Making "Dulce de Mani" (Sweet Peanut Snack) Dominican Style...

First, peel the peanuts. Then in a hot pot, mix with milk and sugar. Form into chunks and let cool until ready.

Eat up :)

You know your in Banica when...

...when you witness the skinning of a goat in the middle of the road at 8p.m.

(I'll spare you the details)

The Mission Team:

Here's the mission team: China, Me, Luisa, Kenzi, Kuky, and Ory.

Pray for us!

This looked too much like a Norman Rockwell painting not to take a picture.

My Catechesis class in Banica...

Question: Are they cute, or are they cute?????

Princesas!

In our Teresita's group (girls 7-13 yrs) we have been battling the "machismo" of the culture, teaching and encouraging these young girls live with dignity and respect for themselves and others. Recently, when asked if ever in their lives they have been told that they are princesses, NOT ONE responded with a "yes."

So to their pleasant surprise (really, you should have seen the look on their faces...) China informed them of some good news: "If Christ is King, and we are His daughters, then that makes us...PRINCESSES!"

Later in the lesson China taught them to shout in chorus together - with a sassy attitude, mind you, ...shaking their fingers at those watching, wiggling their hips, and pointing to their crowns: "Never in my life will I forget, that I am a PRINCESS, because God is my father, and He is King!"

Poala (an 11 year old who somehow has the power to be both sweet and fierce at the same time) informed Father O'Hare last Sunday that she wants to be "una monja con sazon" - a nun with attitude :)

Every Sunday, we invite a guest over to dinner. Recently, Leon and Agripina joined us to celebrate their 53 year anniversary!

Leon has been working for the parish for over 20 years. He is a man who always has a smile on his face and gives you the best hugs ever. Agripina is as giggly as a little girl, but also full of wisdom and love.

Cute story:

An elderly woman in Banica recently passed away. Some say she lived to be 103 years old! When this subject came up at the dinner table with Leon and Agripina, they both nodded with due respect. But at the mention of the women's age, Agripina simply stated mid-bite: "oh yes, she ate a lot of rice."

Oops! The Missionaries have been elfed!!!

If you're having a bad day, if you're not in the Christmas spirit yet, or if you're simply intrigued as to what this video will be...click below:

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/IracdvE60iW00H0UcM2o

PICTURES!

Since I've been having problemos uploading pics on this blog, I've made a web album to share!

Blogs of China and Kenzie!

China's blog has many pictures and videos along with what we've been up to:

www.adventuresinbanica.wordpress.com

Kenzie's blog has a slideshow of pics and many invaluable insights:

www.maclearnsespanol.blogspot.com

ENJOY :)

You know you're in Banica when...

So Kenzie, China and I have an ongoing “You know you live in Bánica when…” list which I thought might be amusing for you. Enjoy!

You know you live in Bánica when…

…when it’s more common to ride in the back of a pick-up truck than in it

…when there’s more than one way to snap

…when you forget the feel of hot water

…when the cutest kids with huge smiles wave to you and yell “profe! (profesora!)”

…when you are given dryer sheets to use as toilet paper

…when there is a break dancing contest in the back of a pick-up truck going 30mph

…when it pours buckets nearly every afternoon

…when they use a tree branch for a bat, and a popped basket ball to play soccer

…when your coffee is always sweeter than a jellybean

…when going to the library is the latest fad (a library was just built, so pretty much no one is used to the idea and the kids love it)

…when a lizard scurrying up and down the walls is normal and seeing a tarantula in the bathroom doesn’t faze you

…when to have street power in the afternoon is a rare, and to shower in the dark with a bucket of water is no biggy

...when frozen juice and bananas is your favorite dessert

…when you have to honk repeatedly at a cow or goat to get it to move out of the middle of the road

…when it’s not gross but accepted for women to spit (mostly to spit out seeds of fruit)

…when it’s common to hear multiple roosters crowing at 4am

…when there are pig hooves or chicken talons in your soup

...when you invent new rules to Monopoly in Spanish

…when you see two six year olds walking around solo at pretty much any hour

…when cats eat the bones

…when wearing jeans in 100 degree weather is normal

…when you can swim across a river to another country…Haiti, perhaps?

