¡Bienvenido, Harrison!

Our teammates, Cory and Laura Beth Lamb, welcomed their first child into the world on Saturday morning. Harrison Henry Lamb weighed in at 9lbs, 1oz and 50cm long. (How many inches is that? We were too tired to do the math at the hospital.)

We can't say enough about the delightful, faithful, unflappable, dependable, kind and caring Lamb family. It is an honor - a true joy - to serve with them in this place.

And Harrison is cute enough to keep around, don't you think?!

iBurn

So... guess who's the gringo who fell asleep on the beach with his iPod on his chest?



Yeah. That's me.


I would say I'm feeling sheepish, but i think lobster-ish might be a better description.

Hot Topic

Hot Tamales?

Hot topic.

The other day, after we dropped our friends, the Normans, off at the airport, we stopped at a big American-style grocery store in Sosua.

As we were checking out, we were floored (FLOORED, I tell you!) to find bags of Hot Tamales available for purchase.

We immediately start throwing them into our cart, hand over fist. We reflect on our recent conversation with Bart (Norman), where we shared that one of the major drawbacks of living in the Dominican Republic is that you can't get Hot Tamales. We take the miraculous sudden appearance of said Hot Tamales as a sign from God that we should eat all of them.

Actually, we just buy three little bags: two regular, and one "fire." What we don't anticipate, as we're quietly rejoicing, is the stir we're about to cause at the cash register.

Everyone - the checker, the baggers - takes notice of the Hot Tamales. They warn us that they are very hot, then the one guy with previous Hot Tamale experience (a gringo had given him a few several years ago) tells all about the tears that the candy immediately brought forth from his eyes, and they way it "peeled" his throat.

Everyone is very interested. Managers and other cashiers come over to join in the light-hearted fun and apparently, quite interesting conversation.

TJ and I share that we LOVE Hot Tamales, and this is the first time we've EVER found them on the island. Everyone confirms that this is, in fact, a momentous occasion.

We tell them that the "fire" ones must be even hotter than the regular ones. They can not believe this fact, and repeat it to each other over and over again. "Can you believe that - he says the "fire" ones are even hotter!!!!"

We pay for our groceries amidst a hailstorm of earnest warnings and well-meanting admonitions for our health and esophageal safety, walk to our car, rip into our Hot Tamales and marvel at the weirdness that is this country that we live in.

You see, this is an American-style supermarket, very professional and VERY busy. But business absolutely stopped for 2-3 minutes while ALL of the front employees came over to share in the Hot Tamale hullabaloo.

Funnily enough, we came away asking ourselves: Why not?!

All is quiet, all is calm...

It is election day, and an eerie quiet has settled over the little town of Rio San Juan. You see, during the elections, the sale of alcohol is prohibited throughout the country. Without rum, there's no fun in loud music, and without loud music, you might actually have to talk to the girl you're sitting across the table with. So, for tonight, there is peace in our little apartment.

In honor of the elections- I have a story.

Several weeks ago, Alfredo and his crew of munchkins came to our gate and announced that one of the presidential candidates, Amable Aristy Castro, was coming to town. He bills himself as the "president of the poor", and is known for handing out rice and throwing $50 peso bills from his helicopter or Hummer on the campaign trail.

Alfredo and his buddies are ecstatic. "When Amable comes- anyone can ask him for anything they want- and he gives it to them. He's the president of the poor, you know!"

Jensi replies, nodding "I'm asking for a bike."

Alfredo looks stricken " No- I'M going to ask for a bike. Don't copy me, stupid."

Niño rises above the fray, saying "I don't need a bike. I just want money. Money for toys. Lots of them. Thats really all I need."

Not wishing to burst the thin veneer of their euphoria, I told them I was happy for them. They skipped off arguing about colors for their bicycles; perfectly at ease in the faith that Amable would come through.

As for me, I don't quite need a bicycle, but I wish for that kind of faith.
- TJ

Dear TJ,

You've only been out of town for 2 days, and you'll be home tomorrow. But the thing is...

I miss you.

I miss you when I'm hauling 5 gallon jugs of water up the stairs.

I miss you when I'm trying to start the generator, when the dishes need to be washed.

I miss you when I need someone to get me a Diet Coke, and when I can't decide what to eat for dinner.

I miss you when the kids stop by to tell me about their day, and when they want help picking mangoes out of our tree.

I miss you when I have to lift the garage gate, and when Gus wants food. Or water. Or to go outside.

I miss you when the palm trees blow in the breeze, and the waves crash on the shore.

I miss you when water needs to be pumped or the power needs to be flipped.

I miss you when I wake up, and when I go to sleep. And while I'm sleeping.

I can do all of those things by myself, I guess.

But I love being your helpmate in life. I love all the ways you help us live our life here.

Love,
Me

Hurry up, Harrison!

Harrison Henry Lamb is about to make his entrance into the world, and we spent the day celebrating with mommy-to-be, Laura Beth.

Norma-versary

Tomorrow we will celebrate one week in the Dominican with Bart, Kristen & Elijah Norman.

We are having a GREAT time. We've played with big kids, little kids, walked in the rain, toured the town, celebrated Dominican Labor Day, and (nearly) attended a Haitian wedding.

Most of all, we enjoy watching baby Elijah wrap the entire town of Rio San Juan around his little finger. Elijah (or "Elias/Elian") is the stuff legends are made of - children show up at our gate, chanting his name and calling to play with him.

Sharing secrets with Alfredo and Jensi.

Soaked from the rain: the Normans are troopers.

Always pics of cute babies, but don't forget about their gorgeous mamas!

The Lion's Den

Today at Club Chiquito: Daniel and the Lion's Den.

With help from our friends and visitors Bart, Kristen, and Elijah Norman, we set our inner beasts loose with some paper bags, plates and markers.



Lions in the jungle.



Lions eating the cameraman.


The only downside to a craft like this is that I think the kids were disappointed when the lions DIDNT eat Daniel... -TJ