God's Provision

Eating Hatuey miel crackers with Skippy PB and sipping hazelnut coffee (thanks Darla and Mallory!)

I woke up at 6:15 praying and smiling with God.  I tried to go back to bed but it wouldn't happen so I just got up. 

Yesterday we went on a hike at Salto Jacuzzi (Jacuzzi waterfall).   It is a waterfall that is hidden far in the woods; so hidden many natives haven't ever been there and other Americans haven't experienced it either.  We have to walk deep into the woods and down the mountain.  It is peaceful and filled with God's beauty and awesomeness.  I have been here many times and every time feels like the first time i went.  I absolutely love the hike.  It involves climbing over large rocks that make my knees almost touch my chin, trekking through the lovely water that is sometimes up to our thighs to cross over to another path leading to the 3 hidden waterfalls, and secret trails in the woods to bring us back out to the water. Most of it is walking in shallow water, though.  The first waterfall has specks of gold in the sand.  We are going to mine for money, kidding.  We should, though.  Usually the hike takes us about 1hr 20min to get out there because some of them jump off the first one and we wade around.

It was raining yesterday but we decided to go anyways.  Madre and Padre Ostberg (O) are in town from the USA and this was on the agenda for the day, so we figured we might as well go.  We had a large group:  Kelsey, me, Stefania, the O's, Luke's family, Trevor's family, along with Toshi and his friend Sam. We were pretty wet by the time we made it to the first waterfall.  Then, when we got to the place where we have to climb pretty vertical up this rocky wall, Trev and Kathy decided the kids couldn't go that far.  As I got halfway up the rock, I yelled back saying it wasn't such a bad climb, it just looks steep.  They turned to each other and chatted quietly, and declined.  (Thank you, God, that they did not listen to me!)

It was so awesome hiking in the rain!  My heart was smiling.  It felt so good having the water fall on us as we laughed and climbed together.  I love the oneness when you hike Jacuzzi.  It is person after person lending a hand or a push to another to make it over some feat.  

The rain fell harder as we ventured on and it started to thunder and lightning.  I tried to hurry through the water parts because it was freaky being in the water, of course.  I was just kept praying, "Lord, keep Your kids safe.  I know we made a poor decision by coming out here, but we just wanted to experience Your beauty in making this place...watch over us, please."  If I say I said that 50 times, I really could be underestimating it.  I just kept saying it over and over again.  Little did I know what was about to lie ahead.  We made it to the end and it was great.  Toshi jumped and it was too shallow, so the others didnt.  Luke said the heavy rains causes the waterfall to push the sand all over the place and the deep and shallow parts become unknown. 

As we headed back, Toshi said the water was turning brown.  It was a sign that we need to move faster to get back; that brown means the water is increasing and it could become dangerous.  I thought, Nope.  We are fine.  I even said it to Madre as we hiked back.  (She was a rockstar on this hike.  I told her I hope to be that hott at her age.  I know I wont.  I'll have a good excuse for staying home and reading..hehe)  So, I didnt feel danger ahead.  It will be fine, I think.  We kept going at a quicker pace and the water continued to get darker, faster, and stronger.  The areas that we could casually stroll over, were gone and now replaced with rushing, brown bubbly water.  At one point to cross, we had to jump from one rock to another and the rushing water was causing people to superman while two of us grabbed their hands/arms to pull them up and out of the water.  Luke had Ethan (5) on his back and Dad was crossing and all three of them superman-ed with the rushing water pulling at their bodies, and their lives flashed before my eyes.  Dad wasnt sure how Ethan and Luke were, so he didnt want to get out of the water trying to leverage them with his leg, and i just held on to his arm so he had an anchor not to be swept away.   3 generations:  father, son, grandson filled with great strength yet this was about nature and its force.

Scary

No me gusta.  When we all continued, I was so choked up by what was going on.  I asked God if we were going to be okay and He said yes.  Will we cross this river, Lord?  Yes.  Ugh that isnt the answer I wanted.  At all.  I doubted Him a few times, I must admit.  I requested His peace over and over again. He supplied it.  Just because we serve Him and are Saved doesnt mean that we get out of danger cards free.  If He chose to let us die/get hurt, He is still an awesome freaking God that I love madly.  He said we would all live and I was just going to have to believe that He told me that.

At one point we had to cross to get on a path in woods to leave and it was OUT OF CONTROL; nature at full force and scary.  The boys got a branch and Stefania, Toshi, and Kelsey hung on for dear life as their bodies were submerged in water and their arms gripped to the branch with their forearms to get over.  It was frightening, to say the least.  Lord, what is happening?

