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.

praise and prayer

I am officially 1/5 of the way done with grad school! Wow! Lots of reading, writing, thinking, and crying in the past two months, but I made it - praise God! Thank you for your prayers as I transition back into life in the US and into grad school.

Now I'm off to Colorado for a week of Debriefing and Renewal at MTI, the same place I did my pre-field training. (SPLICE - check my blog posts from August 2009 to read about that.) I am ready. Ready for rest, for help processing my time in the DR, for counsel on transitioning even though I know I'm going back, for being surrounded by people who understand exactly what I'm going through. SPLICE was such a sweet time, and I have high expectations for DAR!

I need your prayers always, but especially this week. I'm expecting encouragement and refreshment, but I'm also expecting hard emotional work, questions, and reflection. Here are some specific ways you can pray for me while I'm at DAR:

1. That God's truth would reign in my life, allowing me to recognize and reject any lies that I'm believing.
2. That I would be refreshed by my interactions with fellow missionaries and DAR staff, as well as alone time (reading a book for pleasure? yes please!)
3. That I would gain helpful insight about this strange lifestyle that is furlough - trying to plant myself firmly in America but knowing I'll be back in the DR in a year.

Here's a little info about DAR:

"DAR provides a safe and confidential place for you to reflect on the issues that have touched you deeply. It involves more than talking about your field experiences, although that’s the place it begins. Quality debriefing can lead to renewal. Going through this time of transition with other cross-cultural workers is vital. The insight gained from those with similar experiences provides both a sense of being understood as well as a fresh, objective perspective. The primary emphasis is on recognizing God’s hand in past events and anticipating the next step for which God is preparing you."

Finally, here are two photos from summer so far - I have enjoyed being able to spend more time with my family and reconnect with friends, and managed to squeeze a few fun weekends into my crazy class schedule!

for pondering.

I'm taking Literature for Children and Adolescents right now. That means my bookshelf looks like this:

I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but there tally is as follows: 7 picture books, 6 juvenile chapter books, and one - yep, one - textbook. Don't you wish you were taking children's lit? Our professor also reads us a picture book at the end of each class while we sit on the floor! I love it!

Anyway, for class tomorrow I read a historical fiction novel called The Dreamer by Pam Muñoz Ryan (she also wrote Esperanza Rising). It's a great fictionalized biography of Pablo Neruda, a Chilean poet who won the Nobel Prize, who lived in the early/mid 1900's. My favorite part about the book was that every so often a page would appear with illustrations (by Peter Sis) and thought-provoking questions. So I thought I would share them with you, along with a few excerpts. A little thinking for a Monday.

Which is sharper? The hatchet that cuts down dreams? Or the scythe that clears a path for another?

From what are the walls of a sanctuary built? And those of a prison?

Does a metamorphosis begin from the outside in? Or from the inside out?

The words he had written wiggled off the page... surrounding Neftali in a city of promise. Humanity, Solidarity, Generosity, Peace, Justice, Love. Then a tiny, conceited word came along. Like a hungry termite, it began to gnaw on the tall words, chewing at their foundation, gulping their pulp, until they swayed, toppled, and collapsed. All that remained was one fat, satisfied syllable. Fear.

And the last one, which has deep meaning for me as someone who travels between "homes:"

From the window, he watched as miles of araucaria trees dwindled to a scattered few. Still, when the last piece of forest disappeared and all that was left were stark adobe towns, he felt as if a piece of himself had been left behind, too.

snapshots from los estados

a smaller version of the famous LOVE statue. on the quad.
I think... Penn is HUGE and seems to have about 5 quads!

I have now been in los estados for a month and a day. It feels a little like a whirlwind that keeps spinning faster - my first two days of grad school have been a little overwhelming! We're taking 2 1/2 courses in 5 weeks, which means in a week I will (on average): read 2 novels and 20 scholarly articles, write 2-3 paragraph reflections on each of them, write a paper (or two), give a 10 minute presentation in one of my classes, spend one afternoon working at a local arts camp, and spend two mornings working at a local summer school program. Whew! Scheduling all that and figuring out what I need to read and write which day is hard enough, not to mention actually doing it!

Penn's campus is gorgeous. This is not the
Grad School of Education building... mine
is not nearly this pretty!

There are good things happening in my life, though - it's not all reading and studying. Yet. I am enjoying living in Philadelphia, exploring and taking advantage of all city life has to offer. Coffee shops, libraries, microwaves, free water at restaurants, pretty paths to run on without getting whistled at, constant power and hot pressurized water, HUGE grocery stores... Although I walked into a grocery store the other day and left empty-handed because I only wanted a cup of lettuce - totally achievable in the DR - but had to buy at minimum a whole giant head of it! So there are still overwhelming moments as I transition back to life in the US. I'm usually able to laugh at them, thankfully.

