And there I was......waiting.

Oh gosh I'm still yawning from the lack of sleep- this whole working nights thing is wearing on me again.

But onward and upward we go.....putting in time at work is required until I get to jump into The Next Big Thing.   The house rental thing isn't exactly going as I had dreamed- please continue to pray for the perfect folks to take over living at 3148 Limestone Road in C-Vegas.   I've got about 5 weeks until I thought I'd like to be prepping to fly out of here.   And I've got a lot more money that I need to raise to fund the DR Dream.

However, last night as I was driving to work at 10p I decided that really....REALLY...I'm gonna continue to wait for God to give me the big heads up.    I've been so impatient and anxious about trying to get out of here and it isn't doing anything good for my relationship with Jesus and my interactions with friends, family, colleagues and random strangers who must think I'm nuts.  

I think this means that if my plane ISN'T landing in Santa Domingo on July 2 I will not cry and stomp my feet anymore or wake up with fingers of anxiety circling around my neck and my stomach doing somersaults.    I think it means...that yet again... my life is not my own.   I said YES to Jesus a while ago...and although we quarrel about who gets to call the shots alot- this one is going to have to be on Him.    So I'm gonna keep on working and hanging out and try to focus on putting in some good times here...some good memories while I wait.   I want more time with Grandpa.   I want to go swimming in Pine Creek.  I want to help deliver some sweet little brown babies that will grow up and speak spanish.    I want to sit in my small group and look around at these great and long-suffering friends that keep supporting me and bailing me out of selfishness.     I want to somehow (maybe?)  start running a mile or two again.  I really REALLY want to meet Antonio Bastardo at a Phillies game while I'm killing some hotdogs on Dollar Dog Night.  

I know God is calling me to the DR...but I just can't nail down exactly how it's going to go down.   So I'm pretty sure that I'm supposed to be living INTENTIONALLY right now, not banking on the future, not dwelling on the past and all the ridiculous stuff I've been caught up in, not sweating work or hours or plane tickets or houses or fundraising.    I'm thinking God really wants me to REST IN HIM (and let me tell you, I have not been resting in Him- I've been sweating everything!) and let Him pull this whole thing off.     Of course my neurotic personality will need all of you to remind me of this possibly hourly, if not daily.  :)    He's a Great God...otherwise He'd never tolerate a fool like me.  

Thanks for praying for me.   I know it's old hat, but I can always tell that prayers are lifting me up.  I can't imagine how folks can get out of bed without Jesus and His cronies (who remain the face of Him for me).  

Love,
nik

One Month. Un Mes.

Hummus.  That is one thing that I completely forgot about while I was in the DR.  Hummus is GOOD.   I have been loving to eat hummus and Turkey Hill chocolate ice cream and fresh asparagus.   The good news is:  May is a perfect time to be in Chester County Pennsylvania.    April was too cold and rainy for me....but May is glorious.  

I am enjoying meeting up with family and friends and hanging in the home church and driving down back roads checking out the spring blooms in all their glory.   Oh, and how cool is it to watch the Phightin Phils in person or on local tv!   BUT I am dreaming of the mangos and chinola and habichuelas that are awaiting me in the DR too.   And here is how the journey back is looking....

I remain in the quest to rent my house.  Rough going, actually.  I have the most fantabulous tenants in the world currently and they will be tough to top.   So prayers in this direction would be appreciated.  And....if any of you know folks who would like to rent an old house (built in 1865) with LOTS of cool character in C-Vegas, PA- send me the info!  

On the fundraising front... onward we go.  I think I am almost halfway there and have heard affirmations with this which makes me feel better.   For those of you interested in supporting me financially,  Solid Rock is waiting to hear from you!   It's easy-peasy via their website www.solidrockmissions.org using the Donate key.  Or they are available via phone to answer questions or set up stuff for you at 419-956- 4077.  If you need more information on my goals and aspirations, check out my last blog post!

With all my intense planning and plotting and to-do lists, I literally laughed when I read my Jesus Calling on Friday.

"Do not search for security in the world you inhabit.  You tend to make mental checklists of things you need to do in order to gain control of your life.  If only you could check everything off your list, you could relax and be at peace.  But the more you work to accomplish that goal, the more things crop up on your list.  The harder you try, the more frustrated you become.  

