Day 4

Today we met up with a sister Naima in the congregation who is involved in sign language and she took us out in service.  We walked crazy far and took the bus where possible to visit some of the deaf names that they have already found.  Bev talked with a woman named Sherri-Ann on her back steps and got to use the iPod with the scriptures on it.  Alyssa got to talk with a woman named Sharon who lives in the just "smile, wave, & don't stay too long" part of the neighborhood. She was very sweet. Along with those we found about 4 or 5 deaf today total which was wonderful. Some very nice, some a little aprehensive but regardless rewarding. I was the designated "scripture finder" since i wasn't quite ready to sign. Preperation is definitely key. Bev & Alyssa did such a good job. Poor Marchet was sick today.

But tomorrow is another day. & i cant wait. Tonight will definitly be a better night since we decided to move the matresses into the livingroom onto the semi cooler tile, & invested in the cheapest fan we could find. It's hot pink & the writing on it is in Japanese. It's wonderful. When we plugged it in we all took a moment & sat in front of it.

Currently we are @ Ray & Donna Alexis' house for dinner & it smells delicious. She's being very kind to the vegetarian. Eating on an island you hafta be careful. never really know what your eating sometimes. AND!!! she just said right now, since they're showing us around the island tomorrow that she will take us to EMERALD POOL!!!! i am so excited. It's really just the one place i desperately wished to see @ some point on this trip. That, & kayak & jump off a waterfall. But we'll hafta see about that. Everything has been so great so far & can hardly wait for 2morro.  There's so much more i wish we could blog about but we would be here all night. Anyways we'll tell u all more soon!

~We have a perfect view of the sun setting right outside our apartment & it is beautiful!~

~Oh & just one more thing... My favorite quote for the day 2day was "Hey baby, the color or your hair is like the color of my heart." yea..

Day 3

We weren't entirely sure where to meet for service this morning so we walked to the Kingdom Hall and intended to be there by 9 thinking thats probably where they meet.  Fortunately we took a wrong turn and ended up finding a puppy that was ditched in the river.  We rescued the little puppy and took it to the Kingdom Hall.  There was no group that met at the Kingdom Hall that day for service but two sisters were at the Hall cleaning so we helped them clean while Nat took care of River, the puppy.  We weren't able to keep her for the month but a family in the congregation is going to try and find a home for her.  We also went to the meeting last night which was really nice.  All the friends were very welcoming and it was nice talking the elders to get an idea of what exactly we will be doing and how we can help the most while we are here. 

Day 2

We unpacked and got settled in the apartment.  We could compare the heat to this...have you ever been on the sun? The temperature in the night and the day... yeah not much of a difference.  Little side point Bev and Nat now have pillows, no more need for jeans and sweatshirts for pillows.  Apparently Marchet and Alyssa had two on their beds and Bev and Nat had none on their beds, didn't find that out until 3:30 in the morning.  We went with a sister, Eileen, to check out the beach, Donkey Beach, and also go grocery shopping at the Brizee mart, which had a wide variety of expensive expired meats and nasty fruits and veggies.  Bought tons of cleaning supplies and started scrubbing down the apartment.

Here in Dominica Day 1

Getting here went really smooth, it is absolutely beautiful.  The Alexis' met us at the airport and got us a taxi to Canefield, where the apartment is.  Nelson, our taxi driver was awesome! He stopped along the way (the drive was 1 hour) so we could take pictures.  The drive was through the mountains and the jungle.  He bought us passion fruit and picked lemon grass for us and narrated the whole ride and told us all about the island.  We arrived at the apartment despite no street signs or any real landmarks.  The apartment is on the top of a mountain and has a great view of Canefield, the Canefield airport and the ocean.  The first night was the most eventful and comical so far.  At 3:30 am all four of us were awake from the wonderful sounds of roosters, goats, people, cars, barking dogs, chickens, crickets, and the legendary crapaud.  Needless to say we didn't get much sleep that night.

