NatesMission

Words and pictures to document my travels locally and abroad...helping others... That is Nates Mission

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Border of Lights

76 years ago...ruthless Dominican President / Dictator Rafael Trujillo waged a genocidal attack on people of Haitian decent living in the borderlands of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The racial extermination ended in 20,000 people losing their lives, and countless wounded. People of Haitian decent (many born in the Dominican Republic thus being Dominican citizens) were systematically rounded up and killed. For #BorderOfLights we light candles at the Dominican / Haitian border in memory of those whom history has attempted to sweep under the rug..and we stand in solidarity with the people of the first free black republic in the world....

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Young Stars - Stereotype Lesson Oct 18th, 2013

My Coworker Victor facilitated this lesson on stereotyping for our Young Stars program. I was fortunate to be able to help him and help the students as well in the activity.

Four Dominicans of different complexions. Students were given 24 words and asked to choose 8 words to describe each picture... If you've seen this movie before I'm sure you know how this is going to end... Parts of the activity were indeed difficult for me to witness...

Dirty. Ugly. Awkward. Artistic. Lazy. Aggressive. Poor. Cool. Words chosen by students to describe her...

Rich. Obedient. Beautiful. Cool. Strong. Adventurous. Confident. Successful. Words chosen by students to describe her...

The word list...

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The Questions: What?

This is by far the easiest question to answer.

"What are you going to be doing in the DR?"

The most frequently expressed activities:

A. Hanging out on the beach all day

B. Getting with exotic womens

C. Partying and drinking

D. Teaching English

If you answered "D", you've been paying attention. I teach the Ingles to students in our program and evening courses for adults in the community. 

"S***, I like to party...but y'all wanna act like LIFE'S a party..." (c) Kay of The Foundation

Yes, there are beaches here...and alcohol and womens. Unless it's a staff / group outing I'm usually not anywhere near the beach. I'm at my house or at the school. Printing stuff, writing, planning or if I'm at home laying on my bed cuz i'm HOT.

My feet have touched the ocean water 2 times since I've been here. And the Atlantic Ocean is literally the next street over. I've got plenty of time for that, tho. Don't get me wrong, there are parts of this country that are absolutely beautiful. And I have gotten a chance in my brief time here to see a few of those parts.

But I have a job just like errybody else. I AM NOT ON VACATION. Right now I have 3 separate groups of students that I have to plan for and teach with limited supplies and resources. Things you take for granted in the United States like paper and glue and staplers...aren't necessarily a given here. If I am correct there is one stapler in the entire building that we all have to share. Unless someone came up on another one recently...lol

Plus...there are people at the beach and I don't like people...lol

So if you want an accurate picture of what I do here think more

and less...

or somewhere in between...lol

Coming Next: The Questions- “How”?

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The Questions: Where?

  "Good luck in Puerto Rico..."

"I heard you were moving to Haiti?"

"When you going to Costa Rica?"

I'm not quite sure where all this misinformation came from. And while every country in the Western Hemisphere has been named as my possible destination...if you are looking for me, you can find me in the Dominican Republic.  

Cabarete to be exact.

About 25 years ago Cabarete practically didn't exist as it does now. That's when some French Canadian dude visited and decided this would be a great place to windsurf. So he started a windsurfing biz. Then came the hotels and resorts. Then came the bars and restaurants. And gift shops... and all that $$ TOURISM MUNNEY $$. And like that, in the span of 25 years you have a practically brand new city that is considered one of the top beaches / resort locations on this side of the globe. So with all that $$ TOURISM MUNNEY $$ floating around, Dominicans moved up north to support the tourism industry. Working in those hotels and resorts and shops. 

And while all of that is literaly a few blocks from me...the Cabarete I live in is one of roosters waking you up in the morning. Naked babies running around outside. Neighbors using your fence to dry their clothes on. Late night bachata music blasting from your neighbors house...and lots and lots of arroz con pollo.  

Cabarete....and Cabarete

If you've followed this Nate's Mission Blog at all you will notice all the entries deal with the Dominican Republic. My first overseas mission trip opportunity with Zion Church in 2011 gave me the option of Kenya or The Dominican Republic. I chose the Dominican Republic because...it was cheaper and the flight to Africa is dumb long. That one trip turned into 2. Turned into 3. Turned into this. So when the placement process for teaching abroad stalled out and they wanted to send me to Spain for a more lucrative position...I told them thanks, but no thanks. No shade to Spain for anyone who may be from there...