…when people say “ssss” instead of “shhh”

…when Mass is celebrated in a cave with bats flying overhead

…when you often hear music blasting at all hours of the night

…when you occasionally have cookies for breakfast, or bread and cheese for dinner

…when a twelve-year-old boy shows you how to do laundry

…when a thunderstorm is the equivalent of a snow storm and thus cancels school

…when wearing hair rollers in public is considered fashionable

…when you see dogs cooling off on the cement floor in the back of the church

…when they suck on a fruit called limonsillo instead of chewing gum

…when the ice cream men know your name and stop by your house to see if you want any today

…when you never know if your “ice” in the freezer is frozen or not because there hasn’t been power

…when lunches are at least a two hour affair

…when a child you have never met before will come up to you and hold your hand or give you a hug

…when a pen, good chocolate, or a watch is a luxury

…when a thumb wrestle can keep a child entertained for hours

…when arriving 20 minutes late is considered on time (mom and Seeky, that one was for you!)

A day in the life

Hello! I hope you all are doing fantabulously well over there! Down here, we sure have been keeping busy…learning so much every day, gracias a Dios! Here’s an example of “a day in the life”...

p.s. Keep in mind that the schedule is different every day, so below, when I say “sometimes/some days”…that’s what I’m referring to J

5:16am - My alarm goes off

5:16-5:34am - I snooze and take in my last precious moments of sleep

6:00am - Morning prayer in the church with Father O’Hare, Kenzie, China, and Louisa

6:30-7:00ish - Silent morning prayer on our own

7:00am - Mass

8:00am - Breakfast at home. Dani usually runs around like a wild child as little Nestor observes like a goober

8:30am - Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays Kenzie and I teach English class. I teach 2^nd and 3^rd grade – We just finished with “head, shoulders, knees, and toes”! Other days we teach Catechism class…

10am - Conversational Spanish class, some days

11am - Some days I teach piano lessons, some days I have a break (unless kids come around to play…)

12:30pm - Lunch – sometimes with our “team”, sometimes houses in the different campos

3pm – it usually rains :)

2-7pm – Some days Las Magdalenas (a high school girls Bible study we lead), some days Spanish class, some days teaching Catechism, sometimes planning for our activities, sometimes reading groups in the libe, sometimes playing cards, dominoes, sports, crafts, ect. with the local kids

7pm – some days Spanish class, some days an activity with Las Magdalenas, Thursday is spiritual talk/discussion with Father O’Hare and other missionaries

8pm - Dinner at home

9:30-10pm Night prayer and then… bed!

*Saturdays we have Mass, Teresitas (Bible study for younger girls), sometimes go to the river to cool off, sometimes have reading groups at the library with our students, then at night we show a movie each week in different campos

*Sundays we have Mass in three different campos and two different groups of Magdalenas, and then we host family from the community for dinner

Sorry if this is confusing, but hopefully it gives you some idea of my life down here! I miss you all! God bless! Leave me a comment ;)

A taste...

Saludos!

So I’ve been sitting here in “sombra” (shade) of the rectory backyard for quite some time trying to think of just what to say, or where to begin…

…meanwhile, I hear the children of the parish school next door laughing and learning. I see mango trees, a clear blue sky, and some local Dominicans chatting “tranquilo.” I smell a mixture of Caribbean air and our lunch being prepared in the kitchen (which I’m guessing is arroz, yuca, y pollo – rice, “potato”…sort of, and chicken).

