A Few Snapshots of the Last Week...

We had a conversation with Shannon and Joe the first weekend we were here, and they gave us a great piece of advice. They told us to make sure that we write down our stories, everyday. They told us that eventually all the crazy stuff would begin to seem "normal" and unless we journaled about it, we would forget just how silly life is sometimes.

So I don't have anything really big to write about, here are just a few snapshots of the last week:

* February 27th is Dominican Independence Day- We decided that trying to drive around the city that weekend was like a video game. We were driving through the main road in town, when we were deterred by several teenagers in long hippie wigs violently swinging and cracking 15 ft long whips up and down the street. So we hung a quick right, only to run into a political rally that was clogging up that street. We took the next turn available and ran straight into a school parade, haha. Good thing we had plenty of time to get where we were going!

* I laughed pretty hard on Monday morning when Joe, after buzzing his hair, came out to talk to Margo (one of the wonderful women who comes to help us with keep house) and she smacked him on the head! haha, apparently bald people get smacked in the Dominican- I think Joe will protect his head next time.

* We take the group out to dinner and ice cream on Wednesday nights. I went up to ask the ice cream flavors so I could help those ordering- strangely, I didn't recognize a lot of the flavors they were telling me. I found out after trying them why they were unfamiliar to me- It was Rum Raisin and Prune flavored. It kinda felt like trying Bernie Botts Every Flavor Beans.

* Here at the guesthouse we have a pasola (scooter) that we use for running errands around time sometimes. Almost everyone down here has some type of motorized bike or scooter it seems. So Joe, Shannon and I decided to take the pasola to the gym the other day. Squeezing far more people/things on a scooter than should realistically fit is a very Dominican thing to do, so we were a pretty normal sight on our way there. However, we must have been a sight to see AFTER a long sweaty work out. We probably didn't think that one through too well.

* Surgeries this week have been insane. Hand amputation, removal of a HUGE cancerous growth on a guy's hip and another removal of a softball size growth on a man's chest. I know it sounds disgusting (and it WAS), but praise God that we had 3 general surgeons here this week that were able to help these people who have been living with these ailments for years! Just be glad I'm NOT posting pictures. Thank you surgeons!!!

* Between Dan and Joe, the truck's battery was killed several times this week... as a result we have learned the finer art of push starting a car! As someone with lots of experience in killing my own car battery, I'm SO pumped to know that a good running start and some skill with the clutch will get us out of trouble in no time ;)

* Baseball games- On Monday night we were invited by Pastor Juan to a pick-up game of baseball. It was the most beautiful "summer" evening to spend under the lights at a ball park. I've posted a few pics below (though I'm hoping to get better ones in the future!). It was a ton of fun, but also very humbling. The Dominicans schooled our guys! haha. Dan is so excited to get a chance to play every week though :)