Back In The Land of Fruits and Mosquitoes

It's officially been one week since I've been back in Dominica, the plentiful land with a plentiful amount of mosquitoes. Yes, my nice stay in the beef eatn' land of Texas (home roots) was fabulous, but it is actually very good to be back "home" in Dominica.
So, where is home?
Lauren and I have been wrestling through this lately, and in the middle of this hot season in sticky Dominica, our flesh cries out for "home" here and there...
We lived in a nice 3 bedroom house on 22915 Tornillo, SA, TX 78739 for a few years. Prior to the burbs, we lived in an apartment in the middle of a bunch of shopping centers, and just before that, Lauren and I lived in a cozy 1 bedroom house in one of the coolest neighborhoods in Denver, CO.
For the next 7 years, our lives will not be "normal" compared to the average 30 something, N. American couple. Here's one scenario: We finish the 4th semester in Dominca in December, move to Miami for 5th semester, hang out there for a while and WAIT... the following 2 years could be Atlanta and maybe Chicago. Or, we end up going to Michigan for 5th, and get a taste of the frozen tundra, then ... WAIT... maybe get some rotations in NY, Vancouver or??? Here's another scenario: We end up staying in Dominica for 5th semester, move back to SA, TX for the '10 summer months and WAIT... maybe Lauren could even score some rotations in Austin and SA, or possibly she could get a transfer to the Baylor Med School in Houston??? Yes, we knew ALL of this CRAZINESS as we ventured into the "wilderness" season, as it just IS what it IS!
Come to think of it, our Judeo-Christian faith, rooted in a long line of raw wilderness sojourners, is all about wandering through the wilderness too. Our first father was a wandering Aramean. Our Messiah was pretty far from "home" too! It seems that being "homeless" runs in the family of faith.
But what is the wilderness and wandering really about?
Isn't is essentially all about finding our real home? Seriously, what is brick and wood? What is a box? What are the suburbs? It's all matter in a specific location that makes one feel safe, cozy and "normal." It's about the big word and concept that nobody seems to have anyway... STABILITY!!!
Why does G-d choose to show up when we have no home and no stability? Why does our Lord choose to take us out of our land only to allow us us to travel around with not a lot of luggage and resources?
I think the whole story of wandering is all about strange love, and it's all about a heavenly home! I don't know where the next years will take us, and in many ways this is terribly frightening and in other ways, this is extremely liberating and exciting. We aren't in charge of our journey. We are only responsible for the PRESENT, being obedient to the Lord's commands, abiding in his love and unveiling the kingdom of heaven on earth along the way.
This path less traveled is one in which we begin to see who HE IS and what WE ARE made of, in return. It's all about utter dependence, genuine faith, finding hope and being pruned, refined and doing it all over again the next day...
The one thing I know which keeps me stable in the truest sense: G-D IS WITH US!
This is all we know, and this is all we need. I didn't make this up. It's all over the biblical narrative. If the King of the Universe is with us, whom shall we fear? If the G-d Almighty is on our side, who gives a rip about the other side? If the Great Liberator is in our midst, we will always have a home b/c "He sets the lonely in families," to quote the psalmist. If the Father and Son are one (Echad), and I get to dance within that dynamic bond through the gentle power of the Holy Spirit... OH YEAH!"
HOME IS ... here, right now!!! HE IS "Yod - He - Waw - He = YHWH" - I AM WHO I AM... and "I AM" IS HERE!
shalom
Ryan

More Pics from TX

Here are the rest of my pics from the "homeland."
Scott and Tyler at the lake

Jake-enator playing ball

Baby Brady wants to be like his older brothers.

Boys playing

South Congress (So Co) Cafe

Best cupcakes EVER!!!

Me and Willis at the Mean Eyed Cat

Kirk and me rooting on the Horns in the CWS

Scott, bro-inlaw, w/ our "MEAN" shirts on

Me and Grammy at Hula Hut

My sister, Kirsten, and me at Hula Hut

My brother, Jeff, and me at El Rancho

w/ mom at Hula Hut!

My bro and sis

Chicken Fried Steak, Mashed Potatoes = GREATNESS!

Hula Hut w/ the fam

El Rancho w/ my dad

Bowling w/ Jefe!

6th Street

AUSTIN

Texas is a grande state! There's no place like home. I've had a wonderful 3 weeks visiting family and friends in the greatest place on earth. But I am missing my other home. I'l be back to Dominica this week... I'm ready to see my wife and come back to the beloved island, Dominica.

some pics from TX

hercules

maggie

jake getting ice cream


me and baby cameron

erin and her baby boy

mel, pregnant wendy and me at beefy's

william and amy at jim's

Me and my "guys"

Michelle new casa for dinner

stogies w/ james and john

jenny at the loft

scott and colton at the loft

john and baby rhyan

St. Lucia and Red Rocks over the semester break...

Lauren and I took advantage of living in the Caribbean over the semester break, and prior to working Welcome Week for Ross, took a 5 day trip over to the lovely neighboring island of St. Lucia. We ATE! People asked us, "Did you go anywhere, do any sightseeing, etc.?" We laughed... "We live in the nature isle of the Caribbean. Why would we hike here? We came for some food and R&R!!!"




















Back in Dominica, we found this amazing beach bar on the North East coast called RED ROCKS! Lauren celebrated her 31st bday here. "It's like living in a postcard," to quote someone else... loving the island beauty!

a trip to BOILING LAKE over the break

Passover Seder

Our house church participated in a Passover Seder during Holy Week. It was an amazing experience. Everyone had a role to play! And, it was the first time I've led a Seder. Our 2nd semester medical students could not attend since there was a test the following day (including Lauren :(...), but we still had a profound, intimate experience with one another as we were again reminded of our slavery and our Victor, Jesus! I'm definitely going to keep participating and advocating for these sacred meals for the years ahead...
Sophia and Grace were awesome at throwing away all the leavened bread out of the house. Good job, girls! Also, they did an amazing job in hiding the Afikomen, the piece of unleavened bread used during the Eucharist portion of the Seder!

Robb led us in some praise and worship during the night. Dana, looking nice in his "Seder Best!"

Billy, Kelsie, Stef, Sherrie, Dana and Nicole ready to dig in!

Jennifer and big baby, Joshua hanging out w/ Stef!

Elijah's seat

Briana, Crystal, Jen and Grace

We've found the secret ingredient!!!!

Dominican children LOVE artwork. So, the last 2 weeks of the semester we took away all sports, crazy games, and focused primarily on ART! Prior to Holy Week, we had the kids make murals focusing on the theme of love and respect in addition to making musical instruments. And, last week we made "helping hands" out of paper plates and construction paper. They absolutely LOVED it! I was like, "Who are these kids?" I guess it's all about channeling energy in a positive direction. NO fights the last 2 weeks!!!
Praise the Lord. Now, during our 3 week break, we pray for the incoming students/spouses at Ross U. and hope that the Lord brings us more workers for his harvest field.... Thanks to G-d too that I'm totally being reshaped and learning new things not only about cross-cultural ministry, but also working w/ little children. This is new to me. I'm at a loss most of the time b/c honestly, I'm more gifted and would rather be working w/ older teens, college aged kids and adults. But... I believe the Lord is giving me a heart for all aged people from all background and from every ethnic tribe under the sun!

Lindsay and some kids

One of my favorite pics

Grace and some children

David getting his art ON

Tricia and the ninos...

Murals

Ronald on his drum

Jonathan being crazy

Working w/ paint... Messy but lots of fun!

These youth also LOVE balloons.