There is so much to say & so many ideas & stories swirling through my head, that it is hard to know where or how to start sharing about this amazing country & my amazing experience there. Aha! I'll start at the beginning. What a novel idea.
A phone call:
Me: 'hello Marv? My name is Tracy and I'm interested in coming on Young Life staff to somewhere in latin america.'
Marv: 'Great! Do you speak Spanish?'
Me: 'No.'
Marv: 'Have you been to a Spanish speaking country before?'
Me: 'Yes. I went to Ecuador & Mexico for mission trips in high school.'
Marv: 'What are you doing now?'
Me: 'I am working as a therapeutic recreation specialist at a psych hospital, and I just took a summer job as a youth director at a local church.'
Marv: 'oh'
Me: 'Don't worry, the church job is just for the summer, and the other job I can give them notice anytime.'
Marv: 'Do you know that you will have to raise full financial support.'
Me: 'uh, ok.'
Marv: 'Where would you like to go?'
Me: 'I really don't have a preference - where is there a need?'
Marv: 'I am trying to get together a team to go to Santiago, Dominican Republic.'
Me: 'Great! I'm in.'
Marv: 'Can you come down for a week to see everything?'
Me: 'Sure! I'll let you know when I get my ticket.'
Ok, that's a rough version, but not too far from the truth. Gotta love the innocence of youth.
I went down for my 'visit' and left 2 suitcases of stuff. I guess I just knew that this was where God wanted me to be.
Marv arranged for me to live with Altagracia to learn Spanish. She is AMAZING - and was very patient during my learning process.
I wanted until late to write this post & now little ones are crying & fussing - so I will write more later - hope this peaks an interest.
Bottom line - the Holy Spirit was amazing in guiding me & encouraging me. God had a plan for me in the D.R. & I am eternally different! More later.
Til then, here is a pic of our Spanish class. Wow, there are some cooky stories there.
Bill (his wife Joy already knows Spanish), Chad, Daisy(teacher), Yusenny(teacher), Altagracia, Krista, Me, & (Kaylie -Bill's girl).