new website!

With marriage comes a new website and blog! Head on over to www.millermissions.com to keep up with everything happening in Dustin's and my life!

Who writes history?

I had a history teacher once (or maybe it was all of them!) who taught us that the winners write history. The majority, the winners, write the textbooks. They decide what we learn in school, what our perceptions as a society are. And this morning I experienced a great example of that! (Please don't read this as a political statement, but rather a creating of space for questioning and for alternative stories.)

Until I moved to the Dominican Republic and read the book "Why the Cocks Fight," I did not know that the US has occupied the DR not once, but twice, in the last 100 years. We never learned that in history class. We actually never learned anything about the DR in history class... hmm. The fact remains, however, that the US did in fact intervene in the government of the Dominican Republic twice; first, 1916-1924, and second, in the 1960's.

Some of my coworkers made a poster to hang in our 8th grade classroom describing the US interventions in the DR as they learned it in school - again, who writes the textbooks? It's pretty eye-opening to the way Dominicans perceive US action... Check out this picture (translated below) and then read the links I've provided - they're not super long articles - and see what you think.

Translation: (left to right, top to bottom)
Title: Government of the United States - The US Military intervention in the DR and Haiti

Left: Many military dictators were supported --> They became dicatators with the support of the United States

Center: The [US] marines encountered opposition in the DR and Haiti --> The movements of the armed opposition in those two countries took control: Cacos and Gavilleros [2 guerilla groups] --> The violation of sovereignty contributed to the opposition

Right: [hidden by the title it says] There were military interventions by the marines --> In Latin America and the Caribbean --> to control their governments and the economy

Wow. That really struck me - "They became dictators with the support of the United States." Whether or not this statement is true, it's apparently the perception of large numbers of people with whom I live and work. And we actually know that Trujillo, the DR's worst dictator, got most of his training under the US marines as part of the US-set-up Dominican National Guard. So yeah, in a way, the US did support these men to become dictators. (Disclaimer: I am not making a statement about the US government, simply pointing out differences in the histories we have learned and propose that maybe there's more to it than what we read in our books.)

As I told my coworkers today, "They don't teach us this side of US history in school!" I am grateful for the opportunity to live and learn here, in another country, and I am grateful for the opportunity to read someone else's textbook, to listen to the voices of the "losers" or the "minority" and to learn from them.

http://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/wwi/108649.htm

http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/historyofthecaribbean/p/The-Us-Occupation-Of-The-Dominican-Republic-1916-1924.htm

May Update Letter

Click on the link below to read my latest update letter (mailed out late May)! Also, send me a message if you did not receive this letter via snail mail but would like to be added to my mailing list!

Emily's May Update Letter

Thank you so much for your prayers and support as I pack up and move back to the DR June 15th! I am excited to continue to partner with you in my ministry with Kids Alive!

justice

A friend recently asked me to answer some questions for a seminary class on missions. The questions were all about how justice and missions "complement and complicate" each other. At his prompting, I'll share my musings with all of you. As you read, please keep in mind that I can speak only from my own experience; every missionary has his or her own story to tell. And I will continue to pursue answers to these questions as my experience as a missionary evolves and my understanding of God grows.

(I would just like to start out by saying that we don’t really talk about justice on the mission field! I realized that as I sat down to answer these questions – we don’t discuss how justice affects our work. I’m not sure if it’s good, bad, or indifferent, but my life as a missionary tends to be a lot more practical than theoretical or theological.)

What role has justice played in your missions experience?

            I’m going to borrow Tim Keller’s definition as my working definition of justice (from Generous Justice): “Rectifying justice is mishpat. It means punishing wrongdoers and caring for the victims of unjust treatment. Primary justice, or tzadeqah, is behavior that, if it was prevalent in the world, would render rectifying justice unnecessary, because everyone would be living in right relationship to everyone else.”

