Vínculos

Considering every day is a new adventure, it's hard to sum up the week in one update so I'll give you random tidbits of what I remember! We crammed 10 people into a small car last weekend and laughed the whole ride home. A few days ago I ate two of the strangest foods I've ever tried: pig hoof soup and equipe. I got equipe from a sketchy dude off the street. It's like a pile of stuffing with ground beef and random bits of foreign ingredients rolled into an oval and fried. Never again. I didn't get sick but it was definitely the sketchiest thing I've ever tasted.

3 of the 10.. 2 people are buried under these guys.

Today I went to a Dominican biology class thinking it was my hispanic caribbean culture and society class, which I have yet to go to. Thank goodness I noticed people had carbon molecules drawn in their notes and asked the guy behind me for the course name. Oops. I wrote my first paper this morning and I'm really hoping Llisan is a sympathetic grader. I met a Puerto Rican med student in a concho on the way back from the supermarket, gave him my number because I didn't have my phone with me. Not the best idea, but I'm making friends? It's about a 20-25 minute walk from the concho stop across campus back to my house, and something got stuck in my foot and rubbed against my shoe so I walked barefoot. This old guy stopped me and tried to get me to put my shoes on; he was like, there could be glass on the street! I'm like dude I know but I'll be on the lookout, no worries! So then this other old guy on a moped pulls up next me and he's like let me give you a ride to your house. It was really close so hey why wouldn't I. I know what you're thinking, and no this was not a possible kidnapping scheme. The culture's different, people are super nice and everyone helps everyone. And the guy was like 100 so I wasn't to worried. All this before noon! See what I mean by every day's an adventure?
Fifi just brought me a chunk of chocolate. She knows me so well already. haha

I have a feeling motivating myself to go to class may become difficult since every day feels like summer. Nah.

God's lesson this week: love with actions and in truth.
It is so easy for me to come home, head to my room and attempt to reach home via facebook and skype. It's also really easy to observe and listen without saying a word because maybe I'll make a mistake or because I can't communicate as effectively as the Dominicans. BUT my challenge here is to avoid doing all of the above! I'm not just here to learn from a new perspective from people of a different culture. I'm here to love them and show them that God's light shines in all races and languages.God's also brought me here to be his ambassador among my fellow Americans who don't know Him. The majority of my time here spent with people is with my host family and the other American students, which means I need to invest that time, make it mean something.
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.1 John 3:18
Not being an eloquent Spanish speaker is no excuse for selfishness. I'm seeking ways to love God and people through actions and truth. It's sweet to learn from the Lord in Spanish from His word and His people! The people here love with actions. Simple examples: everyone shares everything, the grandpa that gave me a ride, I told my host sister I like the watches here so she brought one home one day and gave it to me, greetings generally include a kiss on the cheek and a warm hug, etc. etc! I'm learning so much more than I imagined. Praise the Lord.


Vínculos = bonds/ties

Inside a cave in Santo Domingo! Las Cuevas de los 3 Ojos