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: 7

Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Jara Bacoa, Dominican Republic

Praise God! Bronco's van has WiFi!!

This morning Andrew and Roger's made a breakfast of scrambled eggs with cheese and ham, it was tasty and perfect to start the day. After breakfast we work on the plan to head out to Jara Bacoa. First a team would leave to go get groceries from Bravo Market and a team would stay to clean the house. I stayed to clean. Bronco was to arrive at 10:30am but it's the DR, so we began to place bets on when we'd end up leaving:

12:45pm - Connor
1:00pm - Emanuel
1:15pm - Josh
1:30pm - Knepps
1:45pm - Jessie
2:00pm - Rogers
2:15pm - Andrew
3:00pm - Janie
4:00pm - Patrick

After hearing the totals Josh and I said we'd put money on Janie's 3pm guess. But after a few minutes Mr. R came over to say that if we left after 12:30pm then we could not go to Típico Bonao. This spurred us into much action.

The shopping group left after they put their suit cases in the living room and we started cleaning right away. Sweeping, laundry, dishes, counters, sheets, packing, and all things cleaning an apartment. We finished cleaning by 11:45am. Bronco arrived at 10:30 on the dot, this shocked all of us!! Patrick went down to see him and invite him up. Turns out that the trailer didn't have a lock, so he couldn't leave it alone. So Patrick stayed with him for a while, and we sent down a quadruple decker sandwich for Bronco.

While we waited for the shopping team to get back Josh's uncle and cousin came over, that was fun. Then we drank some of the juice they gave us when we first arrived in the DR. When they left we went to the girls room and everyone laid down and played dead till the shoppers got back.

When they arrived we loaded up the food into Bronco's van and packed everyone in then headed out...at 12:25!!!!!! Típico Bonao here we come!! Then we stopped at Patrick's house for his guitar. Then we stopped at the Santana's house to give back a towel and pick up a foot pump for air beds. Then we got slightly turned around. Then finally headed out around 12:37, but it's okay because we're driving to Jara Bacoa!!!!!

love,
Jessie Bear

Hebrews 2:18

"For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."

2015 DR Discipleship Trip Day: 6b

Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

After church we went to an Italian restaurant for lunch. The girls piled into Patricia's car again, but this time she wasn't there and Mr. R drove us. All the guys hopped in with Jorge Santana in his new car. By the way, everyone who remembers last year, Jorge is totally all better, he's been fine for a long time now. All good. No worries anymore.

On the way to lunch we passed a Claro van with a few guys working on the power lines...with the ladder set up against the power lines. Yes...like ON the power lines themselves. Shockingly, no one died.

At lunch we had pizza. How American of us. Pizza. Yesh...and way too much grease.

Since today is Mr. R's 58th birthday and Mr. R was so sad that Jenn and Mrs. R would not be joining us since Jenn's been sick. But I got an email in the contrary...so for a birthday surprise we told Mr. R that his girls had plane tickets and would be joining us on TUESDAY!!! This sent the group into a buzz of joy. Then we sang happy birthday to the birthday boys, because it's Andrew's birthday too.

When we went home everyone took a nap, I particularly slept super hard. I woke up to a phone ringing and ringing and ringing, it was annoyingly loud and repetitive. So I went over and answered it...

"hola"

 - hola

"hello"

 - hello...

"who is this?"

 - Emanuel

"oh, hi Emanuel"

 - Can I talk to Pastor Josue?

"On the phone?" <-- that's how not awake I was...

 - yes

"let me go find out..."

 - okay

*goes to look for Mr. R*

"Emanuel, he's sleeping"

 - okay, I'll call back in 10 minutes

It was so funny...now that I'm awake.

Skip forward a few minutes and it was time to go to church. But Mr. R wasn't ready to go. So we left on our own. This time we timed how long the walk to church is. It was 8.5 minutes. It was fun.

At church I had the chance to do a Skype call with Bianca. It's really neat to share missions with other missionaries. 

Tonight was also the Church's Lord Supper, it was wonderful to share in this with the body of Christ in the DR!