            I would say that justice is the motivator of my missions work. I believe that God calls us to practice mishpat, to take care of those whom society has marginalized, those whose governments oppress them, those who are struggling to meet their daily basic needs, the widow, the orphan. Out of obedience to God, then, and out of love for God and for God’s people, I work in the Dominican Republic. I have seen injustice and felt called by God to serve and love in a way that works to rectify that injustice. We throw around the word “justice” so lightly in the Christian sub-culture, but as a missionary, I didn’t find myself engaged in many theological conversations about justice with my fellow missionaries. We are more concerned with the practical, day-to-day living out of both mishpat and tzadeqah, and for me that requires thinking more about love than justice. After all, we seek justice for all people because God loves all people. And I think tzadeqah ultimately means living in a way that honors and loves my neighbor as myself.

What are some challenges you have had around justice issues? 

            The biggest challenge overall that I see in missions around justice is the challenge of sustainability. As a foreigner in the Dominican Republic, the challenge is essentially for me to work myself out of a job – to practice mishpat until the Dominicans as a nation, especially their government, practices tzadeqah. Maybe this will never happen; maybe tzadeqah comes only with Christ’s second coming. Creating sustainable missions requires equipping nationals, working with local infrastructure, and more. It means avoiding handouts – yes, there are occasions when I give money or food to meet someone’s immediate physical need, but not in isolation. Some of the best models I’ve seen are when missions organizations partner with local churches so that the churches are the actual givers, remaining in contact with the recipients and helping them to become self-sufficient. Creating a community that is thriving but relies on donations is not true justice.

            As a missionary, another challenge I face is in making decisions about my own lifestyle. I have to come to grips with what it means that I was born in the United States, in a suburban middle class family, am a college graduate working on a master’s degree – that I have plenty. So what does that mean for my life on the mission field? How do I choose to live? It is sometimes difficult to balance living among poverty, wanting to live the way my neighbors do, and living in a way that is sustainable long-term for me emotionally and psychologically. There are some things that I don’t need, but they make my life and my work much easier – internet in my home, an inverter for consistent electricity, screens on my windows. If I choose to have those, is that against tzadeqah because my neighbors can’t afford them? Or is it ok because it enables me to serve as well as I can?

            Another huge challenge around justice issues is the overwhelming need. How can we strive for justice and fairness when the task seems so daunting? Even where I work, I can only do such a little bit. Around the world, in the Dominican Republic, in the United States – such inequality exists that it can be discouraging to put what seems like is one drop of water into the ocean.

How has justice aided the mission work you do?

            Justice, and having a Biblical view of justice, helps me to be more compassionate. It requires me to look at those around me through God’s eyes and seek out those who are cast aside. Sometimes it’s hard for me to disentangle justice and compassion, but I think they go hand-in-hand. I see injustice, I respond with compassion, in a way that promotes justice. I think justice also helps unite missionaries. We have a common goal, which usually makes it easier to negotiate our differences. Even if we disagree on how to conduct a particular aspect of ministry, we can respect the other’s work in faith that that person is obeying God’s particular call to an injustice.

What do you see as the goal of your mission work?

            As cliché as it might sound, the goal of my mission work is to glorify God and make his name known. My second goal, which often seems more accessible or measurable to me, is to love others well. I want every child I work with each day to leave school knowing that God loves her. I want to live in a way that shows God’s love to my neighbors, my coworkers, and my fellow missionaries.

            As it pertains to justice, my goal is to equip Dominicans and Haitians to teach to their fullest potential so that I am no longer needed. (Not that I am needed now – I am blessed to work for an organization that is largely nationally run and self-sufficient.)

Not your typical Christmas break...

It has been quite the month, and I am filled with thankfulness for God's sovereignty and grace!

Since my last post... Dustin and I had a wonderful time in Sarasota (beaches!) with his family for Thanksgiving and then said goodbye until March (or so I thought...). I finished my fall semester at Penn well, writing, teaching, and evaluating small group lessons and creating a massive, boring, teachery website to display it all.

