The Good...The Bad...The Ugly...

I will start with the good news first. Good news is we are moving to the Bahamas come January. After attending a meeting last week with the President of Ross University, we have decided that this will be the best decision for both living and educational reasons. The University is going to be very helpful in our move to the Bahamas in processing our Visas for the Bahamas, shipping our stuff, and also in other expenses of moving. We are very excited about this opportunity and are looking forward to this exciting new adventure. After moving to the Bahamas, Christopher and I will have lived in 4 places in our first year of marriage (Miami, Oklahoma City, Dominica, Bahamas). That includes 3 different countries and 2 different states. Thats pretty cool to say but so far Oklahoma still tops the list of the best place to live. 

And on with the Bad news... last friday night while Christopher was playing flag football he broke his hand. He dove after the other team to grab their flag and landed on his hand funny jamming it into the ground. We had to drive to Roseau Friday night, which is about an hour away,  to the hospital to have it x-rayed. The Roseau hospital is the only place on the entire island that has an x-ray machine. I suppose it is because Roseau is the capital and is a city and all of the other places with medical clinics are mainly just small villages. I think the worst part of the whole trip was the ride to the hospital because well we get really car sick when we drive around here because the roads are very whindy and there are a lot of pot holes that the drivers are dodging. But he broke his fourth metacarpal on his left hand. Here is Chris's x-ray. I know its not a great picture because I took it with the webcam on the computer, because my camera is broken, but you get the idea, his hand is definitely broken. 

So that is not so good news. But they put him in a cast. He has to leave it on for 6 weeks. We are going to have it looked at again when we get back to the States just to make sure that everything is healing okay. Christopher is not in any pain so that is a good thing but what a bummer. 

And the ugly. I started playing bunco with a bunch of girls on Wednesday nights and it has gotten pretty ugly. Haha! Not really but it is so fun and it is really funny how competitive a game it gets. We play for money and also a gift prize depending on what part of the game you win. But the winner gets $60, the one who has the most buncos gets $30, the loser gets their money back and the Traveler gets the gift prize. We have so much fun.

The winners for the game: Martina, Joy, Me, and Liz

Having so much fun: Ashley, Me, Chika, and Briana

The group back row to front: Ashley, Ralna, Aileen, Summer, Me, Chika, Tricia, Crystal, Briana, Sarah, Liz, Allison, Martina, and Joy

Hurricane Omar

Wednesday night and Thursday morning we got hit by part of Hurricane Omar. I don't think we got hit by the brunt of the storm but we did get a part of the Hurricane. We were warned by the US embassy that the Hurricane was coming and we were prepared with our 10 gallons of bottled water and extra food. Where we live is Hurricane safe. Now I

 am not sure really what that means because we still have windows but I think that just means that our building won't be blown down so we were safe. We had a little bit of water seeping through our doors 

but that was no big deal when you i put a town at the base of the doors. It was a pretty cool storm. It was thundering and lightening and earlier Wednesday night we were on campus and could hear the waves crashing up against the bank. It was pretty amazing to witness. Thursday morning Christopher woke up and walked to class and said that the river by our apartment was filled up to the road and it was moving really fast. After he got to campus they got an announcement from the Prime Minister of Dominica that had ordered all businesses and public places to be closed for the day and that all students must go home because the campus was going to be locked. I heard from one of my friends that in the town right next to 

ours that there were boats washed up into the roads. We ended up Thursday with the brownest water we have ever had here in Dominica and temporarily with no electricity and all day wit

h no cable. Here are a couple of pictures I got some of the pictures from my friend Ashley's blog of our pier that is by the school. This is where we go when we go to the beach, but not today. The last picture is at the bottom of the stairs that come from campus to the beach. But don't worry we are safe and sound. Yesterday was actually a really great day because Christopher and I got to stay at home all day together, something we don't get to do very often. So while you all are getting the snow days back at home, we get "Hurricane days" here in Dominica!

Crazy Hurricanes

In the town of Portsmouth right by our town. The locals said the only way to get the big boats off of the land is to hire a tug boat from Miami, which is really expensive. So there is a good chance these boats will never float again.

on the turn from Picard to Portsmouth

streets in Portsmouth, piles and piles of debris

In Portsmouth

The pier on a normal day from the water

Hurricane Omar takes over

The pier is demolished

Yikes!

One of the many washed up boats!

This is right below campus. The stairs lead from Campus to the beach.

Be Grateful

I began this blog to allow everyone back at home to have an insight into what we are experiencing here in Dominica but I have noticed that all I have really begun to tell you are the good side of things and the adventures we have had and that although we are thankful and grateful for this time that we have been able to spend here, I have really neglected to show or tell everyone how changed Christopher and I are as people and followers of our Lord and Savior.

