Top 12 Things of My Dominican Christmas

In my last post, I discussed the top 12 things I’ll miss this Christmas.  I must say that it left me feeling really sad! So, in efforts to lift my spirits a bit and let you know some of the great things I’ll get to partake in this Christmas season, I decided to write a new blog: The Top 12 Things of my Dominican Christmas

1. Dominican Food- Eating lots and lots of Dominican food.  One of the popular things Dominicans doing during Christmas is cook a pig!  We had some on Christmas day. So good!  

2. Pijamada “Pijama Party”-  Since all my roomates are gone, we decided to take advantage of the empty house and have a pijama party.  We have been studying the book of John and so to finish up our study, we watched the Passion of Christ.  I must say, this was the first pijama party that I’ve had… probably since college.   Possibly my last.  Haha.

3.  Volleyball- There will be lots of volleyball happening this Christmas break.  Not sure I really need to explain this one. 

4.  Spending Time with Breddy’s Family-  I have been dating a great Christian guy for the past few months.  He loves the Lord and loves sports too! So we really enjoy doing the same activities together.  Here, Dominicans aren’t huge on gifts for Christmas.  They mainly have big dinners and spend time together as a family.  Because his parents work a lot, I haven’t had a lot of time to get to know them. Here is a picture with Breddy and two of his cousins at one of the family get-togethers. 

5.  Conga (basically softball without a umpire to call balls and strikes. Pitcher keeps pitching until you hit it or swing 3x and strike out) -  This has been a new activity that Breddy has introduced me too.  We play softball basically on the side of a gradual mountain.  Not sure I can explain it.  The bases are closer together because you have to run up-hill.  Also, balls don’t go as far because, yes, you are hitting up-hill. Super fun. Lots of kids play and even some other women! Probably one of my favorite new Christmas activities. 

6.  No Planes- I really hate flying.  I feel like 90% of the time I fly, something goes wrong.  Ask me sometime, I have at least 5 horror stories.  So I’m happy to just be the chofer and take people to/from the airport.

7.  Going to the Beach- Not so bad spending Christmas break in 80 degree weather!

8. Dancing- I’m not the greatest dancer. There is just something that doesn’t allow me to move my hips like latinos do!  I think I have an extra bone or something that just makes it impossible for me!  However, from merengue to bachata, dancing is a big part of Dominican culture.  So, we’ve been trying to work on my dancing skills. Check out a video of Breddy dancing with his cousin.  Someday…. I might dance like that!

9. Motorcycle trip to the Presa- Last Saturday, some of the varsity girls (and their drivers) and I took a motorcycle trip to the Presa.  The Presa is a beautiful man-made dam that has the best fish and tostones on the island!  Well, I don’t know if it’s the best, but it sure has a great view.  Check out a highlight video of our trip.

*To see a video with some clips of us riding on the motorcycles*

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8ibmM6IqJM&feature=youtu.be

10.  Girl Time- Its just been great to get some hang-out time with my varsity girls.  Whether we are playing volleyball, riding motorcycles, or making dinner together, its just nice to hang out with them and continue to build those relationships. 

11.   Rest- It has been a great time of just reading, relaxing and getting lots of rest.

12.  Skyping with my family on Christmas Morning- Even though I am further away this Christmas, some traditions still continued this year.   Christmas morning, Breddy and I skyped into Christmas at home.  Breddy read a Christmas story and I translated it for my family. Then we got to hear my dad read something. It was a special time to all be “together”.  We even got a “Family Picture”.

Thank you to everyone for your prayers and support in this past year.  In January, we start up strong with two American teams coming down.  Also in February, another American girl will be joining me on staff at the sports site.  It will be great to have her so that we can start more teams and be able to reach more girls! Continue to be in prayer for the girls of the site.  Many of them are hitting that key age where they decide to follow God or choose their own way.  Thank you for your prayers.  I pray that God continues to bless you in this new year of 2013!

Top 12 Things I'll miss this Christmas

As I sit listening to Christmas music, my heart is filled with mixed emotions.   Christmas day is coming close and for the first time in 26 years, I won’t be spending this one with my family.  I’ve been doing a lot of traveling over the past 6 months and I just felt like I wanted to take a break and stay “home” this year.  The DR has become my new home and I am truly excited to spend time with my girls and my Dominican community here.   I’ll leave details of my Dominican Christmas for a later post because today's blog is tribute to my AMERICAN family. So, with no further ado, the top 12 things I will miss this Christmas of 2012.