There is a better way to find security in this life.  Instead of scrutinizing your checklist, focus your attention on My Presence with you.  This continual contact with Me will keep you in my Peace.  Moreover, I will help you sort out what is important and what is not, what needs to be done now and what does not.   Fix your eyes not on what is seen (your circumstances) but on what is unseen (My Presence). " (Isa 26:3 and 2 Cor 4:18)


Haha.  Anyone else challenged here with me?  I LOVE my checklists!   So, for now- I'm gonna head out for a little bit, maybe check out my mom's flowers, buy some asparagus,  or watch the neighbors mow some hay with their horses.   I think I'm gonna soak in some Presence!

Bendiciones
nik

It was kinda chilly at the Bank...but it was awesome!  I love the Phillies!  Even tho they lost....

And I did get some hair chopped off...but not in a failure-to-cope-just-do-something-way.  It was just TIME.  :)

AHHHH this is what is waiting for me in the DR!  Mangos!  Que no daria yo por comer mangos!

So I'm not worthy. But I'm willing....

When last seen, I was leaving for almost 4 months to work at a medical clinic in San Juan de la Maguana, DR .  After an amazing experience as a medical liaison in the clinic,  I am back in PA but have definitely been feeling like God is not done with me in the DR yet. I am excited to share that I am commiting a full year of service to the clinic where I will be continuing to serve as the medical liaison between the US medical teams and the Dominican clinic staff.

I will also be working as a Sponsorship Coordinator with the Infant Nutrition Program and the schools sponsored by Solid Rock.  

Some of my responsibilities in the clinic include coordinating patient care, organizing the medical supply rooms,  assisting with surgeries and barrio (village) clinics,  and all the daily tasks that come with joining two different cultures in providing care to very grateful patients.

Some of my “unassigned job responsibilties” included making dump runs with truckloads of garbage, delivering a baby in the barrios,  , scrubbing and circulating in the OR,  gnashing my teeth while  attempting to operate the Third World Autoclave (instrument sterilizer), amateur electrical work via flipping unmarked breakers while praying hard, changing truck tires (to the horror and dismay of all present Dominican males),  visiting patients at home and sharing meals and laughter and tears together, and listening to folks from our teams share how God has rocked their world over a period of 5 days in a small town that I have fallen in love with.

And I loved it all.   In fact, I can’t wait to get back and do it again.

This position is a self-funded position…which of course means that I am writing here to raise financial support.    UGH- I hate doing this but it comes with the territory.   Solid Rock’s recommendation is for $1500.00 a month.  Essentially I’m looking for 150 people to commit to donating 10 bucks a month for a year.    Or 75 folks committing to 20 bucks a month.     Solid Rock will provide you with tax deductable receipts and has a website which makes this process WAY easier at www.solidrockmissions.org.   There is a “Donate Now”  icon which leads to a donation page.   “Nicole Eby” can be found under the “Staff Support” option.    If you aren’t into computers, Solid Rock can also receive donations in my name at PO Box 20867, Indianapolis, IN 46220.

I probably can’t say thank you enough to all the folks who pray for me and support me and send me funny messages on Facebook or cards that encourage me at just the perfect time.    It always seems like God knows just what I need when I need it and I know I couldn’t do this on my own…and who would want to?   We were created for community and I’ve been so blessed to have this community in different places with different languages and different cultures.

I was rereading my blog and came across an entry that  might give you a glimpse of my heart for the DR……

“I was reminded that it's one of the things that I love about being here, seeing folks experience LIFE here for the first time.    They are in awe of the brave and sweet patients,  endlessly entertained by the cutest kiddies ever, struck silent by the poverty, overwhelmed at the kindness,  and humbled by the graciousness of the wonderful gente here.   We will do surgery together and eat meals together and I will listen to them laugh about the rooster waking everyone up in the middle of the night and the mosquitos and the occasional difficulties in getting things done here and how rewarding it is to take care of these people and how thankful they are.    I'll see some of them get teary when they prepare to leave, knowing that they too fell a little bit in love with life here.   It's cool- I get to see it both- the americans and the dominicans.   And me- I'm a little bit inbetween those worlds and loving every minute.”

