In Memory of Griselda

I haven’t had to feel the deep lose of death in 10 years. Griselda was the first person I have lost in my adult life. She is the first person in my life who has NOT died of natural causes. She is the first Dominican friend I have lost. She passed away on Friday at 3:30pm. Saturday I woke up at 8:30; the time I would normally see her walking up to our gate. She would smile her beautiful smile and we would begin to chat about life over a brief cup of coffee. She always had this cute pouty face with one eye brow raised that she would make when I said something she thought was crazy. Without her I couldn’t have become the woman that I am. Even though some might say she just cleaned my house, she was so much more. She taught me more than I could remember about Dominican culture. She was a wise woman, whose faith challenged my own. She gave me lots of good advice and allowed me to become the hospitable woman I am, opening up my home to others in need. I will never forget her or her legacy of faith and service.

Challenging Week

My kids are challanging me this week in ways I've never known. As they bicker and fight like never before I begin to doubt if they are even paying attention during our devotion time and activities. Last week was Outdoor Education Week. Check out the stories and pictures on the Second grade blog (link on the right).

Griselda is not more stable. She has had some analysis' done. She has had no damage to her brain and is in a coma. The doctors are hopeful that she will wake up as they continue to give her more blood. This is the first time in my life that I have been so close to such violence. It challanges my faith with the usual questions of "why would God allow this?", "was God present with her when this man brutally beat and chopped at her with his machete?", "can God be trusted, than, to redeem the situation?". Deep down I know the answers to all these questions. I know God's plan is to bring glory to his name. Oh, that he would bring comfort to those of us that need it...

Braulio's visa appointment is on Tuesday. As we get all the letters and paper work that we need, I am challanged in my faith. Yesterday was mail day and the letter of invitation from the church (mailed three weeks ago) did not arrive. I still have a faxed version of the letter. It is God's little reminder that even if I plan and prepare and organize, He's still ultimately in control. My first reaction is it's not fair because I am repsonsible and prepared. God is still in control!!! His will, will done and ultimately it will be better.

Despite all these challanges in my faith, I am deeply thankful. I'm thankful for these challanges, as they grow my faith. I am thankful for my "family" here. I am thankful that I have the honor of living and serving Jesus here. I am thankful that I can see and experience the best of two cultures. I am thankful for so many people in the states who love me and support me. I am thankful for all that God is doing in thier lives. The list could go on and I am sure I would still forget something. In this time of Thanksgiving, try to remember these things every day - not just one Thursday in November. Thank you to all of you who've sent me Holiday greetings.

Adventure to Ensenada

Amanda, Shelly and Braulio at the beginning or our Adventure!

Braulio was our hero!


The beach was incredible and it was worth it to see a new part of the country.


The day started out as any holiday. We awoke at 8:30, sleeping in for me, and began to prepare for our "Adventura" (adventure). We planned to go to Ensenada, a beautiful secluded beach about 3 hours away (according to Amanda's Dominican tio). The oil needed to be changed and the carburetor cleaned and so El Rubio was not ready until 10am. As we pulled out of town at 10:15 we were unaware of the true adventure we were on.

Before we even arrived to turn off the main hwy (about 2 hours into the trip) Braulio had to pull over and check something on the car a hand full of times. Then we pulled onto the road to this beach. It was once paved and now horrible (apparently since the time of Trujillo-that's really long). About 30 minutes down this road, the car stopped because, of what we thought, it was out of gas. As my Spanish is good enought to keep me safe, I got a ride from a car returning the way we had come to the nearest gas station. I then got a moto concho, or motorcycle taxi, to take me back to the car where Braulio had realized it was problem with the electrical stuff. We got everything back on track and moving.

We saw donkeys, goats, chickens, cows, giant spiders and many other things. Braulio had to stop the car a few more times to fix stuff and we had to get out to walk down a really steep hill (all our weight in the car makes it too low to the ground for bumpy hills). We arrived at this beautiful beach almost 6 hours later.

We did get to spend a couple of hours enjoying a very amazing beach (there were no tourists!). It definitely was a Dominican Adventure. Check out the pictures at: www.flickr.com/photos/arat316