HOW DO WE SAY GOOD BYE?

Sorry for the delay in this post - lack of electricity and access to a computer was the reason for the delay.  On Thursday we were able to visit the new high school, then we finished painting the chapel and had to say good by to the people there - just the first of many good byes coming for us all in the next days.  Then we went to an English class here and broke into groups to speak English with the students (to help them hear a native speaker).  Once again with the evening came rain but the girls decided to all meet at the parish office anyway.  The electricity was out so they colored by candle light and spent more time talking to their new friends from the Dominican Republic.  Today it is Katie Sander's birthday.  I was able to find a lady in town who makes cakes and paid her to make a cake for Katie's birthday.  I told her there would be about 20 people eating the cake but she made us a cake big enough for about 50 or more.  We only ate about 1/2 of the cake and the girls said it was one of the few things they have had that has reminded them of home.  The tears began this afternoon as they all started to write letters to their families here to let them know what this experience has meant to them and how much they are going to miss them.  I have had the chance to help translate some of these letters for them and they are very heartfelt.  Carolina made her way here this afternoon to wish Katie a happy birthday and as she sat on Katie's lap and Katie was feeding her the cake there was a tear in both of their eyes just thinking that this may be the last time they see each other.  It will be a difficult night and day tomorrow.  As sad as they are to leave here and leave their families here - they are as equally as excited to share this experience with their real families.  We were able to go to the Friday market today and many of the girls found small gifts for their friends here and family at home.  There isn't much here to get for gifts but they found a few things.  This will probably be our last post until we see everyone on early Sunday morning.  Thanks for following our journey and for your love and support through your prayers during the week.

CHANGING A PART OF THE WORLD AND BEING CHANGED OURSELVES

What a day it was today.  We began the day by walking to the chapel we are painting and then finishing a 2nd coat on the outside and completing the first coat on the inside.  One more morning of painting and we should have that chapel looking so beautiful for the people in that neighborhood who we have come to love so much.  We have gotten to know them even by name as they work and play beside us all day.  The late afternoon was a time to rest during an afternoon rainfall and then we decided to do our group sharing in the early evening hours since the last two nights have been a complete wash with heavy rains.  It is amazing how much your life can change in such a short amount of time.  We spent time this afternoon sharing what we have learned, how we have been changed, how we have experienced Christ on this trip and what has been the most difficult experience.  I don't think there was a dry eye at the table.  So much to take in and absorb and so much to be thankful for.  Each of the girls has been uniquely touched by this experience and we have all become so much closer to each other as a result of our time together.  It will be difficult to explain all that has happened to us and all that we have observed and felt along this journey.  God always has a way of letting us know that he is with us - after about an hour sharing we went out to get ice cream and we were treated to a beautiful double rainbow in the sky - it was breath-taking and definitely a sign of God shining his love on all of us.  The talk of leaving here on Saturday is something the girls are trying to avoid.  I know they will be so happy to see all of you but I think a part of their hearts will be left here in Elias Pina with the people and I think a little of the people here will be in the hearts of our girls.

TUESDAY PAINT DAY

We FINALLY got to paint today!  What a large chapel it was.  We fell in love with the kids up there and spent as much time interacting with all of them as we did painting.  We got a coat of paint on the outside - we will need to do some touch ups on the outside and apply a 2nd coat in a few areas and then paint the inside tomorrow.  We will miss the pretty blue color - the inside will be cream colored.  Sorry that there aren't as many pictures - I was too busy painting and almost forgot to take pictures all together.  With the heavy rains last night all of the girls spent the night with their families and all came back so excited about how much fun they had that night.   Many learned how to dance, played Uno, Go Fish and other things to pass the time. Tonight we are looking forward to sharing on the roof.  Our friends Rafael and Gabriel plan to join us tonight for sharing and then they always make sure that all of the girls get home safely and that their families know what time to get them up in the morning.  The thought of leaving has already come up in conversation and most of the girls have said they can't imagine saying good bye.  All are healthy and happy and we have lots and lots of stories to tell when we get back.  We miss you and send you our love!!  

A GREAT PLAN "B" DAY

What a great day we had today - especially since it was plan "B" -since our paint didn't arrive in time for us to get to work today.  We went to the morning recess at the school and then spent about an hour in the pre-school classroom making bracelets and necklaces with the little kids.  After lunch we took time to do some of our sharing - we talked about our observations from the morning and what a great morning it was.  How fortunate we are to have the schools we have with the smaller classes, resources, etc to get a great education.  We realized how quickly bored children in the US can get with bubbles, frisbees and jump ropes and how these children would play hours with them and never get bored because they are just so grateful to have something to play with.  It was an ice cream day today too so that made us very happy.  After returning from ice cream the rains came and the girls had so much fun on the roof in the rain - as you can see from the pictures.  Then we went back to the school to help at the school with the beads in the afternoon pre-school classroom and then the girls were off to their houses for the night.  We spent so little time with our families yesterday on Easter and with the rains tonight they decided to just stay and play with their families tonight and get a good night of sleep before our long day of painting tomorrow.  The thought of leaving their families here in just a few days is already bringing some tears.  It is amazing how quickly these friendships form and how strong the friendships become over such a short period of time.  All are still healthy and doing great with the food and the language.  That is about it for now as I am sure the electricity will be going out soon.  Prayers and Blessings to the Wilhelms today - we prayed especially for Anna's grandpa today on the day of the funeral.

