DR Journal Entry #8:::::Friday, 9 July 2010

*Foreword*
Tonight during "journal time" I, again, couldn't will myself to write about what happened throughout the day. I think part of it had to do with the fact that I was falling behind on my days, and I felt like I should write in chronological order. Even though I wanted to write about my day, in my mind I had to catch up first, and I just didn't want to...I mean a lot happened. God did so much, and I just couldn't write about it...because it would take too long? I don't know why...but during this night I instead wrote a letter to Marina, one of the DR chorus girls. I actually wanted to write letters to all of them, but after hers I lost motivation and realized how tired I was :/ (But towards the last couple days I did write everyone a letter =]) The only reason I still have Marina's letter is because I wrote it on the back of a journal page, and so when I realized that, I had to copy hers onto a new sheet of paper...which probably turned out for the better, because reading her original letter on that last day in DR, I noticed a difference in my Spanish grammar, and sentence structure in general compared to the letters I wrote after hers. Her letter was the first, and gradually I became more comfortable writing in Spanish so they became a bit more comprehensible after a few :P I got to fix some grammatical issues here and there; hopefully it was easier for her to understand teheh



Friday, 9 July 2010

Vas a tener suerte en tu vida <3 
:) porque conoces a Dios.

9 julio 2010

HOLA MARINA! <3

Primero, lo ciento porque no puedo escribir español bien. :)

Ya te amo :) Eres muy amable, extrovertida, y te gusta bailar mucho. Cuando yo primero conocí todos de ustedes, tú eras simpática aunque tú no me conociste. Yo sentí muy comfortable porque a ti. Gracias :) Yo deseo conocerte otra vez en el futuro. Quiero regresar a la república dominicana cuando tengo más años. 

Voy a rezar para ti cuando regreso a los estados unidos. Mi vida es cambiado porque yo vengo aquí. Voy a llorar mucho cuando tengo que irme y nunca voy a olvidarte. Te amo! Mucho :)

Si puedes escribir a mí:

Joy C (mi nombre :])

[my address]

o 

[my e-mail address]

(por internet)

Si escribes a mí cinco años en el futuro voy a acordarte :)

<3 Joy

What I meant to say: 

You're going to be lucky in your life <3
:) because you know the Lord.

9 July 2010

Hi Marina! <3

First, sorry because I can't write Spanish well. :)

I love you already :) You are very kind, outgoing, and you like to dance a lot :) When I first met all of you guys, you were nice even though you didn't know me. I felt really comfortable because of you. Thank you :) I hope to meet you again in the future. I want to return to the Dominican Republic when I'm older.

I'm going to pray for you when I return to the United States. My life is changed from coming here. I'm going to cry a lot when I have to go and I'm never going to forget you. I love you! A lot :)

If you can write to me:

Joy C (my name :])

[my address]

or

[my e-mail address]

(through internet) 

Even if you write to me 5 years in the future I'm going to remember you :)

<3 Joy

*Afterword*

LOL reading it a second time it sounds even funnier :P I mean, in the letter I gave to her, I changed some sentences around but I can't imagine it'd be all that much better than this haha :) Actually, I'm kind of surprised because I think I come off as a bit ignorant/arrogant now that I read it again :/ I hope she didn't take it that way, because it's not what I meant at all...but then again, I do know that I have a problem with coming off that way..it all sounds good in my head, but just translates into words or actions....not so well..I thought it'd be better in english, but nope, it still sounds just as bad haha....but it's all a learning process :)

DR Journal Entry #7:::::Thursday 8 July 2010

*Foreword*
So, Pastor Sam gave the missions team time to write in their journals after reflection at night. He really encouraged us to write in one every day. I remember that it got harder to update my journal, starting around this time. You might be able to tell from previous entries. I would start writing, and then get distracted or tired, and I was beginning to develop an unwilling attitude toward writing in my journal. I became kind of annoyed with it, because I did want to record all of the amazing things that happened everyday, but it was really hard to discipline myself to sit down and actually do it. This particular night I started writing about the day before, trying to catch up on the days I missed, but then my mind was wandering so much. I remember the only thing I could think about was having fun with the team and playing the movie game, relaxing and not writing in my journal. Eventually it got to a point where I stopped writing my journal entry, and started making a list of movies for the movie game hahahahah. Interesting... =P



