Craziness

 So we are now just about half way through our last outreach. That is crazy...that means we literally only have 2 weeks of outreaches left and then our few days of debriefing. The last outreach was just so different than any of the one we have had so far. I am not sure what it was but something was just off. The 2 girls and 1 older lady I had at my site were great but seemed they just didn't want to be there. I can't say they didn't play with all the girls more than any other group has but there was just something, and it wasn't even just my girls. It kind of seemed to be the entire outreach of people. Everything was just a little off. Not as energetic.
 But I will gladly say that this group we have at the moment has been so so great! I actually have 2 mothers (Nancy & Tami) and a young lady (Cristina) who has just graduated college. They are all from Connecticut and are more than here for the right reasons. They have honestly been so great and we have only been at our site and together for maybe 2 1/2 days. Sadly we have only had Nancy and Cristina for these days because there was about 25 people who got sick (stomach issues from both ends =[ ), including mostly students, 5 out of us 7 interns (I happily escaped it) and some staff members. So it has been a crazy first few days with this group but it has been better already. The women at my site seem to just love on us and on everyone there so easily and so quickly. They are very fun to be around and a nice change to not have high schoolers. Not saying that any of the high schoolers I have had have been bad LoL

Me and Jesus

 Anyway since I am ending my amazing time here in la Republica Dominicana, it starts getting harder and harder leaving the site every afternoon. Last night we had our usual dinner in the community and we got to go eat with Laura and baby Jesus. They made this very yummy cheesy pasta with tostones (Dominican French Fries - can't wait to make them at home!), wasn't quite the 'normal' Dominican meal most people eat this night when they're out in the community, so it was a nice change for me from white rice, beans and chicken, though I think I will miss that to when I get home haha. It was so fun to be able to go back to Los Higos and be there when it's dark out, very different atmosphere but it was so amazing to see, even though it was very dark. It was a fun experience to see these people outside of our site and seeing then eating dinner and how the kids literally just kind of walk into everyones houses just to see whats going on then either stays or keeps on going haha
 Jesus has become a special little 5 month old to me. When I first saw him I asked if I could hold him and after a couple minutes he was out cold in my arms. His mom looked surprised and brought him home a little later. Then every since then she either will walk down and come bring him to me or I will go up and play with him and eventually bring him down to the base. Rossy, Heidy and his momma Laura all constantly tell me he is going to miss me so much. "He hears your voice Ariana...he will know when he doesn't hear it anymore." Rossy will tell all the new students we get that one time we were over there and we put him in the room after he fell asleep. We finished painting the kitchen and were leaving and I just happened to say his name and say bye - as if he could hear me right? I knew he was sleeping, it was just to say it. We all take a few more steps and hear him making all kinds of happy noises. Rossy and his mom kind of freaked out so I felt bad that I had woken him up but they reacted like that because they say 'He heard your voice, he wanted you to come in there.' Every time I hear Rossy telling that story it makes me a little sad because I really don't want to leave and him forget who I am. Yes I know he is only 5 months old but I know he knows. It was also great to find out while we were there last night was that Laura's boyfriend Anthony, asked her marry her, and truly marry her, with the church, a dress, a pastor, everything! That was so great to hear! I mean just hearing how they met...she went to the grocery store real quickly saw him on his Moto, they smiled at each other, she turned around and told her friend 'Tell my mom I got married' and jumped on the back of his Moto and off they went to live together. ---- Wait what?? You may be asking...but surprisingly it is very true and they are still together 5 years later. And now getting 'for real' married.
  We had our 2nd to last Intern bible study this past Monday, and Erin was asked to lead it. Since we were making breakfast still she had some time to plan out and then told all of us "I want to talk about characteristic of God today so just think about this summer and what characteristic has been more evident in you life here." So we all sat there and I was just kind of astounded because almost everyday for that past week I had found something in my reading that talked about how much faith we should have in God and how faithful he is to everybody. Funny thing is that when she started she mentioned that as well. I went next and smiled and said the same thing and why, and then the next 3 people all said the same word as well as a few other interns. Erin and I just couldn't help but look at each other and smile seeing how amazing it is that God has worked in each and every one of our lives. She has been such a blessing to my life. I will talk more about her in the next post though =]
More to come in next post.

