Life in the DR: Part 1

Wow, where to start. I have been in the DR for 12 days now, but I already feel like I already have enough stories for a year!

What an incredible place this is. I have been welcomed with open arms and endless delicious food this week. Literally everything is new and different, so I'll do my best to give you a glimpse of how this week has looked for me.

My flights went smoothly and I landed, tired but so excited to finally be here, the night of the 16th.

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My Home Stay

Guys, I can't even tell you what a gift my home stay has been. WHAT AN ADVENTURE. When I was asked if I'd like to do a homestay, I was a little nervous- but remember my new year's resolution to do stuff that scares me? So I said yes and I am so glad that I did.

My host family is such a kick! The mom and dad are named Susanna and Ramón, and the son and daughter are Alexander and Alexandra. They are so kind and hospitable and excited to help me learn their culture and language. They come all the way out to the driveway to wave goodbye as I leave for my ministry site each morning, and they come running as soon as they hear me pull in the driveway in the evening.

They are always forcing me to eat more food and drink more coffee (anyone who knows me knows that someone who forces me to drink coffee is automatically a friend). I have actually been late to a few things because they won't let me leave without visiting with them over coffee.

My little home is definitely different than what I'm used to, but it's been fun to get creative as I adapt to living in such a different environment! And I'm learning so much about things I didn't even know I take for granted. For example: running water. I haven't quite figured out the schedule for when we'll have running water, so it's always a surprise. Most evenings, I go downstairs and fill my bucket, and in the morning I take a shower with the bucket and a little cup. It takes me back to the days I spent camping with my family growing up, so I don't mind it at all.

Another adjustment is the fun little visitors I find in my room. After the first week, it became like a game: each day, I come home wondering who I might find this time. A few times I have had lizards (one was giant and bright green and I had to catch him with my Cheez-it box...), and a few times I have had frogs of various sizes (one was bigger than my hand!).

I have learned so much from living with this family who lives so differently than I do, and who have so warmly welcomed me into their home. They always offer me their best. I have noticed that they only have one knife, and it is next to my plate every single night at dinner. When I come home in the evenings, they meet me in the driveway to escort me into the kitchen, and Susanna will pour me coffee while one of the kids brings a chair into the kitchen for me. Then we chat about our day (slooooowly and with lots of explanation in Spanish) while Susanna makes dinner and Alexander shows me his video games. I'd like to think I would offer my best to people who come into my home, but this is a whole other level of hospitality I've never experienced before. I have begun to pray that the Lord would make me more like them in this aspect.

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The Hurricane

Not much to report here, but so many of you have asked and I know many more were concerned, so I thought I'd give a little update. We really weren't impacted much by Maria here in Jarabacoa. Because we weren't sure what she would do, my boss went ahead and invited me to stay with his family until the storm passed. This was such a blessing because I have only seen hurricanes on the news and I really didn't know what to expect! But we are well-protected by mountains here, so we basically just had a really rainy day and windy night. Thank you to all who were concerned and praying, and you can definitely continue to pray for those who were hit harder. I know Puerto Rico and the island of Dominica (different than the DR) were severely impacted.

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Ministry

I have gotten to spend several days at the ministry site now, and I am loving it! I work alongside an incredible Colombian lady named Daisy. She has been here for over 10 years sharing the hope of Jesus with the women of this community. Needless to say, I have so much to learn from her heart for Jesus and her consistency in compassion for these women. There is a lot I don't understand as they have conversations, but it doesn't take an understanding of Spanish to see their deep admiration and respect for her.

Over the last several days, my role has begun to take shape. Each Tuesday, I will have the privilege of leading Bible studies for las chiquitas (the little girls) and las adolescentes (the teen girls). And I am teaching in Spanish! I started with las chiquitas this week, and we had a great time talking about joy and learning a song together. Next week, I begin with the teens, and would really appreciate prayer!

