On the road again...

Hey all!
We are spending our last few hours at the resort and then it's back to traveling! Our flight is at 3:25p so we will be leaving the resort around 12:15p and heading to the airport...we get to Detroit at 11:30p and then we'll be heading home to see you all!!! :)
Things have been great. We have had 2 amazing nights here...GOD IS BIG! Ask one of us about the nights, we'll be very happy to tell you about them!
See you soon! :)
We love you all...
:)

A bittersweet day....

Today was the last service day! We finished the painting job at the school and construction and finished up VBS with over 200 kids today!


More Pictures!..................

Tomorrow we head out from the Guesthouse and to the resort...we're not sure how we feel about leaving already!!
Have a wonderful night...we love you all!

:)

...Pictures...

Today went very well again in all the service groups! Tomorrow is our last service day - so crazyyy!
Here are some pictures. Sorry, it has been very busy...GREAT busy though! :)

And tonight was our FIESTA!!! Sorta to celebrate the end of the trip here at the Guesthouse because the boys have a "boy's night" already reserved for tomorrow, our actual last night here...)

A new week!

It is a new service week! Still cannot believe now we have 2 service days left and we head to the resort, time is flying! With the new week comes a new Church to do VBS in and a new painting project to start at the school.

Before we start there, I'll fill you in on yesterday...

As I mentioned, we went to a local Church in the morning where Phill preached. It was a really neat experience. This Church was a bit different than the first we went to. Some of the people could speak some english and they had speakers and microphones! They seemed to be very receptive of the Word Phill preached which was encouraging and were very loving people. We then went to the Orphanage. The kids there seemed to be more shy at first but after a while really opened up and just love being touched! It was a good day of just playing with kids and we did some songs and one of the VBS lessons with them.


All teams and projects went well today!



PICTURES!!!



From the dam.....

From the Orphanage...
From VBS...















I will try to get more people's cameras tonight to have a post of all pictures!

Scripture: 1 John 3:11-24 and 5:1-5
Prayer requests as always, a more specific one to come with the pictures tonight!

We love you all...
:)

God is BIG!

Even though yesterday was a "free" day...we kept very busy (therefore the lack of post!). It was a wonderful day. We got to visit the local market, then some people went to the dam to swim as well. All that went came back in awe of God's beauty because the dam was surrounded by mountains. Those of us that stayed back enjoyed rest and relaxation with each other in wonderful conversation and reading in the Word together. We then went out to dinner, authentic Domincan food! mmm :) We came back for more time with each other. So many people are reaching out of their comfort zone and sharing with people they normally wouldn't, it's been great!
We just had breakfast and are off to Church in a few moments...more later! Have a wonderful day!

Half-way!

We are more than half-way through...it's crazy how fast this has gone already!

Short post tonight...quick update, all things went well again today! God is faithful. VBS went to a different Church today where there were around 285 kids! It was interesting how different it was. One thing our group noticed was these kids had more and yet when we brought out gifts they wanted more and more. At the Church in Batista from earlier this week, the kids wanted us first and then the gifts. Phill drew the parallel that people are often that way with God. They want the relationship with God because of the good "gifts" they can get, when it should be we want the relationship with God first and appreciate the many gifts that come along with it.
The painting crew finished up the job today! Everyone has been so efficient! So next week we start a new project in the same school area.
The construction crew is doing lots of different jobs around the Guesthouse, Shannon and Joe are appreciating all the help.

Tomorrow we look forward to a day of rest. We will be going to a market and a dam and then out to eat for dinner. We ask that you pray tonight for perseverance. Perseverance through this next week physically and spiritually. We are so proud of everyone for pressing on through the heat and the tiredness!
And our scripture for the day is Isaiah 48:9 to the end and also Isaiah 53.

We love you all...
:)

"My Discovery"

Another day,

A new experience,

A new discovery.

Happiness is what I found,

True happiness,

A happiness so close,

Yet so far away.

Not things nor possessions,

Only temporary feelings of good

Plague my heart.

This true happiness was found at every corner,

On every block.

One filled with an invisible richness,

A richness encompassed with hope,

With love,

With faith.

Today I found my answer,

My discovery for true happiness.

Jesus Christ was waiting for me,

In the eyes of children,

On the touch of their fingers,

In the sound of their voices.

It was experienced in their hugs,

In the moment of their love.

Jesus Christ is my true happiness,

And He found me,

Today.

This is a poem called "My Discovery" written by our own Jake Curtis...in like 5 minutes. :)

Needless to say it was a wonderful day again. It was our last day at the Church in Batista for VBS. It was wonderful and yet so hard to say goodbye to our new friends! One quick story from VBS...after lunch our group set off for a walk to see this "gorgeous view" that we heard about. Some of the kids ended up following us, so we all hiked up a large hill together. It was SO hot and not the easiest to climb up dirt...but it was very neat to see the Dominican kids helping us! We literally had kids guiding us and pulling us up when need be :)...they are so kind!! Then we got to the top. No more words needed.....

Painting and Construction went well again today. It was warm, but they were efficient!

Since it was two very busy days, we are sticking to the same scripture from yesterday for family discussion tomorrow!

Thanks for all the prayers. Specific prayers we ask for tonight are that our time with the kids we will be coming in contact with are intentional.

We love you all...:)