Saturday, March 27th, 2010

Well, we are packing up and heading home. Kids are doing well, want to get in a little shopping before we go. We'll be leaving for the airport at 10:50 our time (an hour later).
Just a reminder of our schedule today:

March 27, 2010 (Saturday)

Depart: Santo Domingo , D.R. 1:20pm American Airlines Flight #1046

Arrive: Miami , FL 3:50 pm

Depart: Miami , FL 5:40 pm American Airlines Flight #1869

Arrive: ORD 8:05 pm

Here are things you can pray for as we travel home:
~ Pray that our flight gets into Miami on time so we have plenty of time to get through customs and make our flight to Chicago.
~ Pray that our students continue to feel better and are 100% for traveling.
~ and one for me.... I'm still pretty sick. Any prayers for a quick recovery would be great!

We will call and check in once we arrive in Miami. I think the parents are planning to meet in the baggage claim area to meet us. We land at 8:05, so we should be down there shortly after. We'll call from Miami if there is a delay.

I think that's it! Can't believe the week flew by so quickly. Your kids are so excited to share with you all they experienced.

Andy's Video

Pictures from Thursday

The team was able to spend the day at the church all day on Thursday to finish up our gym project. They worked more on the floors and got the rest of the room painted. Hard workers indeed!
Here are the pictures that Carlos took for me while I stayed back with those that weren't feeling well enough to go.

This is just a fun shot to show what riding "Dominican Style" looks like. We see this everywhere.

The Presidential Palace- they took a drive into the city.

The church often loses power for hours at a time, meaning all power tools aren't able to be used. During one of those times today the students were able to relax with their Dominican friends.

One of the Dominicans is a photographer and he asked the students to help him with a project he was working on. You'll see photos below that Carlos snapped as well.

I was able to get some time off from nurse duty to go out to dinner with the students. We had a great time, delicious dinner!

Friday, March 26th, 2010

Hello from the D.R.! Today our team went to the beach, about an hour away. Carlos and I stayed behind with Emily, Lindsey, Carson, Tyler, and Megan so they could continue to recuperate. There seems to be lots of improvement in their health so please keep praying for the medicine to take hold. We kept them behind just to be cautious. We just didn't think a day in the sun would be good for them considering how hot it has been here all week. They most likely will be participating in the events tonight. We're all looking forward to an afternoon at the church to prepare a meal to serve to local families tonight.

We are lucky enough to have our last day here be Tyler's birthday too!!!

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

Well, many of you already know we've hit a rough patch here in the D.R. As of tonight about half of our team is feeling pretty sick. Variety of symptoms. If your child is one of our sick ones, you've already been notified. I'm going to make this quick so I can get to bed myself... just sending out a prayer request for a quick recovery. Tomorrow is "beach day", those that are healthy will be leaving early in the morning. The rest will stay back with me and one other leader. I'll spend the morning updating the blog with pictures from today and more details about the work that went on at the church.
For the parents I've been communicating with today- all students have the same symptoms as they had today and last night. I'll write you tomorrow with more info. and how they are feeling when they wake up.
Sorry for the short post- trying to make sure I'm staying well rested!
Good night! :)

Tyler's Video

Greg's video

Myles' Video

Katie's video

Wednesday, March 24th

We have a rare opportunity to rest a bit before dinner tonight, so I get to update this a bit early today. :) Today we got to visit some local elementary schools to invite them to a free dinner we're providing on Friday night. We will be cooking and serving the meal, and the people of Nueva Vida church will be sharing the gospel with the children and their families. Here are some photos from one of the schools we visited today. Seems odd to us in the USA, but these students swarmed us and asked for autographs, what a bizarre feeling to hand out your autograph when we haven't done a thing! The students were so excited to see "Americanos" at their school.

McCallister talking with students shortly after we arrived...

Students trying to get a peek at our group before the assembly started.

The assembly included songs from our singing group, our dance/ flags team, and the powerful drama. Although this is a public school, we were able to share God's love and good news with them.

The students were crammed into a small space, we were roasting!!

Megan in the drama... she was awesome!

The only space left for Lauren and I was tucked into a corner of the room. We got to sit and sweat together. :)

Tyler signing autographs... the kids loved his blond hair.

McCallister signing autographs as well.

Tonight the group is heading to dinner down the street. I'm staying back at the hotel with four students who aren't feeling well. Please pray for our group and their health. We're hoping a night to rest and relax, and lots of Gatorade will bring them back to 100% for tomorrow.

Carson talking to us about the gym project

McCallister talking to us about the flags performance

Lindsey talking us through the singing rehearsal :)

Tuesday, March 23rd

We started our morning by touring the elementary school in the Nueva Vida church. They teach students in grades preschool to 4th grade. Obviously the kids were super cute and our students enjoyed seeing their classrooms.
Carson showing off a trick to entertain the students...

Next we headed upstairs for some ice breaker games with our Dominican friends. Musical chairs is a fun one to play with them and was a tad bit competitive. ;)


Here is Payson deciding jumping over the chairs was the fastest way to get there.
Next we began working on our gym project. We are adding floors, rubber mats, painting the walls and adding new windows. It will make a massive improvement for them. Our students did an amazing job of working hard (despite the heat) and we were proud of the skills they brought to the project.

Here is Greg working hard...

Tyler rocked at his job- getting the floor installed was tough work.





After a long day of working in the heat, we headed back to the hotel for a quick shower and dinner (fried chicken!). Then we were off to the church for the Tuesday evening service. These pictures can´t possibly do the service any justice without the sound. :) They sure take their worshiping to a whole new level- it was amazing and we can´t wait to bring a bit of their enthusiam back with us.

We were especially proud of Greg who shared his testimony tonight. The members of the church loved getting to hear his powerful story.
Here he is speaking while Raphael translates.

Christine and Jamie on the dance team

The two Emily´s, also on the dance team.

Payson on the flags...

Evan, Payson, Carson (behind his flag) and Greg during the flag performance.

The drama team was AMAZING- below are photos of their performance.

Time for worship... Nueva Vida style!

Pastor Raquel gave a very moving sermon.

Time for more worship...

What a long day- we are wiped out, but so glad to have another great day here.