I looked up and the water was rushing down faster and harder.  What the hell is going on??  Is this a nightmare?  Is this really happening to us?  Such a beautiful hike has turned into a scary movie scene.  Ethan is frantic and freezing.  I prayed for his heart to be calmed.

The rest of us couldn't possibly cross this.  Okay, I'm sure Luke could have, the rest of us would have been seriously risking it with the branch.  We left Stefania, Kels, and Toshi on the other side to get back and tried to go into the woods that had nothing but thick brush, no paths.  Luke navigated and we just followed the leader.  I kept praying asking God to guide him where to go.  Show us.  Keep us safe.  The Holy Spirit was doing that bubbling prayer where I mumble prayers and I don't even know why I am praying the words, but they just come out.   The HS kept using this word "provision".  I kept thanking God for His provision and peace.  Let's be honest, I dont even know what that word means, but if the Spirit wants to pray it, Ill pray it because He knows what to pray for (Romans 8:26)

So as we left the other team.  I hated this part.  There wasnt a choice.  I watched as they hiked straight up vertically on the mountain.  I am talking rock climbing style.  "Oh, Lord, keep them safe.  Watch out for my girls.  Give them strength to climb.  Perfectly place their feet where they need to step to not fall into the rushing water, God."  I prayed this repeatedly.  Incessantly. (1 Thessalonians  5:17)  A few times I prayed for Stefania's feet in particular.  I didnt know why, God said do it and I did.

Going through the woods wasnt working, so when we came to a landslide (previously fell on another day when we werent there), Dad started to mess with a tree that fell.  We all pushed it out. We Prayed.  Just as the boys got it to push it across the raging river, I turned to Mom and prayed with her that God would perfectly place the tree (18ft tall?  Luke, correct me on that!) between these two rocks to keep it still for us to try to cross.

It didn't.

In my Spirit, I told God I WAS PISSED!  We prayed in Jesus' name!  We prayed with power and authority!  And, You dont do it!  Come on!  Why didnt You do it!  It was the best spot!!  Goodness gracious, are You just gonna leave us here!!??

Nothing for a minute.  He said nothing to me.  I took a breath.

He said He placed it there for a reason.  He told me He is in control, not us.  Oh, how I forget to Who controls this place.  "Okay, Lord, give us guidance, guide us what to do.  Give these men wisdom and strength to do what You want to do."  If you want us to sleep here tonight, I am fine with that BUT I NEED YOU TO START SPEAKING UP!  I cant hear you on what to do and the more we wait, the more the water is rushing down.  The stupid part is He was speaking, I just didn't like His plan.

We got another tree from the landslide, roots and all.  OH MY GOSH, I just started to cry typing this.  God just told me that He made that landslide in order for us to have two trees to get to safety yesterday.  Speechless.  Oh my gosh, tears are blocking my view.  :( Gonna grab more coffee and a tissue.  Wow.

So Luke came up with a plan to interlock the trees with one of the roots that mirrored a hook that was perfectly crafted by you know Who.  We picked it up and it landed perfectly where God wanted and we now had an escape route.  You had to shimmy across it with your thighs wrapped around it and your arms lifting our booties up and shimmied down the tree.  If you lifted too high the water made you off balance with a pull to one side to almost fall off into the raging river.  I got halfway across and the water was so fast it pulled my little legs and fear gripped me tightly.  I looked up at Luke and said, "I am scared" for my life.  He told me to be strong for Ethan.  I was thinking, "Ms Brady is flipping scared, too!!!"  I split second closed my eyes and asked for peace.  Peace He gave.  <3  We all got across safely and made it back.

When we saw the rest of the team back at the car, they ran as we edged up over the hill and could start seeing their faces in the distance.  Kelsey started to cry.  She said she was so worried we didnt make it.  Goodness gracious, I didnt think they were gonna make it.

Kelsey said that Stefania slid down the side of the mountain clinging for her life as she slid about 5ft until she was finally able to be caught on something that stopped her leg.  (God knew what was going on.  I didn't. I love those prayers.  Validation prayers.  Why we get to be involved, I'm not totally sure, but He wants us to know He hears us and wants to grow us with it)  We got in the car and prayed on the way home for all God had done for us.  Before, during, and what He is continuing to do in our lives. 

I came home and texted Michael that I loved him.  He wrote back Love YOU!  I texted Heather the same and she wrote, "What the heck is going on down there!!??"  Yea, I got a story.

Then, I Googled to see what the HS was praying for...

Provision 1. The act of providing or making previous preparation.

