making a difference

A few months ago, Bentley, another missionary in the DR and good friend of mine, talked about a young Haitian man, Johnny, who never failed to come, sometimes still with his cart of frozen popsicles, to Bentley's free English classes. You have to understand, these guys sell them for 5 pesos each, or $0.15 and cannot be making more than 200 pesos ($6USD) a day (on a GOOD day) in net profit. Four days a week, every week, Johnny came to the class.

When Bentley talked about his class, I assumed it was like mine, with at least 15 students, sometimes upwards of 30. This, without a doubt, is making a difference in many lives. I have had about 80 students this year and have felt good about my work.

Yet, when I went to Bentley's English class that he hosts punctually with energy FOUR days a week for the last 6 months or so, I saw--Johnny. And THAT was the class. It had started with a handful more, but the rest had dropped out, and for a while now, Bentley has been preparing lessons and giving daily time to ONE student.

And I watched, and I listened, and Johnny ate it up--EVERY word, EVERY flashcard. He knows over 60 words now and Bentley (ingeniously) places pictures (because Johnny is not completely literate even in his native language) consequtively to make sentences. (He tended to place 'pretty' and 'girlfriend' together a lot. Can you tell he's getting married soon? :-)

Anyone who says that Bentley hasn't made an incredible impact in that young man's life is a liar, plain and simple.

And so that applies to the rest of us. My Bible study has dwindled to 4 people on average--but it's still FOUR people. Almost half of the kids in my 6th grade class didn't turn in more than 1/2 of the homework assignments--but that means that more than half DID. I only know two families here intimately well and one still refuses to ever come to church--but the other has come on several occasions now. One by one, little by little.

So next time some little kid comes up and asks a random, hard-to-answer question, or you feel like you're spinning your wheels because some project isn't catching on well enough, remember the ONE. Surely we each think our own, one life is important--so is the one life of another.

little kids

During Bible School today, I suddenly realized that one of the key differences in young boys and girls is that the young boys have to do EVERYTHING themselves but the girls want to TALK about it.

The guys don't want to talk about ideas, they want to DO them: break and rebuild things (or sometimes just BREAK them...) But the girls tend to ask more questions and actually---get this--LISTEN to the answers. This only applies to the younger children. By the time they're 10, neither of them want to listen :-) But it's an intersting observation that, I think, holds true in the States, too. I'm interested to hear your thoughts.

AP

the 'poor' have more

Several months ago I wrote about how God manifests himself in so many different ways, as evidenced by worshiping in a different culture and language. This realization also helps us pull God out of our neat, comfortable boxes. (Episcopalians NEVER do that, right???)

Now I see God manifested in a much deeper and controversial way here: in the poor and the economic struggles that the Dom. Rep. faces. “How can God exist in such a torn, unbalanced world?” many ask. It is unbalanced, true, but in what direction? On more than one occasion, I have thought that the poverty-stricken people here, who earn $12 a day, have more than I do.
Yes, that’s a bold statement to say, and perhaps sounds a little naïve. But I have never, NEVER met people with more inner peace and easy-going manners. Even living with them for a year, it is still a struggle for me to slow down and just ‘be’ with them. I look at the expensive houses in Gurabo, a wealthy neighborhood I visit here, and see 10ft fences topped with broken glass and barbed wire where people never visit with one another, never sit outside and chat, and don’t know their neighbors. (Sounds a lot like suburban USA, doesn’t it?). Then I look at Tigaiga, the ‘poor’ neighborhood I visit, with no fences, children chasing (or being chased, as the case may be, by) chickens and their neighborhood friends, and a smile and a wave waiting for every passerby. I have been invited to meals by 4 families of Tigaiga and one of Gurabo. The woman of Mark 12:44 who put her 2 copper coins in the church treasury comes to mind.

