Sunday, June 22, 2014

This morning, the team met at Trinity Cathedral and received a blessing before meeting to make their final preparations as a team for this trip. Everyone was excited; and with less that 24 hours until departure, there were still things that needed to be done, including packing. For six members of the team, there was still unpacking from their trip last week to Valentine, NE the Rosebud Reservation. But none of this dampened their spirits and when everyone headed home, the only thing they dreaded, was the 4:20 am show time.

Day 1 - Monday, June 23, 2014

It was 4:20 am as the team gathered at Eppley Field in Omaha. Looking around, some were more awake than others, but all were excited. Our day had finally arrived and we were heading out to the Dominican Republic and a little town just up the hill from Jarabacoa called El Pedregal. We were not the only team heading out today, we saw another much larger team getting ready for a trip to Nicaragua and there were a couple other teams coming to the DR that were on our flight out of Atlanta. I know it usually not a good thing to say early in a trip, but everything went as planned today. Everyone arrived on time, we took off on time, landed 10 minutes early in Atlanta, made it to our connecting flight across the airport without a problem, got through customs without any difficulty, met with Karen Carroll as we exited the terminal and entered the waiting area, and we didn’t lose anyone along the way.

Without further ado, we loaded up the trailer and bus and we were on the road. Traffic can always be unpredictable here in the DR. But today, today was a good day. We made it through Santo Domingo without any real difficulty. It was a beautiful day for the drive across the island although many on our team missed some of the countryside view. You guessed it, after an early wake up, a lot of time on the airplane, and an opportunity to sit back and rest, many on the team drifted off for a well earned nap. Those who were awake, saw everything from densely populated urban areas to farmland to small out-of-the-way villages. Our first stop is a roadside rest area half way between the airport and the camp. Everyone had a quick bite to eat and before we knew it we were once again heading towards the mountains and our final destination. Along the way, the kids noted how many people were riding motorcycles, not just the number of bikes, but the actual number of people on each one of them. We even saw a man hauling a large propane tank, a man delivering bread, and many others who were loaded down with goods and friends as they traveled along the road.

As we approached Jarabacoa, our driver stopped to confirm directions. He didn’t want to repeat what happened to our youth team the last time they were here (that driver got lost). Today’s driver did not get lost, he brought us right up to the gate at the camp and when we arrived there was much rejoicing. As happy as we were to arrive, what awaited us was totally unexpected. Along with Padre Alvaro and his wife were Padre Tony and several members of his parish who musically welcomed us to the DR. What a blessing it was to have dear friends of Don and Melissa make the journey up the hill from Santiago to be here for us in this way. It didn’t take long to get settled and after a little more chit chat, and the application of some mosquito repellent, the dinner bell rang and we were presented a feast of pescado, platanos,  arroz, hortaliza, y pan (fish, plantain, rice, fresh vegetables, and bread). We were joined by our welcome committee and enjoyed getting to know one another.

After dinner, we talked about the projects ahead of us and as we did we saw the heads of our some on our team beginning to dip dangerously low. That is when Glennys, Joel, Michelle, Charlie, Fr. Tony and a friend of Joel’s favored us with more musical fare and even got our youth up dancing. It was really a blessing to see our youth dance with those who welcomed us and with each other. Still, after about 30 minutes some were starting to wind down. Don and Melissa gathered up some medical supplies they were giving to Fr. Tony and we said gracias (thank you) for all they did to make our first day so special.  Finally, we all gathered to offer Compline as a way of giving thanks for everything that we had received today; the many blessings, the prayers of family and friends, safe travel, a joyous welcome, and hopefully a peaceful and restful night. With that, we headed off to our rooms and settled down for that desperately needed good night’s sleep.

Day 2 - Tuesday, June 24, 2015

I had forgotten; almost no need for an alarm here. A little before 6 am the roosters started crowing, dogs started barking, and cows started mooing as the animals in the surrounding barrio helped welcome the new day. It is a beautiful morning, some clouds, a little humid, but a perfect temperature. I am sure all three of these will change as the day progresses.  With the coffee started, it was time to sit back and relax until the rest of the team wakes up. As tired as some were last night, it was amazing to hear all the laughter going on as team members settled into their rooms and got to know one another better. Eventually the clamor subsided and quiet prevailed. After a long day it is no surprise.

Today we will begin working on the house and playground. We need to wait for some supplies from town, so before we begin, Charlie Nackash walks us around the barrio. On the way off the grounds, we stop first at one of the groves of fruit trees planted by our youth team three years ago. Some of the trees have really grown and it will not be long before they will bear fruit to be harvested. Walking past the ditch project we did in 2011, we saw that the pipes we had laid under the road were now filled in with debris and barely visible to the eye.