Thursday, 8 July 2010

Incredibles

The Happening
How to lose a guy in 10 days
How to lose friends and alienate people
Hunchback of Notre Dame
Hellboy
Hairspray
High School Musical
Home Alone
Honey I Shrunk the Kids
Homebound

500 Days of Summer
Freedom Writers
Fast + Furious
Fear
Firehouse Dog
Fever Pitch
Fantasia
Freaky Friday
Funny People
From Dusk til Dawn
Friday the 13th
Fool's Gold
Firewall
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Fantastic 4
Fool's Rush In

*Afterword*
I think it'd be funny to mention that we didn't use any of these letters :P haha AND it was always girls vs. guys and for some odd reason the girls lost every single game. ??? i was very confused ;) but I think for future missions trip esp. I will have to be more wary of my heart and making sure it doesn't stray while we're there. I definitely felt at times that I was getting caught up in the fun; having fun with my team, having fun with the chorus team, having fun with the kids, that I had to struggle towards the end with focusing on God again, and remembering my main purpose there.  :/ it's all a learning process :)

DR Journal Entry #6:::::1:55 PM 7 July Wednesday 2010

*Foreword*
It's probably around 2? After eating lunch and I'm at the missionary's home with the chorus team :) Just chillin. 

The coolest and oddly humbling thing to happen to you is being waken up by a rooster. This morning I have to say I was nervous that there would be a million and one problems but this day God has delivered in the way He promised He would to those who sought after Him. I was worried about going to the bathroom because of the low water pressure LOL but I farted a lot HAHA and it helped with not having an upset stomach. We ate a marvelous breakfast of eggs with bacon bits and cereal. Then we left off for the first church El Camino (or The Way) and I was really surprised that the bugs didn't bother me almost at all. I sweat a moderate amount and my pits were wet, but it was all good. I l<3ved the kids even though I was a bit discouraged in the very beginning when the kids weren't as responsive and laughed at my español or something but it got a lot better. The skit went incredibly well for so little preparation :) I met a boy who is 11, his name is Kendri. He was (is) so good. He is really a good boy even though he jokes around and is so fun! He tried tickling/attacking my pits LOL. SO CUTE. I also met a little girl, with two names :) Ana Mery (which she prefers) or Amanda. I thought she was so cute but then during group crafts she became very aggressive for la hega. and poms poms! I had a moment where I was scared because I didn't know what to do. But everything worked out and I feel so loved. Then we came home to the welcome of ICE COLD agua. <3_<3 It's the best thing I've ever tasted. My spanish got so much better! Just talking and now as a joke everyone calls me over to translate....and oh!
Last night [when we arrived at the airport] 2 men from the church + Pastor Chun came to get us at the airport. Who I now know 1 is Soro and the other is Umberto. On the 2 hour car ride to *missionary's house* I decided to chat up with Soro who was driving and it really helped me to start speaking Spanish more. I love Soro! We talked about merengue + bachata + salsa and how much I <3 dancing, his family and my family (he has a daughter 13 Diana and a son Juan 3 ), baseball, aventura + Elvis Crespo, our favorite color, and how happy I am haha I kept saying, "Tengo mucho alegre" (tengo mucha alegria) I was so happy last night and the ride was never boring..So many new things to see even though it is night. Santo Domingo (where we were) has beautifully crafted houses but it is still not anything close to nice. The boys annoyed me with their ignorant comments in the car, but things are almost right now. When we came home after the morning service I was so happy. I am so happy. Marlenis had me read Ecclesiastes 11:9-10 because she believes it is the message from God for our team. Now we're getting ready to leave for afternoon service! Need to pray.

<3 Joy Cho

*Afterword* 
Missionary's house: that is where we stayed for the duration of the trip and I mentioned it above btwn asterisks only because in my journal I said his address. 
Marlenis is a member of the chorus team, and the oldest with 19 years. LOVE HER. mi hermana.
Reading back when I said the houses were not anything close to nice, it sounded very arrogant of me but that's not what I meant at all. I should have worded it better if I had more time. What I meant was that the houses, along with DR as a whole, looks very nice and pretty on the exterior, but if you look at the foundation and the structure, it is not as sturdy as it seems to appear. I feel that people don't really notice that even though DR has a lot of tourist attraction, and there is small very wealthy population, the structure in the country [PERSIA] is not as stable or well off as it may appear to some. We shouldn't just overlook that fact and not help their country because it appears "fine."


