Tuesday

2/7/17

When you are here in the DR, you are welcomed as family.  Though the work continues, our second day at Palo Blanco would prove to be just that – family.  Just as we set aside time at CCW to make sure we invest in relationships, so we echo it when we work with Kids Alive.  So, let’s get down to the business of how the day unfolded and give you some great stories and examples of the family atmosphere that occurred.

The day began good and early as usual.  The team, minus Rachel and Joan who would serve medical needs at the Ark, headed off for a full day at Palo Blanco.  However, we were met there by the already arrived Chris Russell and Neil Boston who took off early to help lead worship and devotion for the staff at the school.  Thus, example numero uno of the day of service as a family.  According to Neil, helping lead the worship was an amazing uplifting experience to start his morning.  He will get the chance to start that way again tomorrow, but will pass the guitar off to Luke who will join Chris for Thursday and Friday’s devotions.

                                              Neil working on his art project at Palo Blanco.

 

A great second example of the family based concept today was the time spent by several team members on the playground with the kids at Palo Blanco.  Whether being a human jungle gym, pushing the swings, being chased, or making the merry go round go faster (Chris Null was the vehicle of choice here) the kids became our own children for those moments and the joy that fills them enlarges our hearts even more.

All the little girls love Chris Null!

 

Denise spent some great time today on the roof of the school with the aquaponics and sort of, let’s say, created life!  Thus our third example of family concept.  She got dirty planting two different kinds of lettuce (romaine & leaf) and well, gave us a picture of a more fun and loose side to her that we may not yet have been aware of. J  Needless to say, her extra efforts to help plant in the lower section on the side of the school will provide a great visual for the kids at the school to see the plants grow and how God feeds into his creation.

 

Denise having some fun working on the aquaponics project!

                                               Strawberries growing on the room of Palo Blanco

Lettuce growing in the beds.

 

A solid group of the team has been spending time both completing concrete mixture to lay the final section of the new basketball court and continuing to lay block for the new building of classrooms.  Example number four is the teamwork near the end of the work day.  Two great assembly lines were created to unload the truck that brought more blocks.  One for a stack on the ground and another up to the second level of the building.  The use of teamwork (family) helped get those blocks unloaded in less than 15 minutes!

On a side note – there was a very competitive basketball game at the end of the day that included Luke and a group of the volunteers and a couple teachers at the school.  Luke got invited to play by the teachers and the family atmosphere continued through a lot of laughs on the court as they battled for victory.

The final chapter for the day was written as the first home visit took place with one of the sponsored children.  And nothing that has been noted in this day about family hits as close to the heart as this.  Chris Null and his wife have been sponsoring their boy, Winyer (win – jer) for 6 years and today, Chris (accompanied by Luke, Tyler and Jan, the director at Palo) got to meet him and spend time at his home with his family.  Instantly, Chris & Mary became a part of the family because of the role that he and Mary play in their support of Winyer.  Chris was able to have conversation with Winyer and his parents.  He passed on some great gifts to Winyer that he had brought along with him which included some baseball equipment, Winyer’s favorite sport.  Also, Winyer’s father had been in an accident at work and had his right arm in a sling.  The guys and Jan were able to pray for him with the family and establish the higher family connection with our great God in heaven.  An emotional, but uplifting time to be sure and one that Chris will not soon forget.  Chris can only convey his feelings on the visit by saying, “I’ve seen poverty before, but because there was no personal connection, I’ve never experienced it like I did today.  Words and emotions simply escaped me to see the reality of their lifestyle.”

 

Chris Null with Winyer

 

After returning to the team house, our family was joined by our own Karen Green as well as Kids Alive country directors Vic & Leslie Trautwein for another great Dominican meal.  Vic gave a great presentation on the overview of the ministry of Kids Alive in the DR which our new team members soaked up!

Games and fun were had as always to finish off the evening before people wandered off to bed at various times.  Farkle was especially competitive!

Another day of solid work awaits the morrow…and of course, family!  Peace and goodnight!