, and her mom, uncle and cousin. It was most exciting to have Bethany and Ariel meet, the first of my Oregon friends to meet him! Even though we'll see each other in the next few weeks as I'm headed to Oregon tomorrow, it was fantastic to meet up here!

Mother's Day party, last day too.

On Thursday we celebrated Mother's Day and the last day of school at the Care Center. It was a fun day to be together and watch the kids at their finest...they LOVE these days! They started, as usual, with a special lunch at noon. We've started giving them their lunch in a take-away box because they always take a little home for their families, which I think is so special.

At 2:00, the kids came back dressed in their best dresses and shirts for the start of the Mother's Day program. Each child is allowed to invite someone, hopefully their mom, so they can share the day with them. There are songs and skits and plays, a few poems and acrostics, and the kids go crazy for it. There were probably 50 kids that received special prizes this year for perfect attendence, best in the classroom, kitchen helpers, etc. It was nice to recognize them in front of the school and the families for their extra work, good attendance, and great behavior.

One of THOSE pregnant ladies

I always thought I wouldn't be one of those moms that puts every ultrasound photo, etc. on the internet. Well, I'd just like to say I was wrong...here is the ultrasound from yesterday. It's amazing how much this baby moves and, well, it's all just amazing. It's just that I've already watched it a million times and this little baby is MY baby and I am still in shock and awe and love.

Bouncing baby

Just got back from our appt. with the doctor and the baby is doing really well. They typically do ultrasounds at each appointment, so we got to see the little one jumping and kicking and moving like crazy. It is so reassuring to see that little heart beating away. I've started to feel little flutters of the baby off and on which is even more exciting. Every step makes it more real, like Ariel said the other day, "You're really pregnant!". It sets in slowly for both of us, as we begin to comprehend that it's a BABY!!! I go between elation and being terrified, both of which I think are good really, as we talk about this little one coming into the world. I have dreamed and prayed for this day and am so thankful that this is what we get to share together. It has been a special time, and continues to be, as we watch this bebe-cito grow!

Pregnancy updates

Just a little update to say all continues well. I'm so happy to have 4 days now without nausea and am hoping that more of those days are to come!

We've had a lot of questions about our plans, so a little briefing of our mini-plan is that we are hoping to deliver the baby in Oregon, alongside my family. Ariel's visa is in-process and we are hopeful that it will be through in time. We decided a U.S. delivery will be safest and most sure and, well, I was a Labor & Delivery nurse for 3 years and have seen too many births to stay here for it!

I'll be heading to Oregon on the 18th of May for 3 weeks and looking forward to having an appointment with the midwife. I've been seeing a doctor here who is excellent and have all the documents to take with me to the Oregon appt.

I'm excited for the days when I get to feel the baby moving! I have had to say good-bye to some of my clothes as they're a bit too tight now in the waist, but still don't really have a belly to show...but I know it's on its way!

This is such a fun time, most of it anyhow! There have definitely been the emotional times when I have those cries that leave you hiccuping for hours afterwards, but thankfully those are occasional and seem to be passing as well as I move into the second trimester. It's funny because when I don't have nausea or other things going on, I don't feel so pregnant. But then again, I'm so happy to feel good and with more energy!

I've got another appt in a week and will hopefully have another beautiful baby pic to share!

Thrilled to announce...Baby Veras!!!!

Ariel and I have been waiting for the days to pass to be able to announce that we are officially pregnant!!! Wow, it's still hard to believe, I feel like I'm just playing still, but it's so very true, there's just a little lime-sized baby growing in there!


We are so thankful that my body is healthy enough and that things are going well. I'm 12 weeks now and looking forward to the morning sickness (ironically which happens about 10pm for me), the tiredness (I've become a slug), and the pubescent acne to go away! I'm due Oct 31 (by ultrasound) or Nov 6 (by dates) and I know the time will pass quickly! My dear little friend Julie had sent me some pregnancy tests that are so awesome. They make it real clear-"Pregnant" or "Not pregnant", which at 5am makes a lot more sense than lines and dots and plusses! I then had to explain the "stick" to Ariel because they're not commonly used here. We did the blood test the next week, which thankfully also came back positive!!


