1/7

First things first: I am offering a prize to whoever can think of a better title for my blog. A good, creative, un-cliche title. The prize may include but is not limited to the following: a high five, a ride on my new bike, a complimentary coffee drink, a half-burnt candle, and a pat on the back. Come to think of it, I need prize ideas too. I just need ideas.

I am sorry that my blog is so uninspired. The heat here scrambles my head and for some reason I can't think straight to ever write anything that would be entertaining to read. I will work on this.

On Thursday morning Thomas came to the house to pick me up and said that Brent was sick. He had eaten some raw salad (bad idea) and got an amoeba from it. I named the amoeba Phil. Poor Brent was vomiting and having dihurrea all day long and the boys assigned me to stay home and be his nurse. I had mixed feelings about staying back with him. First of all, I didn't know how I would be able to help him. I also knew I would be bored out of my mind with nothing but a book and Dominican TV all day. However, I was glad to have a day off from painting. It turned out to be really nice to have a day to unwind, and I brought Brent water, made him soup (which he promptly threw up), cleaned up said throw up, and tried to encourage him while he moaned on the couch. It was nice.

Friday Brent wrestled with Phil at home without me, and I went out with Thomas and Melqui (our World Servants slave driver) to finish painting the 2nd clinic. This was one of the most intense days of physical labor I have ever experienced. When we broke for lunch, Melqui dropped us back off at the clinic while he ran to get paint, and Thomas and I couldn't figure out how to get back into the clinic. We had the keys but they would not work and I recruited basically the entire village to help us figure it out. There were about 30 kids all gathered around watching and laughing as the stupid Gringos strugged with the door for about 45 minutes. We finally got it unlocked and Melqui returned with more paint about five minutes later wondering why we hadn't gotten any work done--this place keeps us humble!

This weekend we had training for the entire World Servants summer staff (translators, cooks, interns, bus drivers, etc.). It was really fun to meet everybody! We stayed the weekend at a camp in La Romana and had training in this little hut with a grass roof. Mostly everything was in Spanish and I bravely turned down a translator but after a whole day of only Spanish I could feel my heartbeat in my brain. We went swimming last night and he staff managed to build a standing pyramid of 10 people--pretty good teamwork huh??

At training this weekend I got to meet Laura, a girl who is teaching English in a village called Consuelo. She is there all alone for 7 weeks and we both were loving having another American woman to talk to. We have so much in common. She is a 20 year old poli sci major with an international focus, ran xc and track in high school, is 5'4" with blonde hair and green eyes, loves coffee, introverted--it was like meeting my twin. On my week off I am going to go visit her for a few nights in Consuelo. I was so blessed to meet a friend, but the weekend went so fast and now its just me and the boys again...

Don't get me wrong. I love the boys, I really do.

Anyway, tomorrow we are going to finish paining the 2nd clinic. The work should go fast since Brent is now healed and will be there to help Thomas and Melqui and I.

HIGHLIGHT: At the camp we stayed at, the owner has a pet goose. The goose's name is Tito, and he walks a few paces behind the owner everywhere he goes.

PRAYER REQUESTS:
1. I only poop about 3 times a week here. Darn rice.
2. Its hard to be the only girl. Sometimes I get really lonely because I feel like I don't really have anyone to relate to.
3. This week has been s.l.ow. I can't believe I have 6 weeks left here. I miss home a lot and will need a lot of grace to make it until August.

That's all for now! Everybody go sit in the 70 degree weather for me okay?