Keith and I safely returned to the DR last week, and have since been enjoying some real down time. I sort of feel like I've been on summer break the past few days because the weather has been so beautiful...80 degrees and wonderfully sunny, and even a thunderstorm last night that cut our power. Although, the loss of electricity really isn't that exceptional, it happens often enough without a thunderstorm to prompt it.
Since we've been back, we've only come to school one full day to prepare for the semester. Other than that we've been working to get some projects done at the house because once school gets going...who knows when those things will actually get done. We painted all the walls in one room, and just one wall in another, I washed all the clothes that were left behind while we were gone that had started their own science experiment in mold cultures, Keith finally completed our old door table by getting the stand welded, we swept and mopped the whole house, changed a few light blubs, and did a fair amount of rearranging other things. It is great to have a clean house...All in a weekend's work.
and tomorrow we'll start again with classes. I wouldn't say I feel ready to enter the hurricane of teaching again. But really who is ever completely ready to come back from "summer break". However, I definitely feel more prepared than when I started last semester-- this time I at least know my students and know what to expect from them and from myself. My friend, Stef, is going to be here for part of this semester also to help with the Art program and do a few other things for the school. We'll be picking her up from the airport tonight! I know it will be a blast and a blessing to have her here.
Our couple weeks back in the States was full. Full of visits with people we love, full of conversations we had been waiting to have, full of giving and receiving, full of some amazing dining that we definitely took advantage of, and full of coming and going. We were honestly blessed by everyone we got to visit with, and were renewed with encouragement with all the ways you people serve us. This is definitely a season of being humbled.
Leaving wasn't too emotional; I felt a strong spirit of returning to what the Lord has called us to here at Doulos. As physically comfortable as we were in the States, I knew it is not right for us to be there. We were warm inside the houses, we were well-fed and never thirsty when a sink was near-by, we were mobile in vehicles, we were understood when we spoke, we had access to stores filled excessively to the brim with more stuff than we could ever want or need-- all to make our lives more comfortable.
My spirit knew that was not meant for us now. While we may be physically or mentally uncomfortable here at times, we can find our greatest comfort in the work we are doing and the spiritual environment we pursue and surround ourselves in.
