Hola friends!

I have had a fabulous few days, full of reunions with friends and a lot of work preparing for the team arriving on Saturday. We have been taking it pretty easy, which means I have had a lot of freedom to spend time in the vi

llage Cielo, visiting homes and people I haven't seen in a long time. One of my favorite moments thus far has been my visit to Tony and Rosa's house. They are an amazing couple who have been a part of this community and ministry for many years. Mission Emanuel built their house 8ish years ago, so they have a great relationship with a lot of the Americans who have come to work for and with them. They have five children, one of whom is named Ayendy. I have been Ayendy's sponsor for school for the last six years, and have loved getting to know him and his family because of this relationship. When I came to the DR more frequently, I would bring them pictures I had taken of their family on the previous trip, and Rosa would call me in the US every few months to check in and say hello. I was a

lways amazed and so very touched to hear her voice when she made those calls. She is an incredibly special woman, and has been on my mind and in my prayers even though it has been years since I last saw her. 

Yesterday, I was thrilled to have some time in the afternoon to surprise them. The walk to the house takes you down a steep and precarious hill, and when I finally made it to the bottom and was getting close to their house, I saw Rosa come running from the house, yelling my name. She wrapped me up in one of the biggest hugs I have ever experienced, and was followed closely by Ayendy, who did the same. After smiling, saying hello, and hugging, Rosa grabbed my hand and pulled me into her home, where I was greeted by the rest of the family. We all pulled up chairs together and sat down to have time to catch up. I saw Ayendy sneak back into the bedroom all seven family members share, and return with a small binder. I opened it up to find a collection of all of the pictures they have ever been given, many of which I was in along with their family. It was such an amazing reunion, and so fun to see all of the kids looking grown, 

healthy, and happy. Every time I come back, I wonder what these reunions will be like. Will they remember me as much as I remember them? Will they be excited to see me in the same way I have been longing to see them? This reunion didn't let me down. I am so thankful for the unique relationship with this family, and am in awe of their love for me. Gloria a Dios!

Please pray for our first team, arriving tomorrow afternoon from Alabama. This is a high school youth trip, so pray that these high schoolers will be changed and amazed by the ways God is at work in Cielo and Nazareth. Please pray that these 50 people will see God's glory and be used for God's service. And last but not least, please pray for our staff, who will be doing a lot of learning and thinking on their feet this week. We are all praying ourselves that we will be filled with joy, energy, and patience this week. Thanks for your prayers--they are felt, and much needed! Love you all

(the pictures are first Tony, Rosa, and several of their children, and second, myself with their youngest daughter, with Ayendy in the background)

Day 1

Just a quick post to let everyone know I made it to the DR safely, after a few delays and hours spent in the Miami Airport! Today has been a lazy day of unpacking, visiting the villages where I will be working, and getting reacquainted with Mission Emanuel. The ministry has grown so much since I was last here, so I feel a bit like I am starting over with an entirely new ministry. I saw a lot of familiar faces this afternoon, and it was fun to greet all of Mission Emanuel's employees I have missed and prayed for in my years away. I am looking forward to getting updates from all of the families and hearing about their significant life changes I have missed in the last five years. I am also very humbled by how poor my Spanish is right now, and will have a lot of work to do while I am here to be able to communicate. Day one and I am already feeling inadequate...

Thanks for your prayers! There will be more exciting updates coming as other staff members and work teams arrive! 

And it begins...

The departure date is almost here! I leave for Santo Domingo on Monday. So excited! I will be arriving a few days before the summer staff of Mission Emanuel, so I will spend the first few days in the villages, Cielo and Nazareth, making preparations along with the director. I am excited to have a few days to try to revive my Spanish and get reacquanted with the ministry before I have to act like I know what I am talking about!
Once the summer staff arrives, I will work with them to coordinate for the American teams which will begin work the following week. The first few days of preparations will be hectic, but once teams arrive, it will be fun to see the work begin! There will be construction projects, VBS, medical clinics, and visits to a leprosorium. Each week will bring different challenges, and I am really excited to see how God works each week.
I will also be working specifically with a group of Dominican high schoolers who serve as our interpreters. Many of them are not Christians, but go with us into homes and churches to interpret prayers, testimonies, and sermons. My job is simply to love on them, answer questions, walk with them through the process, and hopefully get them to think about some of the words they are translating. My biggest prayer request for this summer is for these teenagers: for my interactions with them, for the relationships we will build, for the questions they will ask and the answers I will try to give them, and for the work God will be doing in their hearts and their lives. Please pray for them and for our time together this summer. I look forward to sharing stories from my time with these teenagers, and just hope God will use me as I interact with them.
My plan is to update you all regularly with pictures, videos, stories, and prayer requests. Check back for all of those, and know I am so thankful for your prayers this summer. Thanks for your support!