Sandra

Day 7
written after we got back

It’s our final day in the DR. The week always seems to go by way too fast but it feels good to be going home. We love being in the DR (and love the people there) but there is something so comforting and familiar about going home. I do wish for a packing fairy to show up in our room though. Even though we aren’t coming home with as much as we came with we have way too much stuff to pack.

Sandra and Us in Agua Negra

We spent the morning in Agua Negara (Black Water). It’s a community built on a garbage dump. There is a lady there named Sandra who literally is the Mother Teresa of that community. Seven years ago Sandra had a husband with no job, three kids and no money. In the last seven years she has started a school, a church, a hair salon, a boys club and a girls club, been involved with getting several people new (and much needed) houses, she raises money for the sick in her community so they can get treatment / medication and also has a store where the ladies of the area learn how to sew and then sell their wares to help them make a living. She is moved to tears every time a team comes in to help the people there because she knows God has sent them to help. She is probably one of the most faith filled people I know. I feel simultaneously inspired to increase my faith and ashamed at how little faith I have when I hang around her. As we took the team on a tour of the village Sandra held our baby and at the end of the tour informed us that she would be keeping our baby because she had fallen in love with her. She also bought our whole team (including our driver, translators, missionaries and a few kids that were hanging around) some pop for our ride home. Talk about a giving person. She has next to nothing and what she does have she gives away freely and still finds ways to give to people. We didn’t do any building, we didn’t teach any classes, we didn’t give a whack load of money to her to help make her dreams come true and yet, she gave. Before the tour we presented Sandra with a new pair of sandels/running shoes for herself and her mother because they are on their feet constantly and they have such worn out shoes. She joked that “she didn’t like the shoes but she’d wear them anyways”. The translator didn’t carry the sarcasm over in her translation and we were a little taken a back until the translator said “SHE’S JOKING!” and we all laughed and laughed. She wore her new shoes for the tour and I couldn’t help commenting to one of the team members that by the time we go back she’ll have given those shoes to someone “who needs them more than her”. That’s just the person she is. How do I become that person? How do we become so giving and generous? How do we put others’ needs far ahead of our own? For me it will only be by the grace of God.

Chris Edwards

No division

Day 5

written on May 18/11

Let me start off by saying that our baby girl Abriel is amazing.  She has been so easy going, calm and has been a great sleeper.  I still would have loved a fussy baby but I feel our baby girl was truly given to us to help us accomplish what we feel God wants us to do while in the Dominican.

We started our day off in the village of Nazaret.  We have been here over 7 times so we have come to know the names and faces of some children and adults.  It was nice seeing them again.  We sat and talked (and breastfed) together.  I am getting excited about the improvement of our Spanish (we didn’t even need a translator! Sure it was a basic conversation but still...).  A woman who has 10 children held and loved on our baby while her naked little ones ran around. I am looking forward to really getting to the know people more when we return. We have an opportunity to live in that village.... but I am not sure if we are ready for such a drastic change of life (I will talk more about that in another entry).

In the afternoon we went to one of my favourite yet hardest places to visit, Mustard Seed, an orphanage for children with physical and mental disabilities. Many of the children have a form of cerebral palsy which means their bodies are in knots and they can’t walk or use most of their bodies. Almost all the children are non verbal but their smiles melt your heart more than any words could.  The children end up there mostly due to being abandoned from families that can’t or won’t bear the load of one of these children.  Loving on them is such a privilege and is seemingly easy to do. But really, if you think about it, how hard is it to do anything for a couple hours?  I am faced with how easy it is to embrace the poor, sick, different and disabled while on a “mission’s trip” yet in our everyday lives these people get very little or none of our attention.  How different would our churches look if we embraced all people, if we were more inclusive, if we didn’t mind being inconvenienced to help out someone out?   Loving all people is hard... especially when it involves us having to do  work or puts us out in some way but what a beautiful thing when we put others before ourselves.... and when there is no division, no us and them.  Our team experienced the joy of being with children who the world looks upon with pity.... but maybe it’s us they should have pity on when we miss out on opportunities to love others.

