so remember that time i got mugged?

Here is the story. It was our last night in Santo Domingo, and our ICT group decided that we wanted to stay in the city. We were all staying in a hostel downtown called the Pension. Everyone went out for a “nice” dinner (some got cheap sushi from a food-to-go type place and others, including myself, treated ourselves to McDonalds). Classy. It was basically going to be a great night.

Everyone was hanging out around the city pretty late. Another volunteer and I walked back to the Pension, and we stopped to talk right around the corner from the hostel. We heard voices from the other side of the shed thing that we sere standing by, so the volunteer, Joe, went to see who was there. All of a sudden, we saw two Dominicans walking quickly around the building in our direction. I immediately noticed that the smaller guy in the front was carrying a large silver gun. I told myself to ignore it and not to panic. There was a really big, bulky guy not far behind the little guy, and for a second it seemed as though they were just trying to get to the buildings behind us. We moved back so they could pass by, and then the little guy went straight for Joe. Although it became clear that they were not merely going to walk through us, it took me a second to realize, “Oh my gosh, we’re getting mugged and he’s threatening to shoot.”

The little guy pointed the gun at Joe’s side and whispered for him to give him everything. Joe gave him everything in his pockets, including both of our phones and his wallet with all of his money and US and Dominican credit cards. The big guy was closer to me keeping lookout for anyone coming in the streets, and the little guy seemed completely frazzled. He seemed a little too panicky for comfort. It hit me that these guys could easily kill us and never get caught. I automatically started crying and begging them, “por favor, no…por favor, no…” That seemed to freak the little guy out. He wailed his gun around and made exaggerated arm motions, hissing at me to SHHHH. The big guy thought they were done and started to make his way towards the street. The little guy yelled’ “Wait! Wait!” (in English, I might add), and started to search Joe. For all we knew, the “Wait! Wait!” could have meant, “Wait! Wait! I need to kill these two worthless Americans first…what’s your rush, big guy?” We were both frozen, and really the whole thing is a blur. Weird fact: This was literally the only time I have ever not carried my purse in this country. It is even a joke with some of my PC girlfriends that I am always going to have an oversized, slightly ugly bag with me…not sure what made me leave it at the hostel this one night. I was also wearing a dress, so I don’t know if they would have been so lenient with me if they thought I had something in pants pockets. Anyways, all of that to say, they were definitely more concerned with the male in the group. After he searched and got everything he could from my friend, he took Joe’s watch and they started running away. They crossed the street and then stopped. We were both frozen for a second, and then it hit me that they might come back or be stopping for a reason. We hurried to get out of there, and we ran around to the other side of the shed. We were both still in shock, I think, and I can’t remember if I was still crying or not (if I was a betting woman, I would guess yes). We could still hear them on the other side of the street, so it took us a second to decide if we should run for the corner and risk being shot or just stay and wait for them to leave. I am almost positive that, if it was solely up to me, we would have just crouched and cried, but Joe said we needed to get out of there. We ran to the Pension, and we were lucky that a few other volunteers in our group were in the lobby to let us in and to comfort us. They helped us calm down, and then Joe called and reported the incident.

All is well now. Joe filed the police report (which consisted of a Dominican police officer scribbling down notes on a scratch sheet of paper…I guess they do have bigger fish to fry in this country), we got new cell phones, he was able to get some money out before cancelling the cards, and I think he will get reimbursed for the things that were stolen. That was definitely one of the scariest things that I have ever witnessed. I realize that Mama Sol was being serious when she used to pretend to point a pistol at me and tell me that the streets here are dangerous. All I know is that God was definitely watching over us that night, and I am thankful that it went the way it did. Something could have so easily went differently and turned out badly, and I know that it wasn’t based on our own luck or wits that we didn’t overreact or try to take matters into our own hands. I have faith that everything happens for a reason, so I am going to trust that there is a purpose for this. I have been trying to guess, and I have come up with a few theories…maybe God allowed this to happen so all of the volunteers (particularly myself, I know) would be more cautious over the next 2 years? Maybe this is going to prevent something worse from happening in the future because now our guards will be up a little bit? (I am just saying a little bit…I am still certain that I would rather live my life with a small dose of recklessness than to live in fear. Anyone that knows me is reading this and rolling their eyes and sighing in frustration, I know.) Maybe the reason really is just that the guys needed money and this could actually help them? Or maybe they just wanted cash for drugs? Who knows. And the exact reason doesn’t really matter. It’s pointless to try to guess what God’s plan is…our job is just to be thankful that everything turned out ok and to use this as a learning opportunity. I am so thankful that it happened because it was a good reality check to experience the day before I went to my site for good. What is really important in life? If I had died on Friday (at the risk of sounding dramatic), would I be happy with how my life has gone? I think so, but every day is another day where we have the chance to love people and to influence someone else’s day. I think that is a great thing to keep in mind over the next 2 years. Spanish will eventually click, the inevitable loneliness that we have been warned about since Day 1 will fade, sicknesses will come and go, bad days will happen, however, the great ones are never far behind… Life is good! Basically why should we worry? The Bible says, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” We don’t need to waste time questioning and being anxious about the little things. Live your life, love people, trust in God, and stay positive. And yah.

I pray for those of you at home, as well as the other volunteers, every day. Please let me know if there is something specific I can be praying for, and continue to keep all of us here in your prayers! We need it. Haha. As we start our official service, we are definitely going to have our ups and downs, so keeping us in your thoughts would be greatly appreciated. :o) Love all of you. Stay safe. And don’t walk in the streets alone.