Videos thus far...

Here are links to all the videos that Myles has made for us. There is only 2 from the outreaches because this past one won't load to youtube. But other than that there is the waterfall video and our white water rafting video =] Enjoy!!

27 Waterfalls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jJh5BBgqYs


June 6-18, 2011 Outreach
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qs4gJ8LrFA

White Water Rafting 

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=573097546928&comments

Half way there...ALREADY?!

  I cannot believe that I have been here in the Dominican for over a month already and that it means I am almost 'on the final stretch.' It blows my mind to think about it and to think that when I get home...things are going to be different. The reality of going back home scares me...basically just all the things that come with going back to the states. The rush of life. Here is so laid back but scheduled...just relationship building so much - that the end of the summer is going to be so incredibly hard. We got a glimpse of how that is going to be this weekend but I will talk about that later on. I know I have missed posting quite a few times but here are some of the highlights of what has been going on the past two weeks. 

Rossy and I 

So the end of the second outreach (3 weeks ago) Heidy brought a girl she has known for a while to come and work with us and be our translator. Her name is Rossy and she is 21 years old...only a year older than me. So when I found out she was married I was a little surprised but not much because of how common that is here, even with younger girls. But Rossy has been a huge blessing to me and to Heidy =] She is amazing having around and since she teaches at Doulos (a bilingual english/spanish school) she and I are teaching english classes to all of the girls. And we have only done that once but it has been so fun! And getting to let our students that are here to join in was really fun! Rossy is trying to get her papers right now to be able to come to the states. She wants to come and visit me and I can't help but think she has know idea what she would be getting herself into. But if she could actually come out I would be so over thrilled. She has been a huge blessing so far and I know with the rest of the summer we are going to impact each other SO much...she was definitely brought to SI Social Work site Los Higos for some reason and I can only think it has to do with the relationship her and I will have. 

Brittney, Shanna, and I (funny it doesn't look as bad as it was)

For this outreach I had 2 girls from a team from Northbend, Washington. It is a small town in what they consider 'country' - at the end of the 2 weeks my girls told me I was more country than they ever have been and ever thought I was. Compliment? Or fuel for the fire of my friends who consider me 'hick'? hahaha Anyways I was a little nervous just because neither of them had put down as a preference to be in the Social Work site...but since there were so many people they happened to be the ones to get switched. So any who they ended up being amazing girls! Shanna (pronounced Shawna - and not Shannon...slight inside joke) who just graduated High School and is going off to Oregon State this upcoming fall. It was so fun to encourage her and see how excited she was about going away to college. Brittany was the other lovely girl I got to have at my site =] She is also from Northbend and is going to be a Senior in High School this upcoming year. These two were so great to have at our site and could always make me laugh. BOY, could they make me laugh! hahaha we had lots of good times - including painting a wall in our building. Along with some of our girls who walked in a decided to join...lets just say most of the paint got on the wall ;P 