Thanks guys,

Nicole

www.phillynic.blogspot.com / phillynic@gmail.com / 610-246-1136

 

Jesus Calling

Scared

So I feel scared today.  A little overwhelmed.  It's so good to be home and be around my home peeps...but I feel that scaredy feeling in my gut.  Scared I won't be able to rent the house...scared that I can't raise money... scared that I don't know exactly when I'm flying back to San Juan...just SCARED overall.   Don't know how to explain it cuz I KNOW that God is in all of this and it's my processing time and I have to TRUST Him and put one foot in front of the other one and be obedient and all that....   But I'm scared today and want to hide in my bed.

So I won't.  I'm getting out.  I'm going to hear some friends speak TRUTH into my life and encourage me  and pray and ask me questions about where I've been and what I'm doing.  

And maybe I'll cut my hair.  Okay, that might not be a good idea for today.  :)

If you think about it- PRAY.     I NEED HIM.

nik

Viernes

Y entonces, ya yo voy.  

When I left this morning, Tony was preaching to the folks in the waiting room of the clinic and handing out tracts.  The other nurses were getting charts together, folding gauze, laughing with each other, stripping the beds.   Sandy Valdez was in his office preparing to see the patients.  Jose and Alejandro and Richard were chatting it up in the pharmacy.   In the guesthouse, Margo and Rosa were starting the laundry and cleaning the kitchen and beginning to tear through the rooms.   The buses were loading up  the team members to head for the capital and the drivers were working through the bus windows to get all the luggage inside.

A patient's father called to remind me not to forget about her or her lab results.  Texts were buzzing on my phone.   My favorite two conchos drivers were hanging by the gate giving hugs and chanting "no te vallas...no te vallas" (don't go...don't go).   The barrio kids were goofing off asking for stuff (like always!) and sneaking in the gate and trying to play with the dog.   My mom was wiping off the counters in the kitchen.    Dan and Kari were prepping for the drive to Juan Dolio.   It's Friday.  

And now I'm sitting on the balcony of my hostel in BC staring at the ocean, soaking in the breeze with an ice cold one.    I'm wondering again why it is that I'm so lucky.    I'm thinking how psyched I am to get back down here and finish up that scary med supply room (it IS much improved), reorganize the pharmacy room (again!), love on my patients, joke with the docs in surgery, walk down the streets of Cercado with the mountains on both sides, visit baby Nicole, cruise around in the hideous blue truck, hang with my peeps, consume insane amounts of arroz y habichuelas.    I'm drinking in the moment of how great it's BEEN, how good God has been, has ridiculously LARGE I've lived with His favor.   Kari prayed for me this morning at breakfast and it was a bit of teary time for me.....   I'm trying to reflect, I'm trying to process, I'm trying to be intentional...and I just feel torn.   Torn between the gratitude and the yearning to DO more, BE more, GROW more.     And of course that's just lame...because there never IS anything I've ever done here or anywhere else-  it's always been Jesus.  

And I've got some friends who are sick...and I've seen some sad things...and I know we aren't guaranteed the next 5 minutes, let alone the next 5 months or 5 years.    So I know I have to process this lovely experience and know that I will commit to living IN THE NOW wherever I am.   But wow- will I miss the vida dulce aki.

Great team this week, again.  Loved the crew- surgery team rocked (didn't have much surgery but still rocked!), fantastic barrio teams saw over 1000 patients.   Wednesday Kari and I went to Bastida where I held Baby Nicole again.   She is beautiful, gaining weight, looking good.   And we saw Julian which is always a moment of intense love and pain.   And yesterday I went with Dr. Victor to El Cercado and spent some time seeing patients, but mostly walking around to say hello to my friends there.   We stopped in and visited the family with 12 kids and little to no food.  There were 3 chicken eggs in the baby's bed which was a pile of garbage bags on the floor with a hole-y blanket on top of it.     And we ate lunch with my El Cercado family (the bandera claro) and chatted and I realized that sometimes I understand a good 80% of the conversations now.  Huge success.   And later  Kristin and the baby came by to say goodbye and then mom and I drove to Pueblo Nuevo and gave hugs and "hasta luegos" and we just don't say goodbye because really...... it's just not goodbye.   And I watched the group members meet their sponsor kids and sponsor families last night and just BEAM with excitement.  

