An Adventure with Jess & Ronald

Today was a wonderful day for me. I didn't realize how much I have just been sitting lately. Working, doing things on the computer, trying to accomplish things, but I have been spending a large majority of my time in the compound and even more just in the house here. It is a large spread of land and the actually building is quite large, but it is nice to get out and stretch the legs for sure! I didn't realize how out of shape I really was until today when after yesterday's short little bike ride I went for another today! WHEW! I'll tell you what, I thought for sure I had bruises in the bum area! OUCH! And my leg muscles were burning like no other after just 2 minutes of riding! It was good though, good exercise! LOL.

So Jess and I rode to Marc and Lisa's to meet up with Ronald. From there we went for about a 15 minute walk to a church just outside of town to listen to our friend Miriam sing in a competition. It was great! She did a fantastic job singing and we got to experience something new. All around it was a great time and I got to know Jess and Ronald a bit better too. What wonderful people. Jessica is an amazing woman that I am coming to love and appreciate as a sister more and more every day. She is the English teacher here. Amazing. Ronald is one of our Haitian brothers. He is full of life and passion for Christ and for Music. I am grateful for his friendship. I am so thankful for the family here that is wrapping me up and letting me in on what I feel is a hidden secret and a jewel... the things God is doing in this place is incredible.

I was telling a good friend today when she asked me how I was doing: I have ups and downs here as seems the norm. There are moments of incredible joy and moments where I think my heart will break into a million pieces missing you all at home and wondering what in the world I am doing here. Wondering if I pinch my arm really hard if I'll wake up and still be 13 going to Jr. High and dreaming of the day I will be a missionary in a country somewhere else?? And then I realize, this is the life I have chosen and it is reality. And then someone at church remembers my name and says, "Kim, Kim!! It's so good to see you! How are you?" And then I remember, no, this is the life I was born to live and I find joy knowing that I am right where I am supposed to be today.

I love knowing that my life is making a difference. And each time someone new remembers my name or I remember theirs or bits of their language, I rejoice!

Continue to pray for me in this, that God would give me wisdom and understanding! Thank God for Jess and Steve who are committed to helping me learn and loving me through the hard times. We truly are becoming a family along with Anel and Ronald and Marc and Lisa, Doug and Cheryl and all the kids. It's strange and I know that our family is going to continue to grow in January as Joe and Rebecca come down. But somehow in this place, God makes it work. It's incredible.

I miss you all and am praying for you and thinking of you. More pics soon I promise! :)