But like the great poet Brad Jordan said... "It's like the world don't exist, we stay confined to this small little section we living in...On My Block.... I wouldn't trade it for the world, cuz I love these ghetto boys and girls..."

Coming Next: The Questions- “What”?

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The Questions: Why?

Why?

Why does a 33 year old man leave his house, car, woman he loves, DJ equipment, financial responsibilities...give away furniture and dishes and appliances ...to go teach in a foreign country FOR FREE?

People seemed convinced that I'm going to the Dominican Republic to get with Dominican chics...sit on the beach...or have a year long vacation. And nothing I can say can convince many of these people (mostly MEN...hell is wrong with y'all?) that I am not gonna be participating in a year long Drake video on the beach. Since that is what THEY value, they assume I value that as well and I've come to the point where I just let people rock with their assumptions.

And while all those pleasantries are indeed there, and are definitely perks...anyone who truly knows me, knows that I am not driven by those type of things. Simply put...I'm am driven by serving people.

So the question remains. Why?

The answer lies in one realization that has nothing to do with beaches or babes. 

I HATE being a teacher. Hate it. 

HATE it.

Hate IT 

I loooove to TEACH. I love to help people. Seeing people achieve things. Seeing things come alive in people. To push and motivate. But I hate being a TEACHER.

My 4 years of teaching has...from the very START, been riddled with drama, lies, moving from class to class,  then school to school, head butting with Principals, personally conflicts...**sigh**

I'm the youngest teacher in the school. The only one who knows who to use the technology properly. Other (older) teachers don't know HOW to use it or just plain refuse to use it. I give after school trainings to the other teachers on how to use the technology. Yet you as a principal put me in a room with Special Ed kids and NO technology and refuse to give me any til March/April.

"So you're doing the technology training....?"

"Yup" "But but you don't have any technology in your classroom...?" "Yup"

Nope... you're more concerned about my bulletin boards being up to code. I don't give a %#*$ about no bulletin boards. I'm sorry...I really really don't. If that makes me a bad teacher...then I'll have to accept that.

How bout the time the Maryland State Department of Education came to observe our school and said that of all the classes they saw, they enjoyed being in my class the most. Yet I rarely got praise or support from my own Principal. Just criticism and bad evaluations.

This is a snap shot of the bull I've experienced. The politics and butt kissing and ridiculous rules and tap dancing. I realized EARLY on that I'm not built for this. Cuz for some reason I thought being a teacher meant helping kids...and it really doesn't.

Only maybe 20% of it does. The other 80% is meetings, and paperwork and more meetings where you lie to parents about their child's disability, and lesson plans and horrible curriculum...and

....I'm not a teacher 

So the answer to the question why?

Because I would die if I didn't.

My spirit was dying an long painful death in the DC metropolitan area school systems. 

I'm doing this because I don't want to die. I wanna live. And help people for real...something I haven't been allowed to do in almost 4 years. I'm still not completely sure this is the right decision or if this is gonna work out. I question my sanity almost daily. It has taken a massive effort to pull this off. But I had to try...

Coming Next: The Questions- "Where"?

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Dominican Republic December 2012

The purpose of this blog is to document my Mission related activities, both local and abroad. It seems to be that the Dominican Republic is the only "abroad" location I have been going to, lol. Not my fault entirely. There were several plans to go to Haiti, but they never seem to work out. A trip to Europe in 2013 has an outside shot at becoming a possibility, (but I wouldn't bet on it). As it stands now tho, my several trips to the Dominican Republic have allowed be to build and grow relationships there. It has become more than drive by Missions. Drop some food off and leave. I now have people in the Dominican that I know and care about. So what started off as one trip will (God willing) grow into something more regular. We were able to do a lot down there. Connected with new people and touched lives in the process. I must say thank you to everyone who donated to the school supply drive. I was able to provide backpacks, notebooks, pens, pencils and more to my friend Bartolo for his school. And as more pics from the trip begin to come in, I will post them...

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Home base for our food distribution efforts. Putting together the bags of food...

