KEEP THE DREAM ALIVE
July 16, 2012
Killing mosquitos
Our project was quite a unique and awesome one. We brought down something called ProVector flowers. These flowers were designed to diminish or hopefully eliminate the mosquito population, particularly in third world countries where they carry fatal diseases.
"Invented by Georgia Southern University professor Dr. Tom Kollars, the ProVector Flower is an artificial flower which attracts mosquitoes that carry diseases like malaria, dengue fever and the West Nile virus. The flower’s four colors draw in the mosquitoes, but it’s the artificial nectar—a safe biopesticide—that ultimately kills the insects. Now being tested in many tropical, Third World countries, Dr. Kollars hopes to save hundreds of thousands of lives with this tool. The other positive? It’s cheap. Running only about $10 for the flower and $1 for bait refill every three months, it could be much more cost effective for families who can’t afford mosquito nets or who spend significant portions of their salaries on drugs once they contract the diseases."
We split up into groups and went door to door in a batay/village called Altagracia. At each house we explained the flower, asked if we could hang it up, and shared God's word. It was great getting a chance to pray for and with each family in the community. There is one more reason this project was so special to COTN. Please see Kathy share Juanchy's story below. Juanchy is one of COTN-DR's finest staff members!
"Invented by Georgia Southern University professor Dr. Tom Kollars, the ProVector Flower is an artificial flower which attracts mosquitoes that carry diseases like malaria, dengue fever and the West Nile virus. The flower’s four colors draw in the mosquitoes, but it’s the artificial nectar—a safe biopesticide—that ultimately kills the insects. Now being tested in many tropical, Third World countries, Dr. Kollars hopes to save hundreds of thousands of lives with this tool. The other positive? It’s cheap. Running only about $10 for the flower and $1 for bait refill every three months, it could be much more cost effective for families who can’t afford mosquito nets or who spend significant portions of their salaries on drugs once they contract the diseases."
We split up into groups and went door to door in a batay/village called Altagracia. At each house we explained the flower, asked if we could hang it up, and shared God's word. It was great getting a chance to pray for and with each family in the community. There is one more reason this project was so special to COTN. Please see Kathy share Juanchy's story below. Juanchy is one of COTN-DR's finest staff members!
July 10, 2012
KEEP THE DREAM ALIVE
(continued from blog intro)
If I can be totally honest, I do not like raising support. Am I allowed to say that? I don't know. It's true though. I so much prefer to give money away rather than ask for it - over and over! I'm sure I'm not the only one who raising support that feels that way. It is a constant burden to feel as though I am always needing more money in order to keep this job. Do people think I maintain a relationship with them so that they will support me in the ministry? I certainly hope not, but Satan keeps that thought in my mind every day.
Even though I am a missionary, people still ask Cheez and I to donate to their cause. I'm glad they do, because I like being a part of it. If we get a letter, we will pray and often end up giving. If we get a letter, and on top of that hear from the person directly about how they do need these funds we will probably give more. I don't say this to brag. I'm saying to show how ridiculous it is for me to be afraid to ask people to partner. Sending a letter I can handle, but asking face to face is so hard. Yet, when I am being asked by others I prefer that! It makes no sense, I realize. It's just one of my many fears I suppose. I tell you this in hopes that you will read it and please please know that I value all the relationships in my life and I hope no one ever feels I just contact them for their money. I guess that is my biggest fear in moving forward to raise the additional funds. Maybe now that I have confessed it it will be easier. Probably not :)
Thank you everyone who already gives. You are so great, and so appreciated. You can't hear enough that your contribution matters. It so matters! I want you to really know that, so I am going to update this blog more often. It pains me slightly, because I somehow got stuck in the 1950s and I am not a fan of all these newfangled technology gadgets. I don't like online social networking because I like face to face socializing. I will do it though! I am here in the Dominican interacting with these children, having amazing experiences, and I want you to experience it too because you are making it happen! I would not be here spending time loving them if it were not for you. They would not be eating the meals we fed them today if it were not for you. I want everyone to share in this with me, because awesome things are happening.
I've written more than I intended. Oh well. I hope it kept your attention. Thank you for reading. Please consider joining my monthly support team so I can continue Raising children who transform nations!
If I can be totally honest, I do not like raising support. Am I allowed to say that? I don't know. It's true though. I so much prefer to give money away rather than ask for it - over and over! I'm sure I'm not the only one who raising support that feels that way. It is a constant burden to feel as though I am always needing more money in order to keep this job. Do people think I maintain a relationship with them so that they will support me in the ministry? I certainly hope not, but Satan keeps that thought in my mind every day.
