Visitors - It's a Good Thing

In some ways, things are getting more and more routine. And in some ways, they never will be. Visitors and an open house are the most routine of my days here. Some local, so not so local.

This past week, my sisters (Yuvonia and Wanda) and a family friend (Debbie Nickens from Melbourne c/c) came for a visit. Really my first USA visitors. It was so good to have them. I was trying to express to them that just the visiting was the special part. Not necessarily what we did, or what we saw, just having them here to validate me and the things I’m trying to do. And letting me know that I’m still semi-normal; no matter how weird I might get in this place. And what they saw was not a neat pretty thing. In some ways, we start over every day. In some ways, it seems we struggle with structure and direction far more that I did in the US. But, they were here to experience it, on the front end. For them to make a special trip, spend tons of money, and take the time to make this trip was sacrificial at many many levels. How great is that!

The crew from S Avenue comes in this next week. That would be 3 of the youth from my urban work there, Tyler, Annie, and Diondra. Plus my favorite friend and sister, Jacynth as the leader! Top top kids, or more like young adults. And it was always my dream from the beginning of the S Avenue work to have kids from that group to come to places like this and help others, and now, by God’s grace, that’s what they’re doing, for the 2nd year in a row. But, what makes this year different is that these kids are spending mostly their own money to come. Not cheap mind you. So what a great blessing to have them.

I move houses just before I leave. It turns out most of my work is right here, hosting in my house, day and night. Just last night, at 9:00PM some guys came by to ask if they could spend the night, hanging out with one another, praying (hopefully). I said sure, gave them a key, and went to bed. Places to just “hang out” around here are pretty uncommon so find the space to do that has been my struggle and search. But it has come down to finding a house versus the duplex apartment I’m in now, where the gang can be as loud as they want to be; come and go as they please (with some boundaries) and just feel welcome. Found some pretty neat options, but sealing a deal in the DR is much harder that it would appear. Communications and setting expectations about renting can be very very difficult. I hope to settle on a place this next 2 weeks.

And then, I’m headed to the USA for 3 weeks. Need to make some decisions about my house in Florida, and basically what I’m going to maintain (or not maintain) in the US. After a year here, I’m pretty much ready to continue to close down shop in the US. Which basically means get rid of more stuff there (house, cars, etc.). Would still like a place to land, perhaps a condo or something, but after a year of being here, I’m not even close to wanting to head back to the US permanently. Not sure where I’m headed but no plans, for now, to camp back toward the United States.

I am planting more roots here. I have purchased land and am planning to start building a home, probably in September when I come back. Land here kind of reminds me of the land I bought up in Canada. Much cheaper than what you’d pay in the States, with building lots right on the ocean front, or in Canada’s case, Lake Michigan. Nothing like that is affordable in the US. So, I’m kinda casting my bread on the water, or the ocean as it were, in the DR.

I must be mad. But, building is one thing I know. And so far, after prayer and counsel, I’m at peace with it. I know it will be incredibly hard, frustrating, and challenging, but hopefully the people I meet along the way and the experiences I will have will be positive. More hard lessons to learn. The irony is that while I’m no expert, with experience with houses in Palm Beach, I at least know a few rules about building near salt water. Funny how things prepare you for the future, even those you least expect. And, I hope at the end of the road, it will be an investment that can be profitable. Finding those in this economy is hard. Like all my houses, it will be for sale as soon as it’s complete. Not that I’m looking to sale it right away, but not looking to fall in love with it either. I may live in the house many years, or no years. Want to buy a house on the ocean front in the DR?

So back to the visitors…. If I do finish this house and if I don’t sell it right after it’s complete, I can highly recommend a good place to visit in the DR. Because it’s an investment, it won’t be small. Room for anyone that wants to come; not to mention quiet with amazing sunsets and ocean views. Here’s an open invitation. (and if you come before it’s finished, bring a hammer or a drill, or a screwdriver!)