Hola todos,
Como estan? Well I had the most amazing weekend. We went to Jarabacoa and rode horses. I actually got to gallop for the first time. It was the coolest thing I have EVER done before. It was so freeing. Each one of us had a little guy riding and guiding the horse that sat behind us. Ok...my "lil" guy was 16 but most of them were around 8 years old. At the end of the trail we came to a waterfall and got to swim in it. That was also another first. It was so powerful though, we couldn't stand directly under it without getting plastered with water and losing our swimsuit bottoms I'm sure. Not exactly on my list of things to try lol. Maybe next time, jk. lol.
Yesterday for valentine's day a group of 6 of us girls decided to surprise my kids at the orphanage and throw them a party. It was seriously my favorite valentine's day ever. The look on their faces when we were playing musical chairs, eating cake/candy/pop, and dancing merengue was priceless. Truly the face of Jesus himself it felt like. Funny story with the party though...as we were waiting to concho to the house it literally POURED. we were completely soaked when we arrived and after the party we were trying to catch a concho. Do you know how HARD it is to catch a concho at night when you can't see if it's a concho or not?! well....one of them stopped so we literally ran...all six gringa of us...and jumped in. we were so relieved to find one finally. the chofer was all like "ah ay ay girls! i'm not working right now." we felt pretty stupid lol. I have to say that was the first time getting kicked out of a concho. I guess there's a first for everything lol. After the party 8 other girls came over to my house and the 10 of us hung out and ate american junkfood for 3 hours talking. it was so much fun especially because it was with people I don't always hang out with. Good times.
Thank you grandma for your letter. That was sweet of you to send me a letter. The mail is SOOO slow here. I know other people have told me they've sent me some things via the mail but I haven't received them so far. I keep hoping every day it'll come but not yet. Oh well, I'll just learn to be patient.
Well, I met my host grandma this last week. She's such a sweetheart. She hugged me like twice and kept saying "tan bella!" which means how beautiful! lol. she lives in New York and is visiting for a little while. I asked her if she likes american food and she said not really lol. she always cooks dominican food. I have to say that I am way excited to cook dominican food this summer in the condo. I'm goin to have a friend or my host mom teach me how to make platanos maduros (my fav!), mangu, habichuelas, sancocho, and tostones. I know those words don't mean anything to you guys but you'll just have to try them. they're sooo delicious!!
Ciao! -natalia
Thanks for all your phone calls, letters, comments, and prayers! Dios les bendiga! (God bless you all!)
Prayer Requests/Praises:
1. I am so grateful that I've found a church I like going to. It's a pretty charasmatic church that has a wed night service which works perfect for my schedule.
2. I would not compromise my standards in guys just to date a guy down here.
3. I would get to hang out with dominican girls. yes, i have met one new one but we haven't hung out yet.
4. I would take the opportunities to speak spanish all the time. Because I have found that it's so much easier to understand and talk to my host parents when I'm in spanish mode all day long.
5. My little girl Joannie at the orphanage needs lots of love and attention. She's 10 and has a lot of anger and hurt bottled up. I felt led to write her a letter in spanish telling her what I and God see in her and to speak truth into her life. She really loved the letter. but keep praying for her
6. my friend Casey has decided to come back to God and needs support and guidance to hold strong in it esp in the carribean.
