Happy Weekend!

I'm usually more consistent about posting, but our internet always seems to go out right when I want to write about the day so I just haven't been doing it!

The Westlake Bible Group is on a plane back to Austin, and I am going to miss having them here. I got to build relationships with a lot of the girls who were on the trip, because some of them knew some of my roommates or other random friends of mine and I found that I saw myself when I was in that stage of life in them (most of them were starting their senior year of high school) so we could relate well. The interns and I didn't know what to expect from a high school group since our last big group was adults, and they truly blew me away. Although several of them didn't speak Spanish, they still threw themselves into serving and loving kids in the villages, whether through playing futbol or holding a child. What an example they should be to all of us!

I was really encouraged by this week in general. I mostly worked with Camille and the group in Pancho Mateo and Chichigua putting on a sort of VBS for the children. The kids in these villages don't know how to love each other, so we focused on friendship, forgiveness, and cooperation themes for each day. Sometimes it can feel like you are talking to a wall and that little to no progress is being made because kids seem to be running around, whining, and smacking each other while you are trying to teach them about love. The last day though, in Pancho Mateo, we did a review, and I was shocked to hear them recalling the story of the good Samaritan, the father's forgiveness in the prodigal son story, and even remembering what happened in the little skits and Camille and I had performed! I think that God was speaking to me specifically just in witnessing that; he was showing me that nothing we are doing here is in vain, and that he is working through us even when we don't see it.

I hope the 4th of July was fun for everyone back in the US! This was my first time to be out of the country on the holiday and I missed the fireworks. I am thinking that I'll have to set off double the fireworks on New Year's Eve this year. We had an all-American meal of burgers and fries, with apple pie that Rose made for dessert. I made sure we listened to country music beforehand and played "God Bless the U.S.A." on loop while the meal was being served. Not everyone appreciated that, but it helped me to get into the spirit! Then we went to the beach here in Puerto Plata.

Speaking of the beach, we spent another wonderful day in Cabarete yesterday! There's nothing like getting that day of relaxation after long, hot days in the villages. I'm so thankful to get the time to read and write and enjoy the country.


Lastly, I just wanted to tell you that my name has been graffitied onto one wall of la cancha, the basketball court in Pancho Mateo. This is a picture of it with Natalie, the artist. She wrote my name somewhere else on the wall too, with a heart. Please notice that my name is spelled "Rrebeca" and that this says "Rrebeca, I love you, Natalie." Don't be weirded out by her face paint--we had a lot of fun with face paint on the cancha that day.