So the DR is just a bit closer to the Equator than the midwest. Typically the summer months are considered the “rainy season” here, but this year is not typical, I guess. We may get one major down pour every couple of weeks, so the sun is heating things up here in San Juan! Jeff did complete his cabana on the roof, so we can enjoy the view in the shade:)
Along with the summer time comes High School VBS teams, this has been my latest focus throughout the last several months. I have been coordinating with the group leaders to help prepare them for what is in store for their week of service in San Juan. We have a total of 5 VBS teams this summer, and we just wrapped up week 2. VBS with SRI takes place at a different location each week, the local pastor communicates to his community what week we will be there. Each day of the VBS more kids are added to the previous day’s attendance. It is a crazy 2.5 hours, but the kids have a blast! Our first week of VBS was with Northwoods Community Church from Peoria, Illinois. They worked with a church in Cristo Rey. The second week of VBS was with Pine Hills Church from Fort Wayne, Indiana, and they worked with a church in Corbano. A lot of students that attended during the second week are sponsor students from CCED. It was exciting to see a lot of familiar faces!
Included in this last week’s group were my dad and sister, Lydia. This was Lydia’s first trip to the Dominican Republic. She enjoyed being with the group and interacting with the kids. She says she can’t wait to return next summer. I remember my early trips to the DR in high school and the impact they made in my life and who I am today.
We love having my dad visit too, he always keeps us busy. Next year will be his 40th year of ministry in the Dominican Republic. That makes him seem really old, but then I remind myself that he was a young teen when he started coming down. I believe this was the third or fourth Father’s Day that I spent with him in the Dominican!
I love God’s timing! With being here for 9 months now, I struggle at times with missing my friends in the states. God has sent along a couple super sweet girls that I love connecting with. The first is Katie Powell. She has been such an encouragement to me since I met her in March! We are able to bounce things off each other and discuss books and scripture we are reading. Another is Nicolle Gershon (picture featured below). It’s hard to do life in a completely different culture and expect friends in the states to understand fully what life is like day in and day out. It is a challenge though when groups come and go each week, and you don’t really have the opportunity to hang out. Jeff has guy’s night at the guesthouse with Dan and some of translators, they enjoy Asian Zing wings and watching movies. When we aren’t bringing in the new group on the weekend, he enjoys playing basketball on Saturday mornings at the stadium.
For those of you coming soon, we have a whole new stock of SRI apparel for adults and CHILDREN!!!! Nicolle and I are sporting our favorite one below. Hector was a perfect edition with his sea foam green shirt and lavender All Stars.
In other news…
-We are still waiting on our Visas to be approved. It seems like when we think we have everything together, we are missing another document. Prayers are still greatly appreciated.
-We are currently without a group for the week, so Jeff, Braegan and I are enjoying our family quiet time. We are able to catch up on little projects that are difficult to complete when groups are here.