In addition to the "cosas" of life here, the people are turning out to be pretty great, too! I live in a house with 5 other girls in their mid-20's and have gotten to know 3 of them pretty well. My program at Penn is a cohort program, so there are 40 of us who take all our classes together and do our field work together. I am getting to know lots of them - a wonderful group of friendly, fun people from varied backgrounds - and am becoming good friends with a handful. Another HUGE PRAISE is that I found a church! It was the first church I went to, and I felt so welcomed by the people. They preach the Gospel every Sunday, eat dinner together as a congregation after church, have small groups, and have already recruited me to join the worship team! Praise God - I had prayed that finding a church would be easy (maybe not the least selfish prayer I have every prayed...) and he made it so easy! I am thankful for God's provision, faithfulness, and grace as I build relationships and ground myself here for the year.

Penn took us on a mural tour of
West Philly - so cool! This one
really struck me.

In the midst of all this, I do have moments when I miss home - my bed in Montellano, the beach, New Life Church, and of course the people - my kids, who sort of don't understand yet that I'm really gone, my wonderful Bible study groups, and Dustin. We've decided that long-distance dating is not fun, but we are confident that God will continue to sustain us, guide us, and grow our relationship through this time apart.

I still need your prayers, absolutely! Here are some specific prayer points:

• Pray for clarity of mind and a quick transition back into the academic world - reading, writing, time management, study skills, etc
• Pray for me as I sort through how my time in the DR has shaped my philosophy of education. This has come up numerous times in class already as I realize how differently I would answer a question than my classmates who approach the subject from a purely US-based mindset.
• Pray that as I get busier with school, I would be intentional about making time first for God, and also for relationships and life-giving/stress-relieving activities (I'm trying to become a runner...)
• Pray for Dustin and me as we work through long-distance, that we would continue to support each other well in our separate adventures (check out his blog to read about his Central America trip this summer!). We celebrated a year together this weekend, and I can absolutely see God's hand in our relationship. Pray for consistency and intentionality through the ups and downs and the crazy busyness of life. 

Caitlin, Julianne (roomies) and I celebrating the 4th of July
in Center City!

THANK YOU for your prayers, encouraging words, support, and love as I moved back to the States and began grad school. I have been blessed by so many of you - welcoming me excitedly, sending quick emails or texts, asking me how I am doing... thank you.

Buffering

As someone living in a third world country, I am all too familiar with the concept of buffering. If we want to stream anything off the internet – watch a video on YouTube, listen to a song online, or watch a tv show, we inevitably have to wait a few minutes for it to buffer – pre-load, if you will. When a video buffers, it loads a few minutes or seconds ahead of the moment you are watching. This ensures smooth playback. If you don’t let a video buffer (assuming your internet is not the incredibly fast internet we have in America), it jerks along, starting and stopping every few seconds, not able to keep up with itself.

Although I am not techy, I can make an analogy here to life. Under the advice of wise mentors from Missionary Training International, I took my first four days back in the United States as “buffer time.” These days were both types of buffer – first, the ‘streaming to avoid choppiness’ definition; second, a shield or cushion to lessen a shock or impact.

I spent those days on the Susquehanna River in Central Pennsylvania, sleeping, spending lots of time with God, processing, journaling, hiking, kayaking, sitting outside in the sun, reading, relaxing, and eating my weight in strawberries! It was a time of solitude, a time for me to be renewed after saying painful goodbyes so that I was energized to say hellos. It was time for me to be sad about being in the US without feeling the tension of everyone around me being excited for me to be in the US.

And God blessed me that week. He restored my soul, comforted me in my grief, brought me joy through his creation, and reminded me of his steadfast faithfulness. The past three years have been nothing but evidence that God is indeed faithful, that he provides abundantly to meet all of my needs, and that his sovereign purposes are for my good.

On my second day of solitude, I had a revelation. I’m currently doing a Bible study on the Psalms of Ascent by Beth Moore, and that particular day I had already done the lesson. I felt, for some reason, however, like I was supposed to do another day’s study, too – maybe because I’m about 3 weeks behind!! Anyway, I did the next day’s lesson, and a chunk of it was on bearing fruit. I realized that I was seeing this year in Philadelphia as a time of pruning and of preparing to be more fruitful in the DR when I return. How wrong I was! This year God has specifically planted me in Philadelphia to bear fruit! If I spend the entire year mourning the goodbyes I said and anticipating returning to the DR, not only will I miss out on blessings God has for me here, but I will miss out on the opportunity to bear fruit where God has planted me. He has ordained my time at grad school and my time in a long-distance relationship not only for pruning and preparing, but because he wants me to bear fruit in those situations. What a paradigm shift! I am so thankful that God revealed that lesson to me, and I pray that he would make me fruitful beyond what I can imagine this year.

