Preguntas

I recently posted a list of questions that I ask in the DR that I never had to ask in Arizona. All of them pertained to humidity, something that I am SO unaccustomed to as a girl who, up until this point, had lived in Arizona for my entire life. I thought I'd expand on this silly facebook post here on my blog with some funny questions and some more serious and thoughtful ones. Many of the more serious questions are from my personal journal entries from the past several months. Missionary life challenges you to look at things with a different set of eyes, hopefully the eyes of the Holy Spirit. I hope these questions make you laugh and that some will challenge you and make you think!


-"Will this floor I just mopped be dry by the morning?"

-"If I leave my jeans outside to dry, will they be dry enough to wear by tomorrow?"

-"If I leave the cap on my water bottle for too long, what types of fungus will start growing inside of it?"

-"Why does this smell SO bad?" (ok - maybe I had to ask this in AZ, but not nearly as frequently!!)

-"Why is this wet?"

-"Where are all the ants coming from?"

-"Would my neighbor notice if his chicken/pig/dog who wakes me up every morning suddenly 'disappeared'"?


-"Is it worth a 2-hour bus trip to the capital just to get chocolate chips and Dr. Pepper?"


-"Will the electricity be on when I want to skype with _____?"


-"Will the electricity be on when I want to take a shower?" (The bomba (water pump) that we have to pump the water from our cisterna (cistern) into our pipes only works when the electricity is on.)


-"Will there even be water in the cisterna to pump into the pipes when I want to wash dishes/do laundry/take a shower?"


-"What time should I leave if the event starts at 5:00 and I want to arrive when the Dominicans will arrive?" (This differs drastically from the question I usually asked in the States: "What time should I leave if I want to arrive 5 minutes early?")


-"Will that store be open when the school day is over?" (Like in most Latin American countries, most Dominicans take a siesta (nap) in the afternoon and most businesses close for a few hours each day.)


-"Will this lotion/soap/hair product/laundry detergent make me get more bug bits or less bug bites?"


-"Am I actually angry or am I just tired/hot/hungry/dirty/itchy/sweaty?"


-"How can I teach combining like algebraic terms with fractions and decimals to students who cannot tell me the difference between 20 and 18?"


-"How do you say _______?" (Even though my Spanish is decent, I still find myself lacking a particular word or verb tense frequently throughout the day.)


-"Is this cultural difference that I'm frustrated about a Biblical principle or just a personal preference?"


-"When Jesus encountered a situation like this, what did He do?"

-"When will La Piña (the bar across the street from my house) get a new soundtrack to replace the 5 songs they've had on repeat since I arrived here 4 months ago?"

-"Am I making an unfair judgement statement about something I'm unfamiliar with?"


-"Was my bad hour/afternoon/day the result of me relying more on my own strength than on the strength of the Lord?"

-"How can I help without hurting in the long run?" (For more information on this question, I highly recommend the book When Helping Hurts.)

-"What is God trying to teach me through this trial?"

-"What is God trying to teach me through this beauty?"

-"Is this action rooted in selfishness or in selflessness?"

-"Do I truly need this or do I just want it?"

-"Am I willing to sacrifice this for the sake of the The Kingdom?"

-"If someone who has lived in Monte Plata for their whole life was in this situation, would they be complaining about it?"

-"Is my heart deceiving me right now?"

-"Am I giving the power and authority in my life to sin or to the Lord?"

-"Is this relationship more valuable to me than the issue that is damaging the relationship?"

-"Although I don't understand what God is doing right now, do I trust Him enough to know that He is, in fact, doing something that is worthy of my submission?"

-"If my time, my money, my resources, and ultimately my very life do not actually belong to me, how does that change how I live?"

-"Do I value my relationship with the Lord enough to be disciplined to spend time with Him every day?"

-"Do I long for time with the Lord each day? If not, what sin-issue in my life is keeping me from that longing?"

