Dominican Republic

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).