I was reminded that I am a small part of the beautiful plan that God has for the folks here.... for us to take care of each other and love on each other and remind each other that He LOVES us and wants us to LOVE Him back and live in that Love.     And I have been LOVED on.   And I've said it in the last post and I'll say it again:   I am changed.   At the pool earlier I was blasting some music in my IPOD and bopping along to some reggaeton and others when the Creere' song came on.  I remembered how I felt at that concert with that song- like we were all together at one time, the whole world in harmony shrieking the words:   I believe.  I believe.  I believe.  And I do.

Holding on, holding in, holding up my hands....

Once again I'm not sure how two weeks have passed since the last blog but I am determined to do better.  Just determined.

When I last wrote the latest group had arrived and was settling in....and they were amazing.  We didn't have a TON of GYN surgery but we did a LOT of organizing in the scary room upstairs and the awesome barrio teams not only saw lots of patients but they did a great job in the med room reorganizing some things as well.    I love it when teams here "get it" and this team totally "got it".   It was neat to see them interact with the folks here, especially with their sponsor kids on the last night at the Fiesta Party.    And there were some great patients that got some extra lovin' too and that was cool.  

On Friday in fact, I drove to the capital with one of the docs to fed ex some special labs to the States.  That was definitely a first for me, especially driving OFF THE MAIN ROAD in the capital.    But we did great and now I know where Fed Ex is and I figured a few road things out which was cool.   For some reason I absolutely LOVE driving in this country.  It's always kinda like taking an adrenaline shot and a bit life-threatening to boot but viewing the world behind the wheels of one of our trucks is also always an adventure.  

The other great thing about Friday was that after I went with our team to the Capella Resort to verify that they had arrived safely and could check in, I headed to Boca Chica and checked into Rita's Refugio (my fav spot in BC) to wait for Sue Eby to arrive.  And sure enough, after a few delays in Miami, she entered the Dominican Republic at approximately 8:30 pm, plenty of enough time for me to chow down on ice cream and pico pollo at the airport.   YUM.

And then there was Sue.  So, it's beyond cool to have my mom here with me in a place that I adore.    There were/are so many things I want to show her.    We crashed pretty soon Friday night but were up early Saturday morning.    I had my fantasy baseball draft at 8:15 in the morning on Saturday so we sat over delish toast and coffee while I drafted (first time for fantasy baseball- so far totally LOVE it but still don't completely understand the scoring section.....hmmmmmm) .   Then we went for a walk on the beach in BC.  BC is basically a pit- full of prostitutes and drugs and bad news.   However, the beach (even with the view of the oil refinery) CAN be nice and it's shallow and local and there were mangos there which basically trumped everything else.    And we were happy and took pix and enjoyed the warm sunshine.

Then we packed up and set sail for San Pedro to visit Zaidy and baby Jose Alfredo.  He's SO CUTE!  Zaidy met us at McDonalds and we walked back to her apartment and hung out with them over lunch.  She made us arroz and habichuelassssss....delish!

Then back to Boca Chica we went for some chill time at the pool and then a delish dinner at Neptuno's across the street.    Oh and of course I made sure I drove her by the Phillies academy- SWWEEETTT.  They were playing a game and I was insanely jealous- but only a few more days til the Fightin Phils kick off the season.....

Sunday morning after another fab breakfast of tostado y cafe- we set sail for the capital.   I was a bit nervous heading to the Zona Colonial for the first time but we were armed with a city map and cruised right on up to the cathedral and Conde- the first cathedral in the Americas and a cool shopping street to boot.   It IS just beautiful and was nice to meander around for a while while the city was still waking up.