On Saturday, Father O’Hare, Kenzie, and myself joined two local nuns who were giving a retreat in a nearby “campo” called Ricon Grande Abajo. To get there we had to cross a river up to our knees and then walk the rest of the way for twenty minutes…basically, it was way out in the country. Walking beside us, often holding hands, were locals of all ages (infants to adults), who all gathered in the “porch” of our hosts’ house to listen and share. Although my ears are still becoming attuned to the language, hand motions and situational context helps so much. It was refreshing to hear and see the response of the people – so honest and genuine, so fervent yet gentle, so simple, eager to learn and grow in faith. Afterward, all of the youth, children, and even some adults sprinted down to the river we had crossed to cool off. So joyfully and affectionately with each other, they dove in, splashing and laughing.

On Sunday we traveled quite a bit so that Father could celebrate four Masses at the different campos. For lunch, we were invited to Fidia’s (a local elder) house. During our time there she was taking care of her two four-year-old granddaughters as well, who warmed right up to us. They brought out some pretty toy necklaces and empty Huggies diaper boxes - purses, of course - and wanted to be called princesses. Then out came a very well loved “muneca” doll who they often hushed to sleep in their arms. ...Not too different from four-year-olds in the U.S., eh?

Walking down the street you often see locals traveling by mule, or sometimes horse. You see chickens, roosters, goats, and sheep roaming about the dirt roads. You see little green lizards or good sized spiders scurry up and down the wall. You often hear thunder in the afternoon, warning you of an approaching rainfall. You smell dust and are covered in it by the end of the day. You hear and see children playing a pick-up game of baseball or something they made up, while the adults chat on the porch outside playing dominoes. Driving to any far off location, picking up walking travelers who need a ride is customary. They pile in to the back of the truck and grab for fruit off trees overhead as the truck passes by, and then bang on the top of the hood to notify you when they have reached their destination.

At any time throughout the day or night, the town electricity can shut down without notice. This is when volleyball and basketball at the local “cancha” (court) cease, and when you bring out your flashlight or put on your generator (if you have one). Without rain, the water supply is limited as well. This is when you carry up buckets from the river to wash and bathe, which hopefully isn’t too dirt-filled from the last rain.

My host family has been so very warm and welcoming. The father is Hecfredes (his father was Hector and his mother was Fredes; hence, Hecfredes) – he is the parish school principal and a well respected man in the community. He is very proud to be a “Banicero.” The mother is Virtudes – she is a very sweet and loving mother. They have two children: Nector – a chubby three month old and Daniel – a wild, energetic two-year-old (who is named after Father Gee, who those of you who know him). There is also a Haitian fourteen-year-old who lives with the family as hired help, and Karen – an ten-year-old niece/adopted “daughter” who sometimes sleeps over. Life at home is always exciting with the kids running around, and I’ve really enjoyed the time I’ve gotten chat and hang out with them so far.

Alright, well I better be going, but I hope this gives you a taste of what life is like here! I’m learning so much every day….and I’m really loving every moment…Demos gracias a Dios. We have been planning our English class schedule for 1^st-4^th grades which should start up soon, along with Bible studies and catechism classes. I hope everyone is doing well over in the US… I send my love to you all!!!

Muchos abrazos and besos,

Sarah/Meek/Saree/Squeeker/Sarita/Sarz/Rara, etc…

p.s. Leave a comment!

p.p.s. The other missionary here with me, MacKenzie, has a blog as well if you're interested: www.maclearnsespanol.blogspot.com

Woot woot to letters!

Woot woot! I LOVE LETTERS! Don't you??

Here's some info on keeping in touch old school style...

Letters from the U.S. to Banica can be sent to the following address:

BM #7038

8400 NW 25 St.

Suite 110

Doral FL, 33122

Now did you perchance notice something about that address, hm? "Florida?!" you may ask?? Yep, these letters are forwarded from Florida to an address we have in Santo Domingo (the capital). We have trips to Santo Domingo at least once a month to pick up the mail and then bring it four more hours to Banica! If you are dismayed by the shocking travel plans of these letters, I repeat, letters are da bomb, so to me they'll be worth the wait :)

But wait, before you stop reading...Please, I beg of you, do not send packages to the DR! I repeat, pretty please, packages to the DR = niche! "Why?" you may ask?? Well, I hate to break it to you, but we pay very high fees to receive packages. Es la verdad. BUT, if you simply cannot resist the desire to send one, it is possible for them to be sent down with Americans who will be visiting Bancia (you can ask me for the info when the time arrives) - we have American visitors pretty regularly, so it shouldn't be too much of a biggy.