Chris and Meaghan

 Now on to the hard part...I have literally had the BEST time getting to know all of the interns here and can't completely fathom how well we all get along together and how much of a God thing it truly has been. I really don't think there are many words to be able to describe how amazing and easy it has been to get to know these people. So this past weekend we had to say goodbye to 2 of our interns. Meaghan and Chris got to experience this summer in the 6 short weeks that they were here - but the thing is that one could easily see how much that little time has impacted them and grew their relationship for the better. At first I think I was a little skeptical because there was going to be an engaged couple amongst us  and how hard I was thinking it would be with the rules that were set. Blown away by the time these two left are the words I could use to explain how easy it was to get along with these two and how great and fun it was to see them interact - they're engaged for goodness sake! I really learned how I want my future relationship to be and how impacting missions with your significant other really is. Not only did they set a good example for what a couple following God's will is but how to follow God individually. What they brought up during bible studies or in just general conversation. On a funnier note...I do not think I have ever met someone so in love with chocolate...well food with chocolate in the name =] Meaghan was hilarious about this but because of that we got to enjoy many nights when us interns had quite a few delicious different kinds of cookies while playing Dutch Blitz or just when we were hanging out. You always hear...well most people hear, how the South (they are from Louisiana) always tend to have that 'Southern Hospitality' - well I would like to say that Chris is a definite definition of this. He was always great to everyone he met and was always so entirely generous in everything he did. Though he was basically the King of Polish Ping Pong...I took GREAT pride when I got my first 'kill' and it happened to be toward him ending in him getting a strike. But I was way to happy to feel bad haha He understood, since he (along with Meaghan) had killed me more than once in this game! hahaha  So when the time came to start saying our goodbyes, Meaghan had already cried a week and a half before they were supposed to leave. I remember telling her they were 'happy tears' because for some reason thats all I could think of to say...she didn't think so haha her and Christine looked at me like 'These aren't happy tears!! These are obviously sad tears! I don't want to leave!' Well today I got to reading and found a memory verse that says 'A cheerful heart is good medicine...' (Proverbs 17:22) and it instantly made me think of Meaghan and this situation. Sure I might have said the wrong thing at the wrong time but I thought today about it and realized 'No I truly didn't.' I just simply was happy that this couple had come into my life, that God had allowed our paths to cross and that we got to impact each other whether it was one way or both. They were in fact happy tears because we had such an amazing time that I wouldn't trade it for the world. So when the banquet came for this past team they played the video replaying all the great times they and we had all had. When it came to afterward and Leona (Meaghans site leader) to appreciate the girls that were in her site, she also said a little something about Meaghan and for some reason my eyes were letting a few tears go. Since when do I actually cry?? I was shocked but my heart was aching a little thinking I was not going to have her as a roommate or be able to see her around anymore. Then afterward Josh and Vicki were also saying something sweet about the two of them and then asked all of us Interns to go up to the front...and at this point I do not know what happened other than my eyes would not stop producing tears, and these tears weren't just single tears trickling down one at a time - No, no, no, this was multiple and one time over and over again. I didn't realize until that moment how much of an impact they had made and me as well as all the people they had interacted with throughout their time here. That night we went to Josh and Vicki's around 11:30pm and Jeff and I made Crepes while Rachel made Egg in the Hole (or Toad in the Hole) and we didn't leave again until about 2ish. Since Meaghan was in my room and she still had packing to do the three of us (me, meaghan and Christine) watched a couple episodes of Friends and then fell asleep all cuddle up on the big bed in our room instead of in our own beds around 3. We then woke up around 5:20am (yes, 2 hours later) and got up and said the long unwanted goodbye to both of them. It was a lot better than we thought but still my heart went out and wish they could just come back. But as selfish as we all can feel, we also know that they are leaving because Chris is going to start Dental School at LSU in about a week now and going to be fulfilling a dream that he has had for a while. We are all so excited for this next chapter in his life and the last chapter of college for Meaghan. All knowing that they will also start their own book together this next June 2, 2012 when they will get married =]

Love. Happy Tears. Joy. Laughter. 

Oh the joy of laughing

  So we got to go White Water Rafting this past weekend and honestly I was in such a great mood that day! I mean the whole time the weather was perfect! And the weather being perfect means that there was not a cloud in the sky (until later that day) and the sun was out and shining at its fullest, just not enough to kill us with heat; therefore, making it a perfect weather day!! There is a video I keep trying to upload onto my blog but it won't let me for some odd reason =[ but it is currently loading onto Facebook so I hope that works out well! We had such a wonderful time the entire 2 hours on the river =] Especially for the part where we got stuck...for literally 8 minutes...they took video of us looking absolutely ridiculous jumping UP and DOWN and oh so confused as to why in the world our raft wasn't moving whatsoever! It was quite the experience that brought lots and lots of confusion but twice as much laughter! It was an incredible bonding experience if you can tell in the video - at one point all 6 of us had to squeeze into the front little section of the boat to try and tilt, which still didn't work until a while later. Basically...just go watch the video haha it will most likely make you laugh =] 

 

 I also have got to Skype so many amazing people and cannot wait to see them all in person again! That is probably the only bad part about Skype because you can see and talk to the person but you can't touch them...it's really rather quite unfortunate. Though absence always makes the heart grow fonder doesn't it? =] Here are a few pictures of me skyping some great people!!!

xOxOxO

Catching up (again) and some funny stories =]

 So it has been a week or so since I have wrote on here and I am deeply sorry for that...just we are literally so busy!! The past week we were with the same group and got to fully immerse ourselves in each of our sites and get the true feel of being there. 