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"All I Want For My Birthday is a..." (c)

In less than 30 days I will be returning to the Dominican Republic for the third time. I am at a very interesting point in my life. My 33rd birthday is weeks away and I am at point where my life's path should be getting more clear, however I'm left with more forks in the road and no GPS. I can with all honesty say that nothing that I do gives me the same passion and fulfillment as going on these mission trips. There is a lot of hard work, planning, fundraising, sweat and tears that go into each trip. But the ability to exhibit God's love to hurting people is something I wouldn't trade for anything. The downsides are that they can be costly in terms of the sacrifice of time and money it takes to go...and disruptive to one's "Regular Life". At this point I'm not sure how much value or stock I put in having a "Regular Life" and the acquisition of cars, homes with picket fences and 401K's. So what does that mean for me and my future pursuits and passions? I am much more interested in having a meaningful life than a regular one. What is the definition of "meaningful" as it relates to me?  One of my favorite rappers Trip Lee describes much of what I'm feeling in this song "Fantasy". 

So this year for my 33rd birthday I will be again doing something meaningful. Delivering food, clothes, hopefully some joy and making new friends in the Dominican Republic. All I seek is to do something in life that I am passionate about. Sitting behind a desk for 8 hours a day may be "necessary" but it provides no passion.

So if you ever find yourself asking why I keep going on these international relief trips with my church...just know it is there that I find meaning. Something that isn't "regular" at all...

And that will make for the best birthday experience I can ever ask for...

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Nate Gilbert in the Dominican Republic

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Disabled Child Gets Wheelchair

This post was written by my friend and mission team member, Alvin Lowe...enjoy.

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Last June, a Zion Church mission team visited the Dominican Republic to serve those in need. During that trip, the pastor's wife met this young man, a severely disabled kid who was unable to get around on his own. His family had no means of providing for his needs. Healthcare was nonexistent, and even his own mother had a broken ankle that had long gone untreated. Needless to say, the pastor's wife was touched. So, upon returning home in the States, she researched this child's needs and purchased him a specialized wheelchair.

In December 2011, the World Hope mission team ventured into many of the same areas that Zion Church had been 6 months earlier. The pastor's wife had given us the wheelchair she had bought, and we set out to present it to this young man. He and his family were excited, as this was as much of a surprise to them as it was helpful. Here he is, enjoying his new mode of transportation! This trip was made possible by YOUR prayers and donations! And with YOUR help, we'll be doing it again THIS December.

-Alvin Lowe

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A Mission - Not A Vacation (Part 1)

I'm back from the Dominican Republic. I've been back for 6 days now. The team I went with included some very gifted and talented, loving and caring individuals who all shared the same mission. To take God's love to the poor. Spiritually poor...materially poor. Simply put...to serve where there is great need. My prayer while I was there and now that I am back is that I will not get comfortable. Most people who have known me for more than a few years know that I lean toward the militant side. Even so, I can say now that each time I return from serving in the Dominican Republic I am more and more disgusted by United States culture. The excess and the foolishness. I don't care what celebrities are getting divorced. I don't care what two ball players baby mamas are fighting on TV. Drake and Chris Brown fighting. What the hot song is...i'm borderline disgusted by all that. There are people of color....Dominicans, Haitians. BLACK PEOPLE. Living in slums with no electricity or bathrooms. Little access to clean water. All of this probably 40 minutes away from multimillion dollar Dominican resort summer homes along the Caribbean Sea coastline. There are scores of young Dominican girls who sell their bodies to old white European men, who come to their country for a summer getaway. Countless old white men walking around with the young Dominican girls whom they have purchased. That's disgusting. Who provides opportunities for these girls so that there are other ways of feeding their families besides selling sex. Where is the development and financial investment? If its not a summer resort to entertain Americans and Europeans, then i'm not sure... My trips to the Dominican are not a vacation. If that's what you do, then rock on. We all need time to relax and refresh our minds. But that's not what I do there. I am (We are) on a mission. And its just starting to take shape in my heart. I feel like God is doing some things. He is planting seeds and ideas in the hearts and minds of myself and other members of the team. I plan to go back again in December...and as many times as I can. Next time I'm walking the streets of the DR minding my business and a woman and her pimp offer me sex, I'd like to be able to offer then more than a scripture. More than a REASON to change their lives...but an OPPORTUNITY to do so as well... Baby steps tho...

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4 Weeks To Go (The Countdown)

Four weeks to go until I make my return trip to the Dominican Republic. There is still a lot that I need to do. Shots and immunizations and several other things I need to check off the "list". To be honest (and don't tell anyone), I'm not sure i'm even gonna get all the shots. I may just wing it...

