Neifi: the 50 yr. old smoker in a 4 yr. old body

Family and friends,

I have seen God answer so many prayers since I have been down here. For two months, I longed for male companionship (I was living in a house with 6 girls). This prayer was answered when I had the opportunity to move to Montellano, where our school is located. As soon as I got settled in, I was greeted by a multitude of Dominican hombres. I have become one of their friends....talking in Spanish, watching poor American action movies dubbed in Spanish, and giving advice about American women. Soon after meeting the Dominican guys, I met a really cool American missionary named Layne. We have spent countless evenings talking theology, guns, and history while the girls talk about girlie stuff. It has also been a blessing to see how God has provided for Layne as he struggled for the first five months until God pulled a 180 on his life. Even at the Makarios school, God has been actively at work. The other week, two kids trusted Christ...RIDICULOUS. Continue to pray for the school and me. Here are some things you can pray for:

the rest of my support: $3000
Spanish proficiency
stronger relationships
more time spent in the Word
Figure out which Dominican woman I am going to marry....ha
Kids will hear and understand God's love during Bible class

So.....who is Neifi? Besides being in charge of P.E. and Survival Skills, I also am a teacher during the Preschool Program. Every kid has a very unique personality. One of these squirts, Neifi, sticks out among the rest for various reasons, but namely: her 50 year old smoker voice and her loopy loopy behaviour. At first glance, Neifi is an adorable wide eyed smiling 4 year old. Yeah she might roll around on the ground or curl up in a ball, but who could resist that cute smile and puppy eyes? Then....she opens her voice....imagine Marge's sisters on the Simpsons. I love her uniqueness and definitely expect a video on Facebook in the near future.

I am Dominican

I wake up to cocks crowing
I have no windows in the house I live in
Running water?
Bucket Showers
Watch Baseball on TV every night
Get hissed at by girls
Ride on Gua-guas (not an animal)

These are a view reasons why I am Dominican.

Seriously, this past week or so living in Montellano I have begun to feel like I LIVE here and not just WORK. I love the friends I have made so far in the town. Most of them are the Dominicans that are related to Luz, the lady I live with. They are cool guys and I get to practice Spanish with them on a daily basis. I have also befriended the a few other missionaries that live in Montellano. The only other full time guy missionary, Layne, has quickly become a close friend. We have spent a few nights talking just about music, theology, and life in the DR. God has truly blessed me with this guy's friendship. I need the encouragement greatly.

Please pray for me for the following things:
energy for the school day (the sun drains me)
proficiency in Spanish
that the kids will obey me more....ha
unity with the Makarios girls


Much love

Reppin my Block

Yes!!! The Shingles has subsided and I am not in excruciating pain anymore. A part of me is glad I went through that pain.......but I dont like that part. Ha. Life is amazing in the DR. I moved in with the Dona Luz and the random sons, nephews, cousins that frequent her home. I love love love it. I have never spoken so much Spanish in my entire life. So, the Dona is completely in love with God and worshiping him. My first day there, Wednesday, I came in during a Bible study she was leading with a couple of people. As soon as I sat down, she wanted me to pray....I resisted the pleads to pray in Spanish...but read some Romans 1 in Espanol. Great cultural experience.

Pray:

adjusting to the culture and a new home
my spanish to come easier and easier
meet more guys my age
my safety (witnessed a moped with a family on it get hit by a car....dont know if they all survived)
that God will continue to mature me.
He will begin to reveal to me whats next for me after this year

My Name is Weston Woodward and I have Shingles

I thoroughly enjoyed the visit from Ms. Roux. She gave me both wise and encouraging words. I felt rejuvenated. She rocks. Besides the words, Becca brought me a sweet 175 gram Frisbee and earbud headphones….what a friend. On Friday, we took a trip to the beach to relax and chat. Ever since October rolled in, the weather here can be characterized by daily showers and overcast skies. However, this did not prohibit us to rent a 100 CC moped and drive it back to Puerto Plata….fun. That eve Ms. Roux coached me in the ways of moto driving. This, of course, was not difficult (mostly because it was an automatic..ha).

Saturday, I boded my dear expatriate farewell. She left me with a single mission: return the moto by 4pm in Cabarete. Remember, I am a novice. I hopped onto my motorized death scooter for the 40 minute cruise to the beach. Not surprisingly, rain accompanied my journey the entire way. I felt like I was Che Guevara. When I arrived in the touristy village, I was not dry…no not at all. Mr. Rodriguez, the rent-a-moto owner, met me out front to check the condition of his bike. He was very friendly and I tried my best Spanish in communicating with him. After he returned my drivers license, he told me he would discount my next rental…..Texas Charm. Only two doors down from the rental shop, a few young people my age called me to join them. They gave me some Mamajuana (NOT MARIJUANA) to drink to warm up from the rain. The alcohol consisted of Rum soaked in an herb called Mamajuana. I did not refuse their kindness and sat down to chat with them. I am sure I will run into those guys again(one was a really cute girl….but I think she had a daughter…but then again I could still fulfill Sandy Plesha’s prediction that I am going to marry a Latin woman…ha). After a little while I left to find Ben who was meeting up with me. Ben and I had a great afternoon relaxing and meeting up with a couple other missionaries from the Montellano area. All in all, the day was successful: I did not die driving a moto in the rain.

I woke up on the Lord’s Day a little worried. For the last few days I have had soreness and what looked like poison ivy on the back of my head and one side of my neck. I thought it might have been my body reacting to a spider bite. To be safe, I decided that I would show Luz at church and maybe seek medical attention. The service began with singing of hymns and prayer…loved singing…loved it….some of the songs were really difficult because of the Spanish word usage…moving on. When the pastor began preaching on the vine and branches, my body began to tell my brain to shut down. I resisted about four times to passing out until I finally leaned over to Robin telling her I was going to go get fresh air. Outside, I felt a little better and decided to acquire Luis’ Juice from his shop stand. Let me tell you….it worked. By the time church was let out, I felt better. I spotted Miguel and Jenny, the missionary couple with Makarios, and told Jenny about my neck. Miguel said it was a reaction to a plant, but Luz soon approached with her abounding medicinal wisdom and said it was something else. To make sure, Jenny and Miguel took me to a little ghetto free clinic where the Doctor immediately gave me his diagnosis: Viral Herpes. What?!?!?!? Well, I think it is Shingels, a grownup and more potent version of Chicken Pox (not itchy but very painful). Somehow I received this gift on the back of my head and it then spread though my nerves down to my right clavicle. Treatment: Vitamin B shot, pills, and ointment. After I dropped forty bucks or so, I returned back to the Doc for my first shot. A nurse led me into a room. I walked over to a counter, dropped my pants (the shot was destined for my Gluteus Medius) and kind of leaned over with my arms. But, the nurse told me to move to another spot of the room where I again leaned over. That was not enough……because then she told me to lay down on a hospital bed type contraption. This bed was not made for my tall frame and I laid face down, butt up awkwardly since my body did not all fit on it. Finally, I felt the smooth thick needle penetrate my skin and release its thick liquid into my buttocks. When it was all over, I began to rebutton my pants but was interrupted by an older lady who came prancing in. She looked over at me and exclaimed “Dios Mio” and apologized for barging in. Ha. All my equipment was concealed so no problems were had. I came out of that clinic more Texan…..with an added swagger in my step due to my sore left glute. Pray that I heal fast. I have a couple more shots lined up this week to quicken my recovery. Herpes is not cool. Oh yeah so Sunday night…aka Last night…I did not sleep at all….the Shingles kept me awake. I love it. I debated taking the day off….but I thought “I’m supposed to be from Texas”….therefore, I Cowboyed Up and rocked out all day at school. Please make the pain go away. I need some hydrocodeine or something.

Week 3, Day 3, Amigo 3?

Life is grand. The Becca Roux is here. I love this girl to death. For two years we were on the same YL team in Austin. She has been such an encouragement to me since she has been here. I love having a friend here....gives me extra energy.

Today was a day like any other. I sweated a bucketful and ran around crazy with the kiddos. My duckface girl, Gherlin, hugged on me a ton. Amazing. It is hard to explain everything that goes on in the day. I wish everyone one of yall could experience it. Falling in love with these children is inevitable.

Quote of the day: Te Feo (a few girls in the afternoon class told me this referring to me wearing my glasses)......made me cry...haha

6 weeks already

Howdy!!!!

Pues, pues, pues. Monday was just an ordinary day of class, 5 hour power outage, and sweating. ha. We had a good amount of rain all afternoon and no electricity till late eve.

Today.....classes were cut short. Strike day. All public transportation workers were on strike. So, after morning classes, school was closed. Now, I get to lesson plan and welcome my dear friend, Becca Roux, at the airport. I am so stoked to have a friend come visit me. Love yall.