The Dedication Ceremony and arriving home

Saturday was a wonderful day of celebration as we 'presented' the new building to the community.  The team and the children paraded through the streets of the neighborhood singing songs to God, collecting community members as we moved through the streets to the project building.  The ceremony itself was very moving with presentations from pastors, leaders, and the children. Words cannot describe what we were a part of there.  So many others before us had brought us to this place, yet we were the ones fortunate enough to be a part of that day.

Please ask your loved ones about their experiences there, not only for the dedication ceremony, but through the entire week.  They will want to tell the stories. They are stories that should be shared.
Sunday was travel day back home for all...

While we are home, the Domincan Republic remains in our hearts and it will for a very long time, if not forever. The next few days, weeks and months will offer some adjustment back to our 'normal' way of life.  We will look at things differently. The hope is to bring awareness, help and advocacy to those who are less fortunate than ourselves.

My heart is full today, sad, happy and mixed emotions all at once. LOVE to all... keep telling the story.

It's here already?

....our last full day in country.  Yesterday we took a FUN DAY at the beach. Parasailing, snorkeling, laying out by the ocean and quite a few sunburns. :( 

Today, we are heading to the project to  clean up, decorate and have the GRAND OPENING of the school and present it to the community.  It will be bittersweet, for sure. What a wonderful way to end our stay here, but then, we have to go.  It's always hard to leave once you've fallen in love with the people and children, and that's exactly what has happened here.  But, we know that we are leaving them with a center where they can worship together, children can learn and play and build their community even more.

In the morning, bright and early, we will all be heading to the airport and back to the U.S. Thank you for your continued prayers for safety as we travel back to our homes and loved ones.

Vacation Bible School Day

Yesterday we finished the construction work on the facility.  Praise the Lord for His goodness!!  Praise songs and hymns were sung by some of our team members as they were applying the final coats of paint.  The local pastor and the local workers joined in when they heard a familiar tune.  Again, praises being sung to God, in our own languages, but to the same Lord.  A wonderful example of our entire week here.  We are different, yet all His children, working together.  One local mother came at the end of the day and was overwhelmed with seeing the building completed.  Joy overcame her and she laughed and giggled and just kept hugging us as she walked from room to room.

Today we get to have lots of fun at VBS and speak directly through interpreters, sharing the stories of Jesus.  Praying hands crafts, witnessing bracelets, balloon animals, etc. Lots of wonderful seeds will be planted and I'm sure, lots of giggles and smiles will abound.  Be sure to check the FB page, link listed in a previous post, for pictures.