A new day

The craziness of American groups is over! The last group left on Saturday. The last few members of the American staff left early this morning. And then, there was one. Today is my first day off in a month, and my first day as a solo americana in the DR. I must admit, while I do miss my wonderful and hilarious staff, I am pretty excited for what this time alone will bring. I am excited to explore the DR. I am excited to devote most of my time to studying Spanish and strengthening the relationships I have here. I am excited to be a part of this community without having to always run around and take care of logistics. I am excited to just BE.

I am entering a month of unknown. The only rhythm to my days will be studying spanish with my dear friend Emmanuel each morning. Otherwise, my days are free for God to use and guide. The adventure is already beginning! This weekend, I have been asked to travel to Castillo with the youth of the church to participate in a mission trip. Now, when I think of missions, I think of construction and physical labor, so I obviously said yes when asked to join the group. Then, days later, I found out that no, we are not doing any kind of construction...we are doing a drama. Yes, a drama. And do I now have a part in that drama? Oh yes! This could be hilarious...all I know right now is that I am playing someone bad in the drama. I can't wait to share stories, because I can't imagine how piling into a bus with a bunch of Dominican teenagers to travel and perform a drama could NOT be hysterical.

Thanks for all of your prayers over the last month. My hope and prayer for this next month is that God will guide my days. There are so many families I will have time to sit down and talk with, and my hope is that God will show me where to go each day. I hope this month will change me. Because I have spent so much time here, in many ways, the DR is a part of my comfort zone. I hope that during this month, I am taken out of my comfort zone and challenged and changed by this place.

'May your unfailing love be my comfort...' Psalm 119: 76