Dominican Republic - March 2011

My suitcase is lying on the floor of my bedroom partially unpacked, and there is a basket of laundry that needs folded, yet here I am sitting at my computer sorting through pictures and listening to Spanish music...somehow that's all I usually feel like doing the first few days after returning from a missions trip. I am so glad we have the ability to capture bits and pieces of these trips through photography and video - so much happens during a week like this, and pictures help spark memories after returning home.

This was my third trip to the Dominican Republic, and try as I might, it was very difficult to go back without having expectations of what was going to happen.  And of course, those expectations were way off...but the Spirit spoke to my heart in powerful ways.  I'm still processing all that He revealed and did, and will be for a while...for now, I'll pretty much let the pictures speak for themselves. :)

There were about 35 of us that travelled down together...most of the group coming from Pitt University, on their spring break.  We spent most of the week in a small sugarcane village, scraping and painting the row house, and developing relationships with those that lived there.  We were challenged by the Spirit through morning devotions led by Kim Costanza, enjoyed gorgeous weather and local church services, and survived a 24-hour stomach flu virus.  We spent a morning witnessing door-to-door in the barrios of Hato Mayor, had a baptism service, and a house dedication service.  It was a good week :)

Danilo, one of the local boys that works with MGM.

The first day we were there was a fairly relaxed day, as we had just travelled all the night before.  We played basketball with several of the local boys, and had a service at the compound...

The road we travelled through the sugarcane field.

This is the village we spent most of the week at...this picture was taken on the first day, as we were preparing it for the primer and paint.

Pastor Ney and several others repair the leaky roof as the rest of us were painting.

Cleaning up on the third day, when the project was finished.

The whole group of us with the villagers right before we said goodbye for the last time.

Elizabeth, Ruthie and I with a dear friend from one of the neighboring villages, Loida.  Liz had known her for several years, and I had met her and her mother when I was in the DR last July - it was really good to see her again.

On our third day in the sugarcane field, a few of us went with Kim and Pastor Ney to visit some of the other villages.  We rode in the back of the pick-up truck and had fun taking pictures and playing with the kids while we waited for Kim and Ney.

Ney's house was completed and he and his family had moved in by the time we arrived.  On Thursday, we added some of the finishing touches and had a communion service to dedicate the house.

Loida and one of her friends came to the compound for the dedication service.

The last day we were there, we had a baptism service at the pool in Hato Mayor - 

four of the girls on the trip were baptized.

Liz, Keally and I

And a few more shots of the kids...I can't resist :)...

Here is a quick video I put together with several more photos and clips from the week.  The song I used is a Christian Spanish song called Un Viaje Largo by Marcela Gandara.  In English, it translates to "the Long Journey", and I thought the words were very appropriate for some of what the Lord was speaking to my heart throughout the week.  The song talks about the long journey of coming to see God's eternal purposes...the valleys of insecurity we walk through and the cost we pay to believe and follow Him.  And then finding His love within all His plans for us - it's worth every price we have to pay.  I feel sometimes that this is a life-long journey, through seasons of doubt and seasons of trust...but this journey will end someday, and with that ending will come full understanding of all His reasons.

Many thanks to all of you who were praying for us.  You were part of us this week...

Rachel Elisabeth