Back in the States

My almost 3 weeks back in the states have been BANANAS. I was really excited because I got to spend 2 weeks in NYC with Charlene. Getting adjusted back to life here hasn't been difficult at all. While I'm here I really want to enjoy my friends,family and the familiarity of things.I plan to be back in the DR some time in December and am living my life accordingly. Not accumulating any debt while I'm here and only buying things that I need in the DR. I plan to keep my blog updated so you can see my progress and cheer me on.GOOD NEWS Ive got an apartment set up when I get back but, here's the kicker everything inside the apt is INCLUDED that's right FREE. My good friend Jon Ross gave me all his new appliances. I thank Jah and cant wait to return.

Its been a while

Hey all. So its been a while since I've updated my blog. Allot has changed in my last month and a half in the DR.I was sick for about 3 weeks. First I got a parasite then I was bitten by a mosquito with a virus. I almost missed my ASL memorial , but did miss the English assembly held twice in the country. Y'all I was messed up. My good friend's Anton and Jackie took REALLY good care of me(LOVE Y'ALL).So that is why there has been a lack of blogs. I'm actually back in the states, we(my gram visited me for a week before I returned) arrived in ATL Wed May 20. When we hit US soil I was a Lil sad and excited all at the same time. Don't get me wrong I'm glad to be home,but at the same time I'm experiencing a little bit of withdrawals. The moment we arrived mom and me headed to New York. My great grandmother just died and I will be in New York for 2 weeks. Ill be back in ATL June 4 or something like that.Stayed tuned......

QUE BUENO!!!!

What a wonderful week. This week was the end of the semester at the English Institute I work at so,I had tons of lesson planning and preparing my kids for there final exam.Me and Myrna(sister in the above pic) were doing search work and found a deaf man. The Family was so nice. The man above has been studying for the past 2 years and insisted that we stayed for lunch with him and the family. It's so nice to meet people that have such a love for the truth. It hard to remember that he's not our brother yet. We had such spiritual convo and not to forget the food was DA BOMB!!!!! ummmmmmm. Another high lite of my week was preparing territory for my little city Tamboril. Im the only person from Sign Language hear. When Myrna and I arrived me we were assigned to work this area,find the deaf and make maps. Today the afternoon group went to Tamboril. It felt so good to have completed our assignment. Ive learned and important quality here HUMILITY. Its not about YOU!!!!! Its all about the ministry and Jehovah's will being accomplished.

This weekend was so good I honestly dont know where to start.Craig and Tonya a couple from my Spanish class invited me to there house for the weekend. They live in an area named La Vega. It's about 30 min from the city,Santiago. They've been in ASL for almost 10 years, there so much fun!!! Jeremy and Debra Mallory from Patterson Bethel are in town for the week to attend a wedding. On saturday we went to the host couples home and had wonderful association with brothers and sisters from all over. The night ended with jokes in Sign Language. Jeremy and a brother from the capiital Melki exchanged jokes. The next day we went to the meeting. It was an amazing congregation were 70 deaf were in attendence. This experience was so great for the deaf. Getting a chance to see Jeremy a brother from the Dvd's. All left spiritully up built. The day ended with a congregation party where I cn't even tell you how many people were there. There were interviews of 2 deaf sisters. One of which is a special Pioneer, a brother whose in Bethel( Ebma,both his parents are deaf) and Jeremy. It was so encouraging and I will never forget it.

