Yes, I am alive.

by Marshall on October 9, 2010

I’m here in the Dominican Republic.

My first lesson:  Don’t have a layover in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The airport is very boring, food options are limited, and they crank the AC to arctic levels. I read, did word searches, and walked laps around the terminal to pass the time.

Needless to say, I was very happy to be picked up in Santo Domingo by new amigos Liz and Max who work for HOPE/Esperanza. After a night at a hotel in Santo Domingo, my host family/parents picked me up this morning. Freddy and Consuelo are extremely nice and I feel very welcomed by them. They have an apartment on the northwest side of town. My bedroom, which I’m writing from now (internet at home = huge), was formerly Consuelo’s art studio (she is a painter) and still has some cool remnants around. The whole living room is full of paintings.

My room. Can you tell what's painted on the wall?

Freddy and Consuelo’s youngest son Joel is also at home. They have a little chihuahua, Pancho, and a bird named Cookie. I’m looking forward to getting to know them better.

Overall, I’m very thankful to be here and I feel very welcomed. Next challenge:  Can I find my way to the office on Monday?

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Waiting at the gate

by Marshall on October 8, 2010

So long, USA.

Hello, Dominican Republic.

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Final Countdown

by Marshall on October 5, 2010

After a week and a half of visits to the Dominican Consulate, various medical clinics, and our nation’s capital, I’m finally ready to ship out. Almost.

First, tomorrow (Wednesday) I head to Lancaster, PA, home of a few Amish and the main office of HOPE International. Thursday will feature orientation, training, paperwork, and prayer for my upcoming trip. Come Friday I’ll be out of the country…Out of the frying pan and into the fire, as it were.

Thanks for tuning in!

And if you happened to be searching for the 80′s most epic rock ballad…

We’re leaving together
But still it’s farewell
And maybe we’ll come back
To earth, who can tell?
I guess there is no one to blame
We’re leaving ground
Will things ever be the same again?

It’s the final countdown
The final countdown

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Feeling flighty

by Marshall on September 14, 2010

The deed is done. On Friday I bought my one-way plane ticket to the Dominican. Will I ever fly back?

Don’t worry. I will. I’m just holding off on buying the return flight. Here are the details:

Wednesday, October 6:  Chicago to Lancaster, PA

Thursday, October 7:  Training and orientation at HOPE International’s main office

Friday, October 8:  Fly from Philadelphia to Santo Domingo, DR. Maybe work on my tan during my 4-hour layover in San Juan, Puerto Rico?

American Airlines, don’t fail me now!

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A hopeful return to the Dominican Republic

by Marshall on August 10, 2010

“It’s déjà vu all over again.” – Yogi Berra

In 2009 I had my first taste of life in the Dominican Republic. (See posts here and here). In just under 2 months I’ll be back for seconds…and this time it’ll be more of a smorgasbord.

From October 2010 – June 2011, HOPE International is letting me cut my teeth in on-the-ground microfinance as a Dominican Republic Fellow. I’ll stumble through Dominican Spanish, commit many cultural faux pas, and  attempt to implement a new cost measurement system in bank branches around the Caribbean nation.

HOPE is a Christian international microfinance nonprofit whose mission is to invest in the dreams of the poor in the world’s underserved communities so that they might be released from physical and spiritual poverty. HOPE doesn’t have the size as some of the “giants” of the microfinance community (i.e. Opportunity International, FINCA, Grameen Foundation), and yet it has a deep impact wherever it operates.

HOPE International's global reach

What distinguishes HOPE is its holistic definition of and approach to poverty - certainly a physical condition, but also emotional, relational, and spiritual. To some this might seem nebulous and unnecessary, but I think it reflects an understanding of what it is to be human – body, heart, mind, and soul. I obviously have much more to learn about the organization, but I’m very happy to be joining the HOPE team (which includes my cousin-in-law Chris Horst).

In the Dominican Republic (DR), HOPE operates through  another nonprofit, Esperanza International. If you know a little español, you’ve realized that “esperanza” means “hope”. Despite this fortuitous coincidence, they are distinct organizations.

Over the next months I’ll be prepping for the 9-month adventure, raising support, and blogging about thoughts on microfinance, culture, economics, poverty, and…if we’re lucky…a few UFO sightings.

So stop back here like Chicagoans vote:  early and often!

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Almost Gone

by Marshall on April 2, 2009

Hi Everyone,

It’s been a busy last 2 weeks as I’ve packed in tests & projects as well as preparations for the trip. I leave less than  48 hours!

It’s hard to believe, especially since life continues to move at the same pace. In only a few days I will be traveling to an island in the Caribbean. It will be sunny and in the high 80s next week, but we won’t be hitting the beaches…

Preparations: We’ve been preparing a lot this week:  a final logistics meeting on Tuesday night, a prayer service on Wednesday, and team dinner tonight (Thursday). I wish I could say I feel prepared to go, but I’m learning that I can never be fully ready for when God shows up in my life. But I’m definitely excited!

Our team will be driving an hour south to the Pittsburgh airport  on Saturday morning to catch our flights. Traveling is a little complicated, since I decided to join this trip later than some of the others. Most of the team will be flying on an earlier flight, while mine departs at 3:20 to Miami, then touching down in Santo Domingo at 10:30pm. The others’ flight is due in Santo Domingo at 10pm, so it should work out well. But still, pray that we would all be able to meet up successfully in the airport. Fortunately I speak Spanish, so the worst-case scenario is not as bad.

After meeting up in the airport, we will head to Las Canitas outside of Santo Domingo. We learned recently that for lodging we will be split into pairs and stay in homes of families in the neighborhood. This was very exciting news to me, as it will provide a lot more opportunities for interaction with the people & customs of the Dominican Republic. Dominicans pride themselves on their hospitality, so we should be in good hands.

