Magara

Matt's friend Raphael

Girls at school studying Luke

Our team! MMCC and Christ Church of Scottsdale

Greetings from the Dominican Republic!

Hola! We made it safe and sound to DR. We were delayed in Miami. All loaded on the plane and sat at the gate for 2 1/2 hours because a couple tried to smuggle their dog onto the plane. Really? They had a small dog in their bag and the pilot noticed it. They were escorted off the plane and then they had to find their luggage under the plane and remove it (international policy). So... that was fun. 

Our group coordinator down here with Food for the Hungry (FH) is Martires. He's spent a year up in the states and his english is great. So helpful... apparently four years of high school Spanish and another in college isn't quite enough. :) 

Today we went into two communities that FH has been working with and met with their leaders. FH has been with the first community (Magara) for two years. We got to see one of their summer class programs in session... they teach Bible to a group of students in a small, small "classroom". The children were studying Luke intently. Absolutely precious. When we asked them for one thing they've learned one little girl said (in Spanish:)) "That when we pray we can talk directly to God" Not gonna lie... there was a tear in my eye. Then we walked around the community. I'll post some photos next entry so you can see, but the homes were small... sometimes they had a door. There is a river that runs by the community (some boys were cooling off by skinny dipping so us ladies kept our distance) but when it rains all the area/homes that we walked around are completely under water. Most times they don't have any warning and lose everything only to start over after the waters drain. When we asked why they lived keep going back they said because there's no where else to go. 

The children here are beautiful.. something about the girls' eyes. They're a deep dark brown and many have an almond shape to them. Stunning. 

We ate lunch a little further in town at a little chinese place.. yea, I know right? It was kinda like Panda in our world. It felt safe. :) 

FH has been in the second community (El Tamarindo) a bit longer (7 years I think). We started at the school (pictures to come) and met with their community leaders. They told us about what they're doing and why and told us what they need. We walked around the school which was actually really nice compared to what we had seen up until then. There were 4 classrooms on the bottom floor and another three or so on the second. They get 700 kids through there in a day... 700. They have two sessions and I still have NO idea how they do it. It would be interesting to see it during the school year when the kids are actually in school.  Then we drove to a local church and met Pastor Antonio and his wife. They are doing amazing things. They met up with FH in 1998 after Hurricane George demolished the area. FH came for relief and was able to stay and create these relationships. Their church is tiny and they get about 250 in on a Sunday and recently did a VBS and had 500 kids! They've actually made a hole in a wall and added a concrete slab outside with a tarp and people still come. They shared how up until FH came, the church worked only within itself and now they work to serve the whole community. That's the reason for the growth. 

We're back at the hotel for tonight and we'll be going to Sierra Prieta tomorrow. That is the community MMCC will be working with for the next 5-10 years. We will also be doing home visits with our sponsor children, so we'll get to meet Sandra! Exciting! Will hopefully keep you posted and have more thoughts later. 

Please continue to pray for our safety and for God to continue revealing what He's doing here and how we can take part! 

Memorial Day Tucson Visit

The newlywed Sluyks invited us down to their pad for the night a few weeks ago. We had such a great time relaxing in their cute new place. They've made it a beautiful home. It's so fun for me to see Alexandra all settled into her role as a wife. She's been cooking up a storm down in Tucson... probably prepared more meals in her thre emonths of marriage than I did in my first three years! We packed a lot of fun into the weekend.

Goin on a walk and to run around in the grass. Sophia took a good spill right after this and has a nasty scrape on her knee. All better now.

We played the game of Life. I came in dead last two times in a row so I made them stay up late and play another game. We went to bed about 1:30am.... after I came in dead last for a THRID TIME IN A ROW.

The boys went on a hike in the morning. I don't have pictures of that and I'm going to pretend like they didn't go cliff jumping along the way. I DO have pictures of us at a little water park by their place. Sophia wasn't quite into it... she needed Emma there to show her how it's done. But Auntie Allie came through in the end and they had lots of wet fun!

Thanks for having us and we'll be down again soon!

Our 5th Anniversary

Jared and I celebreated 5 years of wedding bliss :) on June 5th. Our friends The Spires used their Hilton connections to get us a cheap get away down to Tucson. It was a beautiful resort and a beautiful night. I told Jared I was reading in an old journal from college and found a list of characteristics to look for in a husband (I think I read it in "Lady in Waiting"). I was in awe when I realized that God allowed me to meet and marry a man who possessed each and every quality that was listed:

• He puts others needs ahead of his own (Phil. 2:3-4)
• He rejoices in his relationship with Christ (John 15:11)
• He maintains proper relationships (Heb 12:14)
• He refuses to jump ahead of God's timing (Ps 37:7)
• He seeks to meet the practical needs of others (Eph 4:32)
• He stands for what is right (Rom 2:9-10)
• He follows through on his God-given responsibilities (I Cor. 4:2)
• He unsderstand the importance of feelings and emotions (Col. 3:12)

I remember reading the list and thinking "OK if he at least has SOME of these qualities I can make it work." How foolish of me to think that God would allow me to settle for less than His very best! If you know my husband, you know that he's this way not only for my family, but for every person he meets. I'm honored and blessed to share life with Jared and I'm looking forward to many many more years together!

He also surprised me on the way out of town. He took me to Vera Bradley and I got to pick out whatever I wanted! Happy Anniversary and Happy Birthday to me! I got this purse (notice it's a purse and NOT a diaper bag... such a big girl!) and a couple other little bags. So fun :)

Avey Baby!!

Avery Layne Cowden made her debut June 4, 2009 at 1:13pm.!

7 lbs. 11 oz 21 inchesBig sister Emma was very excited to meet Avery and instantly sang Twinkle Twinkle to her.

I so 'Cited!!!Aunt Marcie, uncle Jared and Sophia are all in love! She is a sweet, sweet baby girl!

Welcome to the world Avey Baby!!!

Badds Fam

We are taking advantage of Shells, Aaron and Jewell being home for a week. :) It's been way too long since we've been able to hang out with the Baddeley's. Sophia and Jewell actually look at each other now. It's just gonna get more fun!

Monday night we joined some friends at an indoor go kart track... I say go kart, but it was really fast little cars with no walls. Way too fast for my taste, but Jared enjoyed himself!

Thanks Watsons!

Some of the pro-drivers.

I think they really thought they were professional drivers! All suited up and ready to race!

Wacko Waco!

Ashleigh is officially Baylor Bound! I'm just so excited for her... and maybe a little jealous. Mom, Ash, Sophia and I got to go check out the campus and stay at the fabulous Swartz hotel! We had such a great time and are so thankful to Lesley and her family for allowing us to stay in their home. I loved getting to know Brett aka Willy Wonka. Bella Buns is all grown up and Rowan is only nine days younger than Sophia and a great cuddler. The kids had so much fun together. It's crazy to think that 10 years ago Lesley and I lived in Russell as freshman.

Who knew we'd be here one day!

Sophia on campus. It has changed so much in five years!

New buildings everywhere, but still so beautiful.
You just never know...

Breakfast time

Ninfa's :)

At the Erin McCarley concert.

Sic 'Em Smash!!! I love you!!