Copy of Email Update (with pictures!)

Just in case you don't get my emails but want some more details! (and if you want to be added to the list let me know!

I feel like it has been forever since my last update and I apologize for the lack of communication lately. A lot has happened in the last month and I thank God for providing such a great situation for me. The people, kids, and other missionaries here are great and I could not be more excited about what God is doing here. There have definitely been some trying moments/adjustments/inconveniences, but I am loving my time here. Quick side note-if anyone has sent me an email and I haven't responded please resend it! I am trying my best to respond to every email, but unfortunately I have been finding out that I am not getting some emails! I don't know what the deal is but when people have resent them they have gotten through fine...thanks!

Alfredo (my boss..) in action at OANSA

I am learning more and more everyday...I was talking with Leandra (in charge of academics at the care center) and we were talking about differences between the different cities within the country. And one thing she said was that people get married when they are much older in Santo Domingo (capital). I thought that was interesting but what was even more interesting was when she said that they get married at 17 or 18 there as opposed to 12,13, or 14 in Constanza! I am still doing my research to find out if this is legitimate but I thought that was pretty crazy!

I am trying to keep my blog updated but it is tough with limited internet access, but there are still some good updates on there including one that explains the difference between the care center and ark! My first month has been amazing and I am so pumped to see what God has in store for the next few years here.

Here are some highlights.

-I have been working in the care center for about 4 weeks now and am really getting settled in. I wake up for the 8am devotional Mon-Thurs with the staff at the care center and really has been a cool time every day to worship God in Spanish (not to mention great practice...) My responsibilities right now include teaching sports/gym classes in the morning and english classes in the afternoon. I have tried to put some good details into my blog so if you're looking for more go there!

Helping some of the younger kids get ready

for an OANSA competition

-A couple days into my time here, Craig went with me to Jarabacoa and we were able to find a good bike and I have since made 2 trips down the mountain to Jarabacoa. I am actually writing this from the Trautweins after our big Thanksgiving celebration! Today was my first solo ride down the mountain and it went very smoothly. I love having the independence to be able to get around town so conveniently yet also being able to take the bike to Jarabacoa.

One of my favorite foods at the Care Center!

Needless to say I was a little surprised when

they showed me what it was....

-My apartment situation has been a bit sticky, but things are coming together. I was supposed to move into my apartment a few weeks ago, but things were slow with building the new house for the family currently in my apartment. I ended up staying with the Rowley's for a week or two longer than expected, and now I am in a temporary apartment in the same property that I will eventually move into in January. It isn't all bad though, the apartment is fully furnished and has ESPN in english complete with american commercials! (jokes on them as it would be very difficult to get to best buy or taco bell....)

-Today has been a HUGE blessing for me. Yesterday was probably my weirdest/toughest day in Constanza knowing that it was Thanksgiving and there was not one mention of it all day! I would bring it up and how important it is to my family and how much I always loved the day and all they knew is that you eat turkey...Thankfully the Trautwein's invited me to a big thanksgiving party with a group from their home church in California. It was such a contrast for me and it completely recharged me and it was nice to enjoy some good food other than rice and beans for once! I also got to visit with the Lanier's (family from missionary training school in Colorado) for the 2nd time! Now that I can make the trip on my own, Jarabacoa will be a nice change of pace from Constanza every once in a while.

-One of the coolest parts of my first month is how fast I was able to really connect and get to know the kids that I am with every day. There are only 22 kids at the Ark which was such a great number and I have a great relationship with all of them and it is never boring around there! The more challenging aspect has been getting to know the 100+ in the care center, but I have been attacking it and I am really starting to build some great relationships there as well. One of my highlights every day is eating lunch with the kids at the center and just talking and spending time with them.

Me with my group for OANSA bible verse memorization.

They are always trying to weasle their way to some

extra points but we have fun!

PRAYER REQUESTS

-Safe Travel throughout the country the next few weeks as I am visiting different sites and coming home to the states Dec 11. I am feeling very comfortable with my motorcycle and to all the moms out there I do wear a helmet when I am traveling to Jarabacoa!

-Comfort and peace as I continue to transition and get used to being so far away from friends and family permanently for 2 years.

-Please continue praying for the kids...every day I learn a little bit more about a child's situation or what they have gone through and they have been through more than we can ever imagine! The great news is that they are all hearing the gospel and really having life-changing experiences through Kids Alive.

Panuelo...hands down the most popular game here.

Kind of like steal the bacon...with a shirt?

-Health...it has been good so far and praying that it stays that way!

-Upcoming trip to Wheaton. Pray for safe travel (again) and some great quality time with friends and family. I also need to shore up a little bit of my support as I have had some unexpected expenses and also some things have been higher than I budgeted. Pray for wisdom for who (and how!) to ask for, and the peace to know that God will provide!