On Sunday we will attend a lively Palm Sunday service (Domingo de Ramos) at the catholic church, which I hear is quite the experience. Dominicans, like many Caribbean peoples, are a very lively and passionate people, so it will be fun to worship together with them.

As for our work, the details are still somewhat uncertain. Sister Mary Providence has told us that she has everything planned for us, but what exactly that is…we’ll find out! In general, we will be helping the nuns with their normal ministries to the community – preparing and sharing meals with elderly people, working with children, visiting homes in the community, and possibly doing some painting at the convent. As with any mission trip, we will just have to be flexible and have a good attitude about whatever God has for us to do.

God has opened up an opportunity to serve my team by leading some of the daily devotions and discussions. I still need to do a little planning for that, but God will equip me for every good work that he has for me to do. Hopefully I can be used to help build the spiritual focus and unity of our group while on the trip, through spending time with God and sharing with others what he is teaching me throughout the day.

After (almost) a week of work, service, and eye-opening experiences, I’ll fly back to Chicago (through San Juan, Puerto Rico) and arrive home on Thursday night!

Follow along with Twitter: To help you all follow along, (and at the suggestion of my oldest brother), I’ve set up a Twitter account, which I then linked to this blog – check it out on the right. I’ll be able to send short text message updates from the DR, which will post right here to this website! Hopefully I’ll have adequate cell coverage and it will go through (the rates are actually quite affordable).

Thank you to all of you for your love and support and shared excitement as I embark on this trip. I have felt very loved as you have sent me emails and comments letting me know that you are following the trip and praying for me. Don’t stop now! I need your prayers more than ever.

Things to pray for: Travel safety & that we would all be able to meet easily once we’re down in the DR. Pray for the family that I’ll be staying with, that they wouldn’t have too much trouble dealing with me. Pray for me as I lead the devotionals and other group – reflection times. Pray that I would be emptied of myself and my own strength and be filled with the Holy Spirit, and feed on Christ daily. Pray that our team would both make an impact and be impacted to become more like Jesus. And pray that God would protect us during our stay and on the way home.

Thanks again, I love you all!

Marshall

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ICO Santo Domingo

by Marshall on March 3, 2009

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.           ~1 Peter 4:10-11

As some of you now know, I am heading off to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic over my final Easter Break of college (April 4-10). There, with a team of 9 other Grove City students and a fearless professor, we will partner with the Sisters of Divine Providence to serve the people of Santo Domingo. Hence, Inner-City Outreach Santo Domingo, or ICO Santo Domingo for short.

The Ministry:  The Sisters of Divine Providence are a small convent of four nuns from around the world:  Puerto Rico, Germany, Korea, and the United States. They followed God’s call to serve the extremely impoverished in barrio Las Cañitas, one of the poorest neighborhoods in Santo Domingo. Sister Mary Providence Kriley, from the US, is the aunt of Dr. Charles Kriley, Professor of Chemistry here at Grove City College (hey, that’s where I go!). Dr. Kriley has been Santo Domingo many times to serve alongside the Sisters of Divine Providence, and is helping organize this trip.

The Mission:  The mission of our trip is to catch a glimpse of our God’s heart for the poor of Las Cañitas, one of the most deprived neighborhoods in Santo Domingo. We’ll do this by helping the Sisters as they minister to the sick & elderly in their own homes, serve food to and eat with local community members, and help out with youth programs. It’s not glamorous work, but it will allow us a lot of interaction with dominicanos. I’m sure both their physical poverty and spiritual vibrancy will be a shock.

The Support:  Recently, I was struck by a few things I believe only half-heartedly. One of these realizations was my lack of faith in the power of prayer. This is not good on my part, to put it lightly. God can and does work powerfully when Godly people pray hard.

My Thoughts & Goals:  I’m pretty pumped for this trip – there are so many reasons why. Service projects and mission trips have played a huge role in both my spiritual formation and personal perspective on the world. In high school I had the unique privilege to travel to Costa Rica twice and establish a relationship with a local church and youth group there. Since then, however, I have not been a part of any intentional mission trip – though I have learned more and more that life is just one big mission. So, the opportunity to have my faith stretched and challenged is a little scary, but even more exciting. I’m also really looking forward to being able to listen, speak, and live in a Spanish speaking culture. Spanish is definitely something I want to cultivate and use long-term. I feel like God has given me a knack for Spanish, a mind for economics and business, and a passion to see brokenness of this world restored. Because of this, a career in international economic development intrigues me – but it all begins with seeing poverty as God does. In addition, I’m hoping to learn a lot about poverty. So, This trip is an amazing opportunity to do so by serving some of the most impoverished people in the Western Hemisphere. That said, my thoughts and goals for this most likely will go right out the door the moment I step off the plane, to be replaced by what my Father has in store.

Prayer Requests: I’m hoping you can join me in praying for this trip – whether its just a quick prayer right now or something more regular, God honors it and it makes a difference. To help you out and encourage you to stay engaged in prayer, I’ll include specific prayer requests once a week (at least) leading up to the trip. And feel free to email me and ask for other ways to pray if I don’t give enough detail.

This week has been good for our team as we worked together on fundraising (selling tasty soft pretzels!) – please pray that we continue to grow into a unified team, getting to know each other better. Pray also for my spiritual preparation, that my heart would be made sensitive to the Holy Spirit to get out of my comfort zone when I see opportunities to serve, share the gospel, and love sacrificially.

Well, that’s about it for now. Leave a comment, ask a question, and come back soon for more updates!

~M

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