Now we are hanging out with the Santanas for games and flan....yum.

love,

Jessie Bear

Hebrews 2:16

"For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham."

2015 DR Discipleship Trip Day: 5b

Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

After the band's practice was finished at the church we went to dinner with the Santanas Family. All of the girls rode with Patricia. She's a really fun driver in her cute little sporty Mini Cooper. We jammed out to all sorts of music while she drove, from EDM to Jazz to Dubstep. It was epic.

We ate at Adrian's again, this time we weren't as hungry, so Rogers, Janie, and I split the fried fish that Mr. R had the last time we went. We had juices, tostones, avocado, and everything Dominican...it was a very tasty dinner.

The waiter added an extra seat to the table, and we joked that it was Jerry/Zanie and that he was with Janie, it was hilarious. Connor has this hand motion he does to indicate that someone has crossed a "line" depending on the situation. And by now it cracks the group up like the wasted joke. About the wasted thing...it only gets better with age.

After dinner and on the drive home we had to actually stop at a red light. Well, a group of three kids were running up to cars stopped at the light and playing drums and dancing for the cars in hopes of spare change. We laughed because this is probably what Patrick might do if he wasn't a Christian. He's always overflowing with music and movement. Finally the light went green and Patricia floored it, it was epic.

Once back in the apartment the guys told us how they made plans on how they'd attack the dancers if they tried to do anything on the girls car. Josh and Connor were going to get out and beat up on the 3 Dominicans, and once everyone was beat up and the initial adrenaline was gone, Andrew would get out of the car, slowly shut the door, dramatically put on his aviator glasses, schwagger over and if they didn't run off then he'd beat on them too.

Aren't the guys great?!....it is nice to know they want to protect us from wild Dominican guys.

Following the story the girls just crashed into bed, read I Thessalonians (we take turns with the last chapter still holding out hope that Jenn will join us sometime soon), and promptly fell asleep.

much love from the DR,

Jessie Bear

Galatians 5:24

"And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."

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."

2015 DR Discipleship Trip Day: 3b

Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

After we finished painting, we went back to the house to shower and rest for a while. It was then determined that we would go out for dinner.

The place was Adian Tropical, and turned out to be fantastic! I ordered the Fillete Tropical con tostones y piña Ca...or a bit of fish with fried plantain and pineapple with sweeten condensed milk added to it.

This is pigs feet...it was yummy!

It was fun to go over all the Spanish menus and figure out how to order my own diner. I really enjoy being able to ask for my own food (although I did need a bit of coaching from Josh and Patrick). We really missed Jenn. Her ability to tell us everything about the food was severely missed. Connor has a some food allergies so it was neat to find food for him.

Mr. Raimundo and Andrew ordered a "Boca Chica Fish" which was an entire fish (head, fins, everything) with a light breading then fried. This turned out to taste amazing! Given the chance I'd have traded my fish for it. But nonetheless my fish was fantastic. I had a ton of garlic on it...always good.

When we were stuffed to the brim we went back to the apartment with the decision that we would not have a study this night nor one the following night. That was bittersweet news. It was sad not to have a study but it was nice to know that we'd go to bed on time. Maybe secretly we are all just hoping that Jenn will make it for the studies.

It was very late for us and we were so tired from all the painting. It's always amazing how exhausted we all get here in the DR. So for the girls, instead of reading the whole of I Thessalonians, I just read them the first chapter as they fell asleep. I'm really blessed by how even when they are wore smooth out they don't give up on reading at least the chapter we are studying.

love,
Jessie Bear

Psalm 31:24

"Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!"

2015 DR Discipleship Trip Day: 3

Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Today I had planned to get up earlyish and make coffee, but when I got up I was sore because the poor air bed had died, not fun. My head is almost totally better, I'm just a bit shaky and tired. By tomorrow I should be back to normal!

