It's funny, no matter what stage we are in our lives we must always remember that we are not in control. Changes always seem to come when we are most comfortable in our day to day life. I was recently reminded of how quickly my plans can change when I knew that it was the time for me to leave the Bánica mission. The call to return home to the states was very clear but I have peace of heart that comes when I know I am doing what God is asking of me.
And so, after more than a year of great experiences and enjoyable work, I have returned home. What exactly I am meant to do here right now is not so clear, but I am sure it will become so!
Thank you for all of your support and your prayers, you have all been in mine!
Monday, November 3, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
One Year
Today marks my one year anniversary of the day I arrived in Bánica, where has the year gone? It was beautiful though as this day happens on my feast day of St. Michael the Archangel, so I know I am being taken care of. I was surprised to find that some of my friends here, and especially the family I lived with last year, remembered this date and wished me congratulations :-) Sometimes I am amazed at how much the little things mean, such as remembering a date and remembering to say something about it :-) The people here are especially into doing things like that!
The patronales is almost in full swing, meaning the novena has been progressing every night, led by a different community each evening. I say almost as it is only today that I see the beginnings of the other side of the patronales, the fiesta side. Up until now, there has only been the spiritual aspect of the upcoming feast; the procession, the nightly novena gatherings and prayers, the wearing of brown in honor of St. Francis etc etc... But today, up went the stage, uncomfortably close to my house where, so I am told, the live music and dancing will begin tomorrow night. There are no classes in the schools and people are really coming into town now, Bánica will be packed by the weekend...
Samantha, our new volunteer, arrived last week and is settling in well :-) It is nice to have another American girl around again! She is my next door neighbor too, which is working out nicely too! She will be beginning her classes and a more normal schedule next week after the patronales.
I have been reminded that I have not posted pictures of my new house yet... I am such a ditz when it comes to things like that. So, internet providing, I will attempt to upload those soon. Until then, I am taking advantage of this slow time to get a few things done, work on my class prep, and squeeze in a few extra naps :-)
The patronales is almost in full swing, meaning the novena has been progressing every night, led by a different community each evening. I say almost as it is only today that I see the beginnings of the other side of the patronales, the fiesta side. Up until now, there has only been the spiritual aspect of the upcoming feast; the procession, the nightly novena gatherings and prayers, the wearing of brown in honor of St. Francis etc etc... But today, up went the stage, uncomfortably close to my house where, so I am told, the live music and dancing will begin tomorrow night. There are no classes in the schools and people are really coming into town now, Bánica will be packed by the weekend...
Samantha, our new volunteer, arrived last week and is settling in well :-) It is nice to have another American girl around again! She is my next door neighbor too, which is working out nicely too! She will be beginning her classes and a more normal schedule next week after the patronales.
I have been reminded that I have not posted pictures of my new house yet... I am such a ditz when it comes to things like that. So, internet providing, I will attempt to upload those soon. Until then, I am taking advantage of this slow time to get a few things done, work on my class prep, and squeeze in a few extra naps :-)
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes
Happy Feast Day! My morning began when I woke up to the sound of the church bells ringing at 5am awaking the town, drawing them to the church by 6am to begin a procession. The procession was especially noteworthy for two reasons. First, in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the beloved patron of the town. His feast day is coming up on October 4th and the nine day novena is beginning, hence the procession in his honor. Secondly, as today is the Feast of Our Lady of Mercedes, a national patron of this country. Today, all over the country, is a work-free, school-free, enjoy the day kind of day :-) We also happen to have a cloudy, drizzly day, so it is kind of nice to relax and stay dry.
The town is certainly gearing up for the patronales, the yearly celebration of the feast day of St. Francis. Many towns in the Dominican Republic celebrate the feast day of their patron, whether it is of the town or of the church. The feast day is especially celebrated here as we have el cerro de San Francisco, the cave of St. Francis, which is a major and very popular pilgrimage spot. Our little town of roughly 1200 grows exponentially during this time with family, friends, and pilgrims who come to join in and celebrate the feast day. With this expansion of Bánica, the flip side is a lot more street noise which equals fewer solid sleep nights. By the end of the patronales, I remember once again, with renewed appreciation, why I love this little town :-)
With the arrival of the patronales I am also reminded that I am coming up on my one year anniversary of arriving here in Bánica. I arrived last year on the 29th of September and I cannot believe that it has already been an entire year since I arrived. I have grown so much in this time, learned many lessons about myself and about life, and have fallen in love with this town, the people, and the culture. So it is with joy that I am officially beginning my second year! Please keep me in your prayers and know that you are certainly in mine!
The town is certainly gearing up for the patronales, the yearly celebration of the feast day of St. Francis. Many towns in the Dominican Republic celebrate the feast day of their patron, whether it is of the town or of the church. The feast day is especially celebrated here as we have el cerro de San Francisco, the cave of St. Francis, which is a major and very popular pilgrimage spot. Our little town of roughly 1200 grows exponentially during this time with family, friends, and pilgrims who come to join in and celebrate the feast day. With this expansion of Bánica, the flip side is a lot more street noise which equals fewer solid sleep nights. By the end of the patronales, I remember once again, with renewed appreciation, why I love this little town :-)
With the arrival of the patronales I am also reminded that I am coming up on my one year anniversary of arriving here in Bánica. I arrived last year on the 29th of September and I cannot believe that it has already been an entire year since I arrived. I have grown so much in this time, learned many lessons about myself and about life, and have fallen in love with this town, the people, and the culture. So it is with joy that I am officially beginning my second year! Please keep me in your prayers and know that you are certainly in mine!
