Two in Diapers

By Rebeca

Typical morning view in our yard

It has been six weeks since Daniel arrived. At times it feels like we just brought him home. Other times, I can feel the toll of each one of those days in my aching body - the lack of sleep, the achy back, arms that are tired of having a baby on tow at all times, feet that have been standing for too long. And there are other times, the hardest times, when regardless of what trick I try, my baby is still crying, and  I look at Daniel and think of how many months ahead of us until we can catch our breath, and I feel I just can't do it.

Daniel turns 1 month with big brother by his side

And the truth is, I can't do it... not by myself. The good news is, I don't have to. The hard news is, I don't have to. Self-sufficiency and performance are my "cucos," my boogie-man. And getting up every morning to a task that is beyond my capacity is undoing me. In an attempt to feel good about myself, I decided (needlessly) to go to the grocery store with both kids alone last week. I honestly just wanted to see myself "pulling it off," and I had a plan. I had just gotten out of the car, when Katherine, and old Vida Joven girl, came running to me from across the street to say hello. We caught up, and I showed her the kiddos, to which she said, "¿estás loca? ¿qué estás haciendo sola con los dos en el super?" Are you crazy, what are you doing by yourself with both of them at the grocery store?. She helped me get them out of the car.

As David walked in, holding my hand, one of the guys that packages groceries, rushed to our aid, and put him in the cart. On our way out, another man who works at the store, took us all to the car, packed the groceries, and helped with both kids.  As I think about the whole outing, I am reminded of a conversation I had with my mom in her later weeks. She was at a point where she couldn't do anything by herself anymore, bedridden, in constant pain, and she said, "you know? I've realized, this is too heavy a burden to carry ourselves... and the Lord is giving us His body! His Church!" And He did! Day after day we witnessed so many people come to our help during a painful and trying time, people we hadn't been in contact with for years.

David being a goofball

I am way in over my head with these two boys, and it is too heavy of a burden to carry alone, but that is what Jesus calls us to - to share our burdens with one another. I know He will provide, just like he did that day, with the people around me to go through this season of life. I pray that I will have open eyes and an open heart to see, accept, and cherish the gifts He sends.

Vida Joven Video

There is a great new video about Vida Joven Dominicana, Young Life's field ministry in the Dominican Republic. Vida Joven is doing great ministry to adolescents in the Dominican Republic. It's under five minutes long, and will give you a much better understanding of YL's ministry in the DR. Enjoy!

 

Young Life Dominican Republic from W. Ashley Maddox on Vimeo.

Daniel Liam Clifford Aguilar

Daniel Liam Clifford Aguilar

At 3:15 pm on December 19th, our son Daniel was born. Mother and son are thankfully very healthy. Daniel tipped the scales at 7 pounds, 15 ounces. Childbirth is a fascinating, traumatic experience. We are grateful to have a good team of medical personnel in Santiago.

This was a slightly different experience than David's birth. David's birth went about as smooth as possible. While there were no serious complications with Daniel, there were several little things that added up. Each thing made it a little bit more complicated and costly. One of the hardest things for me as father came after being told that there was a membrane that had closed the passage inside his left nostril. While fairly common, the ENT specialist was called. Her solution was to take an instrument the length of my new son's forearm and shove it up his nose. That was not fun to watch. While it seems a bit barbaric, Daniel appears to be no worse for wear now.

Now begins the post-birth legal process in order to claim Daniel's citizenship in the three countries he has rights to: the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and the US. The Dominican birth certificate process went much more smoothly than with David. After only four hours of waiting in lines, it was done. Next we will go to the US and Guatemalan embassies. The US government has a very poetic name for this: "Consular Report of Birth Abroad". That means a full day in Santo Domingo and listing every international trip I have ever made in my entire life. After serving in the Peace Corps and living in the DR for 15 years, that list is pretty long. Once we have Daniel's CRBA, we can apply for a passport, which necessitates another day spent at the embassy. Fun, fun, fun!

In the end, we are thankful for a healthy baby, thankful for the blessings of triple citizenship in wonderful countries, thankful for a blue passport that will let him travel about anywhere he wants.