Fast approaching is the day

April is coming and I guess I'm panicking a little bit.  I'm excited that my Mom will be here in 9 days and we will take on the island together...but I'm a little freaked out by the idea that my near-4-month time here is ending soon.

  It's been a great week- we've got some awesome nursing students in town this week who are doing barrio clinics (I went with them on Monday and they were wonderful!) and school screenings (that's how I spent yesterday morning and I was very impressed!) and then there are some ANGELS here, some fabulous gals who are committed to helping organize the scary room (did I mention they are ANGELS!) upstairs.  And THAT is how I spent today.   We made a dump run yesterday AND today and it felt good to "redeploy" some of our supplies from 2001 and beyond.    The scary room is still scary but there are a few spaces on the shelves that look pretty darn good!   Maybe after tomorrow I will post some pictures.   Last week Skylar, a med student from Nashville, also worked in the scary room several evenings.   I feel surrounded by selfless people who are wonderful servants and I am humbled and LEARNING from them.   I've been here nearly 3 months and these folks have definitely schooled me in the Scary Room by far....like, in 2 weeks.  

And I got a phone call from Julian's mom - his grandmother died yesterday.  Exactly one week later.   I spoke to him too and it was good to hear his voice.   If the blue truck can hang in there, I might attend the service on Sunday.   I don't exactly know what to expect or do or how to participate, but I want to love on his family for sure.

And I got to watch a ball game with some friends Monday night.  And we laughed and rode around on motos in the cool evening air and talked and cheered on the players and chatted with the other folks watching.   And I feel like I have a community here.

And Dan and Kari and I went to Miguel and Kristen's last night and chilled with tacos and shot the breeze and talked about this beautiful place.   And I felt such a peace about it- that there are folks here who share tacos and Jesus and funny stories with me and will encourage me and not let me fall down.

And I KINDA got pulled over by the po-po today and PRAISE Jesus I had my license on me (which I rarely do) and the blue truck didn't sputter and die immediately.   Turns out they wanted me to put on my seat belt and after hearing my English- they waved us on through.   Whew!   Another Dominican experience under the old belt.....

I've been talking to Cora and Joe and Shannon and Rod and Sandy at Solid Rock and last night I had a Skype meeting with the Medical Crew of the Board of Solid Rock.  And so- the news is that there is a place here for me longer-term.   And I want it.  I want it so much.   And I don't know exactly what that means, except that I want to be here and I know I have to work through some stuff to make it happen.   I'll continue to work with the medical teams and in the clinic, but I will also help out with the sponsorship programs, both with our Solid Rock-sponsored schools, and also with the Infant Nutrition Program.   I'll have a lot to learn, but I know Jesus is walking this with me.   I know I have much to handle state-side, like.....what about my jobs...what about my house....what about my responsibilities...and what about raising more money.    And all I can say is this:  God has opened lots of doors for me to be here NOW and I believe He will continue to open them.   I'm coming home April 9th and I will gather my thoughts together and try to get my wits about me and pay my taxes and then I'll begin to prepare for the Return.  I have no idea how long that will take.    

One thing is:  I guess I am changed.  I guess I am changing.  Oh I'm still the same goofball as ever- struggling- falling- same old sins- same old troubles- same old nik- it's me, after all.    But I am CHANGING.  Less and less asleep.  Made of different stuff than when I began.  And I have sensed it all along.......  (Thanks Brooke Fraser...for the lyrics that envelop me).    As we say here- luchando, luchando- Wrestling, wrestling!   I am wrestling all the time.   Wrestling to be found in Him, wrestling to STOP with my agenda, my wants, my needs, my self-esteem.    I lose terribly most of the time.   But there are moments.   And in these beautiful moments of my life here with Jesus- and la gente bonito and la vida dulce- I am realizing more and more that quiero quedar.    I want to stay here.   I love my life in the states so much.   I love my peeps and my house and my truck and driving through Chester County at 6pm on a June evening.  And I miss all of my wonderful friends and family so much.   But I want to stay here.   I want to BE here and LIVE here and EXPERIENCE more here.   Don't know for how long yet...but much much longer than 4 months.

And I'm sorry to everyone that I should be phoning right now to tell you this in person.   SO impersonal and lame to put on a blog.   And yet- it IS mass information and you all deserve to know right now, before it comes out in a Solid Rock newsletter or something.  :)  Most of you who know me and love me probably suspected.   And as I start raising money to live here full time you'll all get a letter from me anyway.  :)

So thanks.  Thanks for your place in my life- thanks for tuning in to the life and times of Nik Eby yet again.   Guess I was never gonna be that girl who did what was expected, huh?  39 years old and flipping the script again.    I'm just glad I'm not alone on this ball of mud- love you guys!  Love the life that Jesus is walking me through....