All thanks go to God

So much has happened and i will try and do my best to explain it all.

Lets see...

Went to Los Jobitos. Very green. Im in the middle of a Loma. 259 inhabitants. Go to the bathroom outside. Shower outside. hahaha but hey its not bad. Just boil your water and its almost like taking a hot shower with no water pressure hahaha

My family is very nice. I live with abotu 8 people. All who look to the Don and Dona for guidance even as adults. No one can make deicsions alone in this household.
But there are three beautiful kids in the house and 11 month old and two 3 year olds. Tehy bring joy to the house and im happy they are there.

Im not going to lie. When i got there it was overwhelming. Its this wave that hits, how am i going to do this? What am i going to do for 2 years?!

But everyday was better than the last.

I am super upset abotu the school system there.
Note: DR education SUCKS! children go to school supposedly for 4 hours a day, 3 hours of which they are learning if the teacher shows up.
In my campo there is a school that goes up to only 4th grade. The 5-8th graders have to walk an hour everyday to a school in the next campo.
I made the walk folks and it is not fun.
So an hour walk in the hot sun. Sometimes they get home in the afternoon around 2 p.m. Where is the public transport? Idk but im going to work on something.
To add... if the drop out rates werent high enough. The children from my campo have to take a 30 minute moto concho ride to the pueblo to go to escuela secundario.
If your family doesnt have a moto or money then your stuck.
Super frustrating!!! Unfortunately education is not valued here.
Going to try and start a jovenes/tutoring program.

Vamos a ver lo que Dios quiere.

The womens group seems nice but needs a new vision and focus.

Campo life is flojo. Need to get used to it. Also need to start my interviews (diagnostic when i get back)

Mucha que hacer. Dios ayudame.

Ok... so the story continues.

Got back to SD for the week of swear in on Sunday. A group of us went to the Rinconsito to see some live Salsa music. It was beautiful!!!

On tuesday PC finally gave me a phone.
That night i was talking to my best friend Cami for about an hour. We were talking about how short life is and how we all think were invincible but none of us are. How we have to truly live life because we never know when our time will be.

I was talking to her on the sidewalk right next to my house. I turned around and i saw a man walking towards me. I immediatley knew.

Next thing i knew he pulled out his gun from his pants. I screamed. He told me not to scream and to give him my phone. I could not believe this was actually happening.

In that moment i had full clarity. I now realize that it was God acting for me and not myself.

I tossed him the phone and ran. I had thought about not running but i knew there was a possibility he would shoot me if i stayed and shoot me if i ran. I chose life.

As i was running i heard him fire a shot and when i realized i wasnt hit i thought why did he fire?

I ran into my house hyper ventilating. Next thing i know chaos breaks out. My host brother had been shot. Supposedly he had come out with a bat becasue his cousin had called to warn him that someone was coming to attack his girl cousin.

The man shot my brother and the bullet went in his chest-out-in his arm- and out again.

All for a phone. A phone that probably cost 30 US dollars.

Thank God im okay and so is my brother.

All the glory and honor goes to God. Who was definetly with me and protecting me.

So i was shooken up and didnt know what it all meant. Why this had happend a day before swear in.

Dan who lives in the same round about with me called PC and took care of everything. he has been amazing through this all.

I ended up staying in a hostel for the next couple of days. The day after the incident i was okay. I had prayed a lot. Talked to my mom about it. Had decided to swear in.

But when i got to Entrena and saw all my friends it was too much for me. I ran into the bathroom and started balling.

I just couldnt. Couldnt face all of my peers. They were so happy. And why wouldnt they be? They had worked so hard to get to this moment and so had i but for me it had changed.

PC became real. Its not just a fun long trip. Its a serious commitment, one where everyday your putting your life at risk.

But i rather go down as a freedom fighter.

I finally found the courage to make my way to the tent. And there was my name front row and center waiting for me.

When i sat down i took about 5 deep breathes and prayed. 5 seconds later we all swore in. I cant believe i almost didnt make it. But i did. And i graduated.
Im an official PCV!!!!

That night a couple of my friends came to be with me in the hotel. They decided not go and celebrate with the rest but be with me during this time.
These people, my family are amazing!

They pulled through and were there for me when i needed them most. I appreciate you and love you. You all know who you are.

My family was also incredible. I cant even imagine what my mother was going through. I could here the desperation in her voice, how she felt powerless because i was so far. But i felt her strength and her love. Its what got me through.

I thank you.

I thank you all. For your prayers, thoughts, love, and support. I feel it all. I appreciate it all.

But most of all I thank God. Who has a plan for me. One which i will accomplish.

And now...

Im feeling better.

Im trying to look at this in a positive light. Ok something bad happend. Could have happend anywhere. Happend to me. Now i will move forward and have a great 2 year service.

I will not be afraid. I will be cautious. I will be alert. Most of all, I will put my faith in God and he will protect me.

Had this come at another time i know i would have been a mess. But my conviction is strong and the Lord has filled me with peace and love. For that i am grateful. I am grateful for many things.

So my friends.

Live truly.
Do good.
Be good.
Give thanks every day.


-Vera

My site

Hello People. Hope you are doing well.
CBT is coming to an end and I have no idea where the time went. It flew by. Training is almost entirely over. Im about to go on my site visit. But I must say that I have learned a lot. Its been going good for me.
2 weeks ago we went to a youths business competition. There were 30 participants all competing to win to start there own negocios. It was very nice to see all these youth so focused on what they wanted. They all spoke very well and were very motivated. I know that I want to be a part of this next year. Hopefully I can get youth from my community into the competition.
During the conference I started a chant for the kids to get them Pumped!!!
It was a SUCCESS!!!
The chant was sung the whole weekend. It was a nice pat on my back =) haha
And guess what more…
We found out our sites that same weekend.
I am going…
30 minutes outside of BANI!!!!! Don’t know what it all means or how it will be but I/we will soon find out.
I will get more details on my project this Monday but as far as I know I will be in a long campo working with a grupo de mujeres on an income generation project.
Anyone know how to make hand fans? Because I think that’s what im going to push for. Thoughts???
Other news.
This past week we went to visit 27 charcos. AMAZING!!!!!!
If you visit the DR you have to do it. Its cheap and beautiful.
You hike and then jump off 27 falls all the while your swimming in breathe taking views.
Yesterday- Alanna, Gabby, and I gave our very first Spanish charla in our community.
35 people showed up. Fue un Gran Exito!
I felt great. We did a great job. The charla was on how to ahorrar dinero. The people participated and everything flowed very well.
Im on way folks.
Today we took the kids in our community to la loma and I led a meditation session with them. It was great. They were very receptive. Told me they could feel love in their hearts and hear the wind blowing in the trees.
Makes my heart =).
Well..
My life is about to change again. Ill be in my new home soon.
And on October 27th I will be an official PCV!!!
I hope you are all happy and perusing what you want. Remember that nothing is outside of your reach.
Live Love. Live True. Live Free.