Mariana and I - she arrives within 4 minutes of Heidy and I
arriving at the site =] 

 It was a fantastic week for me as well! Throughout the week each day got better and better! At this point to I am so so happy that I didn't have any students because Heidy and I got to get to know each other better each day! Though our spanglish gets us only so far it is enough to understand and then after that we just teach each other whichever we are missing! =] So definitely a praise to God for that. He has been working in so many different ways. 

 For the rest of the weeknights we did different things. We started out with a dinner in the community so everyone went with their site to someones house and got served dinner. Since I didn't have any students I got put to go with the Physical Therapy site which was lots of fun and tons of good food! We played domino's afterward with a VERY experienced Dominican dad and yet we still pulled to have beginners luck! When everyone gets back most people headed up to the chapel because there is a ping pong table set up there, which obviously means we play Polish Ping Pong until the absolute very last minute we can haha it's a great game and a big SI DR tradition. During last week it was on of our interns birthdays as well. Rachel is a very amazing woman of God and I don't think one of us go a day without laughing because of her! So the SI tradition here for birthdays is to be dumped with water as many times as how old you are. So she turned 22 we had to try and get her that many times. So at the end of chapel that day 5 of us snuck to the back kitchen and got two bowls and a couple pitchers of water and ran outside to hide. I of course had to have one of the bug bowls full of water. So we hid around the corner and a friend put fingers up counting when she is coming out. So she gets to one, we see her step outside, we run down the hill, I realize another intern Kelly is walking out next to her but between Rachel and I. So i swerve to the right so I can come from behind and Kelly see's us so she takes a step back and I literally thought I ran into a wall. I fell straight back (flat on my back) to the ground and got Kelly and I more wet then it got Rachel - by far. Then Rachel took off but slipped in the grass so she fell then ended up rolling down the hill and got wet in the process haha It was quite the experience but so much fun! So for the rest  of the week we did a kids club  and a prayer walk in the town I work in (Los Higos) and that was quite the experience haha The prayer walk was real nice but the fact it was POURING the entire time made it a little tough. The group I had was very good though and good sports! I wish I had taken a couple pictures because the roads we had to take were all turned into rives with 5 inches of mud on each side haha Then the kids club it was also raining but we were inside for that. And instead of having a ton of kids show up we had a lot of teenagers and boys at that haha so that was interesting but they got into all the songs we sang and seemed to have a good time for the little time we were actually there that night. 

These are all of us CRAZY fun interns and volunteers...I think we like each other!

 Then the weekend came and it was sad to say bye to that group of teams because we got to know them so well. But they set off quite early and we interns all got to sleep in!!! It seriously was one of the best parts of the weekend haha We got to chill all day and then around 4pm we all piled in the big red van and went down to Santiago and went to Chili's for dinner - yes the American Restaurant chain =] we were all quite excited. Then to make it even better we got to go to the movie theaters and watch the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie -- IN THE CARIBBEAN! ;P hahaha It literally was so good and we all loved it. It was also in english which literally made it all the better as well. Sunday I chose to go to the later church service which starts at 3pm so once again got to sleep in but also did some much needed laundry and bible study reading. After church we went to Josh and Vicki's to have our weekly intern Bible Study and it was led by Chris (Meaghan's fiance!) and it was good as always. Afterward we watched part of Jim Gaffigan the comedian and laughed our little tummies sore then proceeded to play yet more 'Body, Body' as it is called here - it is also called Murder in the Dark, or Mafia played out instead of sitting in a circle. There are definitely those of us who get into it - or am very competitive and of course hate getting out. (SIDENOTE - some of my friends reading this should laugh out loud at memories from playing Mafia hahahahahaha). Then yesterday we got to hang out and just chill while all the 3 teams showed up throughout the day. There is a team from New England, a team from Bakersfield from Riverlake Church, and then a Team from Biola. 