Ariel has been amazingly good and patient with me. It has been an emotional rollercoaster with hormones up and down and taking me with them!! Sometimes he gets a little extra at work and will always come home with "American" treats like applesauce, turkey bacon, things that he knows will go down easily. Rice and beans and meat (the Dominican meal) hasn't been first on my list of things to eat, but I've been doing well with apples and tea and bread!



We went a few weeks ago for a regular ultrasound (they do more than in the US here) and got to hear the heartbeat and see the baby moving. I don't have words to tell how it made my heart want to explode with joy to actually see this little tiny thing with all his/her parts perfectly formed and actually moving like crazy in there! And the heartbeat...what a perfect sound that brings peace! We recorded it and I've watched it at least a million times a day since then!


So please be praying with us as we continue to trust fully in God for the growth and development of this baby, for a healthy pregnancy and delivery, for all the little details that are in His hands. We know that this baby is pefectly made, just how He wants it to be and even when my worry button gets pressed, I'm learning each day that this pregnancy, this baby, is in His control and that brings calm and peace.


Oh, what a blessing and joy and excitement to share with you all!

Still amazed

After 3.5 years living in the Dominican Republic, I feel like I'm pretty used to most things now. It doesn't turn my head to see 4-5 people on one motorcycle taxi, to see the pig hanging up after slaughter (although I don't like that!), or to see the horse-drawn cart pulling in vegetables from the countryside. But today, oh today, there were a few head-turners!

As you know, voo-doo is the official "religion" of the Haitian people. From all accounts, a woman went to a witch-doctor on Monday because she was sick, and he placed some mysterious white powder on her (or she ingested it, not sure). Anyhow, Monday later on, she is dead. Tuesday comes around and she is buried, I saw her coffin and the procession pass by in front of the apartment. Within a few hours after her burial, rumors start about her still being alive, that she has communicated with the outside world somehow and they need to dig her out. So, of course, hundreds of people head to the cemetery to...undig the dead. They pulled out her coffin and sent her to the hospital and by all reports today, the dead is alive again! Amazing. Can you imagine? This just doesn't happen in real life.

Last night and this morning it rained quite a bit which makes our ride to work muddy and bumpy. There are huge puddles and many places along the dirt road where it is covered fully by the water. This morning heading in, we saw two men on a horse...carrying a baby calf!!! Mama cow followed behind, probably fully confused about why her baby was mounted on a horse! Oh how I wish I had my camera, it was priceless!

Celebrating Easter

This year we celebrated Easter with all the North Americans in Montellano. We had a brunch after church which included pancakes and eggs and potatoes and fruit and lots of excellent American foods! I had to explain the idea of "brunch" to Ariel, and came up with the word "Dalmuerzo", the Spanish combination of breakfast and lunch, to help him understand! It was a fun afternoon together to talk and hang out and eat!!

Amazing Frayme

If it's actually possible, Frayme is getting cuter and cuter by the day! She smiles like crazy, it's one of the cutest things! Milka and Francis are doing really well and loving their little baby girl.

Growing Yuriel

The babies are growing up quickly around here and Ruben and Yubi's baby, Yuriel, is no exception! He's already 3 months old and doing so well. He's got some great chubby cheeks and a very proud mom and dad!!

Double wedding

On Saturday, two of our teachers got married in a double ceremony. Chichi and Dudu are sisters and decided that they couldn't leave the other first, so got married at the same time, pastored by their father, in the church in Villa Asencion. The reception was at the school, and the cafeteria was converted into a beautiful hall.

Most of the teachers from school were bridesmaids or groomsmen, all dressed up and looking so different than the everday uniforms
Rachel is one of Dudu's best friends, and got to be the madrina for the wedding, which meant she had a big role in preparing and being by Dudu's side, as well as walking in with the groom. She did a very good job and smiled the whole time!The wedding lasted almost three hours, with endless songs and preaching, but in the end, the couples were happily married amongst tons of cheers and support. They then all headed to the school for the party and dinner.

It was a fun day, albeit long! We didn't leave the village until almost 10:00, the lastest I have ever left the village before! Both couples are now living in Montellano and we are excited to have been able to celebrate with them and be with them on this important day!

Welcome to the world, Frayme

Francis and Milka became proud parents to little Frayme on Friday the 12th. She was born by c/s safe and sound and is pretty much amazing. It has been so fun cuddling her and helping Milka, I love it so much. They are such happy and glowing parents, it's been neat watching them in these days.