A Post-Trip Reflection

This trip was amazing, and while we were there I couldn’t stop thinking about how for a moment in time our life stories intersected with the life stories of the people in DR. It is amazing to ponder the possibilities of that. Our lives overlapped for maybe a moment, or a while, or even a week…..what will God do with that? After coming in contact with these people, our lives have become forever changed and I believe that their lives are too. I pray that somehow God will use that moment when our lives intersected to leave lasting positive change, and that somehow it made as much of a difference in them as it did in us. We may never know. I do know that I am much more aware now that the way I live my life can greatly affect others when God allows my story to intersect with theirs which happens all the time. It’s exciting to think about how we all get to be part of the greatest story of all; God’s. How will he use us, where will he take us, and who will we meet? What an amazing adventure……….are you ready?

Ken Potter

Day 8 - Monday

So yesterday was an amazing day. We started the day off with driving up the mountains towards the waterfall that we were going to hike down to. The hike was about 800 feet from the top until you reached the waterfall, it was all down hill on the way there, which means we eventually had to hike uphill 800 feet, that wasn’t fun. But anyway, the waterfall was gorgeous. Something that Coach G said when we got to there, and I’ll never forget, “How can people think this comes from evolution?” It was so true, it’s beyond anything I’ve ever seen before. While we were at the waterfall, everyone was climbing all over the rocks and having an amazing time, until the hike back up mountain. It was probably the worst physical thing I’ve ever done. It was worse than basketball conditioning, and that’s hard to beat. It was such a good feeling when I reached the top though, it was almost like I had a huge level of accomplishment. After a couple hours of free time, we all got ready for church. We went to a full out Spanish church, we barely understood anything. It was such a cool experience though. People at the church weren’t scared to show how the spirit was moving them. Singing was my favorite because I could read Spanish. And they had the words put up on the board for us. It was fun to jump around and clap with them! When we got back from church we had dinner and than we had our last meeting. It was an awards meeting. I got the award of encouragement. I don’t really understand why though, I’ve probably complained the most out of everyone on this trip. It was so cool though because people would say why they like each other and why they appreciate each other. It was good for some people to get some encouragement, it is the last couple days of the trip and everyone is getting homesick and irritated with each other. It was an all around amazing day. I’ll never forget this team!!!!!

~ Steph

Day 7 - Sunday

I’m writing my blog on the last full day here in Jarabacoa. Were hiking to a waterfall then going to church at 4 o’clock. Nothing has really happened this morning except breakfast so I will write about my favorite experience here so far. On one of our many excursions out in the community we stopped to play at this red clay field and to give away balloon animals and sombreros. At first Brianna and I were playing jump rope with one little girl and then a mob of about 20 little girls joined us. There is nothing in the world like 20 girls screaming in Spanish to one another. It is udder chaos. I felt a tug on my shorts and I turned to see the cutest little girl standing behind me. She rattled something off in Spanish and I had Sheryl (the director’s wife) translate. She wanted me to chase her. After about 15 minutes of chasing this little girl in front of all these Dominican guys I might add. I told her I was tired. Since I wasn’t chasing anymore and I asked “Como se llama?” For those of you who don’t speak Spanish I asked what is your name. She answered Escalina. She held her arms up to me and I picked her up and she just laid her head on my shoulder. When I held her I was thinking, Wow I might be the only person who will show her love this week. She then rattled off something again. Sheryl translated again and this time I almost cried. She said “Can I keep her?” She wanted to take me home with her. This made me feel so incredibly special. I couldn’t even communicate with her and we formed such a special bond that I will never forget her face or the time we shared. There is the old cliché actions speak louder then words, and we as Christians know this is true. God has taught me so much that I can’t even describe what I am feeling. This has been such an amazing trip.

Dad if you are reading this Happy Father’s Day and I love you so much (you to Mom)!

Were about to leave so I’m signing off. . .Taylor White

P.S. Did anyone know that Mr. Neil can do “The Worm” and Dolphin tricks, well I do now!

Photo Journal

Day 6 - Leaders Perspective

Aside from a few computer setbacks, I´d say things are going great (the base internet is still not working). As you can see from the testimonies of these students, God continues to be at work in their lives. I am trying to get each of the kids to write a paragraph for me to publish here, so hopefully you will hear something from everyone by the end of the week. I have to steal them away from their fun to get them to sit at my computer and reflect about their day.

Today we are winding down our last day of work, and unfortunatley it is raining. The team will come into town this evening for a chicken dinner and maybe ice cream again. Woo Hoo! Tomorrow we will hike to a waterfall (some say it is the waterfall from jurassic park), and we will attend church in the afternoon. It is hard to believe that our work here is begining to wind down. It has been such a great week. As always, I thank you for your prayers and for your part in making this trip a success.