1.     Opening stockings with my siblings (getting the my yearly dosage of socks and underwear)

2.     Eating a great big Christmas day breakfast (which is always topped off with candy that we got in our stockings)

3.     Listening to dad read the Christmas story in the living room

4.     Watching tv with my sister for hours while mom, dad and Josh golf (because mom isn’t a fan of us watching tv all day).  So the second they leave, Heather and I become couch potatoes. 

5.     We normally spend Christmas in the pan-handle of Florida in a condo. Normally weather is in the 60’s- lower 70s. Every day, dad tries to convince us it is hot outside.  So, in efforts to catch some rays, Heather and I always try to lay-out.  Our efforts normally end with us getting wrapped up in our towel because it’s too cold to actually lay-out. But at least our faces get some vitamin D.

6.     Seeing family.  Most years we see our Florida Gator family.  This pic is from one year that even the Wyoming Gates family came down to Florida to join us.

7.     Acting like I don’t really like playing games (but I really do) so that my mom feels extra special when I do decide to play. I really do love playing games with my mom and siblings (ticket-to-ride and a monopoly card game  have been recent favorites)

8.     Any day that I beat Josh in a game J

9.     Sharing a room with my favorite sister

10. Playing “up the river, down the river” with the whole family. Especially if the Woodard family is there, our family has such a great time!

11. Going to the movie theatre and eating LOTS of popcorn

12. Just being with my family. I love you Dad, Mom, Heather and Josh!  I miss you guys already! 

Spicy Christmas in the DR

“Coach, can you put one of those songs on that we sang at your church?”  Stephanie asked.  Even though the trip to the states was four months ago, there are still many things that have stayed with our girls (in addition to belting the songs they learned at church).   Since they were stretched out of their comfort zone, their self-confidence has grown, making them better leaders here.  Before the trip, two girls consistently went to church. Now, eight of them have been attending regularly.  In addition, on Friday mornings at 6:30 am, we do a breakfast prayer meeting and 10 of them have been coming. Last week at bible study, Esther, in tears, asked if I would be willing to go with her when she breaks the news to her devout catholic parents that she wants to become a Christian. These may seem like little things, but they have been big steps for these girls. 

We just had our Christmas party with our varsity and JV teams.  Check out one of our competitions.  Kinda the same idea with marshmallows in the game "Chubby Bunny", yet we did it with Jalepenos. Hehe. 

Each team had to dress up for their dance competition.  Check out the varsity team! 

Some of our JV girls before their dance! 

The "Nana" after the cake eating competition! 

Overall, a super fun day with the girls.  For the first time in 3 years, I'll be spending Christmas here this year.  I will definitely miss my family, but I really wanted to have a restful time where I wasn't traveling. Plus, I really want to see what a Dominican Christmas is like!

In other VC Revolution News... 

In February of 2013, another American woman will be joining me on staff, which I am super excited for! She played volleyball in college and has the same passion for working with young girls.  This will allow us to start even more teams and be able to disciple more girls at a more intimate level.  Four of our varsity girls will be graduating high school this year and will no longer be able to play with the varsity team.  We hope that some of them will continue to stayed involved in our VC Revolution volleyball program as coaches, but we want to push them out of the nest so that they can pursue a college education.  We’ve also been brainstorming ideas to figure out how these girls can financially support themselves to go to college.  Please pray for these girls that they will all be able continue to take the next step and go to college.

Burning Down the House

So I want to brag on my parents a bit and show the power of what can happen when wives submit to their husbands.  It has a great funny ending. Get ready.

So one day, my dad was watching some special on TV that homes should have their fire extinguishers visible and handy in case of fire.  First of all, I think all of kids were not even aware that we had one.  Being the responsible caring dad that my dad is, he asked my mom where ours was located.  She said in the closet by the kitchen.  Great, we have an extinguisher and its in a central location easily accessible.  Good enough?  Not for Big Ray.  He decided to put it in the kitchen on top of the shelf.  Super tacky.  Right when you walk in our front dour, your attention is immediately drawn to the big red  fire extinguisher.

Now, my mom is not a nagger by any means.  But this was so not attractive and even in my limited homemaking decorative skills, I would agree with her.  However, she decided it was not a fight worth picked at decided to let it go. (I think secretely hoping he would realize how tacky it was).  Well a week later, after a long record of 0 fires in our house... guess what happened?  This is my sister Heather and her friends. :)

And think... all because my mom kept her mouth shut and respected my dad! Way to go parents! P.S.  When someone's house is on fire, who thinks... lets film it!!! But hey, would not of had this good laugh if it wasn't for Kelly Baker.