Keeleah

Friendships Instead of Transactions

Day 3
written on May 16/11

We had our first official construction day today and it was hot!!! People from here are saying it’s the hottest it has been in a while.  Even standing in the shade, completely still, the sweat drips off me.  Our team is building a large storage shed for the school’s supplies, equipment, furniture and other stuff to stop it from getting stolen.  Today, the team dug a deep hole for the perimeter foundation and then mixed (by hand) and poured concrete (using bucket after bucket after bucket).  This, as you can imagine, is incredibly hard physical work. Since I had Abriel there I didn’t do a whole lot of physical labour but I saw our team working together and working hard and I saw the local workers (David, Pastor Cleabert, Miguel and Roganson) working even harder. They put us foreigners to shame J.  It’s amazing to watch.

I also used my woven wrap for the first time.... don’t think we quite did it right but it worked.  I’m looking forward to becoming pro at it because baby girl likes to be carried in it and fall asleep in it....and I like to sweat wearing it! The kids at the school loved seeing and meeting Abriel. They poked, touched and shook her (just a little). Everyone wanted to hold her.... we let a few kids but then everyone wanted a turn so we had to stop.  The kids don’t even know us or her but they showed so much love.  We also got to meet our sponsor child, Maria.  What a beautiful and sweet girl.  We used our interpreter, Franklin, to explain who we were. She was very shy and just smiled at us. It’s slightly awkward because we want to express how much we care for her without freaking her out.  We are looking forward to seeing her again this week since we brought her some gifts.  Sponsoring children can sometimes be a mindless task because we just give money in hopes that it makes a difference and is used for its intended purpose but being able to meet and see where your money actual goes proves it to really be a worthy cause.  I am not about pushing guilt trips but there is no reason why people who live in our country who earn/make any amount of wage should not have a sponsor child.  If your excuse is because you think it’s a scam I will point you to one agency I promise is not a scam since I have seen it with my own eyes.

We also had an opportunity later in the week to meet Maria's mom, dad and a few of her siblings (she is a child of 7). We visited in front of their house and got to watch her open the presents we brought with us. We chose to give the presents later in the week because we don't want her to think we are only there to give her things but that we are there because we love her and want to know her.  Her family was very kind and she smiled as she open the gift.  We learned that her father was out of work.... which means their family is really in need right now.  It was a pleasure to meet them all and we are excited to go back and visit with them again sometime.  We are hoping it can become a friendship and not just a transaction.

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Hugs For Kids  - This sponsorship program is run by Servants Heart Ministries (who we work with in the DR) and where one of our sponsor children are from. They still have 28 children in need of sponsorship before September 2011.

Go pick a child :)

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Chris and Keeleah

Our stuff

Day 1
written on May 15/11

Today Chris and I packed our belongings and our baby’s belongings (let me add that my husband is an all star packer.... it’s a gifting!).   We created all these piles of things we “needed” to bring.  The pile kept getting bigger and bigger and every time I looked at other things in my house I would add it to the pile to be packed.  I needed outfits and, even when I had enough for each day, I needed to add more just in case I felt like wearing something else.  After everything was packed I stilled worried that we were missing something.  It made me realize how much I rely on my stuff and how I have created a life where I “need” so many things to live.  I am not saying stuff is bad or anything.... and I don’t plan on giving up my stuff but it made me think about the things I really need and maybe what I could part with to live a simpler life.

When we arrived at the airport and got through the entire airport craziness I, along with most of the other team members, went to grab some food.  Earlier, I packed a lunch which we ate on the way to the airport to save money but somehow we still ended up buying food....just because.  Since I have been to the Dominican before I knew what I was about to see....and I felt guilty for buying food.... especially since I had just eaten.  Now I know I would have to eat again sooner or later and food does cost money but it was just how I felt in the moment knowing that I have access to unlimited food while others work so hard and can barely feed their families.

We have now spent one day here (Dominican) and I am hit with the parallel that some of us, including myself, live in such great excess and indulgence and spend our money so freely.... while others die due to lack of basic human rights and needs (things that can be prevented). I don’t write this to condemn, I write this out of my own frustration of not knowing how to work this out in my brain.

There has to be a solution..... I know there is a solution.....but would I be willing to give away my excess to give someone the basics.....if I`m brutally honest, I don`t know. 

