Milestone Tuesday

It seems every year Tuesday seems like Thursday in terms of what has transpired and then Friday seems like Tuesday in terms of how long we've been here. This trip is no different.  Already lots of trench has been dug and we've seen so many old friends and connected with so many new friends.

I need to ask you to please excuse any typo's and the less polished look of the blog this year.  In order for the wifi device to connect we have to walk a ways through the community and stand on a street corner for 20 minutes or so to upload.  In order to make this a little more convenient I've been typing the blog on my phone and uploading from the phone as well.  This is better than trying to balance a laptop on the street corner.

This morning we all awoke being well rested.  The initial sleeping issues seem to have been overcome and it was a cooler night as well. Thank you for your prayers.

After breakfast we headed out to dig more water lines.  This time we started at the well and pump location and began digging another of the supply lines.  And as yesterday, we got started and soon were overrun by a large group of local men and young men working hard and owing their project. Momentarily we thought we had been abandoned, but once we walked around the corner we saw they had just moved on and continued to make progress without us. A perfect picture of what we have hoped to to see God accomplish all along, to be a part of encouraging them to take the lead and carry the vision for improving their community.

We were invited to participate in the Dedication of the community center after lunch.  It was a real ceremony, starting with prayer and the playing of the Dominican National Anthem. A number of community leaders including, Vacilia, Juliana, and Guadalupe shared words of encouragement and praise to God for the promise that the community center shows. They are proud to have such a beautiful building in their community and of the development it shows to anyone coming by.  It will be a place for meetings of all kinds that relate to the development of Sierra Prieta.  Greg was asked to share a few words and then was surprised when they asked him to do the official ribbon cutting. We are blessed to be included as a church in such a special way.

After the Dedication and ribbon Cutting we had a brief meeting with the community leaders.  We reviewed the development God has enabled in Sierra Prieta since we were able to first visit in 2009. At that time the children were very skinny, the community leadership was very loosely formed, the school had only 4 classrooms, no one drank purified water, lots of families had no outhouse, there were lots of families without proper homes, few children attended high school, there were many families without a father and numerous girls got pregnant at a young age. 

We asked the leaders to reflect on the things that they have seen God accomplish in their midst since that time.  They spoke of coming to a much better understanding of health and hygiene, of the improvements at the school, of finally seeing the result of purified water on the health of their children, gaining confidence to work together to improve their community, and having hope for things to improve.  They all were thankful to God for using the teams from Cornerstone and Food for the Hungry to inspire them and motivate them as well as provide for their development.  The leaders meeting ended on an  note of thanks to God for his work here.  We encouraged them to carry the vision forward and to work together in God's service.

As the dedication started late and the impromptu leaders meeting took a little longer than anticipated we had to cancel the VBS program for this afternoon.  But Dan headed out on his sponsored child visits and had a great time meeting with them and especially enjoying the time with Edwin, his mom Jahira and brother Escarling.  They have been special to us all for a number of years.  It is amazing to see these little sponsored children grow into young men and women and to continue relationships with their families.

Tomorrow will be a day full of things new and old.  There will be a meeting with the teenagers at the school in the morning.  Austin and Holden will share with them, please pray for a fruitful dialogue. After lunch Bob will join the FH doctor, Franchesca, will  have a meeting with the expectant mother to discus health issues.  Then we will continue with VBS and more Sponsored Child visits.

This day seemed full of milestones, with the dedication of the community center and the vision session with the leaders. 

One of the pictures is of women carrying 5 gallon buckets of water on their heads and one gallon jugs. It is the old way of water supply walking next to the men digging the trench for the new way.  What a blessing that will be for everyone here.  There is also a picture of the map showing where the supply lines will run to bring a water tap to every home in Sierra Prieta.  In addition there are pictures of the dedication/ribbon cutting and sponsored child visits.

Thank you for your prayers.  We ask that you pray for us to have continued good health, good rest and opportunities to share Gods truth with those we encounter here.