Thank you all so much for you support, I wouldn't be able to do ANY of this without you. I love hearing from everyone so keep the emails coming-

In Christ,

Kyle

The main room in the care center, where lunch is served

also used for parts of OANSA

Dominican Softball

One of the highlights and unexpected treats of living here has been playing on a fast-pitch softball team in Constanza. When I first heard about the possibility of joining this team I didn't know what to expect at all...I thought it would be very similar to slow-pitch chicago style softball with old men. I was very pleasantly surprised at how similar it is to baseball and at the level of competition. Alfredo connected me with the team as he also plays on it and it is made up of players from several churches in the area. The coach has really taken me under his wing and helped me out a ton and I have really really enjoyed getting to know the guys on the team.

It is a very very strange and new feeling for me to be heckled after EVERY play. I am one of maybe 6 total North Americans in the city and they definitely remind me. I hear "Americano" yelled out during the whole game no matter what is happening! It is fun though because I will have a few fans and people who try to talk to me in English as I'm walking up to the plate with phrases like "howdy my friend." Luckily it hasn't been too bad since I have played pretty well, but as soon as I start playing bad it could get ugly real fast! The environment is amazing...the town loves to come and watch the game and there are always people lining the fences at the street and out past the fences in the outfield. There is usually a decent crowd in the stands as well, and almost every game has an announcer who does more of a play-by-play than in the US, it is fun to listen to.

Now on to the important stuff...I am playing right field which I have come to love. Now, I can't really ever remember a time in my baseball career where I was an outfielder but it has been an interesting transition. It is much easier for me to hit in this type of league where the pitching is more similar to a baseball trajectory than the huge arching lob of chicago style softball. First double-header I was 3-6, next game 3-4, and then last night 4-6 including a 2 RBI single that put us up by 1 in the last inning after trailing by 9 heading into the inning! It was an adventure though as an error by me in the bottom of the inning tied the game back up...I am still getting used to the very unlevel outfields! Hope you wanted to hear the details....

I haven't been able to get any pictures or video of me yet, but I took a video of the surroundings of the game before ours last night to give a feel of the league. I am hoping to get some video/pictures in action at this Sunday's game. This has been so huge for me to be able to keep my competitive side entertained while I am here!

Care Center vs Ark

I have spent a lot of time trying to clarify what I am doing in the DR and for people that are familiar with Kids Alive and the Ark just what exactly the difference is. I figured I would just do a quick clarification post to help out.

The gate to the complex, it is in front of the care center

and during the day there is a guard to control

who has access to the complex

The Care Center an Ark share a large plot of land where the Ark is essentially 2/3 of the land and the Care Center takes up the other 1/3.

CARE CENTER

This is where I am primarily working. Basically it is a 3 room school where Kids Alive identifies children in the community who need extra schooling/care/meals and they come for half a day. This works well because the public/private schools are all only half days, so if the child has school in the afternoon then they are able to come in the mornings and vice versa. The children are also able to eat lunch there.

Here is a good picture of the Care Center. Right now there are

3 classrooms that are used and once the roof is put

on the 2nd floor will be huge for growth.

The Care Center is run by a man named Alfredo who has been a real blessing for me as we get along great and work well together. It is always fun to come to work. The academic side is run by a woman Leandra who is incredible with the teachers and children and has developed much of the academic curriculums and plans for the Care Center.

A small playground behind the Care Center.

My role is basically to serve as a gym teacher in the morning Monday-Friday and then teach an english class in the afternoon. On thursday they have OANSA (awanas) with the younger kids in the morning and older kids in the afternoon which I am also involved in. It is a great set-up and I really enjoy eating the meal with the kids every day after their classes in the morning.

OANSA out in front of the Care Center. Alfredo is the on

the right with the camera. The other man in the red shirt

is Giovanny, a house parent at the Ark who is very

involved in OANSA.

OANSA inside for a bible verse competition. This is one of

the classrooms at the Care Center.

ARK

This is the 2nd ark in the DR from Kids Alive. The ark in Jarabacoa was very successful so this is the same thing only in a different location. Right now there are 3 houses each one with 2 Dominican house parents and about 7-8 kids. Each family usually has 2-3 biological children and then the rest are children that have been rescued from really tough situations.

One of the Ark houses, one in construction in the distance

Here is the other side of the Ark. Big soccer field in the middle and

Basketball court in the distance. The other 2 houses to the right.

The children usually remain on the complex with a few exceptions such as school, church, "ark activities," and other special occasions. I am also in charge of sponsorship for the Ark, which involves a few projects a year and helping keep the sponsors from the US connected to the kids and the other way around. It is fun to work with the kids, but also can be a little difficult to get them fully motivated when they are trying to do projects for 9-10 sponsors!

A few of the kids hard at work on my first sponsorship project,

a little christmas card. Arts and Crafts have never been my

strength, but I'm giving it a shot!

The directors are Arsenio and Belkys who are very very good for the ark and have helped tremendously. They also serve as house-parents at the Ark and have 2 sons who live with them. I have really been able to get to know the kids at the Ark very well as I spend a few hours there every day whether it is to help with homework, read, or just play with the kids. It is a great experience and I am really enjoying everything about it!

Hope this clears it up a bit, if you have any more questions don't hesitate to contact me.