"What do you want to be when you grow up?"

My sponsorship role includes four major projects a year for the kids to send to their sponsors. Right now, I’m finishing up the “letter project”. This year, we made it an interview format. I asked each child these questions and put the answers into their individual letters. Some of these answers are just too priceless not to share! Enjoy J

If you had an entire day to do anything you wanted, how would you spend it?

I would go to the beauty salon to get my hair straightened and get my nails painted pink. Then, I would go to the movie theatre.

I would like to go swimming in the ocean with goggles on so I could see lots of fish. I love fish!

I would get in a plane and fly to California and Paris because I would like to get to know those places. I would buy a lot of fancy clothes.

I would play soccer with my friends. I’ve been playing soccer all my life. I could also worship God with my sisters. I want to spend my day loving Jesus.

I’ve never been to a movie theatre before, but I would really like to go. I would buy popcorn and a Coke and then enjoy the movie.

I would like to go for a train ride. I‘ve never been in a train before. I know I wouldn’t want to get in a plane because I’m afraid it could fall from the sky.

I would build a wheelbarrow with my brother so that I could carry mangos, passion fruit, and avocados to bring to my family.

I would play marbles with my friends. I would eat fried chicken with salad and a chocolate cake with LOTS of icing!

I would go to the ice cream shop and buy every flavor of ice cream. I would sit and eat it all by myself. (But I might not feel so good on my way home)

I would wake up and go straight to the beach. I love to swim and I have a really cute swimsuit.

I would spend the day at the beach having fun. I would swim and catch fish and shrimp and bring all my friends who don’t cause problems.

I would spend it boxing. All the boys my age know how. I am really good.

I would go for a long walk all around my community. Then I would go to the beach to play volleyball and swim- maybe even swim with sharks!

What are you really good at?

I am a really good dancer. I can do every kind of dance, except ballet because I can’t put my foot above my head.

I am really good at singing! I like to sing worship songs. My favorite is a song about Moses. I sing everywhere!

I’m really good at cleaning and helping out. For example, if you’re working on something, I can help you.

I am really good at washing dishes. My mom says I am really good at it, but I don’t really like it.

Reading! I love to read stories at school and in my house. I learned how to read here at the care center.

I work really hard and help my dad with the cows. I am also a really good horseback rider.

I’m really good at catching butterflies. I give them to my brother to play with.

I’m good at relaxing!

I am good at riding my bike. I just keep pedaling and keeping my eyes forward.

What is something you would like to learn to do really well?

I want to learn how to study so someday I can go to high school and college. I really like school, especially Bible class!

I would like to learn everything! For example, I would like to learn how to be a doctor.

I would like to learn how to fly a plane.

I want to fish. My dad knows how to fish and one time he caught a fish that was bigger than his arm.

I want to learn to not fight and to respect my classmates.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I want to be a civil engineer. I want to design and build buildings. I want to build a building 10 stories high in the capitol, Santo Domingo.

I would like to be a lawyer in case my family is in trouble, so I could help them. I also like to dress nicely and I know lawyers wear ties.

I would like to be a model. I really like clothes and fashion. My favorite colors to wear are yellow, blue, and white. My favorite thing to wear is a skirt.

When I grow up, like when I’m a lady, I will be very independent and no one will tell me what to do.

I want to be a professional baseball player and play for the Yankees. My mom tells me I am a really good player and I should keep working on it so I can make it to the majors.

I want to be a pastor so I can preach the Bible!

I would like to be a doctor. If my mom ever were to get sick, I could be the one to take care of her. I love her so much.

I would like to be a beautician and own a salon because I want people to feel beautiful.

I would like to be a teacher. I could teach math or social studies. My teachers here at the care center have been good examples to me and that’s why I want to teach.

I want to be a lawyer and go to New York and I want to be a judge so I can declare things.

I want to be a mom.

Did you do anything fun this week?

I went far away to the countryside to pick mangos. I went with lots of people and we found so many mangos.

Not really. I live out in the country and I think its boring. When I grow up I will live in a big city where there is more to do.

This week I heard about Australia for the first time. I learned there are birds and monkeys there.

Is there anything else you want to tell your sponsor?

God bless you and may God protect you wherever you go.

Thank you for the opportunity I have to be at Park Care Center. I get along with everyone and I love being here!

I send them a hug! Please ask God to keep taking care of me. By the way, does my sponsor know how to read? Can they read my letter? I can read!

I wish you could see me. I want you to know I’m doing well in school and studying a lot- so I can finish school and be a doctor.

I wish you could come so I could see you because I want to give you a hug!