God`s peace,
joe

Day 6 - Saturday

Hey everyone back at home!
So far it’s been an amazing trip. It’s been a lot of fun getting to know the people in the group that I didn’t even really talk to at school, but now I’m hanging out with them all the time. Well, today the group went on a walk to Los Corrales (which was about a 15 min walk). Jake H did his magic tricks again which every time the kids always love and we also did crafts and balloon swords. I helped with the craft for a little but I soon got pulled always by a little kid who was poking me with a sword. As I was playing with the kids there was a little boy sitting by himself and I said hola to him but he didn’t say anything. And all of a sudden a little girl came up to him and gave him her sword. The little boy all of a sudden had the hugest smile on his face. When the little girl did this it reminded me of when Jesus comes into your heart. You’re all sad and lonely, when everyone else is happy around you and you want that special thing that makes them happy. Once you receive that special thing which in this case was that little boy receiving that sword, you are happy and have gone from bad to best in just a second. Well, the little boy ran off and started playing with the other kids b/c he had the same thing as they did.
Also, at the community we were at there was this girl I ended up holding till we left. It’s amazing how that can have so much fun with just a balloon and back home Americans have to have so many things. Well, the little girl (Catlin I believe her name was or something like it) went around attacking people from JCS. I loved holding her and causing trouble with her because she loved causing trouble just like meJ I would say “alli” (which means there) and then her hitting people with balloon swords and she never would hit me while I was holding her. It end up being her birthday and she turned 5 today. So today was an amazing day just all the other days and it’s all going by so fast.
Signing out and member of Team Mango,
Emily Bowman


I don’t know where to start so I guess I’ll start with today. We walked to Los Corrales to spend time with the local kids there. Playing with them is such an amazing experience. Even though we don’t speak the same language we can still communicate with smiles, hugs. There was one little boy that I had so much fun playing with. I don’t know his name but I will never forget his face. I’m so thankful we have this opportunity to show these kids a little bit of God’s love.
On a different note, getting to known all the team members and spending time with them is an aspect of the trip that I have really enjoyed. One day when we were working on the roof, Brent, Em, Mer, Alyssa, me, and Coach Knight decided to form Team Mango. We even have a secret handshake. At school, I might say hi to some of the people on the missions team but here it feels almost like a family. I believe God has given us unity so that we can accomplish His work here.
Adios amigos! Abbey Barney

Day 5 - Friday

It is hard to believe that this is already the 5th day of our trip. In some ways it seems like we were boarding the plane just yesterday; but in other ways, it seems so normal to be here. I’m missing my family very much. Hope you all are doing well.
God is so awesome. I’m just trying to absorb as much as I can while I’m here. Everyone on the team has worked so hard. I feel so blessed to be with each and every team member. We all did various work around the base this morning. My group mixed cement. Some of the guys took on digging ditches, while a different group went back onto the roofs to paint a second coat. Later this afternoon we ministered to children at the base. A group went out and invited people and then we made crafts with the kids and played around. Jake H. also performed his magic tricks again (which are always a big hit with the kids).
I find these children so easy to love. I enjoy them so much. They are so accepting of us. For instance, today I helped a little girl with her craft and then she went on her way and played around on the basketball court. Then all of a sudden she ran back towards me and leapt into my arms and gave me a big kiss on the cheek, which actually made me fall backwards. It was so funny. Then she was off and playing again. Right after she left, the girl I had been talking to gave me a huge hug around my neck and I just held her for several minutes. It was very special. I hate to have to say goodbye to them every day.
Today we also learned a little bit about the history of Dominican Republic from Brian (the director). It was so cool to here him speak about the Dominican and Haiti with such passion. He has such awesome wishes for this island. It was a really cool time to just listen while he explained some of the history and culture. God is using this base in the Dominican to reach people in China, Brazil, Haiti, etc. Anyways it’s been another great day. I can honestly say that I have loved every day that I have been here. I’ve had so many different experiences and learned some very different lessons. God is definitely using this trip to remind me how much I need/want to follow Him the rest of my life and I want to use myself as God’s tool in any way that I can.
Adios por ahora
Meredith

P.S. Wow! We had a crazy ending to our night. Never let Christians loose late at night with bongo drums. It’s a hilarious combination. Ha ha the rest you will have to ask about when we get home.


Many of us have had a moment so far this week where they have had a God-sighting or realized something about themselves. Mine occurred today while some of us were hand-washing some clothes. Kelly made a comment that really struck me. She said, “Thank God for washing machines!” That remark got me to thinking about how there are so many things that I use without thinking about how many people don’t have that luxury. I usually just throw my clothes in the clothes hamper and know that they will be washed by an easy-to-use, very convenient washing machine. It was great to be able to catch a glimpse of life in someone else’s shoes. Adios! –Josie J