Additionally, I received several positive responses to #4 on my list of Top 5 DR lessons letter that read: A mindset of intellectual superiority is the fastest way to become stupid. Despite all of the education we go through in the States, the money we pay for it, the time we spend studying the Bible, our questions are the same. Let me share some of the questions I have gotten in my Bible study:
· If God was here in Jesus, but Jesus left, and then the Holy Spirit came, how can all of these, and the Father be One God?
· How can the end of the world come if God promised Noah He would never destroy man-kind again so long as the Earth existed?
· What happens to the already dead when Christ comes again?
· What happened to those who came before Christ came?
These are, for the most part, questions that are still (and probably ALWAYS be hotly debated in the theological world, experts, highly educated, trained, etc writing extensive works on their interpretations.) Yet, I get the same questions from people who have no more than a 6th grade education, and who, honestly, come up with a lot of the same offered answers that books have.

I have to tell you, their faith that every next day there will be enough money for food and that they won’t get into an accident on the street that will take all of their money is incredible. But if that does happen, their neighbors and their families help them out. A family’s house burned completely, and friends of the family have allowed them to stay (all 5 of them) in their modest apartment for more than 4 months now while the house is being rebuilt. The host of our weekly Bible study had his life savings of 700 pesos ($21USD) stolen, and yet we met like usual that night, prayed together, and he just kept going. I don’t have to worry about my food for the next day. Instead, I worry if I’ll get into the best med school, or if I’ll have internet today to see the latest Dilbert cartoon (not necessarily in that order either… :-)

There’s so much less clutter in their lives that they focus on what’s most important, and that’s getting through this life now, and getting ready for the next life in front of them. They’ve accepted that they will never own a car, sleep in an airconditioned room, or be like the people they see on TV. Our US culture makes them look like ‘slackers’ who have given up, but to the contrary: they have a PEACE that is unlike that I’ve ever seen before and that starkly contrasts with what I’ve seen in the less fortunate in the US, who are, essentially, oppressed by the culture. (I am making no political comments with this, and I still don’t believe that throwing money at the less fortunate in and of itself is the answer—I am simply pointing out my observations.)

They are closer to the aspects of life that most directly affect it and are therefore more able to connect with God in relating Him to their lives. Why is it so much easier to see God in nature than a city if He essentially made everything we see in both places (trees in the forest, the metals that make our cars, etc). I think it’s largely because in nature, the things He made are seen more in their original form, and I believe the same applies to how we live our lives.

I’m returning to the chaos soon, and the question is: how am I going to not let LIFE get in the way of my relationship with God? I ask you the same question. And I’m ALL EARS for thoughts…

Praying that this has left you thinking,

Andrew

April Letter Home

Hello Everyone!

As promised, my Jay Leno-style letter home:

Top 5 Lessons from the DR (humorous)
5. Don’t look at the water under a microscope in science class unless you can stomach a lot of swimming things.

4. The dogs bark in Spanish. Mine is bilingual, though...

3. “…a las 8am.” ----------Translation: “…at 10am.”

2. Properly cleaning mondrón (food of a mixture of intestines and other ‘innards’ of a goat) is very, VERY important.

1. If someone says something you didn’t understand, never, NEVER say ‘sí’.


Top 5 Lessons from the DR (thoughtful)
5. The children give more forgiveness than I deserve when I get frustrated in class, and it serves as an example as I become jaded with experience.

4. Thinking one’s self is intellectually superior is the fastest way to become stupid.

3. There exists a very complicated hierarchy of helping: one’s self first, then family, then friends, then strangers, yet the help offered to friends and family is much greater than that commonly offered in the States. People here simply give more.

2. The less people have, the more they tend to give.

1. This is better preparation than I ever expected for being an effective physician in terms of learning patience, gaining skills in communicating across age, language and cultural barriers, learning to adapt teaching techniques, becoming more individually sensitive (as opposed to viewing the class as a whole), and learning to depend on God more thoroughly because I’m at such a loss. (More on this is to come on the blog www.warejko.blogspot.com.)


May God’s peace be always with all of you. You remain in my prayers every day. I’ll be writing soon with my May letter home. At this point, I now have a short 6 weeks left. It’s incredible how fast time can fly.