The first house we visit is the one we will be working on and we even get to meet the family. They are already there working on what they can. The kids are in the backyard filling in around a septic tank. Next, we visit some of the other houses teams have worked on over the years and end up at the house our team worked on three years ago. The family has added onto it and it is now a multi-story building. The second level is cinder block and the third wood. Everyone agreed the upper floor probably enjoyed the best breeze. Moving back to the camp grounds, the team was given a tour of the school adjacent to the camp and the church. Unfortunately, school is not in session so they didn’t get to meet any of the kids, but it was nice to see how things are organized.

After the tour, we began to work on the playground. We started by developing a vision on how it was to be finished given the last team began the work and left no plans behind to follow. Once we had a plan, we began cutting planks, pre-drilling holes, and screwing things together. It wasn’t long before we had a system and worked progressed rather quickly. The long awaited materials showed up right before lunch. One of the items we were waiting for was 3 inch screws. With these in hand we were able to start on other parts of the structure.

Lunch today was wonderful. We enjoyed French fries, hamburger patties, salad, and fruit. Everyone loves the fruit, fresh and cold it tasted exquisite. Sitting around afterwards, we knew that if we didn’t get up and get moving we would not want to. We split the team in two; some stayed to work with Steve, Sharon, Don, and Lauren on the playground and the rest went across the street to begin work on the house. Our job today was to paint the sheet metal for the roof, and to apply creosol to the beams for the frame. We got most of it done by quitting time. The family with some local helpers will finish it up tonight so that we can begin installing the roof tomorrow. You would think painting was the easier of the two jobs, but we were working in the sun and the heat of the day. Despite all the trees, there wasn’t much shade where they unloaded supplies. The sheet metal created an oven effect between the two houses and the creosol really smells. We had to rotate youth to keep them from getting a headache. We even rotated youth between teams to give them a break from the heat. Admittedly the only thing they got a break from was the smell. The sun was just as hot in the school playground where there too was little shade. Fr. Tom, Linda, and Melissa worked most of the sealing, with a lot of help from Shiloh, yet each of the youth helped for a little while.

When it came time to quit working for the day the team headed for the showers. After being in the hot sun, the water felt great and some of our team was ready for a siesta, others explored the grounds. Some of us sat in the dining hall playing cards and talking about the day’s events. One of the more talked about things was Rowan and his love for Blue Beth (a pick axe) he really had fun using. Before dinner, we joined Padre Alvaro as he went into the barrio to minister to a couple of families. It was an interesting experience for all. The first thing we noticed is that we were invited into the homes; not only invited but we learned, expected to enter even though there was barely enough room for us to all stand or sit. We were so glad we did because the welcome we received was like no other. Padre Alvaro led us in song and prayer and offered a blessing on the house. He even asked Fr. Tom to offer a blessing at the second house.

Something we noticed, as we walked through the barrio, people came out to greet us. So different than in the states where we sit in our homes with the doors closed. Maybe that is because we can. There is no air conditioning in the barrio so windows and doors are always open and strangers walking through the neighborhood are immediately noticed. We felt perfectly safe and found we were surrounded by children. Rowan even had a young man named Edison ask him to be lifted up. The smile on both their faces was so big it was an ah-hah moment. Everywhere we turned we were met with smiles and more children. At the second house, Padre Alvaro shared the peace and it was like any small church on Sunday morning. The peace was not over until everyone had passed the peace to everyone else. When some of our team went out on the porch, we passed the peace with so many others that had gathered to see what was going on, join in the song, and to hear the comforting words of Padre.

Back in the dining hall, we enjoyed a wonderful, and again, huge feast. We had rice and beans, chicken and potato casserole, salad, bread, and for dessert – plantano canela azucar (plantain with cinnamon and sugar) which we learned Crystal had helped make. The food was amazing. After dinner, the adults sat with Padre Alvaro, Angela, and Charlie to discuss the next day’s work and some community activities the Padre hoped we would offer the local children. With a plan in hand we headed up to the second floor balcony of the retreat center to reflect on our first full day working in the barrio and finish with Compline. The insights we gained, like our dinner, were amazing and it really was a sacred time together. Once Compline had been said, Don asked each of us to turn our chairs and look into the community. He turned off the light, asked for a moment of silence, and then encouraged us to listen to the sounds of the night; laughter, music, and the night sounds. When the lights came on some on the team hoped we could do it a little longer – mañana he said, (tomorrow). That’s it for today. God only knows what is in store for us tomorrow.

Day 3 - Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Esta mañana (This morning) is another glorious dia (day) Another glorious morning! The neighborhood gallo (roosters) were up and at it again, welcoming the new days. Once they started, so too did the other animals of the barrio. I’m not sure how anyone sleeps through it all, but it didn’t seem to faze very many on our team. Maybe that is because we were all very tired when we finally went to bed. Today is going to be another hard and hot day. There is a lot to get done and we are hoping to get our projects completed by Friday so that we can spend much of Saturday interacting with the youth of the barrio. To get ahead, we will eat breakfast a little earlier today. This will also give us a chance to do some of the roof work we will be doing in the cooler part of the day.

The team was a little slow getting up this morning and we had one team member wake up with an upset stomach. We sent this person back to bed to rest (by late afternoon they felt great) we suspect they were a little dehydrated from yesterday’s work. Anyway, it was another tasty breakfast, scrambled eggs, sausage, oatmeal, and fruit. Not as many wanted eggs this morning so Sharon suggested we offer cereal for those who would prefer it, but a box had already been put out. With a tired team, breakfast was much less energetic today. Light chit chat was all we really heard. Still, once breakfast was done, the team rose to the occasion and grabbed the tools and headed to the job site. We learned there was little we could do with the roof today. It would be locals working to make sure the rafters we sealed yesterday were installed. For our part, we cut off the ends at the desired angle and helped carry the lumber back over to the house. When we took it over, we saw where cutouts in the cinder block had been made to rest the beam in. So we stood each beam up against the building at a notch and headed back to the playground.

Our main focus today was on the playground. There was lots of painting and railings to install. Steve also fashioned a solid wall that will have climbing rocks installed so that the youth can climb up onto one of the towers (about 4-feet high). The morning turned cloudy and we were happy because that meant the temperature would be more moderate. At one point we thought we might get rain, but it passed by us to the northeast. Lunch seemed to come up on us quickly today. We had pasta with meat sauce, fried plantain, fruit, and chocolate cupcakes. After lunch, the sun came out and it was hot. Some on the team began to tire and it seemed like breaks came more often. With each break, we reminded team members to drink more water. Besides painting, we began clearing some of the ground around the structure of rocks and weeds using hoes, rakes, and our hands. In the hot sun this was the least favorite task before us. We didn’t get far, but we made a dent in it. This part of the project would be better accomplished in the early morning.

To help energize the team, we thought about going to the river. However, the work went a little longer than planned and Padre Alvaro was worried we might not go and come back in time for dinner. Some were disappointed but most took it in stride and showered instead. As power was out most of the afternoon there was no hot water, but the water was still warmer than the river would have been so I don’t think I heard anyone complain. With time until dinner, the playing cards came out and we had several groups having fun playing this card game or that. I think a few team members even took a short siesta or at least enjoyed laying in bed out of the sun.

When it was time for dinner we had no bell as we had no power. So Lauren whistled and got everyone’s attention. Dinner tonight was rice and chickpeas, BBQ chicken, plantains, potato and beet salad and bread. For dessert we had tres leche. It was a quiet meal as everyone was rather hungry (a hard day’s work does that to a person). Once dinner was over the cards came out again as if on cue. Folks kicked back until it was time to head down to the church. The activity planned for tonight was watching the movie Frozen (in Spanish with English sub-titles) with local children. Padre had sent out word to the barrio we would offer this; and we had many children (of all ages) stop in to watch it with us. Sitting together side by side the fact we came from 1000 miles apart, and different cultures, didn’t matter. We laughed and moaned at all the same points in the movie. When the movie finished it was time for treats. Our youth shared treats with the youth of the barrio and there was even more laughter and excitement as they shared food and drink. We quickly realized Cheetos were the snack of choice.

We went up to the balcony again tonight for reflection. The breeze felt nice and tonight we were joined by Padre Alvaro and his wife Angela. We shared our thoughts on the day and where we saw God in our midst. Padre and Angela shared some thoughts with us too and it was a perfect end to a wonderful day and, dare I say it, a glorious one at that. Tomorrow we work more on the playground and maybe on the house. Fr. Tom is looking forward to Friday when we help mix and pour the floor in the house we have been working on. Some of that concrete will go to set some supports we have added to the play-gym. Buenos Noches.

Day 4 - Thursday, June 26, 2014

I know I am beginning to sound like a broken record, but another beautiful morning. It was also another morning the team was a little slow getting out of bed. The team is getting tired and the long days are taking their toll. Breakfast is at 7:30, and our evening activities have not finished up until after 10 pm. Add in a long hard day’s work and it is no wonder we are slowing down a little. Having said that, after breakfast (which included cereal for those who wished it) we hit the ground running.

A small team went to help install the roof. We didn’t do much, they wouldn’t let us up on the roof, but we handed up the large sheets of sheet metal we painted on day one as well as clavos (nails). The roof went up pretty quick, by 11 am we were finished and headed over to see what Steve and the other team working on the playset had been up to. Blue paint had arrived and they were busy painting every fourth slat blue. Work had begun on the ladder going to the upper level, the rock wall assembly was well under way, and hole had been dug for a late addition to the structure (a rope type monkey rail). By lunch time we were all hungry and the minute the bell rang we prayed and enjoyed tacos. During lunch, one of the members of our team had a piece of meat get caught and chocked on it. Fortunately Lauren did a quick pat on the back and the meat was out and the person felt fine.

While we were enjoying our lunch the sand arrived which meant the floor would go in at the house this afternoon. A couple of volunteers joined Fr. Tom and they began hauling sand and concrete. They mixed the two together by hand and then added water. Next came the hard part, they had to mix everything until the mixture was wet the right consistency. This is very hard work and especially hard in the hot sun. But thankfully, the hot sun stayed away. The skies clouded up, the temperatures stayed down, and this helped make the work a little bit easier. We were not alone mixing. Several of the local youth (and a few adults) joined in. We did our share, but we were not near as fast at this as they were. With each pile of concrete we prepared, it all had to be hand carried (in buckets) into the house and poured. Slowly the floor took shape. Euclitis oversaw the work inside and using level lines he determined using a water filled hose, he began to use the concrete we carried to lay out a 3 in slab. Work went in spurts. Once he had the height determine using a level, we and a whole bunch of others, carried in bucket after bucket. Even Fr. Tom and Padre Alvaro took turns mixing and carrying. It really was a team effort.

This went on for several hours. We hoped to have the whole floor in today, but we only succeeded in getting about half of it poured. No worry, tomorrow morning we will finish it up. While we worked on the floor, a local contractor squared up the doorways and windows using morter; these arrive tomorrow afternoon and we need to be ready if we are going to finish enclosing the house before we head home. I cannot say enough how hard the work was, but none of the team complained. In fact, when one young lady was given the chance to go over and work the playset (to take a break from the heavy work) she was back 15 minutes later, she was really interested in seeing things come together. As we were wrapping up the afternoon’s work, the contractor who had been working on the windows and doors began to float the floors to put a finishing touch on them. Part of his finishing touch was a dried dye powder which he then floated into the concrete. Using blanco and negro (white and black) powder he made the floor look almost like a marble sort of; still, pretty amazing.

Back at the playset worked progressed there as the team began seeing what the finished structure will look like. It is really coming together and the hard work of our youth is really beginning to show. By the end of the day, the last side railing went up, the rock wall was finished, the ladder installed, and concrete was poured (with the help of the other half of the team) to help stabilize the additions that needed it. Besides the blue, there was a lot of painting going on with panels we still have to install and Linda helped organize some of that. One observation that was made during our reflection, is that the team is really functioning as a team. Granted we have our favorite (and no so favorite) projects, but after a couple of days working together we seemed to be in a groove.

There is something else worth noting, team members are doing more than just building. A sense of pride is developing about what they are doing and they realize they are leaving a part of themselves here when they leave. So we heard phrases like this is “my baby” when describing the area they have been working in. One might think this is an ego thing, or that it is about possession; but as we have gotten to know the people of the barrio better, it is really about the connections, the relationships that have been made. Our team wants to do the best because they see how much it means to those who live here. Where the playset is being built, there is constantly a crowd of youth standing along the fence line watching what is going on. At the house, the children are always involved and trying to help.

We worked a few extra hours today because the end is in sight. Nobody wants to reach the last day and not have completed the tasks we were given. So when the dinner bell rang, we waited as the last member of our tem to take a shower finished up, and nobody complained. There are times when some would say let the person wait at the end of the line, but the team did not even want to pray unless we were all together.

You might think after such a long hard day the team would want to sit back and relax. However, we were offering the local community another movie night. The church was packed as we watched “The Little Mermaid” with the children of the barrio. Some of youth sat with kids they had gotten to know over the last few days and it was a truly blessed experience. Afterwards, when handing out the snacks we offered, you could just see the joy in the kid’s eyes. Language was no barrier as our youth laughed and played with the children of the barrio. You wouldn’t think a simple movie followed by Doritos, Cheese Puffs, Kool Aid, and lollypops could have such meaning, but we learned that these are rare treats for these children.

The people of the barrio are poor. They have very little, but what they have they are proud of. As one walks through the neighborhood, it may not look like it at first, but when you go into their homes, when you really look at the people instead of past them, you can see this. This is something the team members who have not been here before are learning and a piece of the trip they will never forget. Today, we met a young lady we first met in 2010. Her name is Annie. When we first came through the barrio, she was Padre Carlos’ translator and she had an energy that just drew us to this place. She worked with us again when we came in 2011 with our youth, so it was really nice to renew our relationship with her. She is now married and has a beautiful little niña (girl).

During our reflection tonight on the balcony, as we had done in the past, we shared stories of where our team encountered God. Not only did we see God in those we served, but some saw God in the members of our team. Even though we had seen God in this way before, it was wonderful to hear our youth see it for themselves. When it came time for bed, it got quiet very quickly. It will be interesting to see what the morning will bring.

Day 5 - Friday, June 27, 2014

 What a beautiful morning, a bit humid, but still beautiful. The automatic alarm clock again beat out the mechanical one once again. As some of adults emerge, there are a few grumbles. Not because we are up so early, but because we are sore. The bending and lifting is taking its toll. Thankfully, the bulk of the heavy work is done. After we pour the last half of the floor and add a few more structural pieces, we have more painting to do. We will finish up by placing a second coat on everything and by spreading out a load of pea gravel under the pay set. Last night, when given the chance to break today at lunch, everyone was in agreement to work a little longer before heading down to the river so that we could spend more time with the kids tomorrow.

Breakfast was great. We had oatmeal along with cereal, eggs, sausage, and fruit. Add in the all importante café, it was a great way to start out the day. After breakfast, everyone loaded up with tools and headed to the worksites. Our goal today was to get as much as we could done so that tomorrow we could finish up and take a long walk to the waterfall. The playset team got to work adding a safety railing, a roof frame, and the last of the slats they needed to install while another part of the team began painting the murals we will hang to act as safety rails and to add color to the structure. Things went great until power went out. This is a regular occurrence. Thankfully the camp has a generator that can be started if needed, but with Padre away we had to wait until Charlie came back from the house site and he was there with that team most of the morning.

The team that arrived at the house was met with a pile of sand and concrete just being mixed. So it was right to work. Euclitis (our Dominican contractor) was already checking level lines and the first few buckets of mix went to set the levels. We worked our way down 1/3 of the combination kitchen and living room, then down the opposite 1/3 passing buckets as if we were part of a bucket brigade. Of course we had to mix more sand and concrete for each 1/3, but we did pretty good. Only once did we have to go back and add some more concrete mix to the pile as the locals who were helping started us off with too much sand. As we began to work our way down the middle third we had to stop for a while. The family wanted a half-wall partition added so we had to measure and lay the first row of block. Once that was done, we were at it again and by 11:00 am, Kelly got to hand off the last bucket to complete the project.

Our team has been blessed with a growing sense of accomplishment. Long hours, a hot sun, and mosquitoes have not damped our spirits. We are able to see the faces of those whose lives we impact with our works. Jacquelyn has been working alongside Fr. Tom and the house team and after the last bucket was poured, she gave each of us a chocolate bar. The smile on her face was so big and she was so thankful for what we knew that God has to be part of what was happening. Seeing the faces of the kids watching us build the playset confirms that feeling equally. One of the most blessed moments was when Angela (Padre’s wife) came down and saw the large mural installed that had cutouts for kids to place their faces in, she was so overwhelmed with thanks she too was grinning from ear to ear. You could tell by the sound of her voice just how happy she was to see what the community would soon enjoy.

With most of the structure finished and painted, it was time for a break and the team (led by Charlie) headed for the river. The beach was crowded as it was another hot day. Kids were jumping off rocks, playing in the sand, and just having fun. However, the water level was a little lower than normal so Charlie recommended our team not jump in from the rocks. The kids of course were disappointed, the adults were relieved. Anyway, the water felt great. Our youth intermixed with the youth that were there as if language didn’t matter. Of course we were joined by some of the young men who had been helping us. We do have several young ladies with us that were noticed. But everything was on the up and up and all had fun. The ladies wanted to get back a little early to spruce up for tonight’s fiesta so after about an hour in the river we headed back to the camp. The ladies spent time braiding their hair and they got out their dresses and by 6:00 pm they no longer looked as if they had been working as hard as they had been. Members of the church began pouring in and the dining hall filled up and every table that was out was surrounded by laughing and smiling people all looking forward to the feast we were about to share. Padre Alvaro opened by giving thanks for the work we were doing and a prayer. The food was fantastic and there was more than enough for everyone. There was even some for a few families to take home when all was said and done.

After dinner, Padre got up to thanks us again. It was such a blessing to receive. Part of that blessing included Padre and Angela singing a song, than everyone joined in. There was more singing after this; by some local girls, by our youth, by Fr. Tom and Sharon (who by the way chickened out and had the whole team join them), it was just a great time. Then the musica (music) started playing and everyone started dancing. Jacquelyn, the lady whose house we were building, came over and got Fr. Tom up to dance. He doesn’t dance very well, but it didn’t seem to matter. It was about the shared sense of community. Boys who had come quickly got the young ladies on the team up and dancing and I don’t think they sat down very long for the next hour and one-half. Every member of the team, that wanted to, danced with someone, either another member of the team or with one of the locals. It was a great fiesta.

When the music ended, several of the local ladies had brought crafts they make for sale. Our team had no need to go to town to shop, it was like the town came to us. Everyone bought something, some even tried to buy a little something from each of the ladies. The scarves, jewelry, and odds and ends were wonderful and the little we spent will go a long way; maybe not as far as we would hope, but we knew that what seemed like little to us was much to these ladies.

As the sale ended, Don asked the youth if they still wanted to do Compline. One young lady said right away yes! She added if we were not going to do it every night, we shouldn’t have done it the first. With that, we headed up to the balcony. Kelly led reflection tonight and she asked us the question “Where do we think we made the most difference today?” It was amazing to listen to the answers shared and then Charlie added his own observation reminding us the difference was in everything we did from the projects we worked on to the smile on our faces. He was so grateful for what God had done in and through us. With that, we moved onto Compline and turned off the lights to sit and listen. Rowan and Lauren offered a short song of praise and we sat. I wonder if others sat and listened differently tonight too.

Day 6 - Saturday, June 28, 2014

To say we have yet another beautiful morning would sound like a broken record, but it is what it is. It is hard to believe this is our last day of work. We are almost done, but there are so many finishing touches yet to do. We still must finish the second coat of paint, spread pea gravel around the playset, install some more stairs and the murals we have painted. There are still two more panels to paint also. These will be fun. They will include imprints of our hands and our names. I know it sounds a little silly to do, but it is something the kids of the barrio look for to help remember the names of those who were here; and they do remember. They remember us, and we surely remember them.

After breakfast we got right to work. Okay, maybe not right to work. The team got up to the worksite and decided to go and take a look at the house we worked on, windows and doors were going in today. Even though we got there at 8:30, several of the windows had already been installed and door frames were in too. Jacquelyn was there mopping the floor. When she saw us she immediately invited us in and offered us her thanks. As she walked us through the house, she cried out of the joy she had for the work we did. We may not have raised the walls, but in the week we were here, we helped put on a roof and lay her floor, making the structure feel like a home. That is why she was grateful. She would no longer live in a leaking shack with her seven children; she would have a place she could call home, if that doesn’t tug at your heartstrings nothing will.

Now it was back to work and work we did. With the whole team trying to help finish things we were on top of each other. Everyone wanted to finish and leave nothing undone. I am not saying our teens were not teens, gravel spreading was done with an enthusiasm that required sweeping up gravel from a much larger place then it first rested, but that was okay. Steve’s crew had to get everything cut they needed cut because Charlie was leaving us by 11 am for the capital and with Charlie go the power saws. Once everything was cut, the team began painting the last of the pieces and before we knew it, it was time to say so long to Charlie. As he walked to his truck, you could see his emotion as the youth chanted his name out of respect and thanks for all he gave of himself to this project. He was as much a part of our team as anyone of us were.

The sun got hot early today. So when we broke for lunch we had a choice to make. We had planned to visit the waterfall after we were done. But with all the painting done, our only power drill with only one extension cord remaining, and the team sitting against the wall in the shade watching only a few people do the final assembly, we decided to go to the waterfall right after lunch and do the finishing touches when we returned. Lunch was eaten quickly as there was an excitement about the journey to the waterfall. Padre and Angela were going to take us and we knew that several of the locals would be joining us.

Now I must admit, I remember this hike from the last time we were here, and I was not as excited about the 50 minute journey through woods and along back roads as others. But there was a brand new hanging bridge over the worst of the journey which meant the grueling hike down to the river and back up the other side was not as bad as it was before. Anyway, off we went and about 40 minutes later we were going down the stairs to the falls. The stairs were as dangerous as any part of the journey. They were uneven and steep. So we took it easy and enjoyed all that awaited us at the bottom.

The water was clear and refreshing. We had no rain while at the camp and only saw it rain on the nearby mountains once this past week, so the water coming over the falls was less intense than before. This meant that we were able to enjoy going right up to the base of the falls and walking through them. One of our youth commented that it was the best shower they had enjoyed all week. Padre got joined us in the water and we had a great time and by the time we left, we felt really refreshed. However, that quickly faded as we made the trek back up the stairs. The walk back was filled with laughter and talk about the week’s events. It was just starting to sink in that we would be leaving the camp the next day.

Back at the camp, a few of us went back down to install the last of the structure leaving the rest of the team to play cards or take a siesta. Piece after piece was put in place and before the dinner bell rang, the last piece of the play set was installed. We weren’t sure we could get it all done, but we did and we stepped back, took a few pictures and offered thanks for the ability to give the children of the neighborhood church school such a wonderful gift. We did not do it alone, the folks from Christ Church in Georgia did a lot to make our finishing touches possible, but we had the pleasure to look on the finished project with pride and in thanksgiving.

It was up to dinner and afterwards a meeting with Padre. Just before the meeting, Padre, Angela, Melissa and Fr. Tom made a visit to one of the local households where someone was not well. They were only going to be a couple of minutes, but 30 minutes later they made their way back to the camp and up to the dining hall. When we sat down with Padre, he wanted to know about our experience and what we thought about the work, the people, the camp, and the offerings of the camp staff. By the time we finished, there had been tears of joy and grace in what God had done in and through us and those who started the projects before us. Almost everyone said they would gladly come back again, not because they enjoyed the hard work and hot sun, but because of the relationships that had formed. Padre told us how we would be remembered and encouraged us to remember those we had met. Many on the team were very sad to leave and even wished they could stay longer. With the reflection behind us, Padre and Angela joined us again for Compline.

Once Compline was over we began to pack, that is all of us except Fr. Tom and Melissa. They met with Padre to go over Sunday’s Eucharist. Padre had asked Fr. Tom to co-celebrate. When Fr. Tom accepted, he expected a small part in the service only to find out Padre really wanted him to do the whole service (and in Spanish). Needless to say, Fr. Tom was a bit taken back and after some discussion, Padre and Fr. Tom were to lead different parts of the service. However, the only part Fr. Tom would do in English was the reading of the Gospel. Padre gave Fr. Tom a prayer book and said “ go practico”; which Fr. Tom did.

Day 7 - Sunday, June 29, 2014

 It was our last morning on the camp and everyone dressed up to go to church. While there was not a cloud in the sky, the group was not bright and cheerful. Everyone knew it was their last morning on the camp and they were a little bit down. Still, the ladies looked great in their dresses and the guys cleaned up nicely too. Before breakfast, Padre and Fr. Tom went up to the church to go over the service and get things set up. On the way back, Padre stopped to look once again at the finished play set and he seemed to be really pleased and said again how much los niños and las niñas would enjoy playing and climbing on it.

After breakfast everyone walked down to the church and worship. The church slowly filled and like churches at home, it continued to do so even after the service had begun. It was a wonderful service. Both Fr. Tom and Melissa did a great job (Melissa led the congregation in the reading of the Psalm and helped translate Padre’s sermon for those of us who do not speak Spanish). Fr. Tom’s Spanish, while not perfect, wasn’t all that bad either and we think the people really appreciated his effort. Something unexpected happened during the service today, a lady who had recently had a baby brought the baby to church for a blessing and Padre offered not only a blessing for the baby but for the mother and grandmother too. After the service, Melissa helped Angela hand out some of the clothing and gifts some on our team brought the people of El Pedegral. The looks on the faces of those who receives something was priceless, and you could just see the joy in the eyes of the children who received backpacks for school. Special thanks to the team members who made this all possible.

With all the gifts given, it was time to walk around and look at the projects one last time and to get a few pictures. As we walked out of the church, we saw children already playing on the playset and it was a blessing to see the smiles on the children as they did. Our first stop was the house. Jacquelyn was there, as was Euclitis, and we got to tour the finished project. Plumbing and electricity would be run over the next week, but it really looked like a house and again, Jacquelyn was emotional as she explained where her various furnishing would soon be placed. We took a couple of pictures to remember the work and then we headed back to the school playground. A couple of more pictures around the finished playset and it was time to change out of our church clothes and journey back south to Santo Domingo.

As we drove out of the camp and the village there were many waves and shouts of good bye, and then it got quiet for a while; partly because we were sad to leave and not too much later because many were sound asleep. The week had taken its toll and the opportunity for a short siesta was not to be missed. All were awake by the time we reached the rest area where we enjoyed a treat from one of the local vendors, ice cream. It was cold and it was good and it reminded several on the team of the ice cream we shared at fiesta. As we got back in the van a renewed excitement overcame our team as they began to look forward to the tour they would take of the colonial part of town and their dinner with Bishop Holguin.

It didn't take us long to settle in at the hotel before we were up and out walking through the old colonial part of Santo Domingo. We started our tour by turning left out of our hotel and walking down the great pedestrian way to Colombo Park, or Cathedral Square, the center of colonial zone. In in the center of the square there is the Cristoforo Colombo statue, and behind it the Santa Maria La Menor cathedral, the first of the New World, which they began to build in 1521 and finished in 1585. It is one of Santo Domingo's symbol monuments. From there we walked down a street past the House of Francia, where Hernan Cortez once lived (the Messico conqueror) and the National Pantheon (1714-1748), where some of the most illustrious men of the latest 150 years are buried. From there we walked along the old wall and got a picture alongside an old canon and at the end of Las Damas street, next the gate of S. Diego, there is the impressive Spanish Square, with the Alcazar of Colombo (1509-1512). This was once the seat of the Spanish court beyond the sea from 1512 to 1524. Next we walked down Hostos street and Saint Francisco Monastery, the most ancient of the New World which we were told later became Saint Nicola of Bari Hospital, the first of the New World. We finished up our tour walking down the pedestrian way and doing a little gift shopping.

Before we knew it, it was time for dinner with the bishop. The Bishop and his wife truly enjoyed hearing the stories of our trip and it was a real pleasure for all that he took time out of his busy schedule to be with us. Charlie was even able to join us and that was a real treat. As said before, he had become as much a part of our team as if he had flown from Nebraska with us. He will be missed, but only for a year as we hope to see him again should we be able to return next year. The food, the weather, the company, and the scenery were perfect from atop the restaurant we ate at overlooking the old Spanish Square. There could be no better way to end our experience than this. After a short walk back to the hotel, it was time for our final pack-up and a final night's rest in a country many on our team have grown to love.

Day 8 - Monday, June 30, 2014

After spending the night in air conditioning, for the first time in over a week, everyone felt refreshed as they gathered in the restaurant for breakfast. We were blessed with a visit by Ellen Snow who was back in the DR working with a medical team that was serving a community living along the river in Santo Domingo. She, like the bishop the night before, could not get enough of the stories we had to share and insisted on seeing pictures; not only pictures of the work we did, but pictures of the latest addition to the Peeler family. While we were driving down to Santo Domingo, Don and Melissa’s daughter had a baby boy. They were so excited and Ellen was too.


Saying farewell to Ellen, we headed back up to our rooms to finish packing and bring our luggage downstairs. The bus arrived on time and we loaded the trailer quickly. Then we climbed aboard and took off for the airport. For a Monday morning, we were fortunate that traffic was not as bad as expected. This meant we arrived a little earlier than originally planned. It all worked out great as we made it through the ticketing agent with no real difficulty (other than one boarding pass misprinted) and through security without a hitch. We arrived at the gate with time to spare. While we sat waiting to board the plane, we noticed a group taking pictures with a gentleman sitting in the waiting area. It turns out it was a man named Tripp from MTV. Once our group found that out, they too needed pictures, which Tripp willingly allowed.


Before we knew it, we were on the plane and we pushed back exactly on time. We were finally on our way home and realizing this, most settled in to watch a movie or take a nap. When we arrived at Atlanta, we had to hold for about 20 minutes due to weather. We had plenty of time between flights so there was no worry. We made it through customs quickly and headed for a restaurant for some lunch. We found a TGI Friday’s and everyone enjoyed some good old fashioned American Food. After a week of Dominican fare, we readily consumed greasy hamburgers and the like.


With time to spare, Lauren engaged our youth in an airport scavenger hunt. Before we boarded the last flight of the trip, many of us stopped at a chocolate store to pick up a quick snack. We boarded and pushed back all on time. We could not believe how fortunate we were with the way our travel was working out. As the lights went down on the airplane, many slept most of the final leg home. When the lights came up after landing, the energy was as high as the day we left. We gathered in the waiting area for a final prayer before heading into the main terminal and meeting with the waiting family members.


Families were lined up as we walked along the bridge, and we were not alone. Another mission team was also on the flight and they too had a crowd waiting to welcome them home. It wasn’t long before we took one final group picture and made our way down to the luggage carrousel. There were a few hugs and farewells as our team split up. But we knew it would not be the end. We have already planned another get together later in July to get our copy of the DVD Steve is putting together for the team and look forward to sharing a meal and a little prayer together one more time.


We give thanks to all who helped make this trip possible. We want to especially thank Don and Melissa Peeler for their leadership; and the Diocese of Nebraska, for offering us the opportunity to make a difference in the world around us that gave each of us a life changing experience.

Pictures from our trip - Part 1

Pictures from our trip - Part 2