Pico Duarte

We made it!

(Warning – this is sort of a long post, because climbing Pico Duarte is sort of a long walk…)

Two weeks before I left the DR, Dustin and I decided to have one last adventure together. Our challenge? To climb Pico Duarte. At just over 10,000 feet, Pico Duarte is the tallest mountain in the Caribbean. In 3 days, we would hike 30 miles and conquer an elevation gain of 6500 feet.

The National Park map of our hike with elevation changes

On Tuesday we headed up to Jarabacoa to make final preparations. We borrowed various items from friends to make our trip happen – a moto, a car, a tent, sleeping bags and pads, moleskin… THANK YOU to everyone who lent us stuff, let us stay at their houses, and fed us during our Jarabacoa days!

Early Wednesday morning we drove to La Cienaga, the most popular starting point for the trek up Pico Duarte. We met up with the head of the guide association – since the hike is in a national park, hikers are required to have a guide. He arranged for a guide, Victor, and two mules – a pack mule and an “ambulance” mule, just in case we had an emergency. What “ambulance mule” really meant was mule for the guide to ride and for me to ride when I couldn’t walk any more. Victor had me pegged from mile one, offering me the mule, “It’s ready whenever you want it,” but I was determined to reach the summit on my own two feet!

Juan Pablo Duarte, one of the fathers of the revolution

So we started walking. And we walked. And we walked. Up and up and up and up until I thought I couldn’t go up any more, and then still up! There were a lot of switchbacks, but even so the trail was steep. Add the altitude change to that, and I struggled. I’m pretty sure I became a rather unpleasant hiking buddy, but Dustin put up with me, encouraged me, and tried his best to make me laugh. Periodically throughout the hike, we thought we saw Pico Duarte ahead of us. We would ask our guide, and his response was inevitably, “No, that’s not Pico Duarte. You see the mountain we’re on now, the one behind it, and the one behind that one? Pico Duarte’s behind THAT mountain.” He would chuckle, and we would groan incredulously.

Me and Dustin at the summit

Wednesday evening, 9 hours of walking later, we arrived at our campsite, 13 miles up the trail. In a very melodramatic fashion, and almost in tears, I proclaimed to Dustin that I was so cold and so tired and my body hurt so badly that I would not be able to walk when I woke up in the morning, that there was no way I would make it to the summit, that I would have to ride the mule! Thankfully, though, I did sleep, and when I woke up my legs felt fine!

Thursday we had 3-ish miles up to the summit, then back to the campsite. We summitted at 11 am to breathtaking views. Mountains and valleys stretched endlessly in every direction. And we had arrived just in time – after 20 minutes, the clouds rolled in, so we headed back to camp. We spent a lazy afternoon resting, napping, and strategizing for the next day.

Friday morning. The first 5 miles of our 13 mile trek were uphill. Even thinking about facing another uphill made me want to cry! So for the sake of everyone’s emotions, and for the sake of making it down the mountain in a reasonable amount of time, we decided I would ride the mule. Best decision ever. My years of horseback riding came right back as my mule, Shrimp, navigated steep uphills, tight switchbacks, and even steeper downhills. Meanwhile, Dustin sprinted up the mountain, doing in 50 minutes what had taken us 2 ½ hours the other direction! After 6 miles or so, (read: after the hardest part) I got off the mule and hiked the rest of the way to La Cienaga. We made good time and had the afternoon and evening to enjoy with friends in Jarabacoa before heading back to the coast Saturday morning.

The mountains were BEAUTIFUL!

More than checking “Climb Pico Duarte” off our bucket lists, this trip was much-needed time for the two of us to get away together before I left and before the craziness of goodbyes started. It was restful in its own way, and aside from a few hours on day one, enjoyable. Definitely a wonderful memory to take with me back to los estados and a great adventure to end my time in the DR!

¿Eres tú mi mamá?