I am growing up, but I am still short!

I would love to get to know you more, preferably tomorrow. I love you.

Do you know that I love to play on the playground? 

running water...no es tan facil! (it's not that easy!)

I know some of you lay in bed at night wondering, "Hmm...how does running water work in Montellano, Dominican Republic?" Well never fear, tonight, I will attempt to answer that question.

Today, the gringas reached a new level...survived 34 hours of no running water. Sure, it might not sound all that bad, but trust me..it is. I never realize how much I appreciate water coming out of the faucet until I can't...shower, wash my hands, flush, wash dishes, do laundry, etc. All of a sudden life turns into bucket baths, lots of hand sanitizer, bucket flushes, and no dishes or laundry!

Running out of water is not that foreign. Our landlady brought us this awesome tank. We make sure it is filled whenever we do have water preparing for the inevitable- that at one point or another we will lose running water.

So let me try to explain what I think I understand about our water situation. (There might be a handyman out there reading this who can correct me but I think this is how it works). There is a cistern in the ground that gets filled up when the city sends water. Its great news when the cistern is full. Then, when we have electricity, the pump sends water up to our roof where we have 3 tinacos. They look something like this:

So as far as I understand, when I turn the faucet on, water is coming down through the pipes from this tinaco on top of my roof. Sounds simple enough, right?

We just run into a few problems, like today for example.

Finally after over 24 hours of nothing coming out of the faucet and our reserve tank getting really low from bucket baths, I asked my neighbor who lives downstairs if she knew anything about the water. She said she talked to a guy on the street who heard from someone that the city pipes were broken and were getting "fixed"...so maybe we would get water sent into our cistern whenever the electricity came back on (at this point it had been off for 5 hours or so and I had no idea when it would be back).

After some time, the neighbor and I decided it was time to take matters into our own hands. So, my neighbor called a water truck. This is just what it sounds like. A big truck with a huge water tank on the back. They come to your house and fill up your tinaco for $12. The first water truck that came didn't have a long enough hose. They got all these pipes of different sizes and tried to connect them to possibly reach to our cistern. That failed. The second water truck that showed up was charging too much money so we sent him on his way. Finally, the third truck pulled up. I was never so excited to see a big loud truck pull up in front of my apartment.

So once the truck arrived, the water experts stretched out the hose all the way to our cistern to start filling it up.

You can imagine my excitement at this point! One step closer to water!

This is the cistern- its in the apartment on the main level below me. Thankfully the hose reached all the way and we got it all filled up.

The only thing left to do was wait until the power came on so that the pump could get the water up to the tank and then out of my faucets....

And after a 34 hour ordeal, that's just what happened. My apartment had RUNNING WATER!!! :)

September 14 from Jesus Calling

Worship Me by living close to me. This was My original design for man, into whom I breathed My very breath of Life. This is My desire for you: that you stay near Me as you walk along your life-path. Each day is an important part of that journey. Although you may feel as if you are going nowhere in this world, your spiritual journey is another matter altogether, taking you along steep, treacherous paths of adventure. That is why walking in the Light of My Presence is essential to keep you from stumbling. By staying close to Me, you present yourself as a living sacrifice. Even the most routine part of your day can be a spiritual act of worship, holy and pleasing to Me. 

First day of school!

 Here's me and my roommate Karen, ready to go!

 So many kids came today! I wondered if attendance would be low since it was the first day back, but boy was I wrong! It was so encouraging to see almost EVERYBODY

 Look at those sharp students with their cute uniforms and backpacks!

 These three "chiquititas" (little ones) are all ready for their first day of first grade

Already had some sickies here on the sick bed...not sure if they were really sick...or had a bad case of the first day jitters...or maybe just wanted to hang out with the nurse ;)

todays highlight

This afternoon I really wanted to go for a walk...now the streets in my town are lively and exciting but not necessarily the most beautiful or pleasant for a stroll...

So I hopped in the car and drove to Puerto Plata (nearby city) to the...Malecon! 

(I didn't take this picture- but isn't it gorgeous? See the red brick path on the right? That's where I was walking today)

This is one of my favorite places and I really need to start going more often. It was great to walk alongside the water as I prayed about this upcoming school year. The kids come back to the care center tomorrow morning after a month off.

I am so excited to see their sweet faces again. I know that tomorrow may be a little crazy, but I am reminded of what a joy and honor it is to be a part of their lives.
Walking along the beach and talking with the King gave me a lot of peace about His plan. How comforting to know the one who calms the waves and knows our names.

Please pray with me for the beginning of the school year and all that it entails! I am especially praying that children will grow more and more in their faith.