-"How easy is it for God's word to take root and grow in my heart? What pavement have I laid, what rocks have I not moved, what thorns have I let grow that are preventing the Lord from sowing His seeds in my life?" (See Matthew 13:1-9)

-"Do I trust that God's will for my life will come with far greater joy than the best life I can imagine for myself?"

-"Do I trust that the all-powerful God of the universe can somehow mesh my joy and His glory?"

-"Have I prayed about this enough?"

Fall Update

I recently sent out a snail-mail update letter. I've posted an electronic copy of the same letter below for anyone who did not receive a hard copy in the mail. If you'd like to be part of my mailing list, please send me an email with your home address! Thanks for your prayers, love, and support. You all are partners in the ministry here!

Before you read - for some reason, the images in the electronic PDF version of the letter came out a bit abstract. I'm not sure what happened but I can't seem to fix them. I apologize!

Fall Update Letter

Favorite Verses

Tonight I was at Casa Monte Plata for devotions in Casa de Fe (our girls home). Some of the older boys from Casa de Gozo joined us as well since we are still praying for house parents for them. Please join us in praying that the Lord provides two Dominican Christian couples to serve as house parents in our two boys homes!! 

Minerva, our house-mom in Casa de Fe, asked me to share something for devotions. I was completely unprepared and there were a lot of Dominican kids staring at me so I went to my "go-to" verse, Romans 8:38-39, which has been a personal favorite since I learned it in fifth grade AWANA. It says "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." I shared a bit about what these verses mean to me and then Minerva asked the kids if they wanted to say anything. It turned into a 30 minute Bible study of each child's favorite verse and it was absolutely beautiful to hear each child read (actually, most of them recited their favorite verses from memory) and then explain their verses and why they were special to them. I finally decided to write them all down so I could share them with our Casa Monte Plata staff, with you guys, and post them in my room. I hope these verses bring you as much encouragement as they bring to our sweet kids at Casa Monte Plata. 

Solanyi - Isaiah 54:7-8
For a brief moment I deserted you,
but with great compassion I will gather you.
In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you,
but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,”says the Lord, your Redeemer. 

Karen - Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Lali - Deuteronomy 30:14
But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.

Yari - 1 John 4:8
Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Sami - Joshua 1:8-9
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Kaina - Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Selena - Psalm 8:4
What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

Ysabel - Psalm 32, Psalm 112
Here's a couple excerpts from her favorite chapters:
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever.He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.

Minerva - Jeremiah 33:33, Psalm 46:10, Lamentations 3:22-23
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Nicol - Psalm 4:8
In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Lula - Proverbs 3
Here's an excerpt from her favorite chapter (verse 1):
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.

Giving Thanks

In Spanish - Thanksgiving is translated to: El Día de Acción de Gracias - The Day of giving thanks. Oh how I wish that I more often lived Una Vida de Acción de Gracias - A life of giving thanks. I had so much to be thankful for last week, including some wonderful time with our kiddos, a visit with Vicki, an overnight trip to Juan Dolio for a mini-vacation, and a wonderful Thanksgiving meal with all of our Casa Monte Plata kids and staff.

The kids love running around in our motorcylce helmets - Mini Kristin and Mini Alex

Vicki and I at the beach in Juan Dolio

One of the pumpkin pies I made for the "gringos" to enjoy

Our empty Thanksgiving tree

A blurry picture of Vicki and I

Ready to celebrate

Before Thanksgiving Dinner

Juana Prenza and I at dinner

Ready for our guests

Vicki and Nicol

My roommate Nadelly and I before Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving tree - now full of reasons to be thankful

Delicious Pumpkin Pie Bars for dessert - we made enough for 70 people!!

After everything was cleaned up, the Americans enjoyed our very own pumpkin pie

Mine

I worked for it.

I bought it.

It belongs to me.

It’s mine.