Peace,

Andrew

March Letter Home

Dear Friends and Family,

I'm going to write a more serious, introspective update this month. I'll have a list of top 5 funny and serious lessons I've learned here next month (si Dios quiere).

A couple weeks ago I waded barefoot through knee-deep water in the only street that could take me home after putting plaster on a house, praying with every step that I wouldn't step on a piece of glass or nail with tetanus. Last week I helped rewire some of the church's electricity; this week I'm finishing the plumbing in the science lab, and next week I will repair the main church doors. This morning I carried away a dead cat in the street for a neighbor and a rat the dog at the school killed.

I am blessed.

With every new day I find that God has a completely different use for me here. Sometimes I'm a plumber, sometimes an exterminator, and sometimes just someone who is willing to listen for hours to someone who is questioning where he is in life. And I've come to appreciate each of these blessings that are often in disguise. Sometimes it's very hard, admittedly, and I get wrapped up in having 'my' plans changed. I have finally learned through countless experiences that I don't want my world to run on my schedule; I want it to run on God's. It is my prayer that I will remember this when I return and face the rapid American culture.

As I promise to keep these short, I have one very uplifting story to share. If all you have is 30 seconds, READ THIS; God's love is spreading here!

A few weeks ago, Anna, a neighbor, told me she was excited to have been given someone's old ceramic floor tiles, but that she had to wait until she could scrape up enough money for the cement, etc to put the tiles on the floor. I arranged (without her knowing) for the needed supplies to arrive the next day. Eventually she figured out it was me, but the point was still very clear that God can share His love in a multitude of ways.

This morning, I brought paint, sand paper, and pieces of scrap wood so the kids could make building blocks for themselves and the other kids who were not there. I paid Anna for snow cones for the kids to encourage working for the things they want and asked her to not mention that I had paid for them. After it was all over, she gave me almost half of my money back and said she wanted to contribute to these kids learning to work also. Perhaps on the outside, the 40 pesos ($1.30) is pretty insignificant, but one of the things I've noticed in my time here is that this neighborhood (I can't speak for the rest of Dominican society, though I believe this is widespread) has become so dependent on US wealth, that the majority of people don't do much to help each other (outside their family) and expect the Americans to do it all. Anna's contribution was a significant step that was actually visible to me in which someone helped others just because she thought the principle was important.

As I type this, I feel the presence of God again, in the neighborhood, and in the work here as I also prepare my Holy Week sermons. Seeing the love of God spreading is invigorating, and real, and I give Him incredible thanks again praise for that.

May the little things in your life today remind you of God's presence by His love between one another. 'As I have loved you, so you should love one another.'

Happy Easter! And please eat lots of chocolate for me. Chocolate Easter bunnies with giant ears aren't a custom here. :-)

Peace,

Andrew

Learning the Bible

In sessions of various games, we've been learning the order of the New Testament books and how to find verses in the Bible. I'm proud to report that the youth are now better than the adults at finding verses. Fr. Almonte was so impressed that he announced at the adult Bible study this evening (without forewarning me!) that he was going to have me apply my methods on the adults in leu of their usual Bible study next week. I hope they like running and eating candy!

***Special thanks to the great photograher Cara Virgili for taking all of these!!!***

1/27 Each group (3 total) send a representative to the line. When a verse was called, the participants ran to the Bibles to find it and read it first. Their group members could help them from afar. The first group to earn 5 points (win 5 contests) won, but in the end everyone got a bunch of candy!




















2/3 No pictures, sorry. I left my camera in my apartment. The kids loved this one, too, though. Each group (3 again) made a set of flash cards of the New Testament and each kid received a copy of the order of the books of the Bible. When the time keeper yelled 'Go!' one person from each group ran over to their respective group's cards and began putting them in the correct order. Every 30 seconds the person moving the cards had to change, and the rest of the group had to be 5 feet back, but could yell instructions. It was intra-group competition to beat the personal best each round. They got so good that I had to no longer permit help from their teammates, and suggested that each person memorize few books to put in order....One kid memorized the first 15 books of the New Testament. It was amazing to see them studying like crazy, MEMORIZING the order of the books, just for the game. If I had sat them down at the beginning of the session and told them they'd be studying, they would have left! They didn't even realize what they were doing, and they were thrilled with their success. Again, $0.50 in candy.