Breakfast was composed of left over fruit salad (kiwis, mangos, apples, bananas, pears, and cherries) and bread with jam. Just when I went out to make coffee (spanish: café) Mr. R had just started it. So I went back into the girls room. Janie, Rogers, and I talked a bit about what a "typical" day looks like in our lives and what we fear (heights, spiders, drowning, etc.) then we decided to go eat breakfast.

After breakfast we went to the church here in Santo Domingo and had WiFi to call home, email, and like here blog. Then we started to paint the inside of the church a blue grey, the accents are all a peachy color. I like it.

Patrick and Emanuel went to get us lunch. It was Pork, rice and beans, and yuca. Wonderful yummy food. Right now the team is touching up the paint and getting it set so that we can finish a second coat tomorrow.

(Hint to the parents: your minions will be somewhere that you can call them during the day. Also they should have sent you the house's number so that you can call in the evenings till the evening of the 5th: 809-533-6259 you can call us, we just can't call you.)

I'll try to keep you up to date. While the day isn't done, I'm going to post this. There will be times on the trip where I have no internet so please don't worry about the team we're always in the palm of the Living God.

Praises:
- I'm feeling a lot better than before
- Mrs. R got her passport

Prayer Requests:
- Jenn to feel better
- no one to get sick
- everything painted by Sunday

Love,
Jessie Bear

Galatians 6:2

"Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

2015 DR Discipleship Trip Day: 2

Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

For the first time the team is without Jenn. We quickly realize how much we’ve depended on her. Rogers and I are the first people up, and we start to explore the kitchen to make the coffee. Soon Andrew, Connor, and Janie wake up to join the party at about 7:30am. Rogers and I get the bowls, cereal, coffee, and spoons out for the team to have breakfast as they emerge from their slumber.

Since we have 8 members on the trip and only 2 of them are new, it’s easy to have moments where there are “vets” and “new peeps”. Rogers and I talked over coffee about the best ways to include Janie into the girls group in the hope that by the end of the trip she would be seamlessly adopted into the DR Discipleship family. Of everyone on the trip she is the most “new” to the group, even Connor is somewhat previously known by the group because of our meeting at Beka and Sean’s wedding. So we, Rogers and I, worked on ideas of how to get her to be a closer part of the team. Yet, even in the proposed ideas of how to do that, it was a massive blessing on us in seeing how God would brings us here and force us to grow in the perspective of getting outside of ourselves. *mindblown*

Since we’d been talking about Janie and Connor, Janie came over to talk with us. So we asked her for a bit of her background and how she arrived here with us. Her beautiful story not only captured our attention, but attracted almost everyone in the room to come over and listen to her speak of God’s Providence.

After breakfast Janie and I packed the cooler with the 11 left over sandwiches and water bottles for our trip to visit a Sugar Cane plantation. Our van was supposed to arrive at 9:30am, but we weren't ready to go till 9:50am, so it was a good thing that we were running on DRian time because our ride wasn't there. So at 10:00am we began to place bets on when the van would arrive. It was an hour late but at 10:30am the van arrived and we were unable to leave because Patrick and his aunt had left and gone somewhere. So, even with an hour extra we weren't ready. Welcome to the DR y'all. A while later Patrick returned and we got on our way.

During the ride Patrick gave us a lesson in Spanish.

Napkin - servilletas

Fork - tenedor

Knife - cuchillo

Spoon - cuchara

Cup - vaso

Plate - plato

House - casa

Face - cara

Hands - manos

Shirt - camisa

Feet - pies

Hair - cabello

Shoes - zapato

Pants - pantalón

Car - carro

Road - carretera

Food - camida

After the lesson, I wasn't feeling very well and when I would close my eyes I would see crazy colors. I didn't like admitting to myself let alone my team that I was getting a migraine. Due to crazy flights, food schedules, and the stress of traveling, I got a lovely migraine complete with the nausea. Rogers so kindly gave me a neck and head massage. Knepps gave me a painkillers and a pill to help with the nausea.

