And then there was April

Sooooo we have some time off until the next team comes at the end of April.  I have exactly 1 week to whip the Scary Room into shape (a priority) and work in the med room and clinic as well.  But I'm feeling GOOD.   The two weeks spent with Bud and Sue Eby were heavenly.  They finished up their weekend in San Juan with a bang and then we headed to Juan Dolio where I showed them the Capella, which is where our teams often stay.   It was cool to see how my folks just integrated their lives with our lives here- I feel like they could really experience WHY I love it here and that was a neat experience to have.

Bud setting sail to tour San Juan by pasola...

And Sue fearlessly tackling a pasola as well..

My folks at the gorgeous cathedral downtown.

Me and Laurita en caminooooo

My parents haciendo gira with mis hijosssss

Out for ice cream

Apparently during Semana Santa it is completely acceptable for grown men to sit in kiddie pools fully clothed and imbibe adult beverages.  This frequently occurs in the middle of the streets forcing all drivers to drive AROUND them.  I couldn't help but roar with laughter EVERY time I saw it.  Hilarity.

Jeff and Kamanda with my folks.  AWESOME

So it's been an excellent break for me, vacation time with my parents and then an awesome time with Jeff and Kamanda visiting....and just some general DOWNTIME has been heavenly.  There's been dominos and baseball and reading.   I've been trying to soak it in.  

And I've been challenged too.  Lately I've been challenged on some spiritual stuff that is kinda kicking my butt.   Luchando a bit with it.    Wishing I was just that super-disciplined person who stuck with stuff better.    Trying to be defined by how God sees me.  Wishing I could stay complete in Him alone.  You know.....all the stuff I always am luchando about.   Poco a poco.   One would think that at 40 years old I would have some of this figured out.  But nope-  it always comes back to me on my knees admitting I'm an idiot, that I'm clueless, that I wish the same stupid sins wouldn't slay me,  that I really am lost without Him.    There's this Hillsong song I keep playing like a billion times that possibly is driving everyone else here completely bananas.  It's the spanish version of The Stand.  And I don't EVEN understand all the words in spanish- I'm just not there yet.  But what I DO understand is this:

¿Qué puedo hacer, qué puedo decir?
Te ofrezco mi corazón completamente a ti.
En tu salvación camino, tu espíritu vive en mí,
declara (¿?) en tus promesas, me acerco a ti.

Aquí estoy, con manos cansadas vengo,
Pues tú todo lo diste por mí.
Aquí estoy, mi alma a ti entrego,
Tuyo soy, Señor.

So what could I say?
And what could I do?
But offer this heart, Oh God
Completely to you

I'll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the one who gave it all
I'll stand
My soul Lord to you surrendered
All I am is yours

It's a Good Friday!

One week ago today my Dad arrived in the DR.  I've had both of my parents here now for a week (mom has been here for two) and it's been awesome living here through their eyes, so to speak.  

Mom and I finished up with the Rhodes team and headed in last Friday morning with a friend (lil Monchi) who we dropped off in the capital.  We DID make a stop to visit Baby Nicole in Bastidaaaaaa though.  She remains somewhat reluctant to have anything to do with me.  :)  But it's ALWAYS heavenly to see that sweet face.   And her mama was happy to give me some mani and mangos!  Awesome!

This is about how she feels when I try to hold her!  ;)

However, DulceMaria is a bit more willing to sit on my lap!  She did pee on me a little bit but it was okay.

Her beautiful sibs!

We picked up my Dad around 1:30, grabbed some pizza in the airport, and headed to Boca Chica to Rita's Refuge (just always a favorite!) to settle in by the Caribbean.   Dad sat outside on the balcony for a long time taking in the blue blue water and palm trees.   It was the first time I've been with my parents since last June so we talked and talked and chatted and chatted.   Did a little poolside snooze and headed across the street to Neptune's for a glamorous dinner.   Boca Chica is such a city of contrasts.  In most ways it's just a pit....but there are a few little treasures here and I'm glad we've found them.

On Saturday we went for a long walk on the beach and then drove by the Phillies Academy and watched some young hopefuls play ball for a few moments.  It's always cool wondering if the next Pujols is playing right before our eyes.  :)   We headed down to Faro de Colon and then the Colonial Zone in Santo Domingo and visited the First Cathedral and Conde Street before heading back to San Juan in early afternoon.

Oh and San Juan.....I love San Juan.

We visited a baseball practice, the market and the orphanage and Corbano Sur.  We participated in a fogata (bonfire) in the streets and played a bunch of dominos.   

Kari making hot chocolate at the bonfire.  YUM!

On Tuesday we drove to Barahona to the El Quemaito beach with Kari and her friend Andrea.   It was chill and beautiful.  We sat by the water and ate fried fish and Kari and I played dominos with some locals.

And Wednesday was El Cercado.  How awesome having my folks hang out with my "second family" here!  We sat in the patio, shelled granules, and of course, Laura and I threw down some dominos with the fam.  Great times!  We also stopped by the clinic and visited some other friends in town.

Eating chenchen in Cercado on the patio= heavenly!

Spent Thursday here in San Juan again.   I got up and headed to the kitchen and spent some morning hours shelling granules with Margo and the crew.  Shelling grandules is one of the most relaxing communal activities.  You sit down with folks and just shell.    And grandules are beautiful.

We will spend this weekend puttering around San Juan.  We visited friends last night and ate WAY too much food.   Today we will walk to the cathedral and think about Jesus.   We will remember Good Friday and how meaningful it is.  We will read the chapters in the Bible about His death and we will wait for Sunday and the resurrection.    I will think about the grandules and how the new peas spring from their pod....the newness of bright green LIFE and how Jesus IS life for me.   I will remember how it feels to just SIT with folks shelling grandules quietly, our hands mixing in the bowls.    We will wait quietly for the Savior today.  Still.