Keeleah

What a blessing to be a Mom

This being my first Mother's day.... made me think a little. (ps. I had an amazing day, Chris spoiled me and I think they should have 4 or 5 mother's days a year. lol)
I know for myself as I grew up, I looked to my parents.... I watched what they did, I listened to what they said (most the time) and I looked up to them. Being a mom seemed to be so amazing because it seemed like you got to do whatever you wanted, you chose what you ate and when you went to bed.  It looked like sooo much power. I guess I always knew that one day I would be a mom (because you see most adults with children) but it seemed like an eternity away.  Every day as a child seemed to be so long and time went so slow.  Now that I am older the days come and go way too fast. I know a lot of women who have said "I was made to be a mom", or "all I want to be is a mom".  I never had that strong desire or that "calling" to motherhood. Before becoming a mom myself that kinda worried me but I just figured I would do the best I could when the time came. I never really thought too much about what kind of parent I wanted to be either but I always knew I wanted to show love.

I am not going to get into our pregnancy story too much but before we conceived baby Abriel we did lose our first baby between week 5 and 6. (I do believe, even in those early weeks, that little baby was a human and deserving of life). It was devastating and unexpected.  I will never forget my first little baby but I have learned a lot about myself, about miscarriages and about how to support other women who have or may experience one as well.  It also made me extremely thankful for being able to conceive, give birth and hold my brand new baby since I know not all women are capable of experiencing that. I will never take for granted my body's ability to be apart of creating a human life.

While we have made this decision to go to the Dominican with our precious baby girl I am, of course, a little nervous for her safety and well being.  I have been told by a couple people already that what I am doing isn't right.... which sounds to me like "You're a bad mother".  I have thought about it a lot  and I have come to this conclusion: I want to teach this little person about taking risks and living life, especially when it's to help others.  I want to teach her to follow her desires and her heart even when it seems like all odds are against her.  I want to teach her to put others before herself and the art of compassion.  How can I teach her these things if I am not willing to live them out myself?  Some of you might say I can teach her these things in my own country and city. That is very true.... but if I told you that just this weekend we went to the Christian Homestead (a residence for people with physical and mental illnesses), where we have been volunteering for almost 2 years, with our 2 month old daughter would you think that's dangerous? I have been working with people who have mental illness for almost 9 years and love it and love the people.  Going there to me isn't dangerous because it's common to me. We let a man with schizophrenia and a women with Bi Polar disorder and a serious seizure disorder hold our child.  We listened to that women's story of her personal struggle to have children and the loss of her 2 week old baby boy, Spencer.  The joy that was brought to them for: 1) having people trust them and; 2) being able to hold Abriel, was priceless.  This is the kind of compassion and caring I want to teach my child....(and I am)...... and I plan to do more. Us going to do what we feel we are called to do, even though we are scared and a little unsure how everything end up, will hopefully be an example for our daughter to feel brave enough to go for the things she wants to do and feels called to do.

Happy Mother's Day to all the giving and brave mom's out there!! Props to you all, it's a hard job.

Proud Mom,
 Keeleah

Old

2008 - On my birthday in 2008 I was at the Sosua Garbage Dump. We went to a community about an hours walk from the dump where the people who "work" at the dump live. The driver then drove us half way to the dump and we got to walk the same path these people walk everyday to go and work and try to provide for their families. It was a long & hot half hour....uphill. When we finally arrived at the dump (by coming in the "back way") the sight was mind blowing. Open garbage covered the area the size of probably seven or eight football fields. There were about 8 cows standing amidst the refuse eating from the piles; crapping where they stood. The flies numbered in the quadrillions (I'm not sure if that's even a number but there were a lot). And there were probably 100 people going around collecting plastic bottles to be recycled. For every one of those extra large blue recycling bags they collected of plastic they were paid $2. Most people would barely make $2 a day. While we were there a truck came to dump it's contents. As it came to a stop most of the people gathered around the back end of the truck and were almost buried under the mounds of garbage the truck unloaded trying to be the first ones to pick at the new garbage. We were told that people have died from this before.


2009 - The year before that I was in a hospital in the Dominican visiting with sick kids. I wasn't in the new fancy hospital they just finished last year with the automatic doors and computers and beds that move with the touch of a button. I was in the general public hospital. That's the hospital that won't feed you no matter how long you are in there (your family / friends / good Samaritans are fully responsible for your food. If you have no one to get you food you don't eat). The one and only thing they give EVERY patient is a single I.V drip. That day we went in and hung out with a boy who had broken his arm, and a girl (who was very well educated in reading English colouring books) who had to drink some sort of gross medicine for her to get better. I remember Keeleah saying to her (while making a "grossed out" face) "I wouldn't want to drink that either" much to the disappointment of the doctor trying to administer the medicine and her mother who was there with her. Keeleah quickly got the hint and changed her facial expression and tried to (successfully) convince the girl to take the medicine. As a team we got a tour of the hospital and painted the kids wing reception area. It didn't seem like much but they were so thankful.

