Talking to the Moon

Wow....
I sit here trying to type my last post thinking...how can simple silly words describe this experience...thinking how can I transmit the love, care, friendships, experience, stories, fun, etc all into a few words on a blog....and the truth is I can't....I sit here typing these words and letting the tears fall......if only I could let y'all see what I saw here in the DR. If only y'all could feel what I felt. If only y'all were here enjoying it along my side.

Talking to the Moon is one of my favorite songs from Bruno Mars. For those who know me, y'all know I'm always singing it. And I feel this song applies now more than ever before. The song says, "I know your somewhere out there, somewhere far away. I want you back, my neighbors think I'm crazy but they don't understand your all I had. At night when the stars light up my room, I sit by myself talking to the moon....trying to get to you, in hopes your on the other side talking to me too...."
Even with friends, family, or brothers and sisters that we love and cherish, even though they are on the other side of the world, we are all under the same moon.
The brothers and sisters here, our friends and family here in the DR have touched our hearts so much! These past couple days from Sunday to now seem so unreal, it didn't hit me until now that we have to leave. Our friends here since Sunday have been with us, taking advantage of every moment prior to our departure. Sunday they announced once again about us leaving, and after the meeting we had so many hugs and kind words. Monday our friends joined us to the beach and we stayed there all day. But Tuesday...that was hard for me. Tuesday we went to service, afterwards Jordi took us out to eat and to buy some last minute gifts. We went to service again at 6 and enjoyed evening service. Service was so much fun, our friend Isaac had a professional camera with him and he just started taking pictures of all of us in service. Pictures of us preaching, talking, laughing, and just enjoying our time together. After service we invited everyone to the house for some cake and coffee. Wow so many laughs, and as the night went by more and more friends came. Friends we've made from different congregations, just coming one by one to say not goodbye but "see you soon"....again it was so nice to see the mixture of deaf and hearing brothers...Jehovahs organization is so beautiful...having this experience only increases and strengthens our faith and appreciation for Jehovah and all he gives us. Last night tears started coming down too from friends and of course us.
We were even surprised with a gift. A deaf brother from our hall, Jose, such a sweet brother....this brother is a pioneer and you can see his zeal in the ministry. Well last night before he left he gathered us together, he expressed how much he appreciated us and then gave each of us a gift and a letter. This letter is beautiful. I can't wait to show everyone back home. And the tears came down. Words can't express this experience....I think to myself this blog was silly I can't transmit my feelings my tears onto a simple Internet page. But I can only hope I did my best. I hope that all of you who read this blog enjoyed it. I hope that we can get together and talk because this blog is 50% of the experience.
Thank you to all our family and friends who provided so much support. Jehovah really guided us with this trip and it has changed us forever emotionally and spiritually. To each of you with a goal to serve where the need is great in whichever language...DO IT! Plan and prepare and don't worry so much about every little detail because Jehovah will guide and bless. If you can't for a month or 6 months or even a year....not a problem try for 2 weeks or whatever time you have available. If its a goal pursue it.
Our thanks is always to Jehovah, without him none of this could have been possible. We return home as new people, new thoughts, new way of thinking. Praying to ask Jehovah to guide and help us come back soon! Even the CO recently talked with us seeing when we are coming back because he already has an assignment for us. Wow Jehovah couldn't make things any clearer. We found where we belong...and we know Jehovah will help us make that happen. For now we leave but with every intention to come back. We talk to the moon knowing that our friends will do the same. Keeping us in their thoughts and prayers just like we will.
To my roommates, all 5 of you, my appreciation and love is so much stronger now. I remember how I called y'all my "Dominican family" haha...I can't wait for all of us to come back again soon. Together. I know how much the trip helped us all out, and how much it changed us. Lets not ever forget it, let it always be engraved in our hearts. Let us remember Dominican Republic 2013.

Friday-Saturday

Wow these two days were filled with so much activity!
Of course days pass by quickly and soon we leave home, but for now we enjoy as much we can.
Friday- we went to service, I was able to talk the the special pioneer brother and wow he provided so much encouragement! Again I thank Jehovah so much because we came to help and encourage but it has been mutual the time here has encouraged us so much! Changed us emotionally, spiritually, and made us determined to accomplish our goals. After service we invited the service group to the house again to prepare a Mexican meal. ENCHILADAS!!! We bought a sauce that wasn't spicy at all but to some of our guest it was spicy! There was a brother though who does like spicy and ate some of the enchiladas that were spicier and made of green sauce. What a delight to have friends over and enjoy their company. They also like the enchiladas and some recorded us making them so they can make it too! Tortillas aren't really used by Dominicans, so it was cool for us to show them a new dish! I'm sure Karens parents as well as mine are proud because we made this traditional Mexican meal! Haha

