Joys & Tribulations of Life in the DR
I love my life here, PRAISE JESUS! Just about to complete three months of life here in my new home. I feel connected in community, am feeling integrated into the art ministry site where I'm working, the English classes I'm teaching are underway & going well.
"I know He hasn't brought me this far to leave me!" Those are the lyrics of a song that run through my mind every once and awhile while I feel I'm adjusting well, and not one to experience "culture shock" in a big and life rocking way, I am in that season where sometimes, completely unnanounced comes the cultural irritations of little things I probably couldn't even make an accurate list of. It's normal, it's good, but I won't say it's easy!
Another factor that comes into play is my health. While I'm a typically healthy person, there are things about a gringa moving to the tropical Carribean that are inevitable. PARASITES!!! There have been a few episodes of unhealth, and really, who likes not being in good health? Along the health lines, I've had for the last few months what I like to call, "Scabies for Jesus." Scabies, what a gross word, and no better in Spanish (escabesis). Scabies is basically when by the means of skin to skin contact parasites burrow under the skin & lay eggs, appearing like odd almost acne looking puss pockets which feels like an extremely itchy rash. Fear not, I'll not go into any more detail, but ask for your prayers in that area! I'd probably been carrying it for at least a month before I realized what it was & after seeing a dermatologist a week and a half ago, seemed to be getting better & yesterday found a few new spots. It's just a reality here. The doctor told me that 50% of the patients she's seen in the last two months have been infected, just pray that the right treatment is found so that none of the dear little children I love & who climb all over me will be infected/reinfected, and that the itching on my skin may resume to simply being from mosquito bites :-)
Through it all, be it "Scabies for Jesus," art class, English class, or simply living & breathing, may Jesus be glorified. I pray that His constant & certain presence may be real in each of your lives & thank you for your love & prayers!