Even though I am a missionary, people still ask Cheez and I to donate to their cause. I'm glad they do, because I like being a part of it. If we get a letter, we will pray and often end up giving. If we get a letter, and on top of that hear from the person directly about how they do need these funds we will probably give more. I don't say this to brag. I'm saying to show how ridiculous it is for me to be afraid to ask people to partner. Sending a letter I can handle, but asking face to face is so hard. Yet, when I am being asked by others I prefer that! It makes no sense, I realize. It's just one of my many fears I suppose. I tell you this in hopes that you will read it and please please know that I value all the relationships in my life and I hope no one ever feels I just contact them for their money. I guess that is my biggest fear in moving forward to raise the additional funds. Maybe now that I have confessed it it will be easier. Probably not :)
Thank you everyone who already gives. You are so great, and so appreciated. You can't hear enough that your contribution matters. It so matters! I want you to really know that, so I am going to update this blog more often. It pains me slightly, because I somehow got stuck in the 1950s and I am not a fan of all these newfangled technology gadgets. I don't like online social networking because I like face to face socializing. I will do it though! I am here in the Dominican interacting with these children, having amazing experiences, and I want you to experience it too because you are making it happen! I would not be here spending time loving them if it were not for you. They would not be eating the meals we fed them today if it were not for you. I want everyone to share in this with me, because awesome things are happening.
I've written more than I intended. Oh well. I hope it kept your attention. Thank you for reading. Please consider joining my monthly support team so I can continue Raising children who transform nations!
July 09, 2012
I don't have favorites, but...
If I did have favorites, it would be Aris! What a day. Til this point things have been a little heavy. When we arrived I learned that some of our staff members are going through some pretty rough times. I'll give you an example - There is a wonderful man who works for COTN-DR and just recently he lost his beautiful 6 year old daughter to Dengue Fever. That's just one hardship. I would love it if you would join me in prayer for these people.
Today we did our tours of the COTN office and villages that we partner with. We started by going to Los Robles and right when I got off the bus I saw him! I love Aris. He is so stinking cute. I have seen him every year for four years now. I can't get enough of him. Below I have a picture of him from 2009. Talk about turning your day around. All of the discouragement lifted away when I saw him and he recognized me! Aris is a special needs child and each year I look eagerly for him, and he spends time with me. I am never quite sure though if he recognizes me. This year was different. I saw it in his eyes that he remembered who I was from last year. Seeing him, holding his hand and playing with him and his sisters made it all worth it - the long travel, all the fund raising and preparations. I had so much fun with him.
Cheez took some excellent video of Juanchi, our host, explaining COTN and the impact they have had in these villages. When I return I will put those videos on here so you can share in our time. Welp, I'm pretty tired and honestly can't think of a good transition out soooo thanks for reading today! More to come.
Today we did our tours of the COTN office and villages that we partner with. We started by going to Los Robles and right when I got off the bus I saw him! I love Aris. He is so stinking cute. I have seen him every year for four years now. I can't get enough of him. Below I have a picture of him from 2009. Talk about turning your day around. All of the discouragement lifted away when I saw him and he recognized me! Aris is a special needs child and each year I look eagerly for him, and he spends time with me. I am never quite sure though if he recognizes me. This year was different. I saw it in his eyes that he remembered who I was from last year. Seeing him, holding his hand and playing with him and his sisters made it all worth it - the long travel, all the fund raising and preparations. I had so much fun with him.
Cheez took some excellent video of Juanchi, our host, explaining COTN and the impact they have had in these villages. When I return I will put those videos on here so you can share in our time. Welp, I'm pretty tired and honestly can't think of a good transition out soooo thanks for reading today! More to come.
July 08, 2012
We arrived!
I am amazed at how somewhere can be so close, physically,
but yet take so long to reach! Orlando
and Barahona are not very far from each other.
I’m sure if you took a plane direct you would make it in two hours
max. Yet somehow we left our home at
6:15 am and didn’t reach Casa Bethesda until 8:30 at night. I thought surely two days had passed. Doesn't matter though because at the end of the day we arrived.
I have decided to blog every night so that all of you can share in this experience. After all, you made it happen. I am embarrassed to say, but yet am going to say it anyway, it took me about twenty minutes to figure out how to sign into my blog and make a "new post." Yikes. I guess I don't blog as much as I should. Don't fret. That will change!
It's very familiar being here. Almost too familiar. I don't like how comfortable I have gotten being in this setting. It may sound weird, but I miss the culture shock. I am striving this week to find something new while I am here; or at least to see something differently. You can keep me accountable to that. Today was extremely enjoyable, though. We started by going to church at Pastor Julio's. Then we went to a BEAUTIFUL waterfall (pictures to come) followed by a great beach. Alyssa and I filled Cheez's cargo shorts pockets with rocks when he was walking around the beach in his bathing suit. It was pretty great. All for now - check back tomorrow to hear about our first day of ministry :)
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