El Arca (The Ark)

What can you say after spending the day at the Ark? It is an amazing place and it is obvious that the children are loved and cared for and shown God's love in very practical ways on a daily basis. The Ark is the orphanage in Jarabacoa. Not all children cared for at the Ark are orphans - some still have living parents but were unable to be properly cared for at home.

As soon as we got to the Ark we were welcomed warmly by the kids and staff. Some of the sponsored children were eager and latched on to their sponsors immediately while others were a little bit timid to start with. We got a tour of the campus and the brightly colored houses, put on a puppet show that taught a Bible story, played basketball, and played on the playground.


This little girl in the picture below loved being pushed by Derek (Brett and Norine Troeger's nephew). He was a hit with the little kids.....especially since he can speak Spanish!




Willy, sponsored by Ashley & Kevin and Chris W & Chris B was definitely one of the more timid kiddos. He was the quiet one in the midst of all of the kids running around yelling and playing.

We were excited to get to go to Jeff Vandermolen's (the regional director of the Ark) house for dinner with all of the sponsored kids from CCW. We played volleyball, soccer and jumped on the trampoline before the darkness forced us inside for dinner. We had a great meal of haystacks with chocolate cake for dessert.

I think Jerry and Chris were in over their heads playing basketball with the teenage boys at the Ark. They had to take multiple breaks to catch their breath and Chris even wiped out once. Jerry looks like he still has decent form for an old guy though!

And Karen was in her element when she found this little boy that wanted to cuddle. She could have stayed there all day holding him!!

Little Genesis (sponsored by Nancy and Todd Clouse) had everyone wrapped around her finger. She was dressed in her finest to meet us and had a smile that charmed everyone.

We learned that the sponsors are called Madrina and Padrino (Godmother and Godfather). Some of the children that had sponsors at the Ark proudly drug them around to their friends introducing their Madrina and Padrino. I think we all agree that the work the Ark does is truely a blessing in these kid's lives and our partnership with them is something to be very proud of!