Top Ten Things We've Learned in Dominica

1. If the asphalt is not melting then its not hot.
2. How to strategically hold an umbrella so you don't get wet.
3. Time does not exist
4. Eating fruits and vegetables the way the Lord made them for us (straight off the tree or vine) is way better than processed fruits and vegetables from a grocery store.
5. Going to the grocery store is an all day event.
6. Clear skies and rain, although it defies science, it really does happen, often.
7. Sundays, should be a day for the Lord, and all stores should be closed.
8. Chicken hot dogs don't taste like real PORK hot dogs, don't be fooled!
   
9. Roads are named after their surroundings: Moo Cow trail, Lizard Trail, Banana Trail.
10. Cows and goats have the right away. Animals Crossing!

The Bahamas

So as many of you may know we have the option to move to the Bahamas in January. Many people have been asking about this particular event and I just thought I would write down what is going on so that everyone knows what's up.

Christopher has gotten accepted into a program called "PAcE". PAcE stands for Progressive Academic Education. This is a scholars program that was developed a few years ago that is designed for the idea that some students don't learn best through the standard didactic teaching approach. Instead of going to class and being lectured to by a professor for hours everyday, the founders of this scholars program thought that some students might learn better via a more interactive and independent program. There are also other additional added bonus's to being in the program such as quizzes that are then discussed by the professors that have questions on them, and other clinical cases that make the information that is learned more relevant. So by applying to this program and obtaining an appropriate GPA he was accepted to join this program.

Now this program is important to understand because this particular program is the only group of students that are being relocated to a new campus located in Freeport, Grand Bahamas. The new campus is only taking 240 students. That will include only third and fourth semester students.

This sounds like a great opportunity, but we have some reservations about going. We have been given very little information about the campus and learning facilities that are in Freeport, Grand Bahamas. So we are a little hesitant to be the guinea pigs of this new campus that is being opened. We have heard that we will hear more information about the campus by the middle of October. Please be praying that whatever decision we make is where God wants us to be and not our own desires and that we choose the best option for Christopher's schooling because that is the # 1 most important thing in this decision. We will keep you updated on our decision.

Bring on the Rain!

It sure has been raining a whole lot here in Dominica since we got back. Which when I look at it, it is an amazing blessing because it will drop the temperature. Normally if you walk outside it will make you sweat just by standing outside but with the rain you can actually function in a normal manner. But obviously with the blessings of rain their also come some other complications. For example, it makes the water brown. So we won't have running water to use because it is so contaminated. I guess the water system can't cycle the water quickly enough to produce clean water when it rains all day long. So when we don't have clean water to use we have to brush our teeth with bottled water, not clean the dishes, and no showers. Well eventually they will turn the water off so that they can clean up the water system so when that happens we have to have even more extra water to flush the toilets and well also to drink. Now some of that may seem really awful because you have never had to deal with any of those situations but honestly I would rather have those problems than to be sweltering hot with the sun.  I guess that kind of puts me in the wrong place because well its always hot. 

Some other new news. My camera has gone to camera heaven. I am not sure what happened but it won't take a clear picture. It is completely blurry. So I guess for awhile I will only be able to post pictures and video that I take on my video camera. So sorry for the lack of pictures that are to come.  

Christopher is almost complete with week 2 of class and well I think they are really working them this semester. Most days Christopher will have class from 8am to 5pm with an hour for lunch. Well this may not be so bad but it is when he has no time to study. His nights of freedom are now completely gone. He is not going to be coming home to have meals with me anymore, my new job is to take his meals to him. So I will bring him lunch and then I will again bring dinner up to campus. I know that he doesn't think the information he is learning is any harder than what it was last semester I think it is just a lot more, obviously. But he is doing so good. I am very proud of him. After this semester, God willing, Christopher will be done with his first year of medical school and one full year closer to becoming Dr. Shadid. Boy doesn't that sound good. Haha! A dream come true. We are so thankful that God gave us this opportunity to go after Christopher's lifelong dream. What a blessing. 