Its been a while

So Ive been super dupa busy. Good busy just haven't had the time to update my blog. Today I had a breakthrough. The Watchtower today was written for me. Its amazing isn't it that Jh knows what you need when you need it. Every time you feel like you wanna throw in the towel and just give up some how some way he tells you "Its OK, I heard your prayer I got you".(not in those exact words but you get my drift)lol HE IS SOOOOO AMAZING. Lately I've been feeling down about my ministry.I didn't even think that was possible for myself. Ive loved preaching since forever but recently hit a major wall.Ive been feeling like a failure, like I cant teach,nobody understands me and at times feeling like I don't belong here. Adjusting to life in another country can raise insecurities in a person.Not knowing the language well feeling like your not making a difference, these are such strong emotions that can make you feel so down. Jh told me about myself today in the watchtower. I can do this. I am a good teacher and remembering that all I can do is plant the seed and water it. I cant feel bad if a student doesn't make progress or get so frustrated that they don't understand me completely dont beat myself up. Jh knows the heart and will draw those to him that have the right heart. Definitely a Watchtower I will never forget!!!!!!!
Life lesson learned: God is greater then our hearts.

Mondays

I meant to put this post up yesterday but forgot. Mondays in this country are AWESOME!!!!!! It consist of mainly cleaning and preparing for the week.Its like our sabbath.There usually no preaching on Mondays and people just relax. Its a great day to get stuff done. Don't we all wish we could take a day off once a week regularly????? Here's what it looks like. Yup that's right that's me washing clothes."Wheres the dryer at you may ask" NOPE we don't have one. Here's the process:(1
)You've got to wring your clothes out (2)Put them in fabric softener(So your clothes aren't crispy when you put the out to dry(3)From the fabric softener you place you clothes in a spinner(imagine a spinner to dry of lettuce) for about 20 sec and the mostly dry(4)Hang them out to dry My mom would be so PROUD..

What A Wonderful Life

Let me catch yall up on the last few days. They have been quite busy.My ministry is the highlight of all my days,Its definitely been a challenge.I am so appreciative that I am here and learning how to BECOME a teacher. Its like nothing I've ever experienced.The feeling of preparing for your studies and then seeing your students benefit from your hard work is indescribable. For instance, today I went on Lil Perla's study.We are in chap 2 of the "Learn From The Great Teacher" book. Last night when preparing I thought to myself"Self how are you going to teach this Lil girl about creation". I was up for about an hour cutting out pic's from the Wt and Awake trying to find pic's that would explain creation and how they would connect in her brain.I went to the study laid out the pics and it worked. Now she has learned that Jh is the creator of all things and that he gives us these things because he loves us. How good I felt when I pointed to a pic and she GOT IT. Its so amazing to see an 8 year old form her own personal relationship with Jah. I am also so thankful for the spiritual sisters I have around me. They are such good teachers,I desire to be as effective as they are. With time and most importantly Jh's Holy Spirit I will be!!!

Preaching in the DR

So things here are going very well. This week I visited my little girl Perla.She is 8 years old and has been studying for about a month. She is really cute and is progressing well. Her mom is a rare gem. Jenny her mom is sending her to deaf school and tries very hard to practice learning sign so she can communicate with Perla. Most of the parents of deaf children here don't make an effort to communicate with there children. Some even treating them as animals.For example a sister approached a home that she was told a deaf man lived at. She approcahed the house and the family was eating. She asked if there was a man here that was deaf and they pointed to a dirty little shack in the back of the house. She walked to the shed and opened the door. Out peered a man maybe in his 30s. He was tied up to a pole of some sort, had soiled clothing on and hadn't been feed in days. Can you believe that!!!!! The family tied him up like an animal and left him. The scripture at 2 Tim 3:1-5 is proven true on a daily basis here. People truly have "No natural affection" for each other. All we can do is pray that Jh help us to find those that are truly thirsting for the truth, do our part and leave the rest up to him.
(Pic attached is Jackie and a student and Jessica to the left who is about to get baptized at this years upcoming assembly. Jacks been studing with her for 3 years)Lesson learned: never give up on your studies

DA CHAMPS ARE HERE

So Charlene and Nadean are here. These are my girls from Birmingham England. Char(24 yrs) has been her for 18 months and is going home in June (So sad). Don't want her to leave. We meet almost 2 years ago at the English assembly. I meet Nadean through Char this year. Char has been in Asl for 2 years in British Sign and is serving in Puerta Plata sign congregation.Nadean(23 yrs) has been apart of a Spanish group for 3 years in Britain and is serving in Isabella De Torres Spanish congregation here. They are crazy people and need to be deported LOL(Love ya girls) anyway we had a really good weekend together and look forward to seeing them soon. Theres some pics.

