Week 2

Hola once again peeps. So week 2 has officially come to a close and, dude, what a week! While we all did pretty well the first week I guess our stomachs decided they were over cooperating--everyone stomach except Zak´s that is.
Once again, being down here is weird because the days go by slow but the weeks fast...if that makes any sense. So far the clinics have gone really well. Since last Monday we´ve been able to do clinics at 9 batey´s which has been a totally amazing experience. I´m so glad we´re able to be in the same place for longer than a few days. It has given us a chance to get really emmersed in what we´re doing and to take in a lot more than we would be able to in a shorter amount of time. To say the least it has definitely given me a lot to process.
Being here for a while has also given us a chance to really connect with our hosts as well as a few different missionaries and other team members. Most of our interpreters are young Domincan guys who are in this marangae band that´s pretty off the hook. The first night Chiwi (Chirapone) got here we took her to one of their concerts at a nearby church. The next night we offically embraced Dominican culture and went to hear one of the lead singers at a resort nearby. All I can say is--team DR´s got moves yo--especially Chiwi!!! We are particularly good at group-Bob-Marley dancing!!!
As we move into this next week with the Haiti border crossing only a few days away we´d really appreciate--scratch that: we really NEED your prayers. I´m not going to lie, there are a lot of feelings flying around. Pray that wisdom and courage will go with us this week!!!
Much love,
Marica aka Panchita ;-)

Best Quotes of the Week:
¨(Request for translation on clinical quick phrases sheet) Is your daughter single?"
-El Peirco (aka Steve)

¨Sharing is caring--except when it comes to STD´s"
-Porfirio (aka Zak)

"(In deep frustration) Ahhh!!! They don´t have any man-thongs in my freaking size!!!"
-Portfirio (aka Zak)

¨Oooh man! They have the best tacos that I don´t eat anymore because I´m a freaking vegetarian--dang it!!!"
-Tita (aka Rosy)

"Vicodin? Keep that--we could sell that ish!"
-Pachita (aka Chelsea)

"Cheers guys (raises shot of MOM laxitive)--I´ll tell you how it comes out"
-Lolita (aka Leigh)

"Guys--while I´m thinking of it I´m like recycling chones right now, so can we please do laundry soon?"
-El Peirco

"Oh I definitely had a secret chapel crush on him because I wanted him to be my best friend!"
-Chelsea

"(Response to someone saying that there are like 7 ways to say Í love you´ in Greek) I agape all of you!"
-Panchita (aka Marica)

"(Jessica´s Shirt) Yale Midwifery: We Help People Out"

"Zak stop shanking random team members--it´s not nice!!!"
-Marica (aka Panchita)

"(response to naked ninja) Marica--give me back my clothes before I really get Mexican on you!"
-Rosy (aka Tita)

"I´m here to be like team Barnabas in Mexico Outreach to you all"
"What if we didn´t like ream Barnabas?"
-Chiwi and Zak

"Guys I DON´T want a freaking enema!!!"
-Leigh

"He´s like a young Sean Connery-- H-O-T (grrr)!!!"
-Chiwi

"Why even come to church if you´re going to talk the whole time?"
"This is Domincan Church"
-Kaile and Tony

DR Week 1

Its crazy to me how slow and yet fast a week can go by. Whenever i think about it i can hardly believe we’ve been here a week...but then again my tired body is quick to remind me. This week has definitely taken it out of us—I dont think most of us have ever been so excited to sleep in until 830 before! Then again, a week full of traveling thousands of miles, one beach day, 4 clinics, and a night of mofia conspiracy theories has the ability to take it out of you. To be totally honest though, i really wouldn’t have it any other way. Though some moments have left me overwhelmed and other with a definite feeling of helpless—but the end of yesterday left me encouraged with the mucho apparent joy of the people in the community as they left the clinic has found me more encouraged that the work we do does indeed impact the people more than we know. In all truth the impact is in fact reciprocal. I feel so privileged to be sharing in the work of the body of Christ—to be working in some of the same capacities that Christ did. Yesterday I was able to clean and bandage the feet of a little boy who came into the clinic with multiple sores which were infected, some even bleeding—I got to wash his feet...like Christ... wow... In the end, though I’m SO excited we got a day off today off to go to the beach...and find out that Jese won the bachelorette (yah, we—minus the boys—are still freaking out!), Im mucho excited to serve in the sugar cain feilds next week!
With love-
Marica (aka Panchita)

Best quotes of the week—

“(Request for clinic phrase translation) Will you join the revolution?”
-Porfirio (aka Zak)

“Ashley, if a guy points a gun at your team you do not walk up to him and say, ´excuse me, do NOT touch my team´, OK. You throw your hands up in the air and deficate in your pants”
-Lolita (aka Leigh)

“You guys, if someone attacked me I think I could get out of it—I´m small and agile!”
-Lupita (aka Ashley)

5 minutes conversation about the mofia and guns passes...2 minutes later “Oh my gosh—u guys—that guy has a gun!” ...awkward silence
-Panchita (aka Marica)

“Why do you automatically make the guy from East LA pick the lock to the cabinett in your room...Leigh, get decent”
-Tinoche (aka Eric)

“Me nombre es Porfirio (musical accent included)”
-Porfirio

“Thinking like the mofia, all im going to say is that our hotel would make a very good place to launder money”
-Tinoche (aka Eric)

“Guys shut the heck up—I´m SO freaking tired! Zak, get your half naked body out of my room!”
*Disclaimer: swim trunks were worn
-Petra (aka Kaile)

“What should be CK´s DR name” ...(hours later) “Guys—let´s call her Chiwowa” (much laughter follows) “Hey, we can call her ´Chiwi´for short!!!”
-Lolita (aka Leigh)

“(In Spanish) I love my large pants”
-El Peirco (aka Steven)

“(also in Spanish) I have a large head that is a brick”
-El Peirco (aka Steven)

The DR has been amazing...

