Team 2 arrived at the house safe & sound. They had a great dinner, and got settled in.
tomorrow morning they will begin their adventure in full!
7.17.2010
Caraballo (Saturday)
Team 1 got on a bus today and headed for the airport. We had to send a motorcycle to catch them because the driver had forgotten to shut that door on the trailer (he caught them:) , but other than that they left without a hitch.
Team two is supposed to arrive around 7 tonight.
Team two is supposed to arrive around 7 tonight.
Caraballo (Friday)
On friday, we were again slowed a bit by rain. The river was full, and only the van could cross (we have a Van and a pickup that transport us around). Once on the sight, we finished up many of our projects, and got to work mixing more concrete.
Students on friday are only at the school for 2.5 hours. Many of them won't eat for the entire weekend, so the school created a short day on fridays, so they could at least give the students one meal. They come at 10, play games until 12, and then eat a huge lunch together and go home.
Around 11, our adult leaders took most of the work, so the students could have one last chance to play with the kids. The students also got to eat lunch with them. It was cool to see.
Meanwhile, the adult leaders were able to help the Haitian workers finish a second concrete floor. They are expanding their kitchen, and the new floors will be used for additionally cooking space.
After lunch, we gave the kids snack bags as they left for the weekend. It was hard to see them go.
Alberto, the director of the school, got very emotional as he thanked us for coming. He told us that when he had heard that a team of middle school students was coming, he was worried that we would not be able to do the hard work. But on the first day we surprised him so much, that he struggled to keep us busy with enough jobs. All week long, he said, we kept demanding more work from him! He was moved that our students could work so hard, even being so young. The Lord, gives the strength.
After this, we spent some time in the market across from the school, and then went back to our house. After dinner, we made the decision to go to the beach for our final group session, even though it looked like rain.
On the way there it rained on and off. When we got there, it held off long enough to sing a few songs, then the rain came hard and we took shelter in a beach restaurant that was owned by a Dominican Christian.
Our team shared a lot about what God has showed them on the trip.
We finished the time together by looking at Luke 8 together, and particularly the parable of the soils. I challenged the team, not to let the weeds grow up around what they had learned this week.
Students on friday are only at the school for 2.5 hours. Many of them won't eat for the entire weekend, so the school created a short day on fridays, so they could at least give the students one meal. They come at 10, play games until 12, and then eat a huge lunch together and go home.
Around 11, our adult leaders took most of the work, so the students could have one last chance to play with the kids. The students also got to eat lunch with them. It was cool to see.
Meanwhile, the adult leaders were able to help the Haitian workers finish a second concrete floor. They are expanding their kitchen, and the new floors will be used for additionally cooking space.
After lunch, we gave the kids snack bags as they left for the weekend. It was hard to see them go.
Alberto, the director of the school, got very emotional as he thanked us for coming. He told us that when he had heard that a team of middle school students was coming, he was worried that we would not be able to do the hard work. But on the first day we surprised him so much, that he struggled to keep us busy with enough jobs. All week long, he said, we kept demanding more work from him! He was moved that our students could work so hard, even being so young. The Lord, gives the strength.
After this, we spent some time in the market across from the school, and then went back to our house. After dinner, we made the decision to go to the beach for our final group session, even though it looked like rain.
On the way there it rained on and off. When we got there, it held off long enough to sing a few songs, then the rain came hard and we took shelter in a beach restaurant that was owned by a Dominican Christian.
Our team shared a lot about what God has showed them on the trip.
We finished the time together by looking at Luke 8 together, and particularly the parable of the soils. I challenged the team, not to let the weeds grow up around what they had learned this week.
7.15.2010
Caraballo (Thursday)
Today was another interesting day.
The Rain came through some of the night, but did not slow out team down this morning.
Once on the site, we got to work on some new and familiar tasks. One team tied rebar in one of the areas we had cleared and leveled the previous day. Another group, got another are ready to put rebar in and cleared rubble from the dinning hall. A third group went to work on the remnant of the wall: A giant rebar reinforced concrete girder, which some construction workers had pulled down after we left yesterday.
Soon we were ready to pour concrete on the rebar, so most of our team moved to that task and brought the sand, gravel, and cement needed. Interestingly, each bag of cement weighs 94 lbs, which is more that several of our team members!
By lunch, we had helped pour half of the concrete pad, and made good progress on our other tasks as well. Lunch and the time with the students was awesome. It is so fun to play with them and to see the light in their eyes. Most of the funding for this school comes through each student having sponsorship (about $35 a month) from foreign families. Don't be surprised if your student asks you about it.
In the Afternoon, we helped finish the pad, finished destroying the concrete girder, & finished most of the footing that we had started on Tuesday.
THe big surprise came when we went to leave the worksite today. The team van, had a flat tire. It took over an hour to fix because of how hard it was to get the old tire off. Some of our team went back in other vehicles, but 4 leaders from our team eventually & triumphantly drove themselves home in the Van which they had fixed.
Great session tonight talking about what God has been teaching us and looking at Luke 10 together.
