2015 DR Discipleship Trip Day: 4

Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

I woke up later than I wanted to due to still feeling (in Knepps' words) "off". We decided that by now it's just the exhaustion and not really a sickness. All that's left to do is just chill and relax. When I came out I discovered that Andrew had already been doing the laundry. This was a perfect example of his character. He saw a need and fulfilled it. Also Josh had started a lovely steak and egg breakfast. Rogers added bread and the jam to it. It was fantastic breakfast for the group.

As soon as we finished we gathered up our stuff and went to the church to paint the rest of the building and do a second coat on the parts we'd started yesterday. Due to not having quite enough equipment for everyone to work at the same time Patrick, Josh, and Connor took a short break and made up songs for us to enjoy. It was thoroughly entertaining for all of the group.

The plan had been for us to have sandwiches and juices for lunch, but plans never work out in the DR. So, Mr. R's sister made us a lunch of pork roast, rice and beans, steamed veggies, ripe plantains, and "arepas de yuca". It was great!! Andrew, Emanuel, and I played jokes on Patrick. It was very fun.

When the professional painters arrived lunch was over. Figures. So, we got back to work painting, but since the painters both made it go faster but also took up more of the tools, more of us were out of work. Thus, I am on this break to write a post for you all!

Meanwhile Josh and Connor do a time laps with Patrick causing trouble for them...

Video by: Connor

Josh and Andrew are working on creating a song for the trip with the drum and guitar. It's awesome. Maybe a video later...



If you are on Instagram don't forget to follow our hashtag! #DRdiscipleshiptrip2015


Prayer Requests:
- Jenn to feel better
- paint to be finished
- for the team to grow together
- that no one would get stressed by plans changing

Praises:
- we're almost finished painting!
- I'm almost totally 100% again.

Random thought from last night, we had to go around the dinner table and share an observation from the day. There were many thoughts of teamwork and the culture, but the one that caught my attention the most was that it was a stress free day. Stress free. I hadn't thought about it, but it was true. It struck me because the idea of no stress hasn't been in my vocabulary in months and months. It was true, yesterday was entirely stress free and wonderful.

love,
Jessie Bear

Colossians 4:2

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving."

Dominican Republic Discipleship Trip 2014 - Day 6 PART II in Santo Domingo ready to go to Jarabacoa (July 28)

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Monday - Day 6 Part II

Part one is done until noon was the last blog post I was able to do while having internet. So, as that one only covers till noon, here is the rest of the day.

We drove for the last time away from the Santana’s house to head over to the apartment, there we were to meet up with the Grove-Raimundo group. At one point on the drive we stopped and our driver got out, it was a bit scary being 7 english only speakers and not having a highly protective spanish speaker with us, even if we were locked inside the van in the day light.

Once at the apartment we re-arranged all the luggage. Stuffing everyone into the van and ford we began our long drive. After a few moments, the extroverts in the middle row couldn’t handle it anymore and decided they would have their “introvert moment” for journaling. By this, they talked about being introverted, they talked about journaling, they kinda scribbled notes between spoken sentences. I sat by Katy, and thus ended up in the back rows of the introverts. It was a rather entertaining “introverted moment” to LISTEN to and watch.

Throughout this drive both Joanna and Tim took turns sleeping on KHB. I was so glad that I brought her to be so helpful to the team! Another part of how fun and selfless the whole group was, we took turns giving each other massages. It happened almost every time someone stood/sat still long enough for someone to walk over.

No trip to Jarabacoa is ever complete without a stop at Típico Bonao for lunch! It’s a group favorite.

I ordered (or shared a neighbor’s dish of):

• Fish,
• Chivo,
• Tostones, 

After spending a long time there, we finished our drive up to Jarabacoa. Once we had unloaded, we hiked a lil bit, then sang songs in the dark of the night. It was precious to sing hymns on the mountain top.

Colossians 4:2-4

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison."