Excursion Day!

The team had a very adventurous Excursion Day today! We had 25 go rafting and 4 go hiking to a waterfall. Because of the recent rains, both were a little more exciting :) We have to wait a couple days to get the collections of pictures and videos from the rafting company. But, we were able to get a few pictures frojjm our night on the town! We got to do some shopping tonight (found some puppies at an animal store, which were definitely a highlight), then we got to have dinner all together, which was fun!

     

We have church tomorrow and then a good chunk of free time where we can all catch up with life (including getting pictures from the kids)! Looking forward to being able to share more with you then!

Rainy Day in the DR

Today was definitely a rainy day here in the DR.  It was pretty hot outside until about 3 p.m. And, it's been raining off and on.  The kids were still able to have fun with a little bit of shopping and warm cookies available on the base when they got back.

Social Work and Education El Callejon enjoying lunch time

During free time, many of the team got naps or hung out playing games with the other team that's here with us.  Then tonight there was a talent show where some of our kids were able to perform!  Now they get a little more time to hang out tonight since it's Friday, and I can hear them having a blast playing a crazy group game across the base as I write!

Rachel performing at the Talent Show

Thank you for your patience with us as the rain makes the Internet very unreliable. So, sometime this weekend, we'll try to give you some pictures from the kids from last night's community dinners!

Buenas noches, all :)

Quick Peek at the Sites and Free Time Around the Base

Today the students were able to have their third day in the sites and are continuing to come back with stories of all the things they've been doing and people they've been meeting!  They are definitely a little tired and will be excited to sleep in a little bit on Saturday, but they are also definitely enjoying their time and are striving to take advantage of each day as they see the time passing quickly.

It will take a little more time to be able to gather pictures and stories for individual sites.  However, for now the kids from the media site have been traveling around and have been getting a few pictures and were willing to share some with us.  So, their pictures are the ones you see posted above.  Also, here are just a few of the students enjoying their free time today (down time in between coming back from their sites and dinner).

Our activity tonight was Community Dinner, where each of the sites were able to go eat dinner at the house of one of the families associated with the site in which they are working.  It was a very special time for each of the groups!  However, since we got back later tonight than usual, we will wait until tomorrow to show you some of the pictures and share with you some of the stories.

Culture Night and First Full Day at the Sites

Last night, after a very traditional Dominican meal, “La Bandera” (chicken, rice, and beans), we had Culture Night, where one of the national staff members first taught the students traditional dances (the Merengue and Bachata).  After dancing, the kids tried some locally made coconut candy and then challenged each other in a very competitive cup game that quickly became a favorite!

Today all us were able to have our first full day in our sites.  After getting a quick introduction yesterday, the students were excited to return!  Over the next few days, we hope to give you more specific looks into each of the sites--what they are doing and how they are serving, along with pictures and a few words from those who are in that site.  However, until I’m able to compile pictures and stories from the students, I thought I will leave you with a link to the SI-Dominican Republic Facebook page, where the Media Site will be putting up some of their pictures of our team in the next few days:  https://www.facebook.com/stintdr/?fref=nf

After returning from our day at the sites, we helped organize the donations that we were able to bring with us down here.  (Thank you, everyone, who donated items for us to bring!!)  And, after dinner, we were able to have some team bonding, where students shared what they’ve been experiencing and learning thus far!  Even though we have not been here long, the kids are definitely already being impacted, and the Lord is working in and through the team!  Thank you again for your prayers and support, and we hope to give you more details soon!

Introduction to Our Sites

Some girls coming back from their first day in the sites

Men's Social Work getting ready to head out

After getting some good sleep last night, the team was excited for their first full day here in the DR!  This morning, we were able to start a study from the book of Daniel for devotions that we are going to continue working through during our time down here.  After individual time in the Word, we were able to have a time together in worship and then heard from one of the Men's Sport Site leaders.  This will be a pattern of how our days are going to begin, digging into the Word and looking to the Lord before getting ready to go out and serve!

Education Mata Gorda getting ready to head out

Then it was time for some of the staff to give the kids an orientation to Students' International, their ministries, as well as historical and cultural introductions to the country and people of the Dominican Republic.

After lunch, the students were able to meet their site leaders for the first time and head out for a half day in the sites.  They were able to hear introductions to the different ministries, the leaders' hearts behind what they do, and the ways we will be able to help out and serve!  Tonight, we will have culture night, where we will have a lot of fun learning from some of the national staff about the tastes, sounds, and games of their beautiful country!

Some of the team sitting down for orientation

Team DR arrives in the Dominican Republic!

At the airport in Santiago, getting ready to load up!

It's official!! We have landed in the Dominican Republic and have already arrived at the base, unpacked some, and even eaten some dinner!  Tonight is going to be a relaxed night, as the kids are just able to hang out and have some fun together before getting some good sleep to be able to hit the ground running tomorrow :)

The plan for tomorrow is orientation with the Students' International staff in the morning, followed by a chance to meet their site leaders for the next two weeks and get an orientation of where and how they're going to be able to serve during their time here!  

The kids are a bit tired but excited to finally be here!  Thank you so much for your prayers as we were traveling - everything went very smoothly!  We'll check back in with you tomorrow.

On our way to the base!

Team DR in Panama City!!

Team DR kids brave enough to pose after a long flight!

After a fairly smooth flight, we are here in Panama City all safe and sound! We have a little bit of a layover before one more flight, a shorter one to Santiago. So, as the kids are headed to go find water (don't worry, it'll be bottled!), coffee, and food, I just wanted to post a quick update :)

And, just for fun, here's a picture of most of the team before we took off last night:

Ready to go!