7:49 PM

We just came back from the afternoon VBS and I am sad + happy. First off, the time flew by so much faster.

10: ish PM

Just flew by yet it's been a day and it feels like I've been here for days. We just finished the missions seminar + worship. I feel so blessed and there's so much to write about but God is giving me the energy to write this. I prayed so much today [compared to how little I prayed before], loved the kids as genuinely I could, I didn't slap at bugs, or fan myself. And I don't say this in self-righteousness (for once...=P) but as a testimony to God's grace and how He provides so much. I saw many returning faces. Anaery, Kendri, Olga, Sarita, Lucy, Tiffani, and more new faces- Gregory, lloel, llona, Jorge Luis, Juan, + more! I have grown so attached to Kendri and Gregory especially =( But I was so sad and somber to leave everyone knowing I'd never see them again. But I got a picture with Gregory! So after VBS ended, our departure was being drawn out because I guess there is a lot of unsettlement in the village of El Camino iglésia and missionary Chun allowed a group of people to meet in the church. Later they 

July 8 10:ish PM 

learned those people were not spreading truths about Jesus and was causing disturbment in the community by also bringing in many from outside the community to the church. And so yesterday they came after hearing Missionary Chun banned them from the church and for a while no one knew what was going on and they had the [missions] team sit inside the church and after a while of them talking, they came inside to get their stuff + left. We got home and had

*Afterword*
My journal entries started getting very shaky starting around here. I had a harder and harder time pulling myself to write every night and so each new night I was trying to catch up on recounting the days I had missed. This entry ends without even a complete sentence..I really don't know what happened...perhaps I just quit writing? Or I wonder if something happened to the page because I do remember having to hurriedly tear out some pages. =( well I know that we had yummy food. I think my sentence went on to explain that when we got home we had the best tasting mangos I've ever tasted. Ever. They were delicious and prepared for us by the missionary's wife, Samoneem. They were delicious and gone in two seconds. Just incredible texture, and flavor! XD After that night we ate mangos as a whole, not cut up, but biting off from the core. And it would get all stuck up in your teeth but such an amazing experience :)
Also, disclaimer: my knowledge and accuracy of what went down that afternoon at El Camino church is very vague, but it is the gist of what happened. I'm sure I'm missing a lot of factual information. But this I know; God again showed Himself by protecting us and keeping us safe in a situation that could've gone a very different way. 
Minor details: I spelled Humberto's name wrong ^_^ Umberto haha. He wrote his name in the dust on the car window and so I saw there was actually an H. And when Soro told me about his kids, I misunderstood. Dahiana is 13 and Juan is 14.

My journal! and the leaf I snapped off from a palm tree growing in front of the missionary's house.

DR Journal Entry #5:::::6:55 PM (USA) 7:55 PM (DR(!)) Tuesday, 6 July 2010

*Foreword*
Well, first off, in my journal I titled this entry with two different times. Apparently there's no time change from the east coast to DR. ha. I only realized that 3 days into the trip :P I met a guy (very nice man doing missions work as well) on the plane and he told me he thought that there was a one hour difference...but now thinking about it I didn't even know what time zone he was originally using, so absentminded of me. But secondly, I'm writing this on the second plane [from Miami to Santo Domingo] after spending a very very long time at Miami International, waiting for our delayed plane.