God used a very little thing to humble me in a big way today. I came home from work with only a couple hours before I needed to be at Casa Monte Plata to teach piano lessons. I needed to make and eat lunch, clean our guest room for some upcoming visitors, wash sheets for the guest beds, and plan our craft for Clase Biblica tomorrow. I got to work on washing the sheets right after eating lunch. I filled the washing machine with water, dissolved the powdered soap, put the sheets in, turned the dial…and nothing happened. My first reaction was “Perfect, the power is out,” (which happens frequently) but then I realized that the porch light was on. I glanced down and saw that the extension cord that I purchased to connect the washing machine to the power outlet was missing. I asked my roommate if she knew where it was and she told me that she saw someone at school using it today. If you are reading this, please brace yourself to have all your preconcieved notions of how missionaries behave shattered.

I got mad. I got frustrated. I got really annoyed. You mean to tell me that someone came onto my porch, unplugged my washing machine, took the extension cord that I bought, used it at school, didn’t return it to me, and didn’t even ask me first?! What right do they have to do that? Don’t they know that the extension cord isn’t theirs?! It’s mine!!

I hope you are rolling your eyes and laughing at me right now, because that is what I am doing to myself. I sound like a two-year-old, don’t I? I don’t know where along the way I allowed myself to stop believing that Jesus didn’t really mean it when he said to give away all you have. I don’t know when I decided that I didn’t need to take Philippians 2:3 seriously when it says “but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” I don’t know when I learned that “love your neighbor as yourself” applies only when it’s convenient and not when you loved yourself enough to buy something but don’t love others enough to share it with them.

Needless to say, I found the power cord, finished washing my sheets, and then had a serious chat with the Lord about my sinful attitude. I am being convicted about how much this attitude pervades my life. It’s my time to relax, it’s my food to eat, it’s my schedule to control, it’s my space to live in, it’s my (fill-in-the-blank). When we look at the life of Jesus, we see Him giving so much of Himself that He ultimately ends up giving His own life for us. How is it that I call myself a follower of Christ and say that I desire to be more like Him, yet I continue to live with such a selfish attitude? This is just another one of the many ways in which the Dominican culture is challenging me to be more Christ-like. So many of my Dominican friends and neighbors live with such a different conviction about earthly possessions than I naturally gravitate towards. I appreciate their selflesness, their willingness to share, their ability to say “We’re friends, we love each other, we trust each other, so I shouldn’t have to ask you to borrow your extension cord because I know you love me enough to let me use it when I need it.” How thankful I am that Jesus once said to me “I’m your friend, I love you, I don’t need to ask you if you need me to give my life for you because I already know that’s what you need and I’m going to give it for you whether you ask me to or not.” May we all continue to share, give, and sacrifice more and more like Jesus did. 

Productivity and People

Productivity.

If you are reading this in America, I’m sure you are familiar with this word. The capitalist American culture thrives on productivity.

If you are reading this as a friend of Kristin Barber, I know you are familiar with this word. Obsessive-compulsive, type-A Kristin thrives on productivity.

I will never forget the day  I had this converstaion with a coworker at my school in Glendale, AZ. One day after school he was in my classroom chatting about instruction, and he said “You know, when I first got to this school, I thought you were really mean. I was afraid to talk to you.” What?! Me?! Mean?! I defensively asked him to explain what he meant. He told me that when I was at work, making copies in the workroom, walking through the halls, working in my classroom, I was in “go-mode,” and it seemed like I didn’t want anyone to bother me. My immediate reaction was to stand up for myself and justify my actions, but when I took a moment to think about it, I realized that he was right. I thrive on productivity, on finishing a job, on making every minute of work count. I had always masked this obsession as being passionate about my job, caring about my students, or wanting to continually grow professionally. But at the end of the day, he was right. I naturally prioritize efficiency over relationships. I prioritize productivity over people.