Saturday- service in the morning, but in the afternoon the congregation had a pioneer meeting. It was a meeting to help the pioneers remember their responsibility of helping the congregation but also provided so much encouragement. We were so happy to be included in this meeting. The brothers and sisters also expressed how much they appreciated our time here. We were caught by surprise we weren't expecting that at all!! Thanks to Jehovah we were able to join this hall and even though we only stayed for 6 weeks...it was long enough to touch our hearts and the hearts of others here in the DR.
The congregation was sweet and also had a little farewell party for us! There was hot dogs and of course dancing! So many laughs and such a good time.
Our good friend Rimberd had a surprise for us. About 3 weeks ago he asked us to pick a song in Spanish that we really like so that he could interpret it for us in sign language. We let him know the song but oh man to our surprise he interpreted a song at the party but not that Spanish song...he noticed how much we sang songs from Bruno Mars...so at the party he interpreted the song "When I was your Man"!!!! You can only imagine how excited I was!!! Wow!!!! I almost cried and he did so good! It was such a nice surprise! We made such good friends!
Awe days are slipping away but memories have been made and will always be remembered!

Our last Thursday here!

Our last Thursday here! How sad! Time as gone by so fast as of next Wednesday we head back to the states, but as new people! New experiences mean a change spiritually and emotionally!
Well this Thursday we went to service the group meets at a local park, but how cool because at the same time the city employees were watering the plants. They use a portable water tank and from there they hose down all the plants.
Our service territory was near the ocean so pretty and such a nice breeze! We also passed by the local fire station!
After service the special pioneers from our hall invited us to their house for an awesome lunch! We enjoyed our time their! The couple have a set routine after lunch they read a chapter from the bible and a page from the yearbook! Definitely a great example! I think I may be doing the same too!!!! The brother interpreted everything in sign for Ariana, I got the read out loud Job chapter 37 and the sister read the yearbook. I've enjoyed this couple so much! And the brother has been more than helpful with us! He is making all the moves necessary to help us come back soon! We asked for Jehovah's guidance and we are seeing it!
Also here DR is very tropical, so weather can change quickly! It was sunny all day until about 3:30 it started to pour! You can tell in the picture how dark it is! Wow! But I love it! Almost every time it rained here I would run outside and just stand there! The rain is so refreshing and calming!
It so funny cause of course it starts to rain and then everyone disappears! They disappear quick! But sometimes you'll see the kids playing outside, continue playing baseball like its no problem! Definitely reminds me of when I was a kid playing in the rain.
In the evening we went to the meeting...man did things get crazy!
Of course like any usual meeting here a lot of times we will hear music or people yelling because we always have the windows open, but at the meeting the noise just got louder and louder. At the end of the meeting they made the Announcement that after the last song and prayer for everyone to leave quickly, and if you have a car please help by taking some brothers and sisters home so they don't have to walk. The issue was that the people in the streets were protesting against the government here so they were throwing glass bottles and other items everywhere. Also they put tires in the middle of the street and set it on fire. They were protesting because here in Santo Domingo we have water and electricity available to us but at certain times, it's not available 24/7. For example in our home we have electricity in the morning and it shuts off and doesn't come back till the evening. Our water is available sometimes and when it is we save some in a reserve above the house but when it runs out we need to refill it but sometimes there isn't any water available because the city has blocked it. So think about it isn't electricity and water the utilities we use the most no matter where you live in the world!? We depend on it so much so to not have it available all the time means you have to do with what you got...people here are used to it, we've gotten used to it as well. So why the protest? Because all day Thursday there was nothing available to the people!!!! All day nothing! Therefore the people got upset and decided to protest.
I'm sure that we can understand their frustration, the government isn't fair why? Human imperfection....therefore what lesson do I learn? Have a stronger relationship with Jehovah and make my faith stronger, remembering at all times that only Jehovah can be fair and with him in control all this we see now will be gone.
If the issue here is that resources are low well same lesson, in the bible Jehovahs promise is clear everything necessary will be available to his faithful servants.
Until that time lets all worldwide continue preaching letting people know these promises, make the changes needed, and serve Jehovah so they can be part of this new world. Can you imagine in the new system....standing there amazed and left in awe because finally Jehovahs promise is fulfilled...you can see it with your own eyes. Can you imagine standing there and looking around to see family and friends and even the people you helped learn about Jehovah. Just see yourself and see me too!