 So this morning I got up and walked down to breakfast with Kelly. We walked in and had been told that we need to sit with all the different groups the first couple days just to mix it up and all so we were picking a table and continuing our conversation. As we were walking up to the table we picked I glanced and saw a guy kinda sorta staring at me and I was like 'Uhh that is a tad weird' in my head but turned around and kept listening to Kelly. Then while she was talking a lightbulb went off and I turned back around to look at this guy. My mind was literally going a million miles an hour and I couldn't think of anything to say...it was Derek...no it was his twin Demetri...wait no it's Derek...wait why would he be here without telling me??...and I was about to just ask 'Which one are you??' but then the connection was made that Biola was there and I hadn't been there to welcome them and that this in fact had to be Demetri. At it was haha Craziest moment in my mind yet that has happened but it was fun and exciting to know someone without knowing they were coming! 

  So on to the rest of the day today haha Erin (who is the intern at the Medical Site) as asked to come to this old mans house because he had had a stroke and now has a bed sore on his spine. I was listening in and this sounded like it would be a great chance to get that little fill I wanted from the medical site since I wasn't there. So I went and on our way Jason was telling us how bad it was when he saw it. That it was on his spine and so bad you could count his vertebra and everything. So we were kinda preparing ourselves for the worst - then he mentions "it could be so bad he might have passed away.' Then we kinda started freaking out a bit but still definitely held it together. We got there and a family member had just finished cleaning it and putting a new dressing on it. It looked SO good and we were all so happy and all we ended up having to do was give them some more gauze and medications and that we would check on him in the next week or two. We then got to pray for him and he couldn't talk very much but you could tell that this man was SO overwhelmed and happy at even the simple touch of Erin's hand on his back and I grabbing his hand to pray over him. It was such an awesome moment. 

  After that we had lunch and then the teams were finally all done with orientation so we got to get on the trucks and head to our sites for site orientation. So since Heidy and I have 3 girls we got to ride the trucks as well and even had a translator for the day! Heidy was so grateful but I think with the two girls who know spanish and mine we will be perfectly fine for the most part this outreach =] So I am super excited what to see and what we will experience this week and next! I will do my best to be better at posting things as they happen, even if they are just snippets of what happen throughout the day/week. 

 I want to now thank everyone who has supported me either financially or have been praying for me. Each means so incredibly much in this experience God had planned for my life and that just means you all had/have a little part in its happening as well! I am praying for each of you as well and that God is showing up in your lives and that you are all opening your eyes and ears to see what he might be trying to tell you. Whether it is through your daily routines, what someone says (friend or stranger), or through the view out your window in the morning. This is what God shows me every morning during my quiet time, it makes me feel small sometimes but also makes me overly joyed to be the daughter of someone so magnificent and someone who has such a niche for putting such beautiful things together!! 

Hugs. Hugs. and more Hugs. (I miss hugs so so so so much from all my family and friends it's crazy!!)

Fun loving people, spanglish, chicken fights, swollen ankles because of bug bites...and that's just the start of it.