Take a minute to think about Jesus. What did Jesus prioritize? Did Jesus operate with productivity in mind or with people in mind? We read about Him taking the time to heal the sick, lame, and blind one-by-one. It would have been far more efficient for Him to show up in Galilee and say “Ok everyone, I’m going to heal people today, so bring everyone who is sick to this hill and at 4:00 I’ll heal them all at once.” We read about Him using 12 ordinary, sometimes imperceptive and unwise men to reach the world with the gospel. It would have been far more efficient to choose a larger, more qualified group who had the right connections with the right people and the most eloquent, educated words to preach the good news throughout the world. We read about Him teaching through parables when it would have been far more efficient to just lay it out plain and simple for us simple-minded humans. But Jesus understood that parables are more powerful than lectures. He understood that time with fewer people is more important than a minute with millions. He understood that people are more important than prioritized lists and productivity.

After teaching my last class of the day today, I went up to my office to get some things done before taking our 7^th grade girls out for ice cream after school. My office is in a room that our teachers often use as a workroom. They have a table where they sit to grade papers and lesson plan during the day when they’re not teaching. I sat down at my desk and got to work but was interrupted when one of the teachers said “You never talk to us in here. You’re always too busy.” Ouch. My mind immediately went back to that day in my classroom in Arizona when my coworker said the same thing. Could it really be that I was still struggling with the same misplaced priorities? I’m a missionary – there’s no way that anyone could say that I value work more than I value those with whom I work – is there? The look on her face and on the face of the other teacher in the room who was nodding in agreement said it all. So I put down my lesson plans and I shut my computer and I sat down with them. And we talked. We talked about our families, about our students, about our cultures, and about our hopes for the future. We all learned more about each other, and I think we all left feeling a little more valued and appreciated. I didn’t feel more valued and appreciated because I had given them teaching tips or because I had helped them plan a lesson or because we left the conversation with something accomplished. I felt valued because someone had listened to me, shared with me, and chosen to spend time with me. 

As I was leaving, one of the teachers invited me to her house for a visit. I said “Ok, let me make a note about what day and at what time I should come,” but she stopped me. “We don’t do that here, just come by my house when you want to come by my house. You are always welcome. We’ll drink coffee, sit on the patio, and can go for a walk in the park with my kids.” I realized that I had tried to Americanize (or maybe just Kristin-ize) things again. This is just one part of the Dominican culture that I love and am so thankful for. It’s not natural for me to put down my to-do list and my schedule and just relax with a friend. But as I am conformed more and more to the image of Christ, I pray that people continue to take precedence over productivity in my life. 

Un Camino

I went for a walk on Saturday with our 5 littlest kiddos from Casa Monte Plata. Here are some pictures of our walk through Monte Plata for you to enjoy!

Healed!

"Hija, su fe te ha sanado."
"Daughter, your faith has healed you."

Today's Clase Biblica was full yet again with 26 girls! Praise the Lord! Our study was based on the story in Mark 5 about the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. Until I began preparing for this Bible study, I don't think I fully realized the lonely life that this woman was leading. Because she had been bleeding for so long, she was ostracized and excluded from her community, was unable to marry or have a family, and was prohibited from participating in community and religious events. And just like her sickness made it impossible for this woman to enjoy her life, our sin makes it impossible for us to experience the fulness of God's glory and the joys of life here on Earth that we can experience when we are walking with Him. Today's Bible class focused on Jesus as the Great Physician.

Psalm 103:1-5 says...
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
Bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all His benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

From this passage, we made a chart:
We have: iniquity (sin), disease, death
God can: forgive, heal, redeem

We talked about how the only thing that can save us from our greatest disease, the disease of sin, is faith in Jesus. The woman didn't say "I'll put my faith in Jesus IF he heals me." She put her faith in Christ before He even healed her! The Bible says in Mark 5:28 that she thought "If I touch even his garments, I will be made well." Don't wait to put your faith in Christ. Don't wait until He heals your friend, until He provides that job you want, until He brings you a spouse, until He ends world hunger and sends a cure for cancer. Don't wait - because you can be forgive, healed, and redeemed now.

To end class, the girls played a game, trying to make their team look the most "sick and hurt." Here are the results from most of the teams. It was great to see the girls having so much fun. Although they are mature in many earthly ways, they are still little girls at heart and I truly saw that today.