Hard to believe tomorrow is Friday.
The Rain came through some of the night, but did not slow out team down this morning.
Once on the site, we got to work on some new and familiar tasks. One team tied rebar in one of the areas we had cleared and leveled the previous day. Another group, got another are ready to put rebar in and cleared rubble from the dinning hall. A third group went to work on the remnant of the wall: A giant rebar reinforced concrete girder, which some construction workers had pulled down after we left yesterday.
Soon we were ready to pour concrete on the rebar, so most of our team moved to that task and brought the sand, gravel, and cement needed. Interestingly, each bag of cement weighs 94 lbs, which is more that several of our team members!
By lunch, we had helped pour half of the concrete pad, and made good progress on our other tasks as well. Lunch and the time with the students was awesome. It is so fun to play with them and to see the light in their eyes. Most of the funding for this school comes through each student having sponsorship (about $35 a month) from foreign families. Don't be surprised if your student asks you about it.
In the Afternoon, we helped finish the pad, finished destroying the concrete girder, & finished most of the footing that we had started on Tuesday.
THe big surprise came when we went to leave the worksite today. The team van, had a flat tire. It took over an hour to fix because of how hard it was to get the old tire off. Some of our team went back in other vehicles, but 4 leaders from our team eventually & triumphantly drove themselves home in the Van which they had fixed.
Great session tonight talking about what God has been teaching us and looking at Luke 10 together.
Hard to believe tomorrow is Friday.
7.14.2010
Carballo (Wednesday)
Early this morning, we were greeted by the sound of rain. The rain was good in that, it cooled things off a bit (only the mid to upper 80's and extremely humid vs 90s and humid), but it did slow us down a little. There is a little bridge-less river that we have to cross on the way the the school every day. With the rain, we had to wait to make sure it would be crossable.
But an hour later, we were on our way through the sugar cain fields and out the the school in Caraballo. Today, the rain shifted our jobs, and prevented us from pouring any more concrete. We still got to beat on concrete with sledgehammers, move rubble, and also level a few places where we are going to pour concrete floors either this week or next.
Also one team from our group worked with Jesse (an awesome missionary with Kid's Alive) to sort clothing bags for students. The bags are made up of donated clothes and personal items for the students, but also for their families too. Each of the 200 students will get one on friday.
Throughout the day it rained on us periodically, but we still were able to get much work done.
Once again, lunch time was amazing, as we got to play with so many kids. One highlight of lunch today, was that our students taught the kids from the school a new group game. It was awesome to see them all play together!
Tonight we had three special treats: 1. Jesse the missionary shared about her life, and what she does here.
2. We had fried plantains for dinner. 3. We final changed our money, and so we went across the street and bought ice cream!!! it was awesome.
Tonight we talked about Luke 15 in our group time. God is really teaching us a lot about following him, and about living to bless others.
As I am writing this it is raining. Our hope is that it will stop soon, so work tomorrow can continue without increased challenges.
But an hour later, we were on our way through the sugar cain fields and out the the school in Caraballo. Today, the rain shifted our jobs, and prevented us from pouring any more concrete. We still got to beat on concrete with sledgehammers, move rubble, and also level a few places where we are going to pour concrete floors either this week or next.
Also one team from our group worked with Jesse (an awesome missionary with Kid's Alive) to sort clothing bags for students. The bags are made up of donated clothes and personal items for the students, but also for their families too. Each of the 200 students will get one on friday.
Throughout the day it rained on us periodically, but we still were able to get much work done.
Once again, lunch time was amazing, as we got to play with so many kids. One highlight of lunch today, was that our students taught the kids from the school a new group game. It was awesome to see them all play together!
Tonight we had three special treats: 1. Jesse the missionary shared about her life, and what she does here.
2. We had fried plantains for dinner. 3. We final changed our money, and so we went across the street and bought ice cream!!! it was awesome.
Tonight we talked about Luke 15 in our group time. God is really teaching us a lot about following him, and about living to bless others.
As I am writing this it is raining. Our hope is that it will stop soon, so work tomorrow can continue without increased challenges.
7.13.2010
Caraballo (Tuesday)
In the Morning we picked up an many of or projects from yesterday. We continued to hit the Giant wall with sledgehammers, and we continued to move the rubble, some of which we had now been the ones to create.
We did this until lunch. At lunch we got to play with the students again. Already, many know our names, and come and find us for more "horsey" rides and pushes on the swing. The younger ones love to have their picture taken, but the teens are much more camera shy.
After lunch our team worked with some Haitian workers at the school to poor a long and deep concrete footing for a new wall at the school. It was crazy, hot work, that you would most likely have been shocked to see middle school students doing, but they worked hard.
Tonight we are in good spirits. We has a great dinner in our Team House, and had a good session learning about Matthew 19:13-30.
More of the same tomorrow.
We did this until lunch. At lunch we got to play with the students again. Already, many know our names, and come and find us for more "horsey" rides and pushes on the swing. The younger ones love to have their picture taken, but the teens are much more camera shy.