The car ride became miserable for me very quickly. I tried to sleep as much as I could just to check out of the pain and nausea. When we picked up the lady who ministers to the Haitians her spanish was so loud that sleep was impossible. When we hit dirt roads and the sound of the road changed it hurt more because it was bumpier and louder but at the same time was more comforting because it reminded me of Oklahoma. We picked up the daughters of the lady with us, and began to learn her family's vision.

The people of the Sugar Cane Plantation are considered by Mr. R as the poorest people in the DR. The plantation is staffed with men and families from Haiti, the company has an agreement that allows them to travel between the two countries for free. As soon as the people get their money from the company money lenders come and take it. The children of the people go to the burning dumpsters to find food each day.

The lady's family has a vision to preach the gospel to all those in the plantation. So far, there are THREE church plants because this family has been blessed by God to be the hands and feet of Jesus. It was very inspiring to see her work.

Unfortunately, I was too sick to get out of the van at the Plantation so Patrick stayed with me. I was sleeping and when I opened my eyes, I saw out the window the most beautiful green tree. I was reminded that even in the midst of incredible poverty and hopelessness God still provides beauty and His creation continues to display His glory.

The drive home was even more miserable, but by His grace, I made it back. By the time we were back I was starting to feeling better. We went inside and I laid down. After a while we decided to go to Barra Payan for juices. I (predictably) got chinola Ca. There was a kitten that came over that looked just like my kitties. But we can't play with the cats or dogs here in the DR. When we went home I rested again. The deal was that if when the evening study Janie would come check on me, if I was asleep she'd leave me be, if I was awake then she'd fetch me for the study.

The study was just intros to both the I Thessalonians Study and the Biblical Thinking Study. After that we went over some small rules like "please drink all the water in your water bottle before getting another one" and the like. Then we had our evening prayer with the group, then were dismissed for bed.

The girls decided that we would read I Thessalonians each night, one chapter each (and someone reads a second until Jenn arrives). We finally settled into bed at 11:00pm.

God has been so good to us so far, I know He will continue to be just as good.

Prayer Requests:

- Jenn would heal and come to the DR

- Continued health for the team

- that I would feel better

Much love from the DR,

Jessie Bear

Galatians 6:9

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

2015 DR Discipleship Trip Day: 1

Location: Reagan International Airport, Virginia, USA; Orlando International Airport, Florida USA; Santo Domingo Airport, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Last night after showers and dinner with the Groves (the family that came last year) we all went to bed very late. Knepps and I shared a twin bed, it was awesome how God can bond His people together that even after many months we are still a tightly knit family. At around 3am I got up to start the coffee for the group. Last year Tim was usually our coffee starter and as he is not on this trip, someone has to step up to the early hour task of starting the coffee. Today it was me. At 3:30am and the house was waking up to the smells of coffee and music of Josh Groban, Lauren Daigal, Hawk Nelson, Unspoken, and Francesca Batistelli. It was lovely to start with my own personal worship session.

So, Paul (a very sweet and funny man from the Raimundo's church) arrived at the house and the guys piled all the suitcases into the cars. We all hop in and head to the Reagan Airport. Upon arrival there we realized that we were missing Jenn's checked bag!!! So Naomi drives home to get it in the hopes that she can be back in time to get it on the same flight.

We all go to check in and get our tickets. Finally we decide that because we are both needing to be at our gate and wait for Jenn's bag with all her clothes. So the choice is made that the team would go to the gate and Mr. Raimundo would wait for the bag, and if the flight takes off we'd go without him. By God's amazing grace Naomi gets the bag to the airport, Mr. R gets it checked and through TSA, and everyone gets on the same flight to Orlando!! Wow...God is good.

Janie, a new addition to the discipleship family this year, asked why we wear matching team shirts. It is for the following story...

We all had our tickets and go to board the flight to Orlando, but upon the flight attendant scanning in our tickets 5 of the 9 members are rejected. Yet due to matching shirts and obviously being together, they are waived through onto the flight! Again, God is so good!

On the flight Josh and I switch seats so that I can sit with Janie and Rogers. We had lots of wonderful conversations and laughter. Oh, and naps. We journaled, and then when the attendant brought snacks, my bag of doritoes had 3 chips. No joke. (not happy, Bob...not happy)

Don't worry, I got over it.