2/10 The super secret mystery game to blow away all mystery games! We played a giant Bible Verse Board game! The game pieces included a potted plant, a cinder block, and a basketball. A look at their faces can tell you how well it went! The kids tossed a giant die, moved to a the correct space, then found the verse in Bible for that space before throwing the die again and continuing. Yee haw!

January Letter Home

Dear Friends and Family,

The fruits of waiting, and trying, and waiting, and trying, and waiting to connect and fulfill my hopes in this community are finally being realized. It took 4 months for the community to fully accept me and invite me into their lives, and the last few weeks, especially the past few days, have been incredibly fulfilling:

Today, a neighbor whom I don’t even know very well asked if I would read the Bible to him. We talked/read passages/prayed for a solid hour. He kept saying “no quiero molestarte, no quiero molestarte.” (I don’t want to bother you.) But how far from it! He told me he knows how to read but his eyes are bad, and the print is too small. I’m working on getting some reading glasses for him.

Yesterday I led the mass, including delivering the sermon—all in Spanish. People came up afterwards talking about the message of the sermon and excited about the evening. God, thankfully, filled in a lot of words for me! I was surrounded by His grace and Spirit.

Yesterday, a new youth came again for the second time to Christian Education, excited about what we’re doing; and we’re currently memorizing the books of the Bible (albeit through some games so they don’t realize it’s memorization!). She came last week after seeing me during the open house at the school playing worship songs on my guitar with a sign that said “Ask me about Christian Education here.” At one point everyone in the lobby of the school was singing with me!

Over the past 3 days, at least 5 people have asked me how my grandmother is doing (she had a cardiac arrhythmia that caused her to lose consciousness last week and is being considered for a pacemaker). What’s interesting is that I only told 3 people of the event. My grandmother is receiving prayers from people she has never and will never meet from across the Caribbean! One can say people just like to gossip, but I’d like to think, and I believe, that I have really developed some friends here, and that the people here care for me as much as I care for them. This is tremendous to me.

Feb 31 I visited an infirmed father of a teacher here who had kidney surgery, and the sight of the family coming together, praying together, and reuniting was so moving I included it in the sermon yesterday. It so clearly pointed out that as much as we--dare I say--hate, tragedies and difficult times, those are the times when God can most teach us because we are most reaching out to Him and willing to listen.

Feb 31 I sent 35 letters my students wrote in English to students of my high school Spanish teacher Mrs. Garcia, who will respond in Spanish: my students practicing English and hers practicing Spanish.

Jan 26 I taught the first science lab in the school’s history. We compared the boiling points of water in high and low pressures and learned to use the balance, seeming plain and simple activities, but the kids have been talking about it ever since, and there are kids in the 3rd and 4th grades talking about when they’re in 7th grade how they’ll do labs, too!

Jan 24 A woman who cleans the school approached me about her house beginning to collapse; Feb 1 I visited her house and am talking to a local friend of mine here to was a construction foreman for past mission groups to see what we can do.

I have finally grown close enough to this community to minister by simply showing genuine love, and being available for people to talk to and ask questions when want to know more about Christ. And they, in turn, have ministered to me, showing me new perspectives on scripture, new ways of worship, and genuine care. I believe even more strongly now in St. Francis’ wise instructions: “Preach the Gospel at all times; use words when necessary.”

This is a long letter, and I will close it now. I will be posting more on the blog at http://www.warejko.blogspot.com/ along with pictures of our Bible-learning adventures. (Next week we’re playing a life-size board game that includes looking up scriptures.)

I want to convey my deep, deep gratitude on behalf of this community and myself for your contributions in making this possible, be it through financial help, prayers, staying in touch over e-mails, or even just occasional thoughts, you have honestly made a difference and been a part of these incredible last few weeks and the last 5 months. Thank you. Thank you!

Peace,

Andrew

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!