For our end-of-the-year Mother's Day program, my first graders put on a drama of the book "Are You My Mother?" They did such a great job! They were adorable, as always, and everyone loved their play. My three best readers were the narrators, and six other kids played the baby bird, mama bird, dog, cat, chicken, and cow. Our 2nd grade teacher played the Snort. I'm so proud of them, not only for the play, but for how much they have learned and grown this year! Here's the video - enjoy!!!

furlough 101

Furlough is a word that is going out of style. It's no longer a missionary buzz word. Instead we use words like "home assignment" or "deputation." But I like it. It reminds me that this next year, my furlough, is a time that was granted to me by Kids Alive. They have chosen to value my work here in Caraballo enough to grant me a leave of absence. I want to break it down as simply as I can, though, so that everyone (especially my supporters) understands the logistics of what happens when I go on furlough. So here are some facts:

1. I leave the Dominican Republic on June 11th and begin my Masters of Science in Elementary Education program at University of Pennsylvania on July 2nd. The program ends May 11th, 2013.
2. While I am at Penn, I will still be a Kids Alive employee. This means I will still receive my monthly salary. The money to pay my salary, as always, will come from my supporters (you, right??), even though I am not serving on the field during that year.
3. After I graduate from Penn, I will spend at least one more year serving Kids Alive. Right now the plan is for me to do that here in Caraballo, but if the Lord reveals a different plan, I will follow Him.

I know that some of you hesitate to continue supporting me during furlough - do you feel like you're paying for me to go to grad school? The truth is, though, that the degree I will earn from Penn will directly improve my ability to serve with Kids Alive and will better equip me to teach and lead other teachers. It's common for missionaries to go on an education furlough like I am doing so that they are more effective in their ministry.

I hope this makes sense... please do not hesitate to email me (eajamison87@gmail.com) if you have any questions about what I'm doing next year, about furlough, about my finances/budget. My finances are open to my supporters because I know that I am accountable to both you and God for responsible stewardship of the gifts you have entrusted to me. It is my prayer and hope that God will continue to use you to provide for my physical needs as I prepare to serve more effectively here in the DR.

what i want to be when i grow up (big news!!!)

This week in first grade we made a class book called "Yo Quiero Ser" (I Want to Be) and talked about what we want to be when we grow up. Here's a sample:

Yessica, Emy, and Rosmina want to be chefs.
Wadson wants to be a prince!
Jerson, Rendy, Jose Miguel, and Edwin all want to be soccer players.
Mariel wants to be a teacher.
Dudo wants to be a policeman so he can arrest bad people.
Angelica wants to be a policewoman, a pilot, a chef, a baseball player, and in the army!
Wascar wants to be a pirate (because they fight and kill people) and a policeman (for a reason I couldn't understand after he told me 4 times). I think he'll make a wonderful pirate someday.

I feel like we spend most of our lives talking about what we want to be when we grow up. Maybe that's just because I'm 24 and most of my friends are still trying to figure that out. I'm beginning to realize, however, that the journey of "figuring out" what I want to be is actually what I am. Does that make sense? I am right where God wants me to be, and I am walking forward in what I believe to be His will, to a destination that He knows but I do not. Every step I take, which some people think of as figuring it out, is actually what I'm supposed to be. As far as I can tell, there's no magical moment when I will be able to declare "now I'm grown up and I know exactly what I'm supposed to do with my life."

That being said, God does reveal callings to us. Four years ago, He called me to apply to be a missionary with Kids Alive here in the DR. Last year, He called me to stay a 3rd year. And this past fall, He called me to apply to grad school. (This is where the big news comes in.) In June, I will return to los estados to begin a 10-month Master's of Science in Elementary Education program at the University of Pennsylvania. I will live in Philadelphia for a year and finally study teaching! This is something to which I cannot deny God's calling. He put the desire to go to grad school in my heart, he made it possible for me to get accepted to a highly competitive program, and he is graciously giving me signs along the way so that I can clearly see that all this is His work and that He goes before me to Philadelphia. I have felt called to education for two years now, and I'm excited to see how God can use my year of learning to better equip me for ministry and teaching.

More will come as details unfold, but now you know my big news. Please pray for my final four months here in the DR and for my transition to living in the US, which has already begun. I am experiencing an enormous paradox: excited to go to school, but not excited to leave my home here. Pray that I will trust God and that He will fill me with truth as I walk forward in this transition.

Enough Light for the Next Step

Some wise words from Henri Nouwen that have been on my heart lately. Hopefully they are an encouragement to you.


Often we want to be able to see into the future. We say, "How will next year be for me? Where will I be five or ten years from now?" There are no answers to these questions. Mostly we have just enough light to see the next step: what we have to do in the coming hour or the following day. The art of living is to enjoy what we can see and not complain about what remains in the dark. When we are able to take the next step with the trust that we will have enough light for the step that follows, we can walk through life with joy and be surprised at how far we go. Let's rejoice in the little light we carry and not ask for the great beam that would take all shadows away.

Sunshine, por fin!

