Every group is different!!! I never know what to expect from a new group except what groups before have shown me and often those ideas can get in the way of what God wants to do in the new group.

This last group surprised me. Day one we were having lunch and i was straining to hear them talk because they were all so soft spoken...for those that know me well, lets just say they are the opposite of me! I began to think..."hmm, wonder how this is going to work out" or "its gonna be a quiet 2 weeks". They did not change in demeanor, but this group connected well in the community.

We spent the first of our 3 visits to Melvin's house sharing testimonies. This has to be one of my favorite things to do with my groups because i feel like i get to know them so much better by hearing their stories. About 5 minutes into Melvin's testimony, i see the team leader who was with us that day start to tear up. I began to think God was really going to do something, and He did. The girls shared from the heart and I think it went a long way towards unifying us as a team for the 2 weeks they were here!

Unfortunately, i have no photos because i have been doing a horrible job at carrying my camera with me! As soon as the girls post photos on facebook, i will share!!!!

thanks for all of your prayers during the summer. I am keeping up energy wise and other than a cold, i have not been sick!!!

Talking a walk

okay, as promised here is a minute long clip of Vanesa walking on her own. For many of you this may not seem like such a great success, but imagine being 8 years old and for the first time being able to walk without someone holding you up or giving you a wedgie because they had a hold of the waist band of your pants so you wouldn't fall! Vanesa still has a long way to go, but this is a definite HUGE step in the right direction. To all my PT friends out there, feel free to comment if you would like to give me advice on keeping her feet straight!!!

bleary eyed blogging

i awoke this morning and tried to figure out a schedule for today! i got about as far as, well i should update the blogs (mine and the one for the school). Thats about as far as i got! ah, you gotta love a monday.

I would attempt to blame the fatigue on the last group except i had no students during this last outreach! That has not happened to me since i moved here. Every outreach we have had, i have had students in my site. We once had an outreach of 7 people and i had 2 in my site. Needless to say it was a bit different not having some of the same responsibilities. I still had to do my tuesday morning Bible study with the group, and I was at the base in the mornings to pick up my intern (summer staff who is with me for 4 weeks) but otherwise, it was odd! It helped me realize that i truly do enjoy working with our student teams. Often i am more tired at the end of the day from translating, coordinating, and teaching all day, but there is something really cool about not only ministering to Dominicans but to Americans as well. We have said it before, but our staff are truly missionaries to both countries...amazing!

So no new photos this week, but i may get around to posting a video later this afternoon...HAPPY MONDAY!

One down five to go

Its summer time!!!! That means summer outreaches. 6 two-week outreaches back to back! Its a lot of work and takes a lot of energy but its one of the things I love most about my job!!! I not only get a chance to work with my kids but I get to help students discover more of what God wants from their lives. Some times that means they go home to study therapy. Sometimes they leave appearing to have experienced very little change. Sometimes I get to enter into the hardest areas of their lives and bring hope and encouragement! Its a big job and I love it!

We finished the first team a couple of days ago and I am so happy with how well it went. I was able to connect well with the students and we were able to find and evaluate two kids in the community, start a kids Bible study, and fit lots of hand splints and AFO's in the process!!! no wonder all i wanted to do this weekend was sleep!!!

Here are some photos

Melvin got a new Bible for his birthday

Kids working on their coloring sheet after Bible study

Everyone after "class"

If determination can do it Vanesa will walk!!!

The therapy and special ed teams

This is what can happen when the "Americanas" eat dinner in the community and turn on some music!!!

I've made the move

Well, xanga is over! Most of my friends have made the switch over to blogger and since i can now link you all to all my other favorite blogs, i have made the switch.

more to come soon!