Hello Friends and Family,
As I reflect back on the first Easter I am reminded of God’s
mercy and grace He has given to each of us. I am so thankful for a great God
that has defeated the ultimate sin of death and is now reigning above on the
heavenly throne!
Here Easter is celebrated a little bit differently, Semana
Santa (Holy Week) we celebrate all week by doing nothing, taking off school and
work and heading to the nearest beach. The only really thing that happens for
the people who don’t head out to the ocean is to sit around and eat sweet
beans. Blended up beans with loads of sugar, because we don’t eat enough beans
already!! Although it is difficult to not have egg hunts with my nephews or
eating huge dinners with loved ones all around. When you are by yourself you
begin to reflect on the true meaning of why we celebrate this holiday. I began
to be more thankful for the real reason of Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and
Easter.
The coffee shop has been doing great lately. Although there
was lots of disputes through out the staff in March. We are all realizing how
hard relationships are, but how God has called us to love each other even if we
aren’t feeling loved in return. I am proud of the employees for their
humbleness and ability to put others above themselves. Sometimes I feel like I
am being blessed more than being a blessing. We are refocusing again on talking
to the people coming in to the café instead of
talking about the people who work there.
I have found a great church down here that really preaches
the gospel. The people are warm and welcoming and I am getting fed every week!
Thank God!
I have also begun to teach English class alongside Justin.
He teaches the older kids and I have the younger. Age ranging from 6-11, three
nights a week. This has been a lot of fun and I know this will improve their
future. If someone knows English, they can go work at the resorts and hotels
here and earn very good money. It is a really good job down here.
Other than that, in my free time I am normally spending time
with Barb. A missionary down here whom I live with. We spend our time praying
together, for everything and everyone. We have both met a Dominican lady name
Miguelina who used to live in Canada. She is one of the pray warriors we often
visit here as well. She is very educated in gardening and organic growing. We
are starting to clear out a piece of donated land to plant a garden by the MGM
compound. There is an intern from Slippery Rock University coming down all
summer to help with this project as well.
Please keep praying for us here, God has been merciful to
us.
In Christ,