Wednesday Update

So thankful for a wonderful first half of the week! So far this week I have worked with our preschoolers, first graders, second graders, third graders, fifth graders, sixth graders, seventh graders, and eighth graders. I was so excited this week when I walked into our second grade classroom and saw that the teacher was using two different strategies that I had taught during last week’s professional development class! I’m so thankful for the opportunity to work and serve with these teachers. They are so open to learning new things, which is an answer to many prayers.

2nd Grade Classroom

1st grade with their new 100 chart

Playing Bananagrams en Español

Playing Bananagrams en Español to practice letter sounds, letter recognition, and syllables

We love bananagrams!

My fourth grade friend Darlenys

On Tuesday I also had a wonderful conversation with my neighbor Milo. Milo lives with his family (children and grandchildren) in the house nextdoor to mine. He was so excited to see that another North American missionary had moved in to the house. He invited me out to see his fields and his pigs one day soon and so generously told me “Todo que tenemos en casa es suyo,” or “Everything in our home is yours.” I love the friendliness of the Dominican people!

On Tuesday night I got to skype for over an hour with my sister and brother-in-law, Steph and Joel. I know I often say this, but I don’t think most of you take it seriously: I love hearing from home!! Skype calls, emails, letters, facebook comments, blog responses – all of it reminds me of home and helps me remember that I am here as a small representation of a much larger group of supporters, friends and family who believe in and are supporting the work of God here in Monte Plata.

Skyping with Steph and Joel

Water bottles ready for our "Agua de Vida" lesson

Wednesday’s girls Bible study class was awesome. Our lesson was about the Samaritan woman. She met Jesus, learned about Jesus, put her faith in Jesus, and then told others about Jesus. I asked the girls to think about where they fall within those four steps. Have they met Jesus and learned about Him? I know that they all have since their teachers talk to them about Jesus every single day. But the important question is – have they put their faith in Jesus? And if they have, are they sharing Him with others? I then used an illustration to emphasize the idea that Jesus gives us living water. I had two containers – one heart with Jesus and one heart without Jesus. I began to try to fill the heart without Jesus. Each cup I poured in represented something we try to fill our lives with: family, friends, success, good grades, popularity, talents, material things, good works, etc. Each glass that I poured made the water turn a little cloudier, until all we had was a container full of dirty water. The container also had several holes in it and the girls laughed as I unsuccessfully tried to keep it full as it was leaking all over the place. This illustration represented the idea that our hearts are naturally dirty, sinful places that can never be full or be clean due to our own efforts. Then I took the container that represented a heart with Jesus. I poured in cup after cup of clean water representing salvation, joy, peace, purpose, forgiveness, mercy, grace, etc. And amazingly, none of the water leaked out! This represented the idea that when we are Christians, we have hearts that are made new, made full, and made clean in Christ.

Water to represent a heart with and without Christ

Containers to represent a heart with and without Christ

Please pray for the following girls who stayed after class to talk with a leader.

Madelin – very close to a salvation decision, told me she wants to think about it tonight and talk to me again tomorrow

Rosaris – accepted Jesus today!! Praise the Lord!!

Genesis – accepted Jesus on Thursday when she came to school!! Praise the Lord!!

Silenkircy – spoke with a leader today about what it means to be a Christian, keep praying

Elianny - spoke with a leader today about what it means to be a Christian, keep praying

On Wednesday afternoon I also got to spend time at Casa Monte Plata. James and Rebekah were out of town for the afternoon and asked if I could come over and have their house open from 3:00-5:00 for homework help. I got to hang out with seven or eight of the kids as they cycled through to use the two laptops that belong to Casa Monte Plata. Lali and I worked on her long division for a while together. Solange and Selena came by to clean the house (they help around the directors’ house to earn some extra allowance money). It was just a nice, relaxing afternoon with some of my favorite kiddos. 

Hanging out, doing homework, and cleaning