FYI: For me, sending letters to the U.S. is the same as above...we just give them to American visitors before they leave and they mail them once they get back home.

Okie dokie? Well, THANK YOU in advance for sending me letters!! And thanks for reading this! Hasta luega :)

Pre-Banica

Hello! Thanks for checking out my blog! Okay...so I'm really uber new at this (and not very good with technology in general), but I'll try my best to make things interesting and upload as many pictures as I can. As of now, I am so excited in preparing for a year of service in Banica, Dominican Repulic...and this blog is simply just to keep you posted!

I am still in the process of raising enough to be able to stay teaching in Banica for a school year of ten months. ANY donation, no matter how small, is GREATLY appreciated! If you haven't received an awesome letter from me, it is posted below word for word (bear with me...) with all of the donation information. If you have already donated, thank you thank you thank you so very much!! Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers!!

Here's my letter:

"Greetings from Sarah Miranda!

I hope this letter finds you well and enjoying God’s abundant blessings! As a recent graduate of Christendom’s class of 2010, I am so grateful for the gift of my Catholic faith! I believe that I have been called by God to serve the Church as a missionary by returning to teach for a year in perhaps the poorest area in the Dominican Republic – in a rural region called Bánica.

Bánica is a place of both spiritual and material poverty. The Parish of Bánica is composed of 5,329 people. The Mission has been operating since 1991 at the direction of Bishop Keating (sponsored by the Diocese of Arlington, VA assisting the Diocese of San Juan de la Maguana). Since that time there have been priests from the Diocese of Arlington in Bánica; currently there are two: Father Keith O’Hare and Father Chris Murphy.

We aim to complete a variety of projects. For example, we hope to build chapels, outhouses, and deliver food and medical supplies to the people in the “campos” surrounding Bánica. Primarily, however, our group aims to dedicate its focus to the youth of Bánica and the surrounding pueblos in an effort to bring Christ’s message to them in both word and action. We will work together as a team, entrusting all that we do to the Holy Spirit and to the intercession of Saint Francis of Assisi. Some of the principal activities in which we will be involved include working with youth: teaching catechism and English classes, small group reading, organizing youth activities, Bible study and youth groups for teens, teaching music/art/dance, sports, visiting families, and most of all giving the people encouragement and an example of Catholic holiness.

We ask for your prayers and support as our priests, myself, and three other missionaries embark on this journey to spread the light of Christ to the Dominican people. The cost of living is approximately $500 per month. I hope to serve in Bánica for at least a school year of ten months, totaling to about $6,000 including airfare. Therefore, any financial contributions are greatly appreciated, no matter how small the amount. If you would like, you may send a tax-deductible check in the enclosed envelope, made payable to “Society for the Propagation of the Faith.” The donor should write: “For Missionary Sarah Miranda” on the memo line of the check. Checks are mailed to: Society for the Propagation of the Faith; c/o Sue Nadeau; 905 Park Avenue; Falls Church VA, 22046.

You also may enjoy viewing a five minute video online which gives you a peek at what life is like in Bánica (fyi: the dancing is from a religious celebration in honor of St. Francis of Assisi; the Americans learn a bit of the local dancing traditions); this video was done by a professional team who will be producing a documentary due to come out in September: http://vimeo.com/10301665.

I am eager to share my experiences with you, either in writing or in person, when I return. In the meantime, I invite you to follow my blog: http://sarahinbanica.blogspot.com. Please pray for us as we prepare for this exciting chance to serve! In the words of Blessed Mother Teresa, “If you want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out. To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it.” We are continually praying for you and cannot thank you enough for you gracious support!

Yours truly in Christ,

Sarah Miranda"