Certain parts of the mission are starting to take shape. The projects we will be working on. A possible health triage. Habitat for Humanity type building projects are also a possibility. It's all very exciting, yet the unknown is also exciting. Knowing that the unknown lies ahead. The unknown person you may have the chance to reach out to, the unknown situation or challenge. Its the type of stuff that makes for great stories...lol

Something that stuck out from tonight's Mission Team Meeting. This quote from Bono unfortunately rings too true.

"This is not about charity in the end, is it? It's about justice. The good news yet to come. I just want to repeat that: This is not about charity, it's about justice. And that's too bad. Because we're good at charity. We like to give, and we give a lot, even to those who can't afford it.

But justice is a higher standard. Africa makes a fool of our ideas of justice; it makes a farce of our idea of equality. It mocks our pieties; it doubts our concern and it questions our commitment. Six and a half thousand Africans are still dying every day of preventable, treatable disease, for lack of drugs we can buy at any drug store. This is not about charity. This is about Justice and Equality" - Bono of the group U2 (2/2/06)

We (the team) aren't going down there to do some charity and leave. We want to change lives. Spiritually and materially as much as we can. To help people in the worst situations see God thru our actions...

Hasta Luego

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"Let's Do It Again...."

Its (almost) official... I am on my way back to the Dominican Republic. I can barely wait. I want to visit the schools and see if the kids still remember me from my last visit. My Spanish is improving slowly so I hope to be able to communicate better. Mostly I just want to do work that makes me happy. And going there and helping to improve the lives of others makes me happy. It was my intention to go to Haiti, but things just weren't working out with the J.O.B.

That really doesn't sit well with me. I wanna go help some people but I can't cuz of my job....When you say it, it leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. But its reality. "Gotta help keep the heat and the lights on..."(c) Goodie Mob

The Haiti team leaves tomorrow, and even though I know the need is greater there, my heart is in the DR now. My summer is clear, so the Dominican will not be a problem. "You want an encore y'all...you should welcome me back..." (c) Nas Dominican Republic - June 2012

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Dominican Republic: Tuesday Dec 13th. 8:10am

Buenos Dia,

Today is my last day here in the D.R. (for now). I am ready to get back to my life at home tho...food I can pronounce and a few other familiarities of home. But I am dead set on this not being my last trip here. Lots of things this yea didn't go the way I would have scripted, but this trip was a blessing.

Yesterday we did out final official mission work. We took food to an after school center. I think it was in Consuelo. The crazy thing is, just minutes before we arrived, apparently someone across the street died in a fight of some sort. But everyone at the center was so warm and welcoming. Then the kids showed up and they were off the chain. Me and Alvin saw that a few of them looked bored so we made paper airplanes and they reacted like we had showed them the cure to cancer. They had never seen a paper airplane. We ended up ripping page after page out of my note book to make each one of them a plane. They threw them at each other, onto the roof, across the street. It was controlled hilarious chaos.

Later that evening, Rev & Mrs. Battle took the whole team to the restaurant called Neptunos. Several members of the team stood up and gave thanks to other members. Including me, on behalf of the new team members...I thanked the vets and Rev & Helen.

Time for breakfast

Adios...

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Dominican Republic: Monday Dec 12th. 7:41am

A beautiful morning...

I am currently sitting on a beach writing this.

Yesterday we visited a computer lab that Zion built for a church down here. So I got to check my email for a full 60 seconds. It was really great to see. Kinda sums up a lot of this trip. Lots of happiness, good work and progress in the midst of struggle. I guess I can do a better job of having joy in my own troubles.

On the missionary side of things, we visited a lot of Haitian neighborhoods yesterday. The worst stuff we've seen so far. Nobody really cares for the Haitians in this part of the world. They live in little immigrant camps with very little in the way of resources. They have spirit tho. Their church was JUMPING. Their reactions when we passed out food...they literally mobbed us. Food, shoes, candy, it didn't matter. I gave a little girl some oranges and she ran off skipping like she was following the yellow brick road.

I am currently reading (re-reading) Purpose Driven Life, trying to rediscover my purpose in the midst of this weird period of my life. I am almost certain my purpose will lead me back here tho.

A couple of other Haitian villages with boys with no clothes. I guess it's customary to let little boys run around naked. Me and Alvin think its  cuz they pee in their clothes a lot? Regardless, just a level of lack that should humble almost anyone...