What a week

Hello all. Thanks so much for all the post glad to hear from all of you. Life here is GREAT. Today was such a LONGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG day. It started for me at 6:45. I had so much Spanish homework yesterday(Procrastinator). I stared it all last night. Took me FOREVER. So after that I headed to class on the best form of transportation "The Gua Gua".
For those you who don't know what it is or what it looks like lemme break it down for you.A Gua Gua is a mini van that allows 25 - 30 passengers on board (should only fit 10 at the most)! The gua gua gets filled to the rim, and often have people even hanging out the door. The door is in general left open, so that people can easily get on and off. There is no space allocated for bags or luggage. Often you find yourself in the situation that you have someone under you, some one halfway on your lap, people with their hands and legs intertwined with yours. I LOVE IT !!! Theres no better way to get you morning started then someone elbowing you in the side or practically sitting in your lap. Gatta love it!!!!
Class was long I'm finally realizing that I'm not going to understand EVERYTHING, so stop stressing myself out.After class me and Jackie(Will put a pick of her up )went on a bible study. My students name is Madelin she lives in an area known for being dangerous. Its best to go to her early in the day before it gets dark.Shes studied before, but nothing has seemed to stick with her.I realized that my second visit her when she didn't know who Adan and Eve were.So this week I decided to start from the very begging. Chp 8 of "Learn From The Great Teacher" book is so nice and simple.Paragraphs 8-15 gives a brief synopses of who Adam and Eve are.It was such a great study. I'm really enjoying my ministry. I'm really learning how to be a real teacher. Words cant express the joy you feel when you and your student are on the same page. It a slow process but I'm in it for the LONG HAUL!!!!!

So Excited n I just cant hide it im about to lose control and I think I like it

So my money is looking a lil funny these days. Ive been praying to Jah to find a job that will sustain me while im here and possibly when I go home.Ive been searching for a job on the Internet and got a really good lead from Chaundria about a sisters husband that has an online job. ONE PROBLEM I don't have Internet in my apartment. So I just finished talking to the brother and sister who own the apartment buildingI live in. When I first moved in they told me an Internet connection was not available for my apartment which is on the 3rd floor(to high up to get a connection)BUMMER RIGHT!!!!!!!! Well, i've been praying praying praying and decided I would give it another shot and see what other options were available. The br and his wife were so helpful and understanding thinking hard on how I could get Internet. The Br Yuse is his name says to me "Sis I think ive got it.We could see if you can get a good connection in the basement". Which is generally used for storage. He told me there was a table and chair he would set up for me as a little office" Its worth a try" he said .IT WORKS thank Jah. So now im ganna get a JOB AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW so happy

I am so excited to join the blogger world. My friend Jojo has a really cool blog filled with Pics and experiences from his stay here the Dr. It seems like a really cool way to keep in touch with everyone. I'm not that good with checking emails (Shame on me )I'm really trying to do better,DNT GIVE UP ON ME lol. So you guys can check on me and my experiences with the click of a button. This pic is from the recent ASL assembly. The sister to my right is Brit a sister from Canada who has been serving here for close to 4 years.Da girl is on point!!!!!! Moved here when she was 19.Shes become one of my close friends.I'm meeting such great people here and have truly seen the joy of forming close bonds with those who have the same spiritual goals as I do.Im learning that key to havings a lasting friendship. The statments try"Birds of a feather flock togather".Wouldn't change a thing about deciding to come serve here. Seriously every young person should try to make it a a goal to do something DIFFFRENT for Jah. DO more and experience all Jehovah has to offer!!!!