6:55 PM (USA) 7:55 PM (DR(!)) Tuesday, 6 July 2010

WOW :) haha that's how I always start off but I'm on the plane now headed to DR! Finally, we originally had like a 5 hour lay over which turned into 6 and card games was all we played haha. First we got partners for lunch which apparently will be our small group partners, but me and Dan decided to get Nathan's hot dogs for lunch Yum! Then card games galore (while at the wrong terminal) I learned Chinese Rat Ginseng (Or something like that) and Mao... Fun! We played Casino, Kemps (I suck) Presidents (a lot) Old Maid, BS etc :) Then we moved all of our stuff to the right terminal which was actually in a cold basement kind of level and played even more card games. (+ *Gohn gi* w/ jolly ranchers :P) Then Grace Chung gave me 1/2 leftover of her chicken sandwich which saved my life and the pastors brought omg chinese food for dinner :) Which by then I was very grateful that I had that sandwich because I had about 4 bites of lo mein and then I had to board! On the plane I fell asleep immediately, like before lift off (I'm such a natural :P) and now I'm awake to a dry DRY throat, bad breath, and an upset stomach which I cured by using the plane bathroom for the first time (gross...) It is dark now, cool...I'm going to try and find some more gum...I'm excited to land! But it hasn't hit me yet, maybe because I'm ready to remember this missions trip as a part of my life and not a 9-day vacation... :/ Idk but I am excited inside for Jesus and I guess that is all that matters! I freaking can't wait to meet Everyone! All 4 Now.

<3 Joy Cho

P.S. OMG Message from Pilot that we'll be landing in 18 minutes!!! EEP!! :]

*Afterword* 
Lol. Just to make myself feel better about posting this entry publicly, I didn't use the phrase "upset stomach" correctly. I just wanted to express that my stomach wasn't happy...but it wasn't an "upset stomach." ...haha but I guess it really doesn't matter. :P And "gohn gi" is a korean game.

DR Journal Entry #4:::::10 ish? AM Tuesday, 6 July 2010

*Foreword* 
Still on the plane, surrounded by sleeping people :)


10 ish? AM 6 July 2010

It doesn't even feel like I'm on an airplane anymore :P there is slight turbulence, but all is well. I can't go back to sleep so I guess I'm up for the next hour. So far I've ready Crazy Love but I had to stop after a couple of pages because Francis Chang told me to go watch a video. Then, I reviewed motions/lyrics for our praise songs haha. I've gotten all of them pretty down. :) I wish we could practice our skits...since I haven't practiced in a WHILE. Oh well, God will make up for the areas we lack. I'm a little numb right now (nice way of saying bored :P) but I'm still happy, and I'm sure my excitement will be replenished once we land in Miami! I'll keep you postedddd.

<3 Joy Cho

DR Journal Entry #3:::::Tuesday, 6 July 2010 Almost 8:15 AM

*Foreword*
On the plane! With Will on my left, and Sena on my right. About the best plane buddies you could have :)



Tuesday, 6 July 2010 Almost 8:15 AM
Flight 941 to MIAMI.

Hello! I'm on the airplane

*hour passes*

WOW! I fell asleep after lift off haha :P I think it's something about being on a plane that lulls you to sleep. Just like when I'm in a car. Lift off was amazing :) I was so worried about having trouble dealing with the air pressure but everything's fine! Hallelujah Praise the LORD. I've got to say, I love flying :) I <3 the whole airport experience. But I just ate a Snickers bar w/ 31g of sugars right before falling asleep -___- haha although that shouldn't be my first worry.
We are scheduled to land at Miami International a little ahead of schedule at 11 :) Excited to be in Florida! Even though we're only there for a few hours. One thing that I'm noticing in myself is that I'm having more moments of self-righteousness :/ I'm just growing apprehensive I guess...hopefully it's nothing but I think I'm going to have a hard time w/ team unity because I'm angry and disappointed in a lot of ppl for not having focus on God. But I will just pray about it more & more.
God is really with us on this trip :) I was watching out the window during the whole time of lift off and the experience was amazing :) I do have a little headache and a wee bit of dizzyness also my left foot is stiff, but really, other than those minor problems, I'm perfectly fine! =)
No turbulence :) or very minor and unnoticeable :) American Airlines is a cozy little airplane; nice and a good starter for a first timer :) The Office is playing on TV but I've already watched the episode (Michael loses the client cards) so it's not too bad not having earphones. But that is all for now :) Time to pray!
<3 Joy Cho
P.S. I'm in seat 11E
Byul Minwoo Matt ____ Will Me Sena!
WOOHOO I was impressed or idk that everyone fell asleep before the plane even took off...I guess they're used to flying :P

DR Journal Entry #2:::::Tuesday, 6 July 2010 4:14 AM

*Foreword*
This is the day that we leave! I wrote this while waiting for the luggage to be packed into the van, sitting on the floor of the church gym. Everyone was just kind of mulling around, waiting to leave, perfect down time to write a lil sum sum in my journal.


