Sabbath

We rest! With four teams in five weeks we were much overdue for some rest. We spent one day at a hotel relaxing and reading by the pool at a place called Susua By the Sea. Our favorite get-a-way hotel. This last weekend we spent exploring the Island. We stayed with some friends on the south west coast of the island. There is a much different feel on that side. We stayed in a town called La Romana. The area is much wealthier due to new tourism and the sugar cane industry. They are actually cutting the cane there, where as our side of the island cane hasn't been cut for three years. Even amongst the poor Haitian cane cutters, there was a sense of pride and dignity, a concept that is rather foreign where we live. We also visited the "Mecca" site of the DR, Higuey. It is home to the Altagracia shrine of the holy virgin. Every year millions of Dominicans make their way to this site, including a yearly traditional pilgramige. The place is said to have supernatural healing powers. People with all kinds of sickness, disease, and open wounds come to expose themselves all around the temple in hopes of being healed. As a result you have a town with an extra dose of beggars. There were all kinds of statues of Mary with animals and angels bowing down to her. The main event is inside this massive concrete structure. In the middle is a platform where hopefuls make their way to the top with a sacred candle, and then pass by a glass protected print of Mary as they lay their hands, wounds and brokeness upon it and give out a hopeful prayer for healing and wellness of life. It was a very interesting and insightful cultural experience. After, we went to Jarabacoa to spend some time with friends. We stayed there one night and while we were there, Alberto called and asked if we wanted to stay a night with him and his family at his parents' house in a town called La Vega. We spent a day with him looking for a truck to buy and seeing much more of the country side, including a good portion of the Cibao Valley. It's a beautiful part of the country with a lot farming and rich agriculture.

We are very grateful that we were given the time of rest. Now we are ready to deal with more of the third world blessings!

Possible future?

Some of Jessi's friends from college came for a visit. But they weren't picked up from the airport, mostly because they didn't fly here, they sailed. Derrek and Dan are sailing around the world in their 32' sail boat. Their mission is to see the world and help where they can. They have set up a foundation and are using raised money to help out with organizations like us. They bought enough socks, belts, and underwear for our kids to last awhile. They spent about 2 weeks here and a good portion of it helping at the school, with construction, and whatever else was needed. Jon, Candace, Caitlin, and I all spent the night with them on their boat. We cooked up some mexican food and hung out on the water, experiencing boating life. I think I have a bit of boat fever now. The idea of learning to sail has been ever prevelent in my mind since they left. Possible future? I don't know we'll see, I did pick up some sailing books though to keep me busy in the mean time. You can track them if interested at. http://www.theworldbysea.com/, or check out the links we have on this page,

Teams

Teams are in full swing here again in Caraballo! Already we have already had four teams come and do everything from medical, to organization, to construction. Our first team was a group of nurses. Jessi went to school with some them. It's a neat connection to be able to host your friends and see how this place impacts people who you are close to.

Our second team was a very special group of young men that attend a program in IN called Christian Haven. These guys have come from rough situtions and are living in the care of this organization and being finely educated and deeply loved. Every year they take a small group of the ones who excell and prove themselves worthy on a trip such as ours. The boys were from the ages of 15 to 18. We had a really good time getting to know them. What a awesome experience they were able to have.

We also had a special treat of a team when the Parks (of the"Park Care Center") arrived for a week. A lot was accomplished with only a small group of them. The Parks are very special people to us; friends, supporters, and encouragers. In just four days they tackled the huge project of organization at our school. Often times when you are understaffed and still moving at 100 mph important things such as organizing get pushed to the side. With their help we organized and emptied most of our donation room and were able to make over 200 gift bags of clothes, shoes, crafts and toys to pass out to the kids for Valentines Day. They were also able organize Alberto's office!! Now we can walk in it and use it again!!

Our fourth group was nine strong women that came and proved that construction isn't just for the boys. These ladies were tough. We laid around 400 block in just the week they were here. The blocks they laid were the next important step in continuing the next two classrooms that will host another 40-50 new kids!! A lot of them also left as child sponsors, and with the plan to hopefully get more sponsors from friends and family. It is so exciting to see how these kids impact lives time and time again, and I think these ladies were definetly impacted.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you to all who came, did, and changed. We are forever grateful of your service.

The start of a new life

The happiest day thus far for Caitlin and I. And I've never seen Juvi more content, with a bright smile that lifts her face, and a seemingly new energetic confidence in life. It was a day of emotions and a day of rejoicing. Alberto (our director) even cancelled school for this special ocasion. The day we moved Ruben and Juvi into their new house was accompanied with tears, hugs and much rejoicing. All the teachers pitched in to help in the move. As we were loading the van with their belongings and furniture I could smell the stench of mildew and of their bed, and couch that never dried. I am encouraged though. Believe it or not someone actually bought their old shack and the land it's on. They were able to get $1400 for it. What a blessing! They are now useing the money to buy some new furniture. Another thing I found out is that they always have running water, which is very rare in this country. The street lines for some reason in this part of town are such that they don't even need a tenaco (big tank of water on the roof). I don't know anyone that has water like that here. It's a far cry from a buckett in the back yard for a shower. This truelly is the start of a brand new life for Ruben's family. To those who gave in time, money and prayer, thank you. You have helped in not only changing this families life, but more importantly made it possible for God's work to continue through Ruben's joyful energetic and sacrificial life as we strive to impact a nation.

TOOLS!!

Who doesn't like buying new tools? Caitlin and I were blessed enough to have some extra funds in our account. So we decided to put them to good use. One of the hard things about schooling Haitain kids, is once they are done with 8th grade it is almost impossible for them to go on to high school because of proper documentation. For this, it has been a great desire of our director to begin vocational training in several different trades. I don't know a whole lot about woodworking yet, but I am learning. Our goal is to have a woodshop where twice a week students will learn how to work with their hands. I plan to do things as simple as cut outs of toys, to as complex as cabinets. By God's provision we have also had some tools donated by past team members, and current supporters. These gifts will help make it possible to further education beyond the classroom for our kids. The donation room shelves were my first project. You should have seen the wood before we started. I may have well of just cut the trees down myself. The next project is cabinets for Rubens house! Thank you all who are helping out with this. We are very excited!

We're here!

Ah yes back home. So apparently it rained the entire time we were gone. Everything was wet. We got stuck in the river on the way to school on day one. It's ok though because the overly generous men passing by were more than willing to get drenched in the river and push us out. They are so nice here. The two little guys hugging got in a fight and this is their punishment. Pretty awesome if you ask me, they had to stand like that for about 15 min. I think we should make grown-ups do that sort of stuff too when they do things they shouldn't. The first week back was preparing for the new 4 year old class that is opening up. Our teachers played cleaners for a few days as we moved Alberto's office and donations into one of the new classrooms. Good job last year Caraballo teams ,15 new kids rescued as a result of your hard work and effort.

The holidays were a much needed time of relaxation. Wow we didn't realize how much we needed a break. We spent the first part in New Mexico, then took a greyhound (not recomended) for 32 hours to MO where we spent the last half. It was good to see our parents, and friends. I was also able to show a slide show to a song that I played in our home church. Those kids do some wonders when it comes to moving hearts. All you need to do is take their picture. Thank you family for taking care of us and making us feel loved. Next time we will take more pictures, sorry if you are missing.