One Month Down

            I have been here over a month and yet each day is always different and full of surprises. Slowly, but surely, I have gotten into my school routine and am starting to get to know my students a little bit better. I am excited to get to work with them each day in small groups, but also nervous about successfully helping them improve in their English.  When I arrived, I soon found out that I would no longer be doing advanced English classes.  Instead, I would be working with students in grades 2^nd all the way up to 8^th who were struggling with English. This was a big change for me and I was unsure of how well I could do the job since I am still working on my Spanish. But I am doing it, with the Lord’s help, and little by little I am seeing improvements in my students!

            So far this new year has been challenging in many different ways, from the different struggles at school to apartment problems. But I feel that the Lord is trying to teach me how to be content wherever I am, no matter what issues I face. It is so easy to be content when everything is going well and perfect and life seems easy, but throw no electricity in your bedrooms and bathrooms for a week or no water for two days and it becomes a lot harder to be content. But then I remember all the lovely people who are supporting me and encouraging me to serve here in the DR and I realize how self-centered I am being. I don’t really deserve anything, yet the Lord has showered me with so many blessings. I have recently been encouraged by the amount of people who have sacrificed to support me here. It has been just amazing to see how in such a short amount of time, the Lord has allowed me to raise my funds to come serve in the Dominican and it is a reminder for me that this is where the Lord has called me to serve at this time. Not only that, but the Lord has surrounded me with godly people who are challenging me to be better in my walk with Christ and have been so supportive and encouraging. I am truly blessed here and I am excited to see how the Lord will be working in the coming months. 

Shopping along the Conde!