And then we were off to San Juan- heading west west west....  Praise Jesus this time I didn't miss either of the roads in Bani or Azua...and there was even some toilet paper at the rest stop.   Good times- Sue was impressed.   We stopped in Bastida looking for Julian but he was nowhere to be found...so we visited Baby Nicole instead.  Her mother was BEAMING when she saw me and ran to get the baby for me.  She is SO CUTE!  And her siblings came grinning and running to fuss over us as well.    Oh how I love la gente.   I'm bummed that we didn't see Julian though- I think of him often and wonder how he is doing.   Oh that he is living abundantly- ojala.

And suddenly we were here.   Here at the Guesthouse.  Chilling with Dan and Kari under the pavilion gazebo thing.   It's almost surreal- Sue Eby is in the DR.    And we hung for a while, grubbed on some leftovers...and then set sail for church in Pueblo Nuevo at the orphanage.   Excellent to see the fellas, excellent to see Celeste and Danilo, excellent to help hand out the empanadas that the crew got to have for dinner, excellent to hear Mary preach and hear Euclides, Ronny, Nelson and some others sing.   Really good night.  

Monday found us helping to clean up in the kitchen a bit.  Kari and Margo and Rosa are revamping and power cleaning the kitchen and dining room so we helped a bit with that and then went out to the orphanage again to hang with the fellas.   Mom got to sit in on an English class- awesome!  I'm always so proud of the progress that the students are making.  It's exciting to see.   And then of course Sue was playing sidewalk chalk with one of the little guys- so stinkin cute!

We went to Bartolo and Anyellina's house next to visit with Anyi and the girls.   Such a great time hanging out...and Mom and little Barmady hit it off!

And now no Monday is complete without a softball game.  We sat with Kari to cheer Dan and his new cronies on.   Monday MIGHT be my favorite day of the week (ummmm well, maybe except Fridays...:)).

Tuesday we cleaned a bit more around the Guesthouse, hit up the market in San Juan, and then went to Danilo and Celeste's home for lunch.  Oh yum- as always!  Stopped in at Kristen and Miguel's to admire their patio and then out to eat at Bocconcinos for girls night with Kari!  YAYYYYYY....

And Wednesday- ahhhh I should let the photos do the talking.   Wednesday we went to Playa Quemaito in Barahona with Dan and Kari, Miguel and Kristen and their girls Tika and Nicole.  BEAUTIFUL!   However, I returned home with a RED back looking like a gringo for sure!

Thursday and Friday we went to El Cercado.   Ahhhh Cercado.   I wish I could describe how I feel when I'm there.   There is a a certain slowing down of life in El C- a sweetness.   The mountains all around us-  la loma- bright bright sky- happy beautiful familiar faces-  stopping in the streets to greet friends and strangers.   I love my friends and family there.   And how cool for Sue to experience it too.  Guayaba juice, la bandera, sweet bananas, sitting out on the patio, walking to visit folks, checking out the market.   Wow.  I always love to come and I hate to leave.

Returned last night to San Juan.  Feeling a little tight- knowing I'm outta here in another week.   Holding my breath a little bit hoping time will somehow slow down, knowing I'm about to collide worlds again...and hoping that I process INTENTIONALLY during this time.  Not gonna lie- nervous- in total denial- can't believe this time is coming to an end.    I keep telling folks that I know I'll be back but just not sure when?    Oh man- I don't even want to think about it.

Mom and I spent today around the Guesthouse.  She worked in the flower beds for about 80 hours and I worked in the med room and then did some time in the scary room.  There is major hope up there now (and a few dead rats too).    If I could get the lapy aisle whipped into shape, we'd be in total business.   We made a dump run (that's an educational experience in these parts), stopped into the orphanage to visit and watch them play some games, and then chilled out tonight.  

And it's April.  The good news is that baseball has begun.   More good news is that I love my peeps the whole world over...and I'm looking forward to seeing some that I haven't seen in a while.  But I hate goodbyes here.   Y entonces, I'm sticking with nos vemos..... or hasta luego....   I'm holding on, holding it in, but holding up my hands in surrender that I can stroll outta here without boo-hooing away at some point.  :)

I think I should post just one picture from spring training here, even tho I wasn't there this year.  Bud and Sue had it covered tho- and it should be noted that Antonio Bastardo is number 58.   Vamos Bastardo vamos!  

Life is beautiful.   Dios te bendiga.  Amen.