There are days I literally want to scream from the rooftops that I love JESUS CHRIST :)  

School Days

School is in full swing and teaching is more intense than I ever realized it would be with my kids.

Exhausted.  I am exhausted at the end of most days.  I have running tangible lists of ways to improve teaching for them on my desk (Mallory, thanks for the ladybug notebook!!) and lists running in my head all day about what they need and what isn't working to help them bridge between the 2 languages.  All 300 hours of ESOL in college did not equip me for 13 kids (plus, 2 American kids) that have no English proficiency.  15 students sounds like a great number, but it is far too large for a bunch of kids in the DR.

I have a very eager and fabulous intern, Kelsey, that is finding new ideas and ways alongside of me to figure out how to differentiate among the levels.  I am actually proud of the system of centers we have going for both reading and math right now to accommodate all of the little ones, including my on-level American kids.  One of the hardest things with class is slowing my speech and using fewer words to communicate.  My roommate/teammate, AnneMarie said the first week of school her arms hurt from all of the body language she was using to communicate to the kids.  It is so true that 75% of communication is in body language!!  My aide calls my face the BRADY FACE when kids are in trouble.  They may not know what I am saying other than "No me gusta!" but Rosa translates the rest and they know they are in big trouble when they see that face.  :) 

Our kids are starting to emerge with the language and it is the sweetest thing!  One of our little girls said "I need to go bathroom."  We busted out in LOUD cheers!!!!!  She said it all in English out of no where!!!!!  I have shortened the way they say it to help with acquisition.  So many simple things are not simple.  Basic vocabulary is something we are trying to incorporate daily at the end of the day.  In reading Kelsey runs my vocabulary center and the first story from Reading A to Z was Nan and Pap.  It is about 2 little dogs.  In the very short story they are in a pan.  OH my gosh, they couldnt figure out what a pan was and we were a little vexed that the dogs sit in a pan in the story.  No context clues or pictures help describe the word "pan" to the kids.  One day, mid-day, I told Kelsey to run home and get a flipping pan!  In the States, these simple vocabulary words wouldn't be an issue. 

Our American kids say the Spanish phrases for morning greetings and to use the bathroom/water and we are teaching our Hispanic kids to do the same in English.  It is working out well. 

I can't have Rosa translate everything, so being patient and letting them figure out some directions is exhausting.  I have lesson plans I want to follow and we cant get through half the stuff I want to get done by the end of the day.  I want to do a lot of Kagan activities and they are so much lower than I expected.  They cant communicate to each other in English to do the activities.  Most of them are at a Pre-k or early K level.  I am not use to this.  I taught 2nd for 4 years and loved the age-level. 

PS Rosa was playing BINGO with her reading small group and found a penny in the chip.  "Hey, Brady, look at this!"  I instantly smiled at seeing some US currency.  All the times I threw out pennies sweeping, etc, now I grin EAR TO EAR when I see one and put them in my desk.

Last note, Madre and Padre O are traveling here this week... send up prayers for them.  Kathy and Trevor have moved here and things are going well.  I told Kathy we need a blog entry AHORA!  :)  In the meantime, send up prayers for their transition. 

6 Months in the Dominican Republic

March 6th I boarded a plane from TPA to MIA at 435PM, final destination:  Dominican Republic.

Seriously?  I am a little shocked, too, that 6 months has come already.  I just grabbed my journal to read what I wrote that day:  I keep asking God for strength to do this alone.  He told me Josh 1:9.  So, I keep saying it (over and over again) and it helps give me relief.

I remember that day so vividly.  I told myself not to cry, not once, or I would continue to breakdown.  So I played calm as much as I could to everyone around me.

***Joshua 1:9  This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

I posted the rest of that journal a few blog entries ago and talked about dying to oneself and wanting to do His will for my life, yet desperately wanting to hold on to America.  So, God told me to go to a different church a few weeks ago, so I got up and went to see this young girl that attends their school program for teen rehabilitation/church.  I had felt her on my heart for a couple weeks, so I went.  She gravitates towards me when I see her.  I am still praying about that situation.  So, there was a seat open next to her, of course.  During the sermon the pastor spoke about dying to oneself and stated that he wasnt even sure what that "really" means.  I realized I had my journal in my purse...why?  I dont even know.  I dont carry it.  I dont even write in it as much.  It was a beautiful gift my friend, Chase, gave me with Bible verses on each page the day I left Chain of Lakes Elem.  So, I took the journal out and told the young girl next to me that I DID know what it meant and let her read my journal's first entry in coming to the country  (I freaking love God and how He works).  She asked if I didnt like it in the DR and I told her "it didnt matter.  However, I do love the DR, but it wasnt ever in my plans." I still cannot believe I moved here.  I live here.   She asked how long I would be here and I gave her my answer that I say to everyone:  When God tells me to go elsewhere.... but I am pretty sure He has me here for a lifetime. 