After more than enough rain, we finally had a few sunny days this week. I took advantage of that to enjoy the playground with my kids and amaze them by showing them that yes, indeed, I know how to play tag! Here are a few photos from recess:

rainy days

It's been rather rainy lately. As in all day, every day. (Stay tuned for a post about my rainy Thanksgiving camping adventure!) Rain means flooded roads, flooded rivers, and flooded houses. It means leaky ceilings (in my classroom, not my house) and early dismissals - we have to leave school before the river rises again and becomes impassable. Rain means wading through the river when it's too high to get the trucks across, and rain means screams from the men riding in the back of the truck with an umbrella when the downpour starts! It means low attendance, winter coats and hats, muddy footprints in my classroom, and worrying about getting colds. Rain means sweatpants and hoodies, wearing socks to bed, drinking tea and coffee at all hours of the day/night, soup, baking (favorite!), and wet laundry. It also, sadly, means not going to the beach for a few weeks (horrible, I know...).

But in the midst of the rain, I have found joyful moments. First, watching my coworkers cross the river yesterday. I, the smart gringa, wore Chacos and waded right through. Two of my coworkers, however, had worn socks, leather shoes, and nice pants. They did NOT want to get wet. Check it out:

Also, we finally saw the sun this morning! I rode in the back of the truck to soak up as many rays as I could.

 

Aguiluchooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!

On Saturday I went with some friends to Santiago to watch an Aguilas baseball game - Dominican pro ball, which is sort of like AAA ball in the US - to celebrate a friend's birthday. We had so much fun and yelled "Aguiluchoooooooooooooo" which is their cheer, a LOT! There were all the normal parts of a baseball game (except the 7th inning stretch, which they apparently don’t do here?), but then there were a lot of things that were different from an American baseball game. All the concessions cost around a dollar! You could buy an entire bag of microwave popcorn for a dollar – a real treat for us, who don’t have microwaves! They also sold fried chicken and plantains, pork chops, beef jerky, ice cream, nachos, pizza… all in the stands! Another strange concessions thing: every couple rows, there were trash cans full of bottles of sodas, juice, beer, and rum! Despite that, there weren’t too many drunk people, possibly because the Aguilas won! Here are some pictures from the evening: the stadium, Cakito and Sarah watching a replay, fans, the beer/rum trash cans!, and the congratulatory line of Aguilas after the game.

renaissance.

renaissance: a renewal of life, vigor, interest, etc.; rebirth; revival

Thanks to God hitting me over the head with truth from friends, my devotional book, and my pastor over the past two weeks, I have come to some serious realizations.  The last few months, I have been living life passively.  I was not taking hold of the abundant life God continued to offer me.  I was using my circumstances as an excuse and playing the victim.  Yes, losing my roommate and many friends was hard, but where was my joy?  Was my joy really that wrapped up in those relationships?  What about being completely satisfied in the Lord?  What about "the joy of the Lord is your strength"?  I realized I was sitting around waiting for someone or something else to fill the space and time that the people who moved back to the States had left empty.  I wasn't taking initiative to build new relationships or to do things that were healthy and fulfilling for me.  I was putting unrealistic expectations on the people who are physically present with me.

Wow.  Those were some hard thoughts to come to terms with.

As always, however, God is faithful, and he didn't just convict me.  My mind spun for four entire days - raced at about 10 million words a minute - and then, last Friday morning, spun itself out.  My thoughts stopped, and my mind and heart were overwhelmed with God's presence, joy, and peace.  I felt a surge of energy - not just physical, but emotional energy, too.  God suddenly gave me the desire to initiate new relationships and try new activities.  I claimed my wholeness in Christ and my fulfillment in him.  And, as cliche as it sounds, I have lived differently over the past week.  I've done some things that we don't usually do here (like going to an international food festival), but more than that, I've gone through my normal, day-to-day activities with a new perspective.

The best way I can describe it is to say that I feel like I got my life back in me.  A renewal of life.  A renaissance.  And for that, I am grateful.

I want to share some quotes from my devotional book, Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young.  The daily devotions are written as if God were speaking to us - I often feel like they were written speaking directly and specifically to me!

When your energy fails you, do not look inward and lament the lack you find there.  Look to Me and My sufficiency; rejoice in My radiant riches that are abundantly available to help you.

Your future is in My hands; I release it to you day by day, moment by moment... I want you to live this day abundantly, seeing all there is to see, doing all there is to do... Each day of life is a glorious gift, but so few people know how to live within the confines of today.  Much of their energy for abundant living spills over the time line into tomorrow's worries or past regrets.  Their remaining energy is sufficient only for limping through the day, not for living it to the full.