Here is a glimpse of what I have been up to the past few weeks in the Dominican Republic! I was so fortunate to receive a grant to study here this summer. I am taking intensive Spanish and Dominican language and culture classes every day to finish my Spanish minor and increase my fluency! I am living with a Dominican host family, two Dominican students, and another American student. I speak Spanish all day long which is definitely exhausting, but I am learning more than I could have ever imagined. I am traveling with other students and locals on the weekends and seeing so much of this beautiful country. I am living and studying at a University in Santiago: Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra! This is a wonderful community and I have been so fortunate to meet people from all walks of life here. I made a visit to a local orphanage my first week here and fell in love with the children, many of whom have been abandoned because they have physical and intellectual disabilities. This was not a part of my study or programming, but God really placed these children on my heart. I decided to serve at the orphanage helping the wonderful woman who takes care of all of these children. God is really moving here as we are seeing children who were told they would never get out of a bed walk, and children who had never said a word speak and laugh with ease. The kids are so patient with me as they teach me all the cool Spanish slang, and I am enjoying every moment that I get to spend with them. They are so smart and funny and have such huge lives to live. I am so blessed to have this incredible opportunity to learn and live here, and so thankful for the love and support of my family and friends on all of my wild endeavors.