What an Incredible Day!

Today was the first day that things started to feel familiar. We had breakfast at 8am and then some went out to meet with their sponsored children while the rest of the team completed another base for a new latrine. Today was a good weather day as there was only rain during lunch. In the afternoon the VBS was great again as Lori and Zach taught about Peter cutting off the ear of the High priests slave as they arrested Christ. The kids love the songs and just desire to cling to people at all times. After the lesson we brought out the parachute again and is was a huge hit. Many adults and even an elderly woman joined in.

We completed our first latrine today. The family is so excited. The mother came out and looked in it as it was completed she said, “Que linda!” - how beautiful. This is really an incredible thing for them.

Adelia sponsored by the Vanderwerf family

Guder sponsored by the Faxon family.

Enerfries and Filipe sponsored by the Mckearney family.

Bob had an opportunity to minister using his medical training. He checked out a boy who had a fever @ 2 years old and now can’t hear out of one ear and seems to have a lazy eye. Now he is 15 years old. He has seen a specialist but it was a long time ago. Bob suggested that returning to the specialis would be the best thing to do. But it was his presence to encourage the family and motivate them to help their son that made a real difference.

Louis the country director came by to honor our presence. I had the opportunity to hear his perspective on the people here. He was telling me how the people have no real hope. They don’t see positive things in their future. The parents don’t even have hope for their kids. But the presence of people here from far away in an important place like the US brings them up to a great level of confidence. No important people come here unless they are looking for something – like a vote. Many relief agencies bring only money. But the significance of our presence is the relationships we are building. Relationships are what it takes to give people hope, especially people who are perceived as valuable. The truth is that the value comes from Christ – but the only way some may accept this is through being valued by others.

This evening was easily the highlight of the day. We planned to show a movie about the life of Jesus, “The Story of Jesus for Children” Despite problems with the equipment the evening was an incredible success. We could not get the video projector to work, and so showed the movie on the laptop we brought to transmit the blog info. Fortunately there was a sound system we could use for the sound but the 15” screen served to show the movie to over 100 people mostly children and adults. The front yard of the church was overflowing with people before the movie began. While we were having technical difficulties getting things moving the ladies began some singing. It was incredible to hear 100 Dominican voices singing with such great enthusiasm the songs that we had never heard only months ago. It was overwhelming and emotional to hear those kids chanting “Otra, otra!” They were calling for more songs over and over.

Once the movie began more and more people came and watched. The close attention that was paid throughout the movie was amazing. After the movie Martires gave a clear and concise Gospel invitation. 23 young people and children came forward and accepted Jesus as their savior. Their names are below please hold them up to pray.
Antonio
Jason
Pedro Louis
Edifrain
Louisdavi
Louis Manuell
Juan
Eliseo
Vladimil
Emily
Alberto
Endri
Luigi
Samuel
Milady
Emily
Rafiel
Mariella
Desidenny
Amourice
Quarelli
Ronel-Benjamin
Leon-Ramirez