Wednesday

How is it already Wednesday? It’s amazing how many months we spent planning for this week, how much thought went into each  item we packed, and how much time we have spent imagining what our time would be like – and now we are already more than halfway through the trip. Now that Denise has spent a few days of quality time with her sponsored girls, Kimberley and Keidy (pronounced Katie), she voiced “Now I know why you guys keep coming back!”. The truth is the work here is hard work – often harder than at home. For example, in the U.S. a load of concrete blocks would be delivered by a skid loader or truck and set exactly where it is going to be used. In the Dominican Republic blocks are moved by hand one or two at a time which adds significant time to the project. A simple square, block building will often take 2-3 years to build. The work here is often mundane. There truly is nothing special about flying to another country to spend our time hand-making paper books that allow young students to practice writing letters. What is special are the relationships that we form. It is amazing how in a matter of just a few days bonds are formed with the children we sponsor. That picture hanging on our fridge will never be just a picture again. It is a face we have kissed. It is a hand we have held. It is a heart that is melded to ours.

We got to go on some home visits in Palo Blanco. A group of us got to see the FanFan family’s new home. This is a family that has become very special to many of us who have traveled here multiple times. There are five children ranging from 3 to 13 years old. Macson , the oldest boy, is poised, a polite, and cares for his younger siblings without complaint. The next oldest, Rossy (Rosie), is sponsored by the Grossman family. She and Macson help with the cooking in a kitchen equipped with only a coal fire. This home visit warmed our heart because what we saw was a major improvement in living conditions from where they had been previously. The family just got electricity a few weeks ago and were proud to show off their lights. We pray that they will be able to stay in this home as mom has no income at this time and is relying on family members to pay her bills. She is looking for work but has found none at this time. We ask for prayers for steady employment for her and good health and safety for the family.

Cheyenne and Silas giving the FanFan family their gifts.

 

We got to enjoy dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in town – Columbianos. We enjoyed the company of Tami Griffin and her three precious kiddos, Jan (the missionary from Palo Blanco), and of course Karen Green. When we got back to the team house we had some time to relax and unwind and enjoy being serenaded with the guitar by Luke.