Four weeks ago today I had surgery to remove a benign brain tumor. The surgery had originally been scheduled for December 5th, but got postponed to the 19th because the OR was double-booked. Praise: Since the surgery was a week before Christmas, both Molly and Katy could come help take care of me in the hospital and at my parents' house, so my parents didn't have to do it alone. I came home to my parents' house in Quakertown on the 23rd. Although I don't remember much from my hospital stay (again, God's grace!), I know I was in a lot of pain the first few days, and I've been told I said quite a few hilarious things that week! Thankfully, I did not experience any vertigo following the surgery - the surgeons had told me to expect pretty severe vertigo for a few weeks. And, against all odds, it seems that the surgeons were able to preserve a tiny bit of hearing in my right ear, although it's still too early to know how much. My family did a wonderful job of taking care of me all hours of the day and night. So did someone else, which leads to the next update...

Dustin and I are engaged!!!

Here's how it happened: Christmas Eve, around 8 pm, my dad got a phone call that there was a problem with the sound system at the church and they needed him to go fix it. Not that unusual, but what we didn't know was that my mom was the one who called him from the other room! So he left, and the four of us ladies settled into the family room. Dustin and I were supposed to Skype at 9 my time, but I called or he messaged (my memory is fuzzy... the drugs...) just before 9 and he said that he was going to need another 15 minutes. I assumed that he was just leaving wherever he had been eating Christmas Eve dinner in Sosua and was headed home to talk to me. A few minutes later, the garage door opened and the phone rang simultaneously. Katy said, "Oh, it's Dad," and passed the phone to Mom to answer. She passed it to me, and it was Dustin, saying hi and asking me where I was. I think I told him I was in my house, in a chair. Then, as the door opened, I finally put together that it was Dustin's voice, on my dad's phone, who had just gotten home, and I figured out that Dustin was in my house! I hung up the phone and started crying. My parents and sisters were all in the family room, watching the scene unfold. Even when I saw Dustin, I didn't think that he was going to propose - I was just so happy that he was there, with all the stress of the surgery and all the times I had told him, "I really wish you could be here." But after we said hello, he stepped back, said some beautiful words that, thanks to the drugs, I don't remember very well. Then he got down on one knee, got out a beautiful ring, and asked me to marry him! And I said yes, still crying.

Dustin had always said that if/when he proposed, I would never see it coming. And he was right - I had absolutely no idea! I was sure he would propose when I came to the DR for spring break. I even told him that! He did a great job of surprising me, even blogging about how he would spend Christmas Eve in the DR just to make sure I didn't suspect anything!

The moment I realized Dustin was IN MY HOUSE!
See him walking in on the left?

I said yes!

Dustin stayed until January 2nd, so we got to spend lots of time together resting (since I couldn't really do anything), celebrating Christmas and New Year's (complete with the Mummer's Parade), and just being together. He was a trooper, waking me up to give me my overnight meds, going out to the porch at 3 am to get me applesauce, making me do my physical therapy exercises, putting up with my whining, reading to me... Dustin's surprise visit definitely helped me recover faster! Again, God's perfect timing - I'm so thankful that Dustin was here soon after surgery to take care of me! We're planning our wedding for this summer in the Dominican Republic, which has kept me busy since he went home.

New Year's Day - feeling much better!

I had my post-op visit with the neurosurgeon this week, and he cleared me to ease back into normal activities, so I'm moving back to Philly on Monday and going back to school on Tuesday! Praise God - the previous estimate was a 6-8 week recovery period before I could return to school, but I'll be back just under 5 weeks after surgery. Everything related to the surgery has gone as well as it possibly could. I am thankful for a great team of doctors, yes, but more so for a great team of prayer warriors. I know many of you were and are praying for my surgery and recovery - thank you. God has blessed me immensely, and I hope that He will use my story to bring glory to His name and to encourage others.

Half Marathon!