Hola!
I just wanted to share with you some of our prayer requests. Our first week has gone amazingly well! Please be praying for continued safety and health. Pray that we make lasting relationships with our hosts which has all ready been going well! For the people and their physical, economical and spiritual needs. And that we can continue to help them as best we can in our short stay here. And also pray that we can be encouragement for the communities and our hosts! Also, being praying that we can stay spirutally strong as a team as things can get hard at times!

I can´t wait to tell you all the details when I get home!

I love you!

Pura Vida, Week 1

So its been a great week and weve made it to La Romana. This past week has been one of hard work, great lessons, better laughs, and memories that will last a lifetime. One of the first things that happened to us as we started to embrace and fall in love with a culture that is as beatiful as this island and as unforgettable as the food... weve lost our identities. What was once Ashley, Leigh, Murica, Rosy, Kalie, Chelsea, Steve, Zak and Eric, have now been transformed into Lupita, Lolita, Panchita, Tita, Petra, Paquita, Pepe, and Tito Tenoch.

The past week has been a great one. Weve seen a rough ballpark figure of about 350 patients, many of whom are suffering from a wide variety of sicknesses and ailments, most of which, however, can be prevented with basic hygein and reliable source of clean water. It is very frustrating to see that many pf these painful sicknesses, headaches, parasites, stomach pains, and aching bodies can be prevented with regular access to clean and running water, we feel almost inadequate in providing just temporary relief to problems that may continue to persist, but we have brought one thing that can be shared, cannot be stolen, that is priceless; Christs love. Although we are limited in what we can do and the more we do, the more we want to help, the smiles, the gratitude, the experience of encouraging a soul is almost inexplicable. To bring the light to a dark world, the worst of places is what we came to do, it is what were doing, it is what we will continue to do.

We will be in La Romana for a few days working in the bateys, continuing our work in medicine as a vehicle to deliver the Love of Christ.

Santo Domingo and Haina

Hola amigos y familia!

The fun has just begun and we have already had so many memories! Our first full day here in the DR was filled with sorting, touring, and the beach. The beach is an important part of DR culture so we felt obligated to swim the clear, warm, and waveless water. We made the best of it though...
When it came to serving the people of Haini for the past two days we definatly put our blessed minds togehter and created pretty efficient process. This was after our first clinic that was a great learning experience for all!
As a team we have spent a good deal of time together laughing and helping each other discover what missions mean to us and the global church. It has been such a blessing to see the team grow into a family and feel the excitement from our hosts.
Our hosts have been nothing but an amazing blessing. Our main host Rafael has taken a week off to help us out and our other Rafael has been our fearless driver though the streets that make L.A. traffic seem meek. The place we are staying at has been so comfortable and we have survived with only minor attacks from DR mosquitos... so far....
Look forward to some pictures soon and more updates next week when we are in La Romana!
We love you all and thank you for all of your love!

Love,
Leigh and Team DR!

DR is simply amazing....

and yes I know I use that word a lot but I really mean it. We are on our fourth day here and we are already getting attached to the people, the food, and yes even the humidity. Today we finished our clinical day in Haina, a small town about 25 minutes from Santo Domingo. Our duty here is for sure not easy...we´ve had our little ups and downs but over all we have seen God work. In the clinics we have seen a variety of patients with various skin infections, malnutrition, cardiac problems, and children with FTT (just to name a few). At times I personally have felt somewhat powerless because we don´t have all the different medications some patients need. BUT what has definetly encouraged us is although we may not have much we have the most important thing and that is the love of Christ...and we can share that freely because it´s never ending.....PTL

T'was the night before DR...

T'was the night before DR when all through the house, all the members were packing, not including the mouse.   Our carry-on's were set by the doorway with care, in hopes that the sunrise would quickly be there.  The team nestled down asleep on the floor, knowing they'd soon be off out the door.  Leigh in the front, and Ashley in a rear, they reminded us again not to have any fears.  Then from the the alarm clock there arose such a clatter, we all woke up to see what's the matter.  Away to the airport we flew like a flash, checking our passports and making sure we had cash.  When what to our wondering eyes should appear, but a big shiny jet, a 747 jet-liner.  More rapid than eagles the departure had came!  Now Ashley whistled and shouted and called us by name; "Now Eric! now Zack, now Rosi and Steve! On Chelsea! On Callie, on Marcia with speed!  First to Miami, US customs are there!  Now hurry now hurry, be careful and take care!"   We'll be on the plane soon, our adventure has started, we all covet your prayers especially after we've departed!