2015 DR Discipleship Trip Day: 7b

Location: Santo Domingo and Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic

So, we all climbed into Bronco's van and headed out...right, that is about where I left off?

*pause*

Okay, good. Alright, we made it down the road for about 30 minutes before I started to get a little car sick, bummer, but by the time I decided that it would be a great idea to try sleeping it off, we pulled into Típico Bonao. We all jump out in anticipation of epic Dominican food. Of course we had to go look at the 3-D map of the island before we could settle down to sit for our food. I ordered Chinola Ca...I know...shock.

Now, it is important to mention at this point that the DR trips have been rained on at Típico FIVE, yes 5, years in a row.

Back to our program. I ordered a sort of fish that had basically been drowned in a whole head of garlic. It was wonderful. *happy sigh*

After lunch we headed to our new house. It was a different spot than the house we'd used in previous trips. While driving around this gorgeous country we often sing songs of praise to glorify the Creator of such beauty. But sometimes things get a bit crazy. Josh gets the guitar and Patrick bangs on anything that could ever be a conceptual percussion instrument, and thus starts the madness. We ended up with songs like:

Strumming Like A Maniac - A tune where madness became brilliance.
I'm Missing My 6 String - The sorrowful tale of the lost love of the bass 6th string. Oh babe, come back...

Once the wildness cooled off a bit we started a list of songs for the trip. Maybe this list will be published later. But while we were working on that list we stopped at a gas station (pay attention because this is kind of amusing later) to meet the owner of the house and have him lead us up to it. It was here that our Ford Explorer's trany began to say goodbye. We made great use of the time though, we all crawled out of the van again and took tons of pictures then with the help of a few people's brilliance began to take slow-mo videos of ourselves jumping. (They will be posted once we get to a place with enough bandwidth to upload videos.)

We gathered up at the van to head out then realized that it was going to be a while since a handful of DRians were surrounding the engine of the Explorer. It was at this moment that the whole team made the discovery that Janie has a epic dance talent. Thus struck the dance party. House, Dubstep, Jazz, and even a Rap song and we jammed out. Then we pack into the van again and head up to the house. So we make more crazy songs and it was getting more and more crazy. Then we stopped for gas. (why didn't we just get gas at the other place???)

Connor started the quiet game. I won. It was epic.

When we got to the house, Josh made hot chocolate. There were FIFTY steps between the car and the house. It was intense.

After unloading we needed to decide which rooms where for what persons. There was a large room with it's own full size bathroom...but no AC. Then there was a smaller room with an AC but no bathroom. Usually the girls get the AC but we wanted the bathroom more, so I went to take a shower and discovered that our room actually DID have an AC! Praise God!

I went downstairs and went to the girls to say that we have good and bad news. The bad news is that we will have to keep our door shut all the time, but the good news is that we need to do that because we have an AC. They didn't seem to be inconvenienced much.

As the Emili and I were outside enjoying the breeze we heard shouting and tires spinning out. After a moment of thought we realized that it was Bronco trying to get over a hill and the boys were out there trying to help push it up the hill. Us ladies go inside, put on better shoes for the job, run through the pitch darkness of our hilly yard, and go to help the guys.

Dominicans are creative, not safety minded...

The van couldn't make it over the hill with the trailer attached...so we disconnected the trailer and pushed by hand the trailer up a steep, muddy, hill. It was scary and crazy and really hard work and we learned that we are committed to each other. We all realized that if any of us ditched pushing on the trailer then it'd too heavy and would roll backwards. But it never did, even when we were nervous about trying to hold it still while they reattached it to the van's hitch. BUT...the good news is everyone is fine, we ate a lot of food afterwards, and it was a bonding experience for the group. Thanks for sending all your babies to the DR, we're still all alive, so it's all good.

After this adventure we had a Biblical Thinking Study. Where we spent the whole time talking about a plastic deck chair and how it relates to our souls.

Patrick gave a Spanish word for me to figure out overnight. Cisped (grass)

Then we went to bed!!!! (my favorite)

love,
Jessie Bear

John 12:44

"And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me."

2015 DR Discipleship Trip Day: 5

Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Lazy Jessie today...I got up and Andrew and Knepps had already finished laundry and breakfast was set out and everyone was up...wow...it was weird...but nice to sleep late.

After breakfast we sing for a while then started our first (half) real study on I Thessalonians. I say half study only because it was under 2 hours long. It was very good though!! After the study we went out for lunch at Barra Payan. Best sandwiches and juices ever. Seriously.

It was here that Mr. R got a call about Jenn's tests. They've not been done in time for results to come before they would have to fly. So the likelihood of her coming is rapidly dwindling.

In the lovely humid and hot streets of Santo Domingo we walk back to our apartment and by the time we arrive we're beat. All of us ladies go to our beautifully air conditioned room and lay on the cold tile as if we were dead bodies. This sparks ideas about pranking Dominicans.

Our prank:
Run near Dominicans, drop to the ground, outline each other with chalk as a dead body, jump up, and run away to the next group of Dominicans until the city of Santo Domingo has like 20 chalk outlines.

See, the Dominicans would never do such a thing because they'd never be so shameless as to do it, it would undermine their need to appear proper and powerful.

We laid on the floor probably 45 minutes total as each went and showered as the wanted to move from the cool floor. Janie explored the house to find the toilet paper, this was very helpful to know about.

It was while we were "chilling" on the floor that Mr. R came to notify us that he would be going with Patrick and Emanuel to get 42ish pounds of coffee to bring home. Yes. 42 pounds. Of coffee. Café. 42 pounds of coffee.