So here we are, the last day of November, and I have not blogged a single word about this fall in Philadelphia. I mean, I am a little busy with school... (that's an understatement!) Brief overview of my life: I student teach 18 little kindergarteners alongside a wonderful mentor. When I'm not student teaching, I take lots of classes and write lots of papers. And in my free time this fall, I have been... wait for it... RUNNING! Some of you are probably scratching your heads, because of all the things I identify myself as/with, running is absolutely not one of them! But back in June, I decided I wanted to become a runner this year. So Dustin and I registered to run the Philadelphia Half Marathon, and I started running. A short bout of vertigo in August set me back a few weeks, but I picked it back up and trained for three months, running up to ten miles along the Schuylkill River on what seemed like the coldest mornings of the week!

Then came November. Dustin arrived on the 13th, and we had a wonderful reunion after being apart for 5 months. On Sunday the 18th, we woke up ridiculously early and made our way over to the art museum. And we did it! We ran the half marathon and both met our goals: he got an impressive time, and I finished! 13.1 miles. It was fun to have my parents and the crowds cheering us on, and to be able to entertain myself people-watching the other 30,000 runners! After the race, we went to Quakertown and had a party with most of my extended family - to celebrate the race and for them to meet Dustin.

Never did I think I would run a half marathon. Never. Remember Pico Duarte? I could hardly walk 13 miles then! So even though I have no desire to do another race, I am glad that I did this one. It forced me to make exercise a priority during these crazy transition months, and it made me a healthier, stronger person. (sounds cliche, but it's true) After the race, we went to Quakertown and had a party with most of my extended family - to celebrate the race and for them to meet Dustin. I will maybe (no promises, though!) add another post soon about Dustin's visit.

Here are some pictures for you! The first set are race pics. The white thing around me is a foil heat sheet (emergency blanket) - that was the first thing they handed us when we crossed the finish line because it was so cold!

Pics from Quakertown: post-race hot tub session (definitely good for sore muscles!), fun with Katy, ice cream sundaes (recovery food, right?), and early Christmas presents from my parents.

sobering statistics

The World Economic Forum recently published its 2012-13 Global Competitiveness Report. This annual report ranks 144 nations based on various criteria including infrastructure, macroeconomy, health, education, market efficiency, technology, and innovation.

The data on the Dominican Republic is sobering.

Of 144 nations, the DR ranks 105 overall; it ranks 20 out of the 24 Latin American nations. (1 is the best) But the individual indicators' rankings tell the real story. I'll group them into two categories: corruption and education. (all rankings are out of 144)

Corruption:
Favoritism in decisions of government officials: 144 (in other words, the worst in the world)
Wastefulness of government spending: 144 (again, worst in the world)
Reliability of police services: 143
Diversion of public funds: 142
Public trust in politicians: 138

Education:
Quality of primary education: 143 (second worst in the world)
Quality of math and science education: 142
Quality of the educational system: 137

Wow. If that's not a call to action, I don't know what is. I feel an added weight and a sense of urgency as I think about returning to this country, knowing that its leaders are hugely failing the people, especially in education. The public school education the children I love so dearly are receiving is the second worst in the world! So what do we do? I know what I'm going to do - study hard this year and become the best teacher possible while learning as much as I can about systems and oppression and fighting those things. Then I'm going back home to the DR to make a difference for the few children I can reach.

What about you? What will YOU do about this? I hope you will be informed - read part of the report, or all of it, or another report, or articles - do something to make yourself more aware about the state of education and corruption around the world. If you want to do more, consider partnering with Kids Alive as we work with some of the most at-risk children in the world. There are many organizations working hard to improve kids' lives, but Kids Alive is the only one I can personally vouch for. Our staff cares deeply for the children we serve, we see them at least 5 days a week, and we care for their spiritual and physical needs as part of a holistic program. We train children to become leaders in their own countries and communities, believing that the best way to rescue a child is not to take them to the US but to mentor and nurture them in their own communities, empowering them to make a lasting impact. If you would like to join Kids Alive's work in the Dominican Republic, consider sponsoring a child in one of our programs. You can read more about sponsorship by clicking here.

If you're interested in reading the WEF's Global Competitiveness Report, you can find it by clicking on the image below.