That was quite a day!

I´ve encouraged Izabelle to write in her journal every night since arriving in the Dominican Republic. Although it may be just one page each day, or less, she manages to cover all the high points. And she ends each entry with, That was quite a day! or something similar.

Every day here is, in fact, quite a day! Days are full of surprises and blessings and simple things we often take for granted, like running water and electricity and an abundance of food, friends, good music and breath taking scenery.

My friends, Deisi and Domingo, lived in a one bedroom house with their children when I met them some 16 years ago. All but one has left the nest since then. And they have since moved into much more comfortable environs, including running water indoors, nearly constant electricity, etc. When we´ve visited them in years past we´ve enjoyed outdoor bucket showers and candle lit evenings. Now we can shower in the privacy of an indoor bathroom and have a fan blowing on us all night to shoo away the mosquitos and the unforgiving heat.

Delicious meals are available morning, noon and night since Deisi´s restaurant is up and running at full capacity. We always have rice and beans for lunch with our choice of chicken, pork or fish along with salads, fresh juices, etc.

The beaches in the southwest of the Dominican Republic are some of the most beautiful and peaceful places I´ve ever been. Their music is so lively that one cannot help but sing along and eventually get up and dance.

Dominican people are content with today and with what today brings, always praying for the future, but not caught up in it so much that they miss the blessings of today. They are so firm in their faith that every future thinking comment is followed by the phrase, God willing. Their faith extends to knowing that God will always provide enough of whatever is needed, especially at meal time.

On Sundays Deisi´s restaurant is closed, but she still cooks three meals for her family, and for many friends who will inevitably stop by at just the right time. Yesterday was no exception, lunch always being the biggest meal of each day, and Deisi cooked a gigantic pot of speghetti, fried plantain and potatoes, and a whole chicken roasted on the barbeque grill. I was gathering plates and utensils to set the table and asked Deisi how many we should expect for lunch. She said to get at least 10 place settings ready even though there were only 6 of us at the moment, because she said that someone else will always appear. And in fact, when we set down to eat, there was a group of kids present who had been playing with Izabelle that morning. Deisi happily served all of them, about 5 or 6, and all of us, before making her own plate. In total, about 15 of us had plenty to eat together. And there were even some leftovers!

One more quick story to complete the week. Izabelle has been hanging onto my loose change during our trip. It´s cumbersome, not very useful except for small purchases of suckers and gum, plus that way she always feels like she has a little spending money with her. As we were sitting and writing in our journals just now at an outdoor cafe in Barahona, a little boy, barefoot and dressed in some tattered jeans and a tshirt, was begging us for something. I asked Izabelle if she wanted to share some of her pesos with him, and maybe the rest of her soda. She quickly located a 10 peso coin (about 35 cents) and pressed it into his hand. Before she could get back to him with what was left in her soda bottle, she found that he was drinking water from a garden hose nearby. She offered him her coke and he happily accepted it. She said he told her, Gracias, both times. She then spent some time trying to figure out why he would have been begging, barefoot, drinking out of a garden hose. She wondered where his parents were, and what would put a child in those circumstances. We can only guess. And keep him in our prayers. I´m sorry that she has to see that reality. However, I´m glad that she was so willing to share, and concerned enough to wonder what has caused this boy to be in this position.