Friday, September 12, 2008
A Goodbye and a Thank You
To the Kirby Family who has so generously served here in Bánica for the last two years, thank you so much for all you have done for me personally. You have been the only American family here, to always remind me of my own and at the same time, help me when I am missing them too. It has always been nice to have a place to go to just chat and to have that "family feel". Thank you so much for that. You will remain in my prayers.
In other news... my puppy, Bautista, has gone on to a better place (well... you know what I mean) as he has been sick for a long time, and it just got to be too much for the little guy that he had to be put down. The other parish dog, Sixto, shares my lament. Poor Sixto is so lonely and depressed :-( Hopefully soon we can get another puppy to be Sixto's litte buddy and playmate.
We are surviving the rains here, though it has been a little frustrating trying to get classes steadily underway. Everything and everyone shuts down when it rains, it's like their snow day. So hopefully the coming week will be a little more productive!
In other news... my puppy, Bautista, has gone on to a better place (well... you know what I mean) as he has been sick for a long time, and it just got to be too much for the little guy that he had to be put down. The other parish dog, Sixto, shares my lament. Poor Sixto is so lonely and depressed :-( Hopefully soon we can get another puppy to be Sixto's litte buddy and playmate.
We are surviving the rains here, though it has been a little frustrating trying to get classes steadily underway. Everything and everyone shuts down when it rains, it's like their snow day. So hopefully the coming week will be a little more productive!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Well I am safely back in Banica, it's definitely good to be back.
Have been getting some rain here due to the tropical storm, but not too much. The Santo Domingo area got a lot more rain than Banica did.
Have been getting some rain here due to the tropical storm, but not too much. The Santo Domingo area got a lot more rain than Banica did.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Well the last few days have been full, to say the very least.
It was with a heavy heart that I saw Fr Gee and Maria leave Bánica, I have never known life here without them and that will definitely take me some adjustment time. Please keep them in your prayers as they settle into the next chapter of their lives and that they continue to follow God's will for them, as I am sure they will. Also keep the new pastor, Fr O'Hare, in your prayers as he settles into life here. I have every confidence that he is going to do great work here.
On a lighter note I was able to spend time with the Christendom group in their last days here in the Dominican Republic. I accompanied them to the beach and was able to spend a night there with them. It was the first time I have been to the beach since I was studying spanish in the capital. I had a great time and it helped take my mind off all the changes in Banica.
On another bright note, this morning I went into Elias Piña with Fr O'Hare to see the ordination of two new priests. The mass was incredibly well attended and the weather was beautiful which was nice as the mass was outdoors!
Also, I am heading home again on Monday, and will be home until mid-august so I will not be updating but will do so again once I get back to Bánica :-)
It was with a heavy heart that I saw Fr Gee and Maria leave Bánica, I have never known life here without them and that will definitely take me some adjustment time. Please keep them in your prayers as they settle into the next chapter of their lives and that they continue to follow God's will for them, as I am sure they will. Also keep the new pastor, Fr O'Hare, in your prayers as he settles into life here. I have every confidence that he is going to do great work here.
On a lighter note I was able to spend time with the Christendom group in their last days here in the Dominican Republic. I accompanied them to the beach and was able to spend a night there with them. It was the first time I have been to the beach since I was studying spanish in the capital. I had a great time and it helped take my mind off all the changes in Banica.
On another bright note, this morning I went into Elias Piña with Fr O'Hare to see the ordination of two new priests. The mass was incredibly well attended and the weather was beautiful which was nice as the mass was outdoors!
Also, I am heading home again on Monday, and will be home until mid-august so I will not be updating but will do so again once I get back to Bánica :-)
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Cajuilito
Well this week was our last work week with the Christendom group as they are leaving in the middle of next week. The campamento went by so quickly but went really well as always. The kids had a blast, Americans and Dominicans alike, and this week I even brought some kids from Banica as well, which they loved.
Now everyone is just getting in all the "last" things, making sure they do and see all they want to do and see before heading back to the states. We are also preparing for the departure of Fr Gee and Maria... tonight is the big goodbye party after mass so we shall see how that goes. Dominicans tend to get rather emotional about these things! Luckily I will not be around much immediately after the big departure as I too am taking a vacation to visit my family again which I am definitely looking forward to! I am confident that all emotions will be under control by the time I get back here!
pictures are not cooperating right now... will try again later!
Now everyone is just getting in all the "last" things, making sure they do and see all they want to do and see before heading back to the states. We are also preparing for the departure of Fr Gee and Maria... tonight is the big goodbye party after mass so we shall see how that goes. Dominicans tend to get rather emotional about these things! Luckily I will not be around much immediately after the big departure as I too am taking a vacation to visit my family again which I am definitely looking forward to! I am confident that all emotions will be under control by the time I get back here!
pictures are not cooperating right now... will try again later!
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