  So Tuesday was when I got to go to my site for the first time. I had met my site leader Geidy (pronounced Hayti) a little before but it was literally just a brief 'Hola' and slight hug then back to where we were eating. So I got to my site, which is Social Work in Los Higos and la ciudad es muy muy bonita!!! (very very pretty!). The hills are all just rolling green and yet I've really only seen them with lots of cloud cover and rain haha Yet it still made me think of the Sound of Music LoL I could only imagine what they looked like when the sun was over them and this morning driving in I got to see a little piece of that. But as soon as it shone through, the clouds rolled right back in and threatened lots of rain. When we parked our car I noticed a group of teenage boys standing around in about a 3 foot circle and and yelling and screaming. Kind of thought it was a fight but then realized they were all looking down at something. To my astonishment it was 2 roosters and they were fighting. Now we walked right passed them and I wanted to stay and watch but more because I could not believe what I was seeing and that I was so intrigued that they would do such a thing. I almost wanted to go and yell at them! I then made the connection that the yelling and screaming was all taunting them to keep fighting or kill the other one. So then about 10-15 minutes later we were sitting in our building and our door was open and happens to look right at where they all were. I watch one man walk away with a rooster held under his arm and looking down at the ground...slowly I see the wing of the other rooster kind of waving and then he just stomped on it!!! I couldn't believe what I just saw...but he just picked it up and carried it away with the other one. It literally was one of the craziest things I have seen here. 
  So my site leader Geidy does not speak much english at all - which #1 puts me in a very tough and sometimes uncomfortable spot...okay maybe that a little lie...it's very uncomfortable. She doesn't really try to include me in a lot of conversations we have when we go see people at their houses, so I am often sitting in a chair just looking around and trying my best to understand and be polite and considerate.
  A boy 16/17 years old named Elvis (but pronounced Elvi) showed up while Geidy was trying to give me the orientation and ended up doing his best to translate, she along with I were both very happy that he showed up. The sad thing is because of all this I can feel myself closing up and basically hiding in an invisible shell. Why do I do this? It makes me mad and uncomfortable with myself. I think the only way that it can be fixed is #1 to pray about it, #2 start studying spanish at night and #3 keep my head up and smile...while doing my best not realizing I am being eaten alive by bugs. Because of this particular bug, which just so happens to be called a noseeum bug (say it real slow and laugh ;P), and my ankle is now starting to swell and it just doesn't feel good =/ oh well haha
 So anyway after writing the above ^ in my journal I had gotten cut off and Geidy and I, after drinking some coffee with our sugar, headed back to the base. While I journaled I was praying and the second we got in the car it was like my spanish (very little of it) came back to me and then we had some pretty good conversation just getting to know each other and our backgrounds. So I got to come back and write about it and was very uber excited about it. 
  So going back to Sunday night (trying to catch you all up) I gave my testimony along with a couple other people. After each person went someone would volunteer to pray for that person. Vicki (our beautiful Team Director) prayed for me and gave me a 'word of encouragement' before she prayed. It went a little something like this..."Wanting to get to the place you were with God in Fiji and wanting to go back there is a great thought but in reality it will only discourage and disappoint you because you should only be trying to go passed that and getting even closer with God. Don't do something you have already accomplished it won't get you anywhere. Strive for something more." I almost wanted to cry hearing her say that and with such joy and encouragement toward me I really took it to heart and realized how true it really was. 
  Then since the first group of teams are happening these 2 weeks we as interns are expected to go to the chapels in the morning with them just so we know what they will be talking about all summer (since with every outreach it will be the same). So this morning the Art Site Leader, Fransisco (we call him Fran) did his talk on Sin. Now I got more out of the part after he talked about sin if that makes sense...and this is one of them (sorry it's a backward image but you get the idea) That if we know God. If we have a relationship with God; There is no reason you shouldn't run to God every single time. And he gave an example of him and his son, who respects him as a father, wouldn't go running to some stranger calling out his name but would stay close to his father or run to his father calling his name versus the stranger. He also said that if we consider ourselves a disciple, we have to be discipled by someone, as well as us having to disciple someone. If you fall in love with God it will last forever. 
  Then tonight we got to be a part of staff bible study, which is every single person who works for SI down here and their significant other and/or kids. An american man who has been living down here for about 2 years and now has a four month old boy named James - love that name! So he talked to us about 'calling' and our calling from God. He says that our calling is how we determine how to live our lives. like David in the bible he was called to be four different things throughout his entire life. Though we do live in an imperfect world and times happen when we hear the wrong thing and may understand our calling as the wrong thing. And if that happens it is something that we should fess up to and realize what we had interpreted wrong and then go on and fix it. We may suffer if we choose to do what we want or what God doesn't have planned for us. Yet when we do fulfill the calling God has for us we understand who we are. If you are being called by God to do something, he is the only one who could fulfill it. God knows us better than we do ourselves - and we need to accept that. And those are just some insights to what he talked about which was amazing. two great sermons in one day was really cool to be a part of. I feel like as interns we sort of get an in a sense better side of things because we get to participate in these sorts of things. 
  So now I have to go off and finish my bible readings for the day. It is quite the bible study we have going on for us interns this summer and it will be an adventure. Almost reading the entire bible! Great things happening and it's only been a week here =]
  Keep your eyes open for any little thing God could show you. 

Playing a little catch up!