As for what I am up to in this country, who knows, really.  I am just here waiting on God.  I am still at JCS teaching 1st grade.  I will definitely blog on that soon.   have a new roommate, Kelsey.  I am seriously blessed with 2 great, Jesus-loving ladies to live with!  I have enjoyed our late night Jesus talks and being in this same house for a purpose, growth in Him through each other.  Kelsey is also my intern in first grade.  This is the First Grade House!

So I am waiting for direction. Next steps.  Something, God.  Something.  One time His voice was so LOUD and clear to move me here.  If you didnt read that part, go back.  He was LOUD.  He was CLEAR in His promise of guiding and watching over and counseling me in my steps. Psalms 32:8  I never once said, "I THINK God said" during that time.  I knew exactly what He was saying.  I MISS THAT!  I NEED THAT.

God has used me for years as a spiritual coach to so many people; mainly women, but not always limited to just them.  I just realized this a few weeks ago when I started a new book in a little group Luke started on Christian Coaching.  I saw the pattern before, but not so strategic.  So, sometimes, it is friends that I only stay in touch with for the sporadic questions about Him through email, textplus, or Facebook.  Some are my girls from work or my old Jesus Group.  Sometimes, I barely know them.  We may not be BFFs but it is an intimate friendship to just be honest and the door is open to ask whatever.  Most of the time it is a message through Facebook of people searching for answers.  God is good.  He can and will use anything, including Facebook.  When it comes to God, I am very honest and tell you like it is... it is relaxed, not rehearsed, and I think that is why I get messages on almost a weekly basis from people asking how I got to know Him this way.  I dont have all the answers and I dont know half the answers most Christians know...(I looked at my friend Trevor in church a few weeks ago when he was in the DR and said, I dont even know all the books locations in the Bible!)....I should practice some little ditty to learn them!!   but I do know Jesus in a very personal way.  A very different way.

If you've ever had a conversation with me, I bet I squeezed in the love of my life, Jesus, when I got some minutes...and it may have been in a bar :) ...I want you to know Him.

I say all that because last week one of my friends steered me in a new direction.  Something, I am not use to when it comes to God.  I am usually focused and on track.  I GIVE Christian advice and coach others.  It's what He has prompted me to do for years.   I am not a surface friend, I go deep.  I want to invest energy in others growth in Him.  I want you to thirst for Him the way I do.  As Christians, we should make disciples and coach each other in growth...at least that is what we should be doing as Followers.

Who is in your zone of proximal development???  (Okay that is an educ term, but I can so see it applying to Christian discipleship).  It's an honest question to ask yourself...

So, Heather came out and told me that I need to get back on track with reading my Bible, listening to worship music, and listening to sermons online. (Note: this is what I NEED to hear His voice) I had gotten so off track of getting in my time with Him and didnt realize how far I let it go.  It is far harder to live with people than I realized!!  I don't have hours a day anymore of spending just with Him.  I talk with people more and let the other things slip.  She was stern, or atleast, I took her text that way.  I needed to hear it and she said it.  Sometimes, people do that in our lives.  We need to listen and do it when it is Biblical advice.  I was just use to being the one helping others work through thoughts and things; what to do to stay or get on His path for life.  Thanks, Heather <3  She has been sending me vital scripture that is always on target.  God is awesome like that. She reminds me what He has done and will do.  I've been grateful God has put her in my life and is growing her little heart in Him.  I miss talking with God like I use to and I am making time again for what is imperative in my life:  Him.  I cant do it without Him.  I dont know what to do next.  I am playing follow the Leader here!  I don't move an inch without Him directing the step.  I saw Him blow it out of the water before and I'll wait to hear the next direction. I was waiting for the bathroom today and started to talk to God about something so insignificant.  I instantly smiled when I realized I was talking to Him casually again!  I whispered, "Oh, how I miss this Lord.  Keep me here.  Drawwwwwww me close."

I was walking with Kelsey the other day and finally shared my story of moving here.  After we got home, I was so moved and inspired that that actually happened.  I felt like the story was so UNREAL as to how God worked out ever facet of my move to the DR. I needed that reminder while I am in this waiting stage.

I'll just wait.  I dont know how to do anything without Him anymore.  Exactly the way I want it to be: Him, not me.  I suck at life, I need Jesus.   Waiting doesn't mean there is a lack of progress...