2010 -  Last year for my birthday I was in an orphanage (Mustard Seed) in the Dominican. A group of Jamaican Catholic Nuns do an amazing job at running Mustard Seed Orphanage. It's a place filled only with children having physical and mental challenges. This place is a heart-breaking place filled with so much joy. We have been to Mustard Seed two times over the last three trips to the D.R and to see the same kids lying in the same beds with the same challenges and frustrations is so hard to process. But when we walk into the room and start holding, and dancing with, and singing with and playing with the kids their faces could light up the whole island. Johnny and Jeffery are hard kids to forget. When we go to the D.R in a few days we will plan on going there again to see our friends there. 

2011 - Today is my 29th birthday. This morning my wife woke me up with french toast (side of bananas and real maple syrup) in bed. She tried her hardest to convince me to stay home for the day but being the stubborn person (goody two-shoes) I am I had to go to work. After work she made me a delicious steak dinner with roasted potatoes and beans. Then we went for a walk with our baby girl along Pier 4 and finished it off with a lot of ice cream and bubble tea. It was a fantastic day. I am truly blessed to be living in Canada with such a great wife, baby girl and family. I am so blessed to have as much food as I need (and want) when so many people go without. I hope someway I can be a blessing to those around me here and in the Dominican or wherever else God leads us.

Chris

Abriel's Dedication

Jason Small and us

Yesterday was Abriel's dedication.

For those of you who don't know what a baby dedication is, it's a time for parents to thank God publicly for the child He has given them, to vow to raise this child to have high moral standards, good character and have the same beliefs as them.

I was thinking about that last part today and I thought to myself, "is it wrong to teach our kids only the Christian beliefs in hope that when they grow up they will decide on their own to follow Christ? I know people who would say yes. But I would have to disagree. First of all, when people grow up they make their own decisions. I know people who have grown up in the church from day one that have completely turned against the church, God and everything to do with either. I also know people who have never stepped foot inside a church before they were "of age" to make a decision for Christ who have committed their lives fully to Him. Secondly, what parent would not teach their kid what they believe to be true? If you believe smoking is bad for you won't you at least tell your kids not to smoke? If you believe it's right to vote (as it's election day in Canada, I hope you have), pay taxes, tip, not punch people and hold the door open for old ladies at the supermarket won't you teach your kids to do those things? Basically, we hope that through our example of a Christian life (as crappy an example as it is sometimes) Abriel, and any other kids we have in the future, would want to follow Christ. That it wouldn't be something forced upon them but something they choose.

I thought about our beliefs. One of the things Keeleah and I believe is everyone should be involved in some way with helping other people. For us, right now, that means moving to the Dominican for a time. This announcement has been met with a wide range of reactions: from the very popular "You guys are stupid for bringing your kid down there (even for a week)" to the rare but uplifting "I admire you guys for doing something to help.....even if you're completely nuts." We understand where people are coming from but we feel compelled to go and help. We honestly believe it's what God wants us to do. And when I think of it that way I feel confident in our decision. I feel confident that we are parents who are living out what we want our children to live out (no matter how difficult it is for us to let them go at the time). I feel confident that we are doing our part in teaching Abriel what it is to do what you feel is right even if you are not completely sure how it will turn out.

The dedication was a reminder that parenting isn't something to be taken lightly. We are responsible for how this little, innocent girl turns out. We are responsible not only to tell her what is right but to live it out so she can see how it's done. Thanks to everyone who was at Community Church supporting us yesterday and to everyone who agreed and will agree to help us for the rest of our / her life. We really love you guys.

And to Abriel, your mom and I will make a lot of mistakes but we will always try and fix them. We will always try and teach you right from wrong. We will always let you know that we love you so much and God loves you even more. You are beautiful, smart and completely wonderful.

Chris (daddy)

A lot of our friends and family gathering around us to pray. Thanks so much to everyone for all your support!