So I decided that I should probably write a little about what I am actually doing here so far haha though it may sound like lots of fun...well that is because we are! =]
5-19
The day we got here it was like 11 am, when we finally got out of the airport we walked out to a huge group of people waiting on both sides of an aisle - basically think Red Carpet style haha And at the very end we saw two big signs saying 'Mija' and 'Americana Ariana' haha It was great to see Christine and Jeff with Vicki. We piled into the truck and drove to our new home in Jarabacoa!!!! I think when we drove up and walked in Brittany and my jaws dropped to the ground, because we were not expecting how great this place looks haha So since the rest of the Interns didn't come in till that night the 4 of us got to catch up and have some TCC hangout time. I think Christine and Jeff really enjoyed seeing two faces they recognized! We then drove into town that afternoon and then just had fun walking around and familiarizing ourselves with the town yet again.
5/20-5/22
Finally all the interns are now here and are having a super awesome time just getting to know each other. Here is the video we had to put together for the 'rules' to show all the teams that come through lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oU9pWDSxyks&feature=player_embedded#at=68

More coming soon I promise! Just super tired and busy...and lots of other stuff that needs to be done. (I just like to keep people on their toes lol)

And it all starts!!

So yes I am finally here! I cannot believe it happened so quickly! haha here I have been complaining about it just coming so slowly and now finally we are here. We have only been here two days (almost) and have gotten along so well already =] While being here so many great things have happened and been very open and hilarious! All from reading the 'quote book' that was started and just getting to know each other and where everyone is from! Here is a picture of all of us interns (minus 2, Kelly and Jesse). The water wasn't even that cold...well as we thought it would be haha Tomorrow we get to go on another hike - yippeeeee hahahaha Just wanted to add a quick picture of everyone and will put a more extensive blog post later on when I have more to talk about ;P 


smile. 

Mmm..the wonders of Holland

So I got to come out to Holland for this weekend and cannot say how excited I am that I actually got to make it out here! I mean with leaving to the DR coming up so soon...but honestly I can't say I am not happy I got a little vacation after this past semester. A little refresher moment. My dad and I brought over 12 horses between the two of us and there were two people who had their own horses making us have 15 all together. It was so fun with them and all - especially because the tv's decided not to work in the whole plane leaving us with 9 hours and 30 min with reading a book if we had one. 

So yesterday we went to go watch my little cousin Iris show her horse and then after that we got to see my new little cousin--well she should be and i consider her that! Nienke is beautiful in the pictures that I've seen that I could only imagine what she may look like in person =] I imagined right to haha She is beautiful!! I mean look at her...and the fact that I haven't held a baby in so long is making this an even sweeter moment! 

These two are the proudest parents right now haha I think especially Didi (Gerrit Jan - the DADDY) haha Him having a baby, especially a daughter, he is literally on cloud 100 right now. There is no wiping his smile off for quite a while I am sure of it. Everyone is so happy for them both - you could say we've all been waiting for this day to come =]


By the way, Happy Mothers Day to this beautiful glowing new mommy and to my Momma back at home as well as Beppe, Karin, and Annelies =] And every other mom I know out there - you know who you are haha 


Today I believe we are heading to Marrit's house and possibly going to see my cousin show again today. We shall see! Hope everyone is having a fantastic Sunday - or going to be! 

Have peace and joy today. 

Who I am.

I like going on walks ... I like holding hands. I like going to the beach, no matter what time it is. I like looking at the stars and I love hiking. Camping is something I enjoy. I love falling asleep in the arms of someone who loves me ... I like being kissed on the forehead and having my back rubbed. I love massages no matter who they're from. If you give me one, I will melt. Guaranteed. I love taking pictures. I love laughing, I love being silly, and I love when people aren't afraid to be silly sometimes. I like cartoons. I love to swim and play in the water and I love board games. I like to sing when I am alone, even though I'm not very good at it. But if you ask me to sing for you, I probably won't. It has to be spontaneous. Music is important to me and I will not tolerate music that is degrading or crude in any way. I love snail mail ... I love cards. I love getting mail, but I like sending it even more. 

Generally speaking, I think before I speak -- especially in large groups. But once you get to know me, I am an open book. Don't be put off by my apparent shyness ... because shy is the last thing to describe me accurately. I love when people open doors for me and pull out my chair for me. I want to be respected -- I want my feelings and my thoughts to be respected. I'm not always as confident as I seem. I love being held. Always. Sometimes I don't want to talk about what is bothering me ... sometimes I just want a hug ... someone who will let me cry. I like when people aren't afraid to show what they're really feeling. I don't like when people run from their true feelings because it doesn't do anyone any good. 