Christmas... Journeys Beginnings and Ending

I was told today of a poem.  It is a epic poem that tells the story of Christmas.   As I say the word Christmas, I get excited to jam out to Christmas music, but it is much to early to talk of Christmas music (at least according to some of my roommates).   Today, I am actually going to talk about a part of this poem and how it applies to my life now.  In addition, it also applies to all of our lives and the beginning and ending of chapters, as well as our inability to go on to the next chapter. 

In this poem, the author describes the lives of the shepherds.  They are men who care for their sheep, an overall mindless task and gaze at the stars.  There is very little purpose or meaning beyond looking at the stars, but more out of a way to pass the time.  They acknowledge that the stars are there and that they are good, but very little thought is put into the meaning of the stars. 

The wise men on the other hand, devote their lives to studying the stars.  They try to predict the future through the stars and have developed their own philosophies based on the stars.

One day, the shepherds are called out of their mundane task of being “lil bo-peep”  and see a starry host of angels.  Really, can you imagine what that would be like?  As they follow the star to see the messiah, their journey begins. 

On that same day, the wise men know they have an important task of following this star.  They are not exactly sure of their steps, but they know there is great meaning to finding where this start leads.  When they follow this star and see the messiah, descover that they have found the a true meaning of life, and their journey ended.

Now, I am no poet, nor really a famous story teller like my good friend, Eric Miller.  However, I hope you were able to understand the story and have it impact you like it did me.  I find myself at the manger ending one journey and starting another.  I find that the past three and half years, I have served in the Dominican Republic with purpose.  I was clear of my call there and felt real direction in all that I have done there.  My vision was clear as I trained girls in volleyball, discipline and responsibility.  They were taught about Christ and how they can be leaders in their communities.  To “end” this chapter, it seemed that everything was mounting up to a final goal of our trip to the states.  English. Following the rules (so as to not get kicked off the team).  Practicing hard to beat the tough states teams.  Fundraising for the trip.  Using all my free time to organize and plan every single detail of the trip.  Everything seemed to be leading up to the trip. 

And then we came to the states.  Our team bonded together in an incredible way.  The girls grew in so many ways.  I have even seen fruit in this as many of them and am thankful that we had the opportunity to go on the trip.  However, I find that a new journey is beginning.  Now what God?  I find myself going back to the beginning and remembering why God has called me to the DR.  What are some new things that I need to focus on that I may have lost sight of in my intense efforts to plan for the trip. 

If you have made it this far in this long blog, I encourage you to examine where you are in your journey.  Have you just gotten complacent and now just look at the stars and say, “Oh, those are pretty”  ? Are are you like the wisemen and continue to examine things and search out the deeper meanings of things?  As a teacher, remember back to the beginning of your journey and remember that you entered teaching to to make an impact on kids lives, to inspire.  As a husband, remember why you love your wife and remember what it was like to win her heart.  As we reflect on our past journeys, we also have to continue start new journeys.  What kind of coach do I want to be a year from now?  How can I better love my husband better like I used to when I was his girlfriend? (I’m speaking for those married ladies, that is). My prayer is that we can all continue to remember our past and use them to actively begin new journeys that bring us closer to Jesus.  So yeah… Merry Christmas!!! Never to early to start celebrating right? 

Funniest Video YET!!! Olympics 2012!

Okay well, I am currently in recovery mode from a great trip, but I wanted to post our final video of our own olympics.  Probably the funniest one yet.

Watch it on youtube at the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT6CbLqIe0A&feature=youtu.be

Until I post another entry, I wanted to tell you some of the highlights and outcomes of the trip.
1. Great bonding of the team.  We really became a lot more united.
2.  A lot of girls really stepped up to share testimonies and be leaders.
3.  Shakira and Loreidy accepted Christ.
4.  We all learned a lot of how to love each other better.

Homestay Video

To see it bigger on youtube visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0J1PD6sBns&feature=youtu.be

This past week the girls had the opportunity to stay with 6 families from my home church.  It was a neat thing for the girls to get to know the family dynamics of families here.  One girl was asked by a waiter the other day, "so what have you been doing this week?"  She said, "Swim, eat. Swim, swim, eat eat." So yeah, they've done a lot of swimming and a lot of eating! In addition to these activities, we had a shopping day, tubing with some of the youth from my home church, and tonight they played against my alma mater, Rockford High School.   We have had a blast.  Enjoy the video of some of the highlights of this past week.