Tuesday, 6 July 2010 4:14 AM

Had trouble sleeping last night, too excited :) But I eventually fell asleep, and woke up to the lights being turned on and it felt good! OH MY GOODNESS almost there! Still hasn't hit yet :) I'm so excited and I can feel others are, too. One thing I've learned this morning; Sam Jundo* does not understand that 1 inch DOES make a pair of shorts longer haha I will miss this! Now time to get some quick breakfast :)
WOOHOOOO!! =)

<3Joy Cho

*Afterword*

Just in case; "jundo" means "pastor."

DR Journal Entry #1:::::Monday, 5 July 2010 6:25 PM

*Foreword*
I've decided to share what I wrote in my journal from before and during the missions trip, it might be insight to you, if you choose to read it (hopefully in it's entirety!) And it will definitely help me to reflect even more on my time in DR, everything we experienced, and the way I felt while there.
So disclaimer: this isn't the first entry in my journal technically, I had the journal long before the trip and wrote in it before. Actually, my very first entry is a testimony of the first time I heard God (and was sure it was Him =]) and then I had pages brainstorming fundraising ideas for the trip, which I refer back to in the entry below. But this is basically the first entry regarding the actual trip :) Everything you read is exactly (down to the # of exclamation points) how I wrote it in my journal But disclaimer #2: For everything I post up, I may omit a sentence or two, that I'm not comfortable sharing. I hope you understand! So now, here is some background info; I'm in my room, sitting on the floor next to my open suitcase and writing =) It's Monday, the day before our departure, and I'm getting ready to go to church to sleepover. Enjoy! ^_^


Monday, 5 July 2010 6:25 PM

WOW! It seems like forever ago that I wrote the few previous pages... :)
Back in December there was no definite missions trip, yet I was planning all these grand fundraising events Lol. None of which btw we actually did. But here I am, less than 24 hours to the trip and things have worked out by God and His grace alone! I'm so freakinnggg excited! I leave for church in like an hour! yesterday was really fun, too! The best 4th of July to date :) I spent it with FAMILY :D Elisha, Christina, Casey, Danielle, David, Pisit and a whole bunch of Pisit's family (+ some friends, too) SO MUCH FUN just being with such nice people and for the first time in a WHILE that I actually felt like I was a part of their family. The kids are ADORABLE too!!! They melt me XD I could spend forever w/ them. I can't wait to see them again once I come back. One thing though that I don't feel too great about is drinking yesterday.
But anyways, I think I'm done packing....FINALLY. Other ppl told me it took them like 15 minutes to pack and how it was refreshing not to care so much about what we have to bring since we're going very Spartan for this trip. :P But I dragged out my packing time to a few hours so I'm questioning if my mindset is in the right place.. :/ I'll pray more. But I really can't believe ittt!!!! By this time tomorrow (if all goes smoothly!) We'll be in the Dominican Republic Yayy!! Well just about to land technically :) I hope my body is able to deal with the air pressure. Well :/ I'll pray! I'm so excited for the plane ride!! my FIRST that I can remember in full and my FIRST outside of the country!!! :) Ay Dios was my passport a struggle, but God provided in time. I got my passport in less than 48 hours and like 3 days before the trip! OMGoodness! I'm so PUMPED for this trip. I'm going to pray for our team to have unity, spiritually and emotionally during this trip, no complaining, that I'll be able to put 100% effort every second, that we'll be able to l<3ve all the kids, handle food well, safe plane rides, no discord, and most importantly, for God's glory to be seen. I hope we change someone's life with the love of Jesus Christ :)
OMGoodness! This is my first missions trip! May God be at the center of this journey. I don't know what to expect :) Hopefully I will be a changed person, too after this mission trip :D

DR Missions '10. L<3VE God. Serve Others. July 6-14, 2010 <3

<3 Joy Cho