In anticipation for my upcoming trip to Nicaragua, I dug up some of the reports I sent to my friends and family from my last needgreating experience in the Dominican Republic in 2007-2008. It'll be interesting to see if the tone of my chronicles will reflect a change now that I'm older and wiser. No, I didn't type that last line with a straight face.
Originally composed on 10/24/07
Ok, so I got here alive. We established that. Cool.
On Monday, October 22, after 5 interesting (yet fun) days in New York (getting lost, being harassed on the subway, spending time with old friends and bonding with new ones, etc.) I boarded the plane that would bring me to DR's capital, Santo Domingo. I mention this because my DR experience really did begin on that plane. There were alot of Dominicans from NY on that plane...making it the loudest, rowdiest, most unorthodox plane ride I have ever experienced-and I loved every minute of it. As soon as the "Fasten Seatbelt" light went off, people were up and about, socializing, helping each other with babies, guys getting girls' phone numbers, etc. Living in California you just don't see a whole lot of Black people who are native Spanish speakers (although we know they exist), so I have to say I was a bit in awe to see all these people who looked like me speaking the fastest Spanish you'll ever hear.
Across the aisle from me on the plane I saw a pretty woman in her 60's, talking to the woman in the seat next to her. She was holding what looked like a bible, and she appeared to be showing the other lady something in the bible. I kept looking, and when she put the bible down in the seat next to her, I could see it more closely. Sure enough, it was a New World Translation. I knew it. When the other lady that was having the bible explained to her got up to go to the lavatory, I asked the one with the Bible if she was a witness, and of course, she was. Her name is Josefina, she lives in the Bronx, but was born and raised in Santo Domingo. She was on her way to visit her cousin, who is a pioneer there. Josefina comes from about three generations of faithful servants of Jehovah. When I told her why I was going to DR, she was so happy, and kept saying what a wonderful thing I was doing. I commended her for Witnessing to the lady, and I gave Josefina a Bible Teach book in Spanish to give to the other lady (I happened to have some in my carry-on bag-that NEVER happens!), and she placed it as soon as the lady got back to her seat. Josefina gave me some money to donate for the book...then another $20 because she thought I'd need it for my expenses. I fought her on it, but she insisted, and just thinking about everything that I had just witnessed made me cry. I think sometimes we need reminder that Jehovah's people are working hard and loving each other everywhere you go, not just in your own area. She even helped me with the immigration stuff I needed to take care of after I got off the plane.
Natalie, my roommate here in DR, was at the airport when I got there. But we didn't see the Bethelite who was supposed to pick us up. So we split up and walked around looking for him, and whern I met back up with Natalie, we had found him, standing there holding up a sign that said: "Watchtower Transportacion: April Gantt" (he let me keep the sign). We went to Bethel, where we got to attend the family Watchtower study (and I commented!!!), and then got a good night's sleep in our really nice room (they even had a food basket and sodas in the fridge for us). We went to morning worship, took a tour of the branch (on which they are currently doing construction to add additional buildings). It's already a gorgeous place, with lots of greenery, and embellishment of coral (which this island is mostly composed of.). Have you ever seen a Bethel branch with a swimming pool? Yeah, its that hot here, even in the fall. Nonetheless, this country is so beautiful.
We rode the bus to Cabrera (which is my residence right now) on Tuesday afternoon, and after freshening up, we went to bookstudy. Our conductor is a Canadian brother named Ryan Koyvisto. He's been here 13 years, and in the last few, he managed to marry a gorgeous Dominican sister named Kenya, and they have a beautiful baby girl named Kiara. (That will NOT happen to me, by the way, but they are a beautiful family, and obviously a great asset to the congregation here). The family who's house we use for the bookstudy has a little boy named Davison, who was born blind. But that kid is sharp. He reads Braille, comments just based on what he hears in is always on target. He has to feel around to see who people are, but after a few times, he knows everybody. I was ready to kidnap him and bring him back to the states immediately-he's just too cute! I experienced my first DR blackout at bookstudy. It appears that they're prepared, because this happens every day. I think that within maybe three minutes, we had two candles and a flashlight, and the show went on.
So far I love this place-except the visitors we get at the apartment at night. There is a ginormous spider living in the bathroom, and the biggest roaches you'll ever see (we had one show up last night the size of, well, I can't think of anything of comparable size, but its like an two inches wide and two and a half inches long). And they fly. I was horrified. Natalie is a soldier at this point because she didn't even flinch. I don't know WHAT I'm going to do. I guess I have to try to get things done early and be in bed by nightfall because that's when they come out. I guess I've already learned on thing about myself- I'm more of a girl than I thought, because I do NOT like seeing large bugs share my space! But other than that, everybody's really nice, the living is simple, the pace is laid-back, and its just really cool to have to go to open-air markets to buy food, and bleach vegetables, and live like a missionary, even for a little while. I feel bad for poor Natalie though. She's so all-American in her appearance that the guys won't leave her alone. I blend in fine, so I'm not having problems yet. But I can't wait to go to service tomorrow. Its too early to miss home, but I do wish I could share this experience with more of the people that I love. Next email should include pictures. In the meantime, you can write me, either via email or at our address:
Calle Maximo Acosta 12, Cabrera, Province Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Dominican Republic
Natalie just got a package from her parents today, so apparently, the mail system works. But if anybody DOES decide to send me a package of anything (not that I'm soliciting, but just in case...), the best way to send it is registered mail, that way I have to sign for it. "But I'm loving everything about this so far, and I'm thankful to Jehovah, and to everybody that helped me do this, either materially or just by encouraging me to reach out and achieve my goals even if they do seem crazy. I'm gonna get home now, so we can cook before the power goes out :)
Love you all,
April
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