In Orlando we discovered the food situation. Josh and Connor went to scout in one direction and Janie and I in another. We met up in the middle to talk over the options and bring only the 2 best choices to Mr. R. Turns out that Orlando has only one small food court. On The Border was the best then some little pizza place. A 3rd option was to leave the airport via shuttle and come back through security. (not fun...we'd gotten some unfriendly treatment at the Reagan airport.) Because there was no good option we offered Josh as tribute to be the one to tell Mr. R.

A bit of back story for this, Jenn wasn't feeling very great on the flight to Orlando, and in the Orlando airport she went downhill again. By the time the scouting parties were back at the group it was being figured out if Jenn should be flown back home. Calls back and forth with her DR. Long story short, Jenn flew back to DC. BUT...you must see God's mercy in this story. As we were figuring out how to get Jenn home, in the very gate we were sitting at there was a flight back to DC, and it left before our flight to Santo Domingo! Jenn was able to fly home and the body of Christ worked so beautifully to help. The Groves (the family from last year's trip) was able to pick her up! God's mercy and grace was overflowing on the trip already.

While sitting in the airport, I picked up Andrew's Ukulele and began to learn chords on it with the help of Josh, Andrew, Janie, and Knepps. It's so much fun!! I'm likely going to get one when I get home because it was so easy to pick up and so small to go anywhere.

After this it was decided that we would go to On The Border. It was here that Mr. R went over the food rules of the DR.

- Don't eat chicken. period.
- Don't drink the tap water or ice.
- Don't eat anything that Mr. R doesn't eat.
- Don't eat any fruit that isn't fresh.

Emily "Rogers" and I both have military dads, so we talked about the movies Lone Survivor and American Sniper and how they honor our fathers and families. If you see a veteran, thank them, they sacrifice so much for our freedoms.

During the ending of the military talk there was a baby just screaming and crying and basically freaking out, then his brother joined in with the distress. I happen to carry around a Teddy Bear that I was given by my best friend. So I grabbed my bear (KHB - Katy Huggy Bear) and walked around the seating layout to show the bear to the kids. It was a major success! I talked with the mother who spoke english. They were on our flight to the DR. So I played with the kids for a while, till I was sweaty and tired of running in circles. It was so much fun to have the chance to both play with the kids and let them run around for a while and get the chance to bless the mother.

As soon as I went to sit down one of the girls came to ask to go to the bathroom. See, on the DR trip you are never allowed to be alone. Even to go to the bathroom in America. We always need to be in groups of 2+. I have no idea how many times I "went to the bathroom"...just a lot.

I got tired of lugging around my heavy bags, so I'll be making notes of things to leave behind next year. As you can see in the voting poles at the top right of the page, I do have a fascination of packing as light as possible.

Some of the observations from the team upon landing in the DR and the drive to the house.

Talk about the politics:
- Do you vote?
     - no.
- Why not?
     - not useful.
- What is useful? What would fix the situation?
     - God coming back.

The billboards are dominated with political campaigns though there are really only two candidates, the rest are just endorsing other candidates.

The three main political parties are: Revolution, Liberty, and Social Christian Reforming. Yet, they are all the same with different names, it's about power and money, not the people.

Janie made the observation that there are buildings on top of buildings. (awesome observation!)

Connor made the observation of the forest still growing even in the middle of the city. (this is important to have seen!)

I learned the classification of 1st, 2nd, 3rd world countries.

1st - Involved in the Cold War

2nd - Impacted by the Cold War

3rd - Nothing about the Cold War

We had Juices after dinner! <3 Chinola Ca is my favorite. Chinola is Passion Fruit, Ca is "Ca"rnation sweetened condensed milk.

Some questions to think on from the day:
- How can the gospel change that which is not according to the gospel?
- What is one childhood (good) memory that you remember?
- What are you hoping to learn on this trip?
- How do you want to be growing?

love,

Jessie Bear

Jeremiah 17:5

"Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD."