Things I lived without last year

I thought my experience from our “moving in” shopping trip today would be a great illustration of what it’s been like as I begin my second year of Stint to the Dominican Republic.

I’m not sure if my new teammates thought I was managing with less, just being frugal, or plain out of my mind last year when I told them that we’d have to buy an oscillating fan, ice trays, and a kitchen trashcan since we didn’t currently possess any of those. Now that I’m sitting in the living room with the fan creating a cool, forceful breeze, I’m beginning to think I was on the brink of insanity too!

As I followed my teammates around the department store trying to remember why I went all last year without some of those items that they considered basic, it hit me that although I was returning for the same length of time to the same location, this year wouldn’t be a repeat of the last. Jimmy and I are not the same unsure and sprouting leaders that we were at the beginning of last year now that we’ve gained the gift of experience. My four other teammates are not the same people that joined us last year (whom I keep thinking I’m about to see walk around the apartment any second now).

On the other hand, some things haven’t changed a bit. Which brings me comfort. As we drove up to our old apartment, geared up to move back in, I got such a wave of excitement. This is my cowntry! (country of course sounds much better in a Dominican accent). I missed the eloquence of the flow-y Caribbean Spanish, the ease of taking public transportation, the teal blue sea right outside my window. Mmm! Love it.

So I look forward to embracing the new while growing more in love with the home that I was introduced to exactly one year ago. I trust that God will use the experience and compassion from last year to help me lead my team more aptly. I trust Him to use my new friends/co-workers/roommates to powerfully impact the students as they commit themselves to serving the Dominican people. I trust Him to bind our team together in unity. I trust that at the end of this year, I will be more in love with Him than I was when I first accepted the call of Stint and than I am with Him now.

Our team, left to right: Ricardo, Katie, me, Maira, Josh, and Jimmy at briefing in Chicago.

Massive shopping trip where we broke the news that our milk will now come in a cardboard box.

It’s not the DR if you’re not squished in a car having a great time!