Day Four - Part 2

Hey, it’s Jake Hendrick from the DR! The week has been awesome so far, and we have all been growing closer to God and each other over the trip. This morning I had a very interesting experience at the brickyard. Let me begin by giving you a little background information. In this last year, Mr. Neill had a section of Bible class that focused on international injustice. He showed several video documentaries of injustice in India. Among the different forced slavery and prostitution were two different jobs, making matchsticks and making bricks. The videos showed very clearly the process of making the bricks, a backbreaking job.

After breakfast yesterday morning, Mr. Neill told us that Brian (the director here) was asking for volunteers to run into town to get bricks that we needed for the sidewalk. Since I had already done my devotions and other things, I volunteered to ride in into Jarabacoa. We rode down the mountain for about twenty minutes until we arrived at the brickyard. Up until this point, I had not even thought about the videos that I had watched over the last year. The first things I saw when I hopped out of the truck were piles of bricks. There were thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of bricks just piled on top of each other. Brian told us we could walk around and soon someone would be out to give us a tour. As we walked around, I saw what was obviously an oven of some sort to bake the bricks. I saw hundreds of trees that were sitting to be chopped up to fuel different machinery. I also noticed two men who were only shoveling ashes out of the bottom of an incinerator and carting them away. Then I turned around and chills went up and down my spine. The hair on my arms literally stood up. Two men were putting wet clay into brick molds, scraping off the excess clay, smoothing it out, taking off the molds, and repeating the process. They did this over and over again, their hands constantly moving, and they never stood up. They were working under a tin roof, under which it was at least ninety degrees. They picture was exactly that of the slaves in the injustice documentary. I later found out that those men made about $150 a week, working ten-hour days with a two-hour siesta (rest) each day. They get two weeks vacation for the year. Now these men chose to work in conditions like that. Sure in India, Africa, and even probably places in the DR, there are people stuck in slavery making bricks, but it just gives me chills to think that those men were at the point in their lives that they would work in a brickyard. The slavery of making bricks goes back as far as the Israelites and Egyptians. And yet after all those years, it still happens in the world. What makes me thinks even more than that is that in this country, those men in the brickyard have it better than most. It is going to be difficult to go back to a country where everyone has a chance to succeed. I am learning that God has a will for everything and sometimes I’m not going to ever see it. I just need to trust in Him and try to impact these people’s lives for the better while I am here.

In Christ,

Bones

In the afternoon on Thursday, we all loaded up into the vans and took off to do some ministering to the people in the community around us. Everyone was excited and looking forward to making some new friends; the vans were packed with balloons and basketballs and soccer balls to share with the kids. We arrived at the first village tucked away in the back roads of Jarabacoa. We piled out of the vans and while some of us started a game of soccer on a makeshift soccer field, the others of us brought out the balloons. Soon our group was surrounded by children with fistfuls of balloons crying out in Spanish whether they wanted a “sombrero” or a dog or a fish or any twisted shape we could possibly come up with. As the commotion from the balloons died down, other activities took their place. The bigger boys went off to play a game of soccer, a few girls formed a circle to play volleyball, while others started playing with the jump rope we brought. It was a great evening of fun and games, but telling you about the things we did cannot even begin to explain the entirety of our experience. The members of our group felt things within their hearts that they could not understand as the connections between the children were deepened. An overwhelming love swept over our group, and as the time neared for us to head home, we dreaded the challenge we would face when we had to put the children down and say goodbye. I don’t know about the rest of the group, but I know that I was overcome with a feeling of helplessness as to what I could do to help these children grow up in a loving, safe, and clean environment, and to always remind them that there is hope, and there is Someone who loves them so much that they could never comprehend it. As we were preparing to leave, I was giving hugs and saying my goodbyes to the girls I had played with. Each time I said goodbye, I would add in “Jesus te ama” which means “Jesus loves you.” When I hugged one little girl and told her that Jesus loves her, she looked at me with a sparkle in her eyes and told me that she also was a Christian. I could feel the same spark go off in my eyes as we held each other’s gaze for a silent moment in time. That moment may have been for only a few seconds, but I will never ever forget that little girl and the joy she had within her as she shared with me the love of a Savior. I may never interact with that little girl ever again here on earth, but I look forward to the day when I can look her in the eyes in Heaven and remember the moment I shared with her in a village tucked away in the back roads of Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic.

