Happy New Year!!

Since I last wrote....

I had a week of Dengue fever.
I traveled outside of the Capitol seven times.
I had two friends visit over the holidays.
I have eaten pork roasted on a spit.
I have eaten mangu like seventy times.
I slept under a mosquito net in the campo and pulled water out of a hand-dug well.
I cried with an AIDS orphan.
I laid awake all night listening to Bachata and fights in the street.
I learned how to dance Merengue in a hallway with an enormous joven named "chiquito" (small guy).
I went to the beach five times with dominican buddies.
I missed all of you very much.

My dear family,

I Love you and pray that your Christmas and New Year's celebrations were full of life and lots of Italian food. :)

I have had a Dominican holiday, learning new traditions and games, eating tons of roasted pork and boiled bananas. I have been traveling around
quite a bit, visiting other parts of the DR that have a big influence on the capital city culture. (which would explain why I have not been at my computer). Dominicans in the Capitol usually take off for their birth-places during the holidays to visit family and eat comfort food. I was adopted by a family in San Cristobal, about 30 minutes south-east of the Capitol, and had the joy of sharing Christmas Eve's midnight supper with them.

I want to thank all of you for praying for me, for encouraging me, for walking alongside me during this growing and learning process. I am about to complete 3 months here in the DR. It has been an interesting transition into Caribbean culture, and during my so-called "orientation process" I have expanded my horizons with relationships and ministry. The transition into the missionary culture is equally interesting, and is full of its own unique joys and challenges, and I would appreciate continued prayer for a unified vision and purpose.

Praises for this first day of the new year:
1. Two of my girl-friends from college visited me last week, and their presence brought me a lot of encouragement and joy. Nikki and Ana, I love you! Thanks for the fotos for this blogpost!
2. My Dominican family is growing every day. No matter where I go, or what part of the city I stay in, I find myself among dear friends.
3. The Lord is clarifying the vision for transformational community in Invivienda (a marginal barrio near where I live) and is opening the door for transformation among families.

Requests for this first day of the new year:
1. That the Lord would continue to keep my heart centered in Him and His word DAILY. This is always a struggle when the work is going well.
2. That the Lord would clarify our vision for Sabana Perdida and the youth work we want to begin here.
3. That the Lord would strengthen the relationships in my Dominican teams and with my American co-workers.

With much love and best wishes for this new year,

Allison Crino