Random Kindness

The beginning:  On our flight from Dallas to Miami, an elderly woman sat in the aisle seat on our row.   When drinks were served,  she visited with the attendant in Spanish and ordered a Sierra Mist.  We ordered one Sierra Mist and one Cranapple.  We like mixed drinks and blended our two. You see, on long flights, we often look for something to occupy our minds.  We offered our Spanish row mate some Cranapple for her Sierra Mist.  She accepted and liked it.   We chatted a bit in our broken Spanish.  She was on her way to Venezuela to see either a niño or nina of either her son or daughter (When one is learning a language, one often misses the details!).   Soon, as we reclined, (no Knee Defenders behind us) she tapped Jim on the shoulder.  With a smile, she handed us a new bag of Fritos.   That's one reason why we like the Spanish culture.

On Monday night, our first night in the Genesis House, a street dog decided to make his debut and barked his lungs out allllllll night!  Grrrrrrr.   And, a rooster added to the chorus and went on a crowing streak beginning at 3:30 a.m.  Clearly, he can't tell time.  No worries. As fate would have it, this entire situation took a turn for the better. On the following day,  Jim and I were walking home from a meeting when we heard loud, struggling and disagreeable sounds coming from an overgrown vacant lot.   We turned just in time to see a squawking rooster struggling to free itself from the twisted vines.  But, to no avail for right on its tail feathers came a nimble and wild street dog who rapidly advanced and apprehended the flailing rooster by its neck.  Feathers flew.
Tuesday night: totally quiet. Dog full, rooster.....well.....   Unexpected accommodations are yet another reason why we like the Spanish culture.


Today, we went to the market to shop for the Genesis House. While Jim checked out the groceries and paid, I ordered 3 personal pan pizzas from the food court:  one for each of us and one for our wonderful new friend and driver, Jose, who was now on his way to pick us up.  The  order came to a little over 600 pesos (about $12.00 dollars).   Jim had handed me 500 pesos, but now he was deep in the checkout lane and I was deep into an order....in Spanish!  Then,  someone standing beside me said, "Miss. No worries.  I will pay what you owe." (There is something buried there. See it?) I was overwhelmed by his kindness to a Gringo and a stranger. I genuinely thanked him in Spanish, but decided to change the order to 2 pizzas: we would split our personal and still have one for our driver.   Perfect ending.  His kind offer was another reason why we like the Spanish culture.  

Simply put, we have been on the receiving end of random kindness.
You probably have, too.  And doesn't it bless you!

Keep Looking Up and thank you for following our blog.

J:m and L:nda

Adios Once Again, Amigoes!

Sometimes we have to pinch ourselves.    We can't believe we get to do what we do as often as we do and that the do-ing takes place where it does!    We have a new assignment beginning Mid-September until mid-October in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.   Here is what is going on and here is how we fit in.    

We have the privilege of being involved with the Genesis Project, which is an initiative to plant 28 churches right in the middle of large Spanish-speaking cities in Central and South America and the Caribbean Islands


Our assignment is supporting those volunteer missionaries who come to the Dominican Republic for intensive training workshops.    They are young, Spanish-speaking professionals who have accepted the call, " Who will go?" and have raised financial support that allows them to commit to their assigned cities for two years.   They have been preparing;  now, they are moving toward the starting line and entering the race.

Here is where we come in-managing the 5 bedroom, 3 bath household where they will live, study, and learn during this month.   And, our arms are bruised from the pinching because we get to live with them, cook for them, and serve them.   ....And, all in Español!   What a joy to have learned enough Spanish in the last two years to be invited into this mission.    We have been invited to attend some of their training workshops and to tag along on some of their field trips.   We can smell vocabulary enhancement!  

 We have begun the process of packing, referring to our faithful two-page, three-column list of what to take along for this adventure. Our third suitcase contains gifts, educational materials, and favorite foods that are expensive outside of the states.   This suitcase is always compliments of American Airlines, saving us the cost of an extra baggage fee!  We look forward to teaching English as a Foreign Language and for the relationships that have a way of developing when languages and cultures are exchanged.  

We delight in these journeys that call us out headfirst into spiritual submersion and discovery.  In all our assignments, we gain greater insight and sensitivity into the transforming power that belongs only to the church and its fruit.   

We are moving over to let you find a steppingstone              

and take this walk with us.  Pray that we will see the
need before it is visible
and hear the request before it is spoken.

Keep Looking Up
J:m and L:nda