-Rachael

Leader's Perspective - Day 4

(Note: Now that we are back home I have been able to add photos)


Hello Everyone,

I apologize that these updates have been so late. The internet connection on the other side of town (where the base is located) was somehow cut earlier in the week and we were informed that it may be some time before it is restored. But, I am happy to be here in an internet cafe in Jarabacoa typing this message to you all. The students are currently on a ministry outing this evening in a small community about 30 minutes from the base. Ken Potter took the reigns of leadership for the evening so that I could come into town to update the blog. I wish that I could upload pictures for you but I am not able to at this time.


Even though we have been without an internet connection, I have still been able to get some testimonies from the students and leaders. You will find them posted below. These are just a few thoughts from a few of the kids. I hope to give everyone a chance to write something, but if they don't all get a chance, know that they are all doing well and having a great time. Our hosts have had created a great balance between work projects, ministry, and fun. Every day there is something new and something to look forward to. There really is too much to tell you about.

From a leaders perspective, I am extremely pleased with the attitudes and hard work being displayed by these kids. You would all be proud of them. The leaders are doing great also. Mrs. Meade is careful about encouraging hydration and serves as the "trip mom". Mrs. Hartman is our resident nurse tending to all minor cuts and scrapes that happen along the way. Mr. Meade is always hard at work and also serves as our videographer (I think he has alreday used three tapes!). Pastor Knight has been a great encourager of the students, his relational foundation with many of them is a great asset. And then there's Ken... All I can say is that he is ready to lead a trip on his own.

Tomorrow is a full day of work followed by ministry at the Base with kids from the local community. Thank you all for your prayers and comments (and for your patience as I looked for a way to get these posts up). Keep praying for us as we work and minister in this country. And pray also for the work that God is doing in our hearts as we focus on the theme of "Surrender".
- Mr. N

Day Four

Hello, it’s Jake Fox and Brent. Yesterday was the toughest day so far. We went running at 6 am with a couple of the staff members. It was challenging with all the hills and elevation changes. We then had to start working after breakfast. Brent had to use the power washer on the roof and Jake dug some stones and gravel to make way for the cement. It was a hot day too. We also went to a couple of schools, one of which was English speaking, and shared our testimonies. We had a good night sleep last night; it gets cool at night, that’s a plus.
We got up and had French toast for breakfast. We went to work right after that. Brent went to town to get bricks and found out how they make them. Jake started painting the roofs and later went to town and bought a knife from the hardware store, Brent is going to buy one later. Brent was power washing another roof till lunch, which just got over. See ya later it is time to swim.
~ Jacob Fox & Brent Malone

Hi, I’m Glyn - here’s what I’ve been up to and seen since we arrived. The students and leaders are doing an amazing job - working so hard and serving God so faithfully, even though it’s really hot. We’ve had the chance to share in a number of schools through a magic show by Jacob H - he’s does such a good job and several of the students also share testimonies - it was so cool to hear my daughter Bron share. (Beckey she did great job - ps love u and miss u)
So our time is split between work projects and schools / evangelism ministry. But for me the lasting memory will be the people and their lives. They are seeking to find purpose and meaning like the rest of us, they are just further challenged because of the tough financial and living situations. Some of the homes that I’ve seen most of us wouldn’t consider suitable to store our lawn equipment in, yet a family calls that home. But more than financial needs are the obvious spiritual needs that are equally evident, every body doing their own thing trying to fill a void and purpose only God can. I don’t think I will ever be the same again following this trip. In closing if you’re reading this as a parent or a spouse I want to encourage you that your family member is doing an amazing job, God is using them and they are encouraging others.
~ Glyn Knight