After lunch our team worked with some Haitian workers at the school to poor a long and deep concrete footing for a new wall at the school. It was crazy, hot work, that you would most likely have been shocked to see middle school students doing, but they worked hard.
Tonight we are in good spirits. We has a great dinner in our Team House, and had a good session learning about Matthew 19:13-30.
More of the same tomorrow.
Caraballo (Monday)
Because of internet troubles, we are not able to post easily, or often. Most likely picture will not be posted until I get back on the 24th. (Maybe I will find another way to do it, that will work before then.)
On Monday we started the day with a tour of our worksite and the surrounding community. We are working at a Kid's Alive school that has almost 200 students (up to 8th grade.) The students are made up of both Haitians and Dominican's. This is somewhat amazing, as the two groups really struggle with many racial issues in the community. In the village that many of the students come from, there is a Haitian district and a Dominican district which don't really mix.
After our tour, we met Alberto, the director of the school. He welcomed us and told us what we would be doing. Our work of the day consisted of moving some concrete rubble created from expanding their dining hall so they can expand their enrollment. We also got to help with the demolition. We used sledge hammers to begin tearing down a concrete wall that was 35 ft long and about 12 ft high. We made good progress, but it was hard, slow work.
At lunch time, we get to play with the kids from the school. They love getting piggy back rides, and being picked up and held by our team. It is one of the highlights of the day.
After the kids go back to class, we work through the afternoon until 4 or so.
At night we debrief about the day, and learn about God together.
Then off to sleep.
On Monday we started the day with a tour of our worksite and the surrounding community. We are working at a Kid's Alive school that has almost 200 students (up to 8th grade.) The students are made up of both Haitians and Dominican's. This is somewhat amazing, as the two groups really struggle with many racial issues in the community. In the village that many of the students come from, there is a Haitian district and a Dominican district which don't really mix.
After our tour, we met Alberto, the director of the school. He welcomed us and told us what we would be doing. Our work of the day consisted of moving some concrete rubble created from expanding their dining hall so they can expand their enrollment. We also got to help with the demolition. We used sledge hammers to begin tearing down a concrete wall that was 35 ft long and about 12 ft high. We made good progress, but it was hard, slow work.
At lunch time, we get to play with the kids from the school. They love getting piggy back rides, and being picked up and held by our team. It is one of the highlights of the day.
After the kids go back to class, we work through the afternoon until 4 or so.
At night we debrief about the day, and learn about God together.
Then off to sleep.
7.11.2010
Caraballo (Sunday)
Our trip yesterday was long. Bus ride to Ohare, flight to New York, Flight to Santiago, bus ride to Caraballo area... finally done at around 12:30. Once we settled in, and unpacked, we were in for a hot night.
Our showers didn't work this morning, so we had to rough it. After a quick breakfast, we went to a local church, and enjoyed a Spanish Worship service. The preacher seemed really good, although other than knowing he was talking about God's Promise & Hope from Hebrews 6, I didn't catch much of the message.
After lunch, we had our orientation with Kids alive staff, and learned more about our project.
Then we spent the rest of the day, really working hard... at the BEACH!!! Apparently, it worked out better this week to have our Beach on Sunday, than at the end of our week. So after an afternoon at the beach, some amazing Pizza, we came home and finally are taking showers, and getting ready to sleep well tonight & work hard tomorrow.
Tomorrow we will be removing concrete debris from a wall they recently tore down at Kids Alive's school in Caraballo. They are expanding the dining hall, and well will be helping.
Our showers didn't work this morning, so we had to rough it. After a quick breakfast, we went to a local church, and enjoyed a Spanish Worship service. The preacher seemed really good, although other than knowing he was talking about God's Promise & Hope from Hebrews 6, I didn't catch much of the message.
After lunch, we had our orientation with Kids alive staff, and learned more about our project.
Then we spent the rest of the day, really working hard... at the BEACH!!! Apparently, it worked out better this week to have our Beach on Sunday, than at the end of our week. So after an afternoon at the beach, some amazing Pizza, we came home and finally are taking showers, and getting ready to sleep well tonight & work hard tomorrow.
Tomorrow we will be removing concrete debris from a wall they recently tore down at Kids Alive's school in Caraballo. They are expanding the dining hall, and well will be helping.
7.10.2010
Caraballo (Saturday): Mosaic Dominican Republic TRIP 1 is off and RUNNING!!!
We are well on our way to the DR. We are sitting in the JFK airport, and will be boarding our final leg of the plane ride momentarily.
Once we land, we will have a 2 hour drive to our serving site.
Please pray for our teams:
-safe travel & adjustment to new place
-that we would feel God's presence as we serve
-That we would trust him when things are unknown
-that our team would grow close in community.
-that we would effectively demonstrate Christ
Please pray for our teams:
-safe travel & adjustment to new place
-that we would feel God's presence as we serve
-That we would trust him when things are unknown
-that our team would grow close in community.
-that we would effectively demonstrate Christ
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