We are called to live boldly.
Stepping off that plane I realized I have no idea what I am getting into.
When I realized that communication broke down and the American that was going to help me with the language left for the US the day after I got there, I really had no idea what I was doing.
New environment, new temperature, new work hours, new language, new people. But I have been here before, I know what I'm getting into right?
God has a funny sense of humor thats for sure.
My spanish that I thought was mildly "Ok" turned into only ten words that are regularly used in everyday conversation. My patience is being tested daily, along with my anger, love, kindness, and communication.
I haven't seen one American in over five days. Also no english, I realized what the mute and deaf feel like, its a terrible feeling, sitting right next to people while their are having a conversation you cannot enter. Not that they don't want you to, there is just no way to help each other.
Being patience is frustrating and I realize that on both sides. I realized that I am just as frustrated as they are. Except for Luciano, he is just as eager to learn english as I am spanish. He is my ray of sunshine, and is a practical jokester, although I love all my employees Luciano is my breath of fresh air. He reminds me daily that we all have Christ in common and this sole reason is why we are trying to help each other, it is still difficult.
Daniel is the worker, I have never seen anyone pour as much heart into something before in my life, he is the manger and he takes his job very seriously, he told me he was so excited the United States sent me because he needs my help to get him organized (a word that is not in Dominican vocabulary, and is taught unorganization from birth.) An Example, there was a huge ant and cockroach problem in the cafe when I first showed up, I was gaging at the syrup there was over 200 ants swimming in it, Victory yelled at me when she saw I was throwing it away and proceeded to pick out the ants individually and than made a drink with the same syrup.....I stood there in shock...
They had no idea why huge cockroaches were everywhere, but they didn't care about the ants at all, ants are a way of life, they are just in everything. Mind blown and disgusted I couldn't take it. I spent an entire day cleaning the shop, after about a week I think we are better off at least, it took us a week to finally remember at the end of every night to put the syrup into the fridge.
Victory calls herself my mother, she commands me to eat and has made me cook more in one week than I have in my entire life. I have mashed more yuka in one week than I have ever mashed potatoes. I can make banana bread with my eyes close and even these planteones (mashed up banana, with meat inside, cover in seaweed) Victory says they taste like fish, I just gag.
The locals have to think I'm crazy, I sleep all the time because the sun makes me so tired, I am always sweating, and the huge spiders in my bathroom, ya I scream and run away.
But God is faithful, He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, and praise Him for it. He is the same in the Dominican as in the United States, He is the same in loneliness, sadness, and stepping out of comfort zones as he is in the comfort of our own home, with cell phones that actually work, with an abundance of running water and electricity that doesn't fail twice a day.
We are all in need of much grace and guidance daily from our Lord. That was my prayer this week, "God feel free to use me in anyway you can. I cannot communicate with this people, but show me what you want me to do today."
He never fails to be there for you, on Thursday I was so frustrated at the shop and almost in tear, crying out to God for help and on cue in walks Pepilo, and than all the pastors follow, and Ana. A breath of fresh air as they worshipped, prayed, and discussed together.
A while later that same day in walks Clinton, an American who works for MGM, he said don't worry you will get the language just enjoy not having to talk all the time now, because as soon as you can talk, they will make you. A laugh of relief to know others have been through this before.
Every meal eaten with Ney's family has been eaten in silence because of the barrier, but grace has a tendency of breaking down barriers and a few nights ago we begun to speak in each others broken foreign language. And God won again. While I taught them the card game spoons and laughter became a world wide language, God won again.
He is a great God and I have so much to give thanks for. No use complaining because daily the barrier is being broken little by little. Daily little graces are shown and daily we are all just trying to love our Savior and spread the love to others.
We are called to live boldly. And by His grace daily I am giving it my best.