When the guys came back we again broke into two groups, one went to get souvenirs and the other went to the church to have WiFi and/or practice with the church band. I was in the group that went to the church. But before we went we (me, Rogers, Knepps, Andrew, Connor, and Josh) had our own jam session.

We started with hymns, then it got silly....

Video by: Connor

After this we wanted to do something more serious...we wanted to do something more patriotic on our beloved country's birthday, so we sang our national anthem. First we sang it in a minor key, and discovered we are actually surprisingly quite good at singing minor keys with harmonies and all such nifty additions to music. So then we sang it in it's major key...then in typical American fashion we went out on our balcony and sang it like it was meant to be sung.

Happy Birthday America!

We sang in minor key,
We sang in major key,
And on the balcony.

When we finished singing it was time to head over to the church. The walk was less hot this time and since we were a smaller group it was faster...well that we didn't have as far to go was helpful too. The church looked awesome in it's new colors. It was so fun to walk in and realize that what was meant to be a blessing to the church is really a blessing to us.

Being at the church is also nice because it has WiFi, which leads to my last thought for tonight's blog post.

We are leaving Santo Domingo on Monday. This means that TOMORROW (Sunday) is the last day for the next FIVE (5) days for the team to have WiFi or get calls. So if you want to contact your kids, you must do so tonight and/or tomorrow night.

After that we'll have a chance to get wifi a bit again, but not as consistently as we have been for this first 6 days.

love,
Jessie Bear

Proverbs 16:3

"Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established."

2015 DR Discipleship Trip Day: 4b

Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

This is the continuation of yesterday's post...

Disclaimer: NO alchohol was consumed...so please don't worry about your kids!

This was one of the songs that the guys were working on at the church, it was just a "for fun".

Video by: Connor

After the painting was finished we went outside to wash the brushes and to wait for Mr. R to say it was time to go home. For the time of waiting...we played cheese. A game where players stand in a circle with the right hand in the shape of pointing to something and the left hand open flat, this is so that the narrator can craft a story and each time the narrator uses the word "cheese" players try to catch someone's finger at the same time that they avoid other players from capturing their finger. Predictably, Mr. R won.

Then we played Ninja, I hope you all know how to play this hilarious game. But, before we could begin the game Patrick and Connor were called away to help the professionals paint the molding because they are tall enough to reach without assistance. They were willing and put up no protest, they were wonderful examples of being servants! Following this brief interruption we began the ninja game. Rogers and I got Mr. R out of the game, whoot! The game was ended between Rogers and Josh with a half million moves between them before Josh finally won the game.

At this point Connor and Patrick were finished painting and we headed home. The showers might be my favorite part of mid-day. So we chilled for a while before our plans (once again) changed and we headed to the Santanas for dinner.

At the Santana's we first had introductions. Greeting people is a big deal in probably everywhere other than America...not greeting your host and any person you're with is rude. So everyone hugged and kissed everyone else. Then we sat down and talked for a while. We learned that Mrs. Santana is a part of an organization that promotes the sovereignty of nations and the sanctity of life. This was such a neat talk because it bonded us on more than just a friend level but on spiritual, political, emotional, and economic issues.

They had fixed an awesome super consisting of (ham) lasagna and roast beef sandwiches with a ton of mushrooms.

There is a story you need to hear.
It was the night of the fishes...when suddenly Mr. R asked Janie if she was "wasted", this was due to her being so exhausted that she asked, "What's a fish?" (I wonder if she was expecting some Spanish translation or something..)  Since this moment we've held onto a few phrases...

"What's a fish" cousin to "Oh my fishes" and "wasted." Thus we can now continue with the evening's events.

Anytime we are around Jorge, Pamela, and Hector, we will end up playing a sick game called "Mao"...if you've never played and if you don't like detective work, then this is not for you, save your tears and play something simple and friendly like: monopoly...

ANYWAYS...

Hector brought a whole carton of grape juice into the room for drinks while we played, and so the joke of being "wasted" just kept going. The worst part to it...we're all baptists...well...there is this one presby... So, Josh warned Janie not to get wasted, and her face colored, as most of the people in the room are under 20 anyways, but....it's the DR, there is no drinking age.

Connor's phone has an epic time laps thing, and so we used it to watch the Mao game progress.  Keep in mind two things as you watch the game.

1) 10 seconds = 1 hour
2) overtime the cards are placed on the table the game as been paused for arguing until the Mao makes us pick them up again...

Video by: Connor

Jorge was Mao...shock.
But...Knepps still won! GO KNEPPS!!!

After Mao we went to Valentino's!!!!! I rode with Pamela and Edwardo and ordered chinola and Mama Que Bueno (it tasted like Nutella and something crunchy). On the way over Emanuel backed into Patrick's car, but thankfully no one was at all hurt and the cars are good to go! The whole time of Valentino's I tried to figure out who had the better university: Pamela or Emanuel. I learned a lot about the Dominican education system but even more about how dominican's argue and laugh together.
The DRians are precious. They speak their mind, no filter, like it is, but they love and laugh just as crazy.

When all the ice cream was devoured and all American's sleepy we went home. The girls went to bed straight away while Connor, Mr. R, and Josh jammed till after midnight.


I can't get over how wonderful it's been to read I Thessalonians with the girls every night. I'm loving every night more and looking forward to it in the afternoons. It's been bonding us together more than I imagined it would be.
I read the first chapter then it's Rogers, Knepps, and Janie and we're taking turns with the 5th chapter in the prayerful hopes that Jenn will join us and be our 5th chapter reader.

Praises:
- no one is sick!
- the church is entirely painted
- lots of wonderful bonding has either been created or strengthened

Prayer Requests:
- that no one gets sick
- that Jenn can come
- that the rest of our trip will go smoothly

love,
Jessie Bear

John 14:26

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."

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."