December Letter Home

Esteban, Christina, Suny, Carlos, Georgina, Nelson, and me in my apartment after I showed Christina how to make some "American food" (sauteéd chicken, seasoned with a touch of red wine, fettuchine alfredo, broccoli and cauliflower in a cheese sauce, and a green salad) in return for her lessons in Dominican cooking. As is obvious: it was a feast!

Hello again everyone!

Merry Christmas! It has only been a short while since my last letter (so it feels like, anyway), but as I’m leaving this Friday to be home for Christmas, I wanted to write some thoughts I’ve had over this past 2/3 of a month.

Lately I have been contemplating the cultural manifestations of boredom. In the States, it seems as though most people complain that they are bored because they consider their lives to be monotonous--busy, but monotonous. I have realized that in the DR, in general, people tend to not be “busy.” There is very little to do, and the students whom I have gotten to know well tell me outright that they are extremely bored, looking for anything to do. The adults seem to have the same issue. There are some interesting extensions of that situation with how the Church can be more involved in their lives, but for the purposes of this letter, I ask the questions: what are the greater ramifications of these cultural “boredom” situations, and is one really more “bored” than the other? It is an intriguing life difference.

On a completely different note, there are two (yes, JUST TWO) houses in my neighborhood in the DR with Christmas lights. One of them has lights that also play Christmas music when plugged in, but a fuse has shorted and everything is about ¼ step flat (it sounds like one of the chickens in the street with a serious gland problem). There is mention everywhere of Christmas here, and the stores try to play it up, but it’s still not to the full extent of that in the States, or even much of a glimmer of it.

Because the Charlie Brown Christmas is one of my all-time favorite movies, I expected that this would make the Christmas season all the more meaningful to me, leaving the Hallmark Christmas behind. Somehow, despite my cynicism towards the material Christmas, I have to admit from my experience this year, that there is a lot to be said about the material objects in their sentimental connections to those nonmaterial things that matter most. For my birthday in late November, my parents sent me a small (~15”) Christmas tree that we’ve always had in our house during Christmas. It was like receiving gold. The little tree smelled like our house; it reminded me of trimming the big tree while gorging on Pizza Hut pizza (the really greasy, deep dish style!) and watching Three Stooges or listening to Mannheim Steamroller Christmas music—it even smelled like Christmas, if that’s possible. I’m not sure what all of this means as I am realizing how much the corner stones of one’s culture can mean to an expatriate, and I still agree with Linus’ famous speech, but for the moment, for this Christmas, I know I will revel in the activities that I have for so long taken for granted.

And on that note of looking forward to the holiday, I wish you all a very, very merry Christmas, and that you, too, may look with a renewed sparkle upon the hidden and often over-looked joys of recovering our youth in a time of giving and focusing on family and love, all because of the higher love that has been so graciously given to us in an event that forever changed the world.

Feliz navidad,

Andrés

PS The attached picture is of the family with whom I have started a Bible study here. Please pray for us and the openness of our hearts to this endeavor.

Christmas Party at the School (lots of pictures!)

Monday, Dec. 18



The 8th graders having fun after eating hotdogs.











A couple of the students dancing during the party.










A student in 6th grade doing the chicken dance.











7th grade girls dancing together.

God in a box

It's a short thought, but after spending this Saturday at a "pasa dia" and seeing two entire church congregations come together, share a day in fellowship in Christ's presence, and worship Him in a service and Eurcharist in the afternoon under beautiful shade trees, I had to share my internal realization of the box in which I had cornered God. Whereas back home I would have considered worshiping with an accordion to be on the verge of sacrilegious, there really is no reason why God wouldn't accept that form of praise.

I finally internally realized the vast numbers of cultures appearances of
people with respect to how they are all parts of God's image. How amazing
is that?

Youth Sunday School (extensive pictures)

Youth Sunday School

Our theme for the past 2 months has been methods of prayer. We did the Lord's Prayer in connection with praying with prayer beads (similar to rosaries), and praying with our hands by making signs for the church, centering prayer, prayer journaling, singing (including writing our own song to the tune of Kumbaya), using the Prayers for Individuals and Families in the Prayer Book, and creating original prayers. A picture, though, is worth a thousand words:






Making diaries in which we can write our thoughts to God, prayer jounaling.










Altagracia with her diary.














Making signs, praying with our hands.






More signs to promote the church services and the church's presence in the neighborhood.

Bible study as were learning the Lord's Prayer for prayer beads (like a rosary, but shorter).

Making prayer beads out of nylon twince and screw nuts. They actually turned out really well. The kids loved them and wore them on their hands and belt loops.

Father Salvador playing with the kids before Sunday School.

November Letter Home

Dear Friends, Family, and Supporters,

Another two months have passed since my last letter home. I apologize for the delay; I’ve gotten so involved here that time flew by.

What comes to mind first is the perspective of life here. In short, I have noticed that there is much more of a day-by-day approach because the future is so much more unpredictable, financially, physically, or otherwise. Rather than concerning themselves with what will happen tomorrow, they take each day and simply don’t “stress.” This is different from a lifestyle of “carpe diem,” though. I am reminded of Matthew 6:25-34, whose key verse is 34: “So do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will bring worries of its own…” The American culture makes it very hard to live by this premise, and I learning a lot from the Dominican culture in taking the days as they come.

My neighbors continue to be very generous and hospitable. Esteban and Christina, local fruit vendors, taught me how to cook a typical (complex and huge!) Dominican meal of rice, beans, fried eggplant casserole, chicken, and salad. It was delicious! (largely because I did more watching than cooking…)

Recently my Spanish has finally fallen into fluid form, and I feel much more comfortable talking to almost anyone about almost anything. I am leading the church service this weekend, including the sermon. I feel like now that the language and culture barriers have been broken with a lot of patience and prayer, my deeper work here can finally begin. I am going to start at least one, hopefully two Bible studies before I leave for Christmas. Please keep those in your thoughts.

There are many other anecdotes and lessons I want to share, but, as promised, I’ll keep this short. I’m working on a blog for those who want to read more. That will be up in the next few weeks. Attached to this e-mail, are two photos: one of me helping a 7th grade student and the other of Armando, a friend of mine, and me at the local “play” (baseball field). (If you’re on Facebook, I added some photo albums.)

Thank you again for your support, prayerfully, financially, and otherwise. This experience is a tremendous blessing in my life and has already been an opportunity for great spiritual and social growth. I hope I can make a fraction of that impact on those around me. Happy Thanksgiving, and an early Merry Christmas! Cuidese, y Dios se bendiga.

Peace,
Andrew

September Letter Home

My dear friends and family,

Finally! I have been in Santiago, Dominican Republic, for a week now. I give thanks to God for my safe travels and the kind people who have received me.

The location is wonderful: vast mountains in the distance and a beautiful sunset. Unfortunately, power is commodity here, and it goes out for hours on end every two or three days. The complex is in a middle class neighborhood, equivalent in amenities to a US lower middle class neighborhood (save the power outages), although with all of the barbed wire, watch dogs, and deadbolt locks, this is surprising.

The school’s principal, Olga, has been extremely receptive and helpful in bringing me to speed on the teaching customs here. My first classes were today: sixth and eighth grade English. We’re learning vocabulary relating to food: my specialty! Olga’s husband, the priest of the adjacent church, has also been extremely receptive, and we have talked extensively about the ministries we will begin in the neighborhood. We plan, for example, to bake cookies with the children of the church and distribute them while introducing ourselves around the neighborhood for several weeks. At the moment, the church is struggling financially and in terms of numbers, so support to the nearby low-income neighborhood is minimal for right now.

I shall keep this brief, as I know schedules are busy. I would like to share one particular change that has already occurred in me. Praying in Spanish was extremely difficult when I was in Texas: I became so lost in translating that I could not focus on the prayer. I was shocked to discover by day 3 here that I was more comfortable praying in Spanish, and I now usually do so even praying silently by myself (albeit with a few English words when I am stumped!). It is without a doubt a gracious gift, and I am very grateful.

I will be sure to keep you regularly updated. I am working on a place to post pictures and comments. I have, though, attached two photos with this e-mail. One is of (right to left) Fr. Salvadore Almonte (the parish priest), Olga (the principal), and me. The other is of the regular morning assembly we have. The picture cuts out the other half of the kids. We have over 300 students in the building on any given morning, ranging from 2-14 years old.

Thank you very much for your support in making this trip possible, whether it was financially, prayerfully, or as a mentor who has helped guide me to this point. By all means, if you have prayer requests, please let me know so I may include you in my prayers as well.

In His service,

Andrew

PS I forgot to mention one terrible disappointment: I have yet to see a single kid here playing baseball! What a tease to have so many Dominican players in the MLB and no children playing ball. Maybe when the weather cools they will disperse. I’ll be ready!

at the "play"

This picture has classic Domincan written all over it. The site is beautiful!

















I'm standing at the "play" with Armando, a friend from the neighborhood.