EASTER

Well it is back to more reality here in Elias Pina as Holy Week is over.  We have been blessed with electricity almost all of the time - now that Holy Week is over that will not be the case.  I am writing quickly this morning before it goes out again.  We were unable to update yesterday because we didn't have electricity for most of the afternoon and evening.  We had a great Easter Sunday.  We began our day with a fun truck ride into the mountains for a campo Mass in a small chapel with some beautiful Domincan people.  We are amazed at the full participation of everyone in their Mass.  The music is lively and everyone sings and dances and claps - you can't help but join along.  The people were so hospitable in giving up their seats so we all had a place to sit in the chapel.  Just a great way to start Easter Sunday.  Then we made our way a little way out of town to help with the Easter party for the children in a neighborhood out there.  The 300 easter eggs that we brought were a huge hit along with the stickers, pencils, etc.  The children sang for us and we just had a great time and it made it feel more like Easter.  We spent some of the afternoon at Rafael and Gabriel's house - just sitting and talking and enjoying each other's company without cellphones, video games, and other distractions that keep us from really "communicating" back home.  Then we returned to the house where we had the Easter party and the parents of Dionis Montero (a Dominican who lives in DePere) treated us to an Easter dinner of rice, beans, platanos, yuka and spaghetti.  Then we were back to our homes for some well needed rest after a long day.  With Holy Week and Easter, the paint for painting the chapels hasn't arrived yet on Monday morning so we are going to plan "B" today and visiting the school, playing on the playground, working in the bakery and then spending the night with our families (since we didn't get to see them much on Easter). The students commented many times about what they missed at home about Easter so you were all in our thoughts and our prayers.  Everyone is healthy and seems to be happy!  It is so hard to believe that 1/2 of our time has gone by and we have only 5 days until we return.  We will make the most of those days.

WE SURVIVED THE MOUNTAIN

It was an early morning (but not as early as we had hoped as many overslept and took longer to get ready than expected) when we began our journey up the mountain.  Poor Hannah wasn't feeling well this morning but she decided to give it a go anyway.  Many of our Dominican friends and family members accompanied us up the mountain.  Hannah made it about 1/4 of the way when she had to return - but she got some rest and water and is feeling much better.  "Mom" Sarah went back with her to make sure she was taken care of.  The rest of the girls enjoyed the comaraderie with the Dominicans and each other.  They encouraged each other to keep going and helped each other along the way.  At the top of the mountain we shared snacks and prayed the rosary in both Spanish and English.  The girls were struck by the poverty they saw along the walk - how different it is from the homes they are living in here in Elias Pina.  They have gained a greater appreciation for the many blessings they often take for granted at home - things like water, electricity, flooring in the home, roofs that do not leak, air conditioning, etc, etc, etc.  So many things that many in this world do not even understand because they have never experienced.  We are heading to the ice cream store for a well-deserved treat and then we are going to be helping out in the bakery before heading to our homes to shower and get ready for the Easter Vigil.  So much to be thankful for tonight at Mass.

Good Friday:

Libby and a new friend - all smiles!

Sarah playing one of many games of Uno.

Mackenzie taking one in the face - all to make the kids laugh!

Walking back from stations of the cross

Hannah & Julio during the Stations of the Cross

Sarah and her new friend

!

Katie and Carolina in a wicked squirt gun fight

Laura enjoying a squirt gun fight.

We began our day today with the Stations of the Cross through town.  It was a great way to begin Good Friday.  The children would just grab our hands and want to walk along with us.  After we spent a couple of hours on the playground just hanging out with the kids and being kids ourselves.  Our girls are already very attached to many of these children.  The squirt guns were a huge hit on a hot day.  Everyone seems to be doing fine with the food.  No one is sick, everyone seems to laugh a lot and we are growing closer not only to the people here but also to each other.  We keep telling ourselves that we can do anything for 10 days!  It rained very hard during the Holy Thursday Mass last night and then again through the night and the rains brought a nice breeze which we were all thankful for.  Today is a much clearer day - not a cloud in the sky and beautiful.  We are going to hang out here for a bit to rest this afternoon and then we are ready to have our official first "night" on the roof - we had a Thursday "morning" gathering on the roof but with the rain last night we couldn't be up there.  We think of our families back home often but we are so happy to be here in the moment experiencing this. The time is going to fly by.  So far the electricity has cooperated - it was out for about 2 hours last night and that has been it.  We hope to be able to update again tomorrow.  We hope that you like the pictures - we will try to mix it up and have different people each day in the pictures.

Holy Thursday

Everyone mentioned that their biggest fears for this trip were the first night and the food - we are happy to report that everyone survived the first night and came back with smiles and stories to tell this morning and the food is also better than most thought.  It was a smooth but LONG day of traveling yesterday so most slept in a little bit this morning.  We made our way to the bank, got to see the church, hung out on the roof talking and had our first meal together.  The plans for the rest of the day are to visit the houses of the students and then play on the playground for a bit and then prepare for our first Mass in the DR.  We send our love and sympathies to the Wilhelms family.  We hope to have a prayer service with Anna today to remember her grandpa who passed from this world yesterday.  We are confident he is present with us here.  It is hot but overcast today so not as unbearable as it could be.  We send our love to all of you.  Here is a picture from the top of the parish office roof.  We are all loving hanging out here.

DR TRIP 2012 FINALLY HERE

It has been a long time coming but we are so excited to be taking off for the DR on Wednesday morning early.  This year's group of ladies (yes, all ladies this year) will be ready to be the hands and feet of Christ in Elias Piña.  How appropriate that our first day there is Holy Thursday where we will experience Jesus washing the feet of his disciples.  May we live that throughout the week and be open to the Holy Spirit working in our lives on the trip.  Casey, MacKenzie, Megan G, Laura, Sarah I, Katie K, Hannah, Megan R, Katie S, Libby, Anna, Sarah Z, Mrs Steinlage and I will try to keep you posted on our daily activities (when the electricity allows us to).  We will keep you in prayer - please keep us in prayer too.