We come from a country that has everything and until you have to do without those things that you may think you "have to have" it becomes a whole new perspective on life. Back at home many of you go to the mall or to a store and think man I have to have that shirt. Well you don't have to have it you want it and it is important for people to understand that life is so much more important than wanting things and living life wanting more.

I have learned that you should be so thankful for everything you have. From things such as a washer and dryer to going to to the grocer store and being able to pick up sour cream. We send out our laundry and honestly we have no idea where it is washed, where it is dried or anything. We trust its clean but there is no telling, it could have been taken down to the river and washed by hand in a river but I am grateful that I know one day I will be able to wash my clothes by myself and know for sure that they are clean because these people in Dominica may never get to experience what true really clean clothes are like. I often see many of the locals washing their clothes in the river by our house and its not an uncommon thing. Sour cream does not exist on this island if it does it is a very uncommon thing. Last week my friend gave me a recipe to make my own sour cream. So I am thankful that when we get back home I can buy my own but for now I'll continue to make it myself. Life is so easy in the US and if for some reason one day you wonder or are desiring more please thank again and be grateful for what you have.

Every day here is a struggle. Day in and day out we both wonder why we are here and both of us continually feel as though it was so that our Lord could change both of our hearts to truly understand that we are not in control of our lives just as it says in Proverbs 16:9 The mind of man plans his way but the Lord directs his steps.

Never in a million years could you have told Christopher or me that you will be moving 2,617 miles and 14 countries away from home. Because well if any of you know either us we are both quite the family people. But things don't always turn out like we plan, obviously because its our plan and not the plan of our Lord. I have often gotten the reaction "How do you do it?" or "You are stronger than me because I couldn't move to a place like that" Well let me tell you, its all about Trust! We trust that we are doing what God wants for our lives and although its not our ideal plan its His ideal plan for our lives. The bible teaches us that God is sovereign over both the "good' and the "bad" times in our lives.

Ecclesiastes 7:14 says When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future.

Isaiah 45:7 says I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.

Lamentations 3:38 says Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?

God controls both the good and the bad. God has not looked the other way or been caught by surprise when adversity strikes us. He is in control of that adversity, directing it to His glory and our good.

So I have realized that just as we must learn to obey God one choice at a time, we must also learn to trust God one circumstance at a time. I know that trusting God is not a matter of my feelings but of my will. and I never feel like trusting God when adversity strikes, but I can choose to do so even when I don't feel like it. That act of the will, though, must be based on belief, and belief must be based on truth. So that is why we are able to make it work here in Dominica. Not because its easy and not because its what we want but because we believe and our belief is based on truth.

I am grateful and very thankful we have been given the opportunity that we have to learn and to grow closer to our God through this experience. I didn't write this for everyone think that we are miserable here because we aren't, but we are challenged and changed everyday by this experience. I will never walk into another grocery store or another home without being so thankful for the abundance of food we have in the grocery stores and the hot water running out of the kitchen sink. But we trust that our God has us right where we are supposed to be at this point in our lives and we will continue to serve Him. So be thankful and grateful for what you have because not everyone in the world gets to experience the wonders of the US.

We are Thankful!

Mini 1 for the second semester is over and I am happy to say that we are very thankful for how well Christopher did. He has been studying so hard and we are so thankful that his hard work has paid off. But never a time to quit studying because he has a big Anatomy practical next Friday that he is beginning to prepare for. After the mini on Monday we went to the beach and just had a wonderful day relaxing and enjoying our time we had together for the afternoon and evening. Many of our friends were there as well just hanging out, snorkeling, swimming, playing frisbee, and grilling out on the beach. It was a lot of fun and then Monday night we went out for my Birthday to a place called Blue Bay. Christopher and I both had the grilled tuna and it was very good. We went with a lot of our friends and Ashley made me a wonderful Chocolate cake. She has become quite the cake expert here. I am so thankful for the friends I have made here. They have truly been a blessing to Christopher and I.

We are very excited about this weekend because we are going to be able to watch the OU/ Texas game. I think that if there was one thing this semester that both of us truly wanted (besides to come home) it would be that we get that game on TV because most of the time we get East Coast coverage. But I am excited to say that this weekend OU/Texas has national coverage! WooHoo!! It is so funny to us how the smallest things like a football game will make us so happy here. So remember don't take things for granted.

A little update on the Bahamas: Well they have given us word that the campus in the Bahamas has been accredited. Which basically means that the accreditors have gone to the campus in the Bahamas and made sure that the campus was in adequate condition for students to be there. So now it is completely our decision if we want to go because the campus will for sure open in January. So basically all we are waiting on now is for them to give us some more information on the cost of living and then I think we will make our decision. Hopefully we will be able to have an answer by the end of next week.

So we are very thankful for all of the opportunities that God has given us since we have been here. Please be praying for our decision about the Bahamas.

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!