I do not like being told things just to make me happy. I would rather be told the truth and be hurt than be "protected" and happy. I overreact sometimes. Don't be afraid to tell me I'm wrong or out of line. I might not be happy about it at first but I will come to realization soon. I like people who are strong enough to face me when I'm raging ... people who will let me be angry for a little while. When I'm hurt, I withdraw. I threaten to run away from the situation that is causing me pain. All I want is to be told honestly that I'm loved. 

I love paper and journals. I love the smell of new books and leather.  I love sweatpants ... I love having my hair in a messy bun. I love being comfortable and I love being told that I'm beautiful, even if I'm in sweats and my hair is a mess. I am just as comfortable in a skirt as I am in sweats. I like to work, it makes me feel productive and useful. It keeps me from being idle. I dislike feeling useless. Though I absolutely love being able to do nothing when I want to. I love staying up late and I love sleeping though I do not think I will never sleep enough. I love to paint, even if it is a replica of some sort. If it turns out good I am very proud. 

I love reading for hours on end ... especially outside on a breezy and sunny day. I love the sun ... I love being at the perfect temperature, not hot and sweaty. I especially love playing in the rain and sitting outside when it's stormy. I really love making snowmen and snow angels and skiing and just plain being in the snow. 

I can't wait to teach my kids the way my parents taught me. 

I love the fact that I will one day have kids and MY parents will be the grandparents - the Pake and Beppe. I can only dream of the day I can turn them to grandparents. How proud and happy they will be. All the things they will help teach my kids. How much they will spoil them. 

I can’t wait to step out onto the isle of my wedding and see my future husband up there standing and waiting to turn around and see me. I can’t wait to see his face. I can’t wait to have my daddy here on earth walk me to the beginning of my new life with the man I have found and God leading us to wherever he wants us to be. 

I love riding horses. If anything I regret in life is when I stopped showing and riding. But it’s something I chose and I wish I hadn’t but I am glad that I can still saddle up and enjoy myself whenever I am home. I can’t wait to hopefully live somewhere I can have my horse in my backyard and be able to just go out and watch her graze. Get on her and my husband on another and just take an afternoon stroll. 

I cannot wait to bring my kids up the way I was, out in the country and free spirited. Able to do just about whatever I imagined with all the space and my imaginations ran wild.  Smelling the flowers, playing in the dirt till the sun goes down, sitting in the pool till the later hours of the night arguing about what to make for dinner once we would get around to it. Sleeping out in a tent in the backyard but going in the house in the middle of the night because of the sprinklers coming on or because it is to hot - okay and maybe for when it got to scary. 

I love to travel. In a plane more than anything. I want to go everywhere I can get to in my life. I hope that God has that in His plan for my life. Whether it is somewhere here in the states or off into a random timbuktu country not many people have been to. And whether it is for pleasure or for work either will do to please me. Just put me on a plane and let it fly. 

I am a small piece of treasure. We all are. And I am treasured by God and by my Family. I think my family tries their hardest to be the best family they can be and there is nothing I can do but be thankful for them and what they do. I don't think they know how much I miss them when I am away at college, but I do. I just can hope everything is going as well as it seems to be. 

Joy. Peace. Love. Happiness. 

Simply Obsessed with at the moment!

Seriously, I am not sure what is wrong…well mainly because nothing is wrong haha but here are just a few thing that I am obsessed with and/or really want! haha

This little guy/girl is something I have wanted for so long!

But I still can’t decided if I am going to be able to handle such a small dog after having big dogs my whole life! ;D

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This is plain and simple.

Looks like peace and happiness.

Shouldn’t our lives be like that?

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Okay this one…you have to look closely…yes there is a huge garden of flowers and LOTS of tulips ;D But do you notice it is in the middle of a bunch of big trees in a forest? How amazing would that be? To just go randomly and plant a bunch or amazing flowers…and then go back in a month or so and see this!?!?

Plan anyone?

Now this…

Literally my dream for a wedding in a picture.

So just beautiful and rugged.

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Most importantly my friends.

Family. And most importantly my Church Family.

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and last but not least…

I, along with my roommate Christian,

are head over heals for wedding blogs!

It is something that just makes us smile to see the love between two people captured in such a unique and unforgettable way.

Peace & Love