Sorry for the delay in updates. Jeff and I arrived safely back to Peoria on Saturday, August 6 in the evening. We enjoyed our time in Juan Dolio and Tropical Storm Emily didn't turn out as badly as predicted. We ended up getting 24 hours of rain, and that was it.
The first week that we were back in Peoria, there was a group of 12 Dominicans in town to take in the Global Leadership Summit hosted by Willow Creek Community Church. We spent a lot of time with them, and it didn't quite seem that we were "back" yet. Still interacting in Spanish and eating Dominican food. I spent a lot of time in my classroom during this first week back, because that was the only time I had to prepare for my students. Jeff had an interview on Monday, August 8 at the Peoria Children's Home. He received an offer the following Wednesday to be a Child Welfare Specialist. It's crazy how God's timing works out for everything.
We both started our "new" jobs this past Monday. Jeff has a few weeks of training before he actually receives his case load, but so far he seems to be enjoying the people he is working with. I greeted twenty-one 3rd graders on Tuesday morning at 8:35. Their smiling faces reminded me why I'm in the profession that I am. It's definitely a drastic change from 7th grade. There is so much innocence in their eyes and I love it. I don't even think it is possible to go fifteen minutes without laughing. I'm looking forward to the upcoming months with them.
Jeff and I were talking after church today about what it would take to be Dominican in the US. I honestly thought it'd be easy to come back and be "Dominican" to everyone. Hugs or a handshake with every greeting, really taking time to catch up on what's been going on during the past two months that we were away, relaxing....but sadly I feel like I'm still the Kamanda that was in Peoria as of June 10th. I hate admitting that, but it seems that there's no time to slow down. Recently I have found myself just sitting and reflecting, trying to take in everything that is going on around me. I spent a few hours at the pool today with Jeff, Lyd, and Trent. It was nice to not have any responsibility for a while. I'm praying that God will continue to reveal Himself to me in all situations.
I am reminded of the lyrics from a song I posted this summer by Hillsong:
Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause
As I go from nothing to
Eternity
And these words are my prayer now. I hope it's not as long before my next post, but I just also wanted to take a minute and thank all of you once again for your prayers, encouragement, and support throughout the last several months. We would not have been able to do all of the work and ministry that we did in the Dominican without you. So THANK YOU! We love you!