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Cultural Adjustment

Where to begin? Literally everything is different here. To be honest, I am tired most of the time- I definitely take advantage of my siestas, and I am still ready for bed by about 7 every night. I think my brain is just tired from trying to understand everything around me. But I am having fun seeing some of the pieces come together!

Language: THANK YOU to those who have been praying for my language learning. Please don't stop! Your prayers are felt, and I am so grateful to announce that it is coming along very well! This was my biggest concern since language is so important to just about everything, but I remembered more from high school than I thought I did (thank you, Mrs. DeLaRosa!) and I have been picking up on new vocabulary relatively quickly. I was even able to have a conversation with my host family last night, with minimal confusion! Praise Jesus!

Driving: This has been a major adjustment! I think the best way I have found to describe driving here is this: the only space that is yours on the road is your car itself. Everything else is free game. There are motos on every side of you, cars merging in every direction, unmarked one-way streets, cars parked in the middle of the road, drivers passing on corners, dogs and kiddos playing in the road... it feels like total chaos. But I'm getting the hang of it! And I get to drive on dirt roads for part of my daily commute, so most of you know that makes me one happy little camper. :)

Other Exciting Things: This will probably seem silly to you, but it felt like a major accomplishment, so I'm going to tell you about it. Yesterday, I put gas in my car all by myself! This is something I have been fairly nervous about, because unlike in the States, gas stations here are not self-serve. You have to pull up and tell the attendant how much fuel you would like, what type of fuel you want, etc. I was nervous because 1) I obviously still don't speak much Spanish, and 2) because I am still adjusting to using pesos. I felt so accomplished and independent when I pulled out of the gas station- it was like being 16 all over again. Haha.

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Other Activities

I am so grateful for the people who have welcomed me and invited me into their lives here. It has definitely kept me busy for the past week and a half, and it has been a blast!

Last Friday, my friend Katie and I were invited to a girls' night with Courtney and Meredith, the girls I will be moving in with in about a month. They are so great, and I can see a lot of potential for sweet friendships with all three of them. I am really looking forward to that living situation (complete with a water heater)!

Saturday, I was able to take a trip to Santiago and tour around a bit with my friend Alberto and some students who are studying there for the semester. We visited a museum dedicated to the Taíno people (native people of the DR), and a giant monument dedicated to the men who led the fight for Dominican independence. It was a fun weekend of getting to know a little more of the history of my new home!

Sunday, I was able to go to church with my new friends Eric and Chelsie, and I think I may be settling there for the year. One of my favorite things about experiencing other cultures is seeing the way they worship. There is something amazing about being in a room with other believers who I can't even have a conversation with, worshipping the same God who created us so differently. It definitely gives perspective.

And finally, last night, I got to attend my first weekly Bible study with a group of women who are all American missionaries here in Jarabacoa. I am so excited to grow with them this year and get to know them better.

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Prayer Requests

Language Learning: While I do feel like I am learning quickly, I would so appreciate your continued prayer for this. It is so necessary for daily life and, most importantly, for ministry here. The Lord is providing abundantly in the area, so please join me in praying that He would continue to do so!

Relationships: Relationships are extremely important to Dominican people. It is completely normal for friends and family to show up at each other's houses and just sit and visit for hours and hours. Nothing is more important than time spent with the person in front of them (again, I have so much to learn from this). Please pray for my relationships with the girls and women at the ministry site, with my host family, with the women in my Bible study, with my future roommates, and with other staff members.

Missing Home: As much as I have loved adjusting to all of these new things, I have started to have a few moments of missing home- mainly my family and friends. I think it has just started to hit me that I am not here for a few weeks, but for a whole year. It's much different than what I have ever experienced, and I know I will miss my people a lot this year. I would love your prayer for this not to be a distraction from where I am and what the Lord has for me here.

Thanks so much to all who have been praying! I have fairly limited internet access, but feel free to send me Facebook messages, Instagram messages, or emails (sammy.mull@gmail.com), and I will answer when I can!