~Nelson picking lemon grass~

& the passion fruits. Yum! iv actually never seen one personally.

This is it...

Yep. Here i sit. Blogging. When i should be packing. (i procrastinate terribly) i've packed almost everything but i need 2 rearrange some. Condense. This is actually my first blogging experience, thanx 2 Marchet, & i find it quite addictive if u can't tell. I have a feeling im going 2 be the only one faithful 2 this. But that's ok. I really should be working right now but i am pooped. Just got home from service & it was roasty toasty 2day. I need another shower.
My time is going well. I cant wait to see what it's like down there. The heat here's probably good. Prepping us 4 what it's gonna be like in Dom. They say it's their rainy season so that should hopefully cool us down.
I'm gonna miss everyone. This is the longest i've ever been from home. Or out of the country for that matter. And were gonna be eating like natives which will be awesome..& scary @ the same time. Were in the Crapaud eating season..no lie.
Today was the first day i broke in my new shoes for Dom & guess what? I got a blister...yea. My feet must just be blister-prone. Cuz they are actually very comfortable. Minus the rubbing. Good thing i bought about 4 boxes of bandaids. I come prepared.
I wanted to go to starters 2night. Say farewell to some of my friends. But i dont know if it's gonna be too much or not. We'll see. Well i should really finish packing. Next blog will be about our arrival to DOMINICA!!!! & the flight...**Yikes!**Stay tuned.

"Peace be the Journey."

Two more Days...

Tis the final countdown...soon alyssa will be spastic thru the airport, marchet will be swatting the imaginary bugs out of the air, & bev will be holding my hand so i dont get taken by "mashers." Projecting into the future, given the preperation involved in ariving to our destination, its likely that one of us may not make it alive...ok im slightly exaggerating, I just cant wait till we are there. It's funny how you can have x amount of dollars and it magically disappears right before a trip. But on a more positive note, i x'd off just about everything on my list. & mom, the dear that she is, is going to fedex goodies to the apartment. Just the essentials, cereal, & cereal. For everything else were likely going to have to climb a tree or wrestle a python. Well tomorrow is it. & then we leave @ about 4am tuesday... we'll see how it goes.

Three More Days...

~Nat~
It's too early (goin out in early this morning) were all on a major time crunch. You should see the bags under my eyes..Any who, i cant believe it's only 2 days!! Things have gotten slightly stressful with the tying up of all loose ends, but i think we'v got it under control. Bev just did a bajillion loads of laundry which im very greatful for, & i dropped money that i dont have on some very nice walking shoes which i desperately needed. I cant wait to start posting dom pictures!!

"Take me to your Crapaud!"

I didn't put myself in the picture muah ha ha

~Nat~ @ the Schochler house w/ fam & friends...a dangerous combination. Anticipation is building. The count down? 4 days & 8 1/2 hours...35 seconds....



~Bev~All I know is if I survive working on monday, chances are that I may join them on a little island called Domineeeka (not Dominican Republic) on tuesday! Anticipation is building (natty loves to copy off me) & im pretty stinkin stoked! Chances are, THIS may be the last time I type on this ridiculous blog.



~Marchetti~ Bring on the heat, bugs, and nature!!!!


~Alyssa~Under threat of death am I posting on this blog, see Nat I finally wrote something! Can't wait for Dominica, its going to be absolutely awesome and i can't wait to share our experiences and pictures with everyone.


~Nat~ Just to reassure all of you, this blog will become much more interesting... & i have to apologize in advance for Bev. She doesn't get out much. In all seriousness we are beyond excited, & eager 2 meet the deaf in the congregation along w the ones we meet in service. Me, not officially being in the sign, im feeling a bit of aprehention, but mainly anticipation (we've over-emphasized this point). Regardless, this trip is going to rock. Oh...for those of you who desire to know what a "Crapaud" is, go to http://www.visitdominica.com/.. click on "tips" @ the top of the screen & scroll to the bottom. Maybe it's just us but we were very amused.