Well for my life right now, well... I don't really do much. Last night I practically cut my finger off while making dinner. But don't worry I am going to live. I am not sure how I did it but I felt like I cut through half my pinkie. Christopher thought that I needed to go get stitches, and I probably did because it bled for like 45 minutes. But today is a new day and we are doing great. Haha! I have taken up a new hobby of knitting, and I absolutely love it. It is so fun and in a weird way really occupies my time. I think that is a better hobby for me than baking all the time because when I bake I feel the obligation to try everything, you know because you don't want to serve anything that doesn't taste good. Haha! But hopefully one of these days I will be good enough at knitting that I an actually make something that is worth my time. 

I also started my bible study for this semester and I really like it. We have 10 girls in our group this time, which is bigger than last semester, but it has really been great so far. We are doing the study by Jerry Bridges called Trusting God and it is about the sovereignty of God and it is awesome. Now I have only done the first chapter but if you are looking for a good bible study, I would highly recommend it. You can even do it on your own if you don't have a bible study. It is great! 

Back on the Rock

We made it back safely to Dominica on Friday night and have just been getting back into the grove of things here in Dominica. We were quickly reminded of the slow pace life immediately after landing into Dominica because they lost our bags. For some reason they only put like 20 bags on the plane that had about 60 people on it. Now keep in mind that we got here Friday night and it is now currently Monday morning and still no bags. Well that is just typical for Dominica. I guess it is no big deal because all we really had in our bags was food. But I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't get our bags until the middle or end of this week.
We were so excited (well I wouldn't say soooooo excited but you know what I mean) when we got here because we just knew that on Saturday we were going to get the OU game on our TV since they were playing on ABC and well we have ABC so we were super excited about that but come to find out we didn't get the coverage for the game because we have the New York ABC network and we got some other game instead. So being the OU fans we are we were scrambling around trying to figure out a way to either listen to or watch the game. We finally found a website that we could listen to Bob Barry on which was at least better than nothing but then the greatest idea came to us. Lets call and get ourselves put in front of the computer at home using Skype. So We called the Shadid's and they put the computer webcam up to the computer and we got to watch the whole game on the computer. Haha! Super ghetto, I know but hey we do what we can down here in Jungle.

We had such a great time while we were at home. We saw a lot of friends and family, went to the lake, and ate at probably every restaurant we could. We just enjoyed being with everyone and getting to enjoy a little down time in the A/C. We have been very lucky lately in Dominica because it has not been too terribly hot since we got back. Which is really nice. Since we left we got a new store here in Dominica. I haven't been able to go over there yet because well I thought they were closed yesterday because well everything is closed on Sundays but I was wrong. They are actually open on Sundays. It is called 7-11 and well I can only hope it is like our 7-11. But I serioulsy doubt it. That would be amazing though. Haha! I never thought I would be hoping for a 7-11.

I have already been getting back into the swing of things because well in Dominica there is no "hey let me run to the grocery store real fast" because that tends to be a half a day trip. So I made some bread yesterday to get back into the swing of things. I also did it yesterday because we were being spoiled and had the A/C on all day so I baked with the A/C on for a change. It is a lot cooler when you do that.

I have also been attempting a new hobby. Baking cakes. This is probably not the skinniest hobby I could have tried to come up with but I think it is fun. I like it more down here in Dominica because there isn't a bakery that you can go buy any of that from. So I practiced a little bit while I was home. I made a dog cake for my cousin Molly's birthday. She wanted a pink dog and well when I heard that I was like I have no idea how to make a pink dog. But i researched it a little bit online and here is what i was able to come up with. I think it turned out pretty cute.

Before we left for home I also made another cake for a friend of ours birthday. Siva, our friend, had a birthday like the Friday after we left for home so before we left we wanted to celebrate and I made this cake for her Birthday.

Chris started class today and he absolutely loves his new class Neurology. He has always said that he enjoys that but after the first lecture I think he loves it. So although this could be a really difficult semester because it is a lot more work than first semester I think he is going to do great because he loves everything he is doing. I am so proud of everything he has accomplished and I know that God has us exactly where he needs us to be. There are times where we may question the purpose of us being in Dominica and why we have to be away from the ones we love back at home but God always reminds us that he has a plan for each one of us and although it may not be our ideal plan it is His plan and that is what we are here on this Earth for. We are here to serve our God and not ourselves so although circumstances may not be what we want it is God's will for our lives to be obedient and walk patiently with Him. For he knows the best plan for our lives.

For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and hope. Jeremiah 29:11