Day Five, June 15, 2011

The routines of the day are firmly established. Our morning devotions as a team have been very meaningful. Each person who has led has shared not just scripture, but personal stories that embody the Bible verses with new meaning and emotion. I am so impressed with this team. Awesome is hardly adequate to describe them. Our Bible themes are knowing, sharing, loving and forgiving. This group is living them.

Our gathering at day's end is also moving. We re-visit the days highs and lows, award beads to individual members for service, courage, compassion and enthusiasm. Usually, just as the gathering ends, the children's night time ritual begins. Such a lovely way to end a day!

VBS has had the best craft programs this week. Lynne has been providing the leadership and creativity. Her ability to enter into play with the children is amazing. Betty and Marisa have taken turns helping her with the children and the crafts. We have seen beautiful butterflies and oragami.

What this team can do with some crepe paper and paper plates is amazing. I am glad I got the easy job of teaching. Mike, with help from Marisa and Davi, has not had an interpretor for most of the week and it is a zoo out there in the courtyard. I think Mike has surrendered to the momemtum of the children and relaxed in the knowledge, the sports program is not controllable in any way, shape, or form!

The construction is moving along very well. We will not finish the house, but Bobby assures us it will be done by Wednesday next week. Roger, Nick and the local crew continue to receive praise from the rest of the team for their consistent efforts and can do attitude.

Our group has not been without problems, mostly medical. Marisa and Betty are allegeric to mosquito bites and are covered in red spots, Davi has sprained her ankle, but, thank God, it is weight bearing at this point without pain and Jon has had bouts of vertigo and nausea, mostly likely from dehydration. All in all, small hiccups in comparison to what could go wrong. Thank you, God.

Tomorrow is our last day. I am sad and glad all at the same time. It is our church's first group experience, at least since I have been attending, and I pray everyone can rejoice in their accomplishments, take the passion for missions back with them and be able to share it in our congregation. My personal thanks for today is that God finds ways to use me. I like being useful.

Other highlights include a ride out to the lake between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. It has been overflowing for a while (since before the earthquake) and it has literally spread a flood plain that has swallowed up houses, hotels, water irrigation systems and who knows what else. No one seems to know when the flow of water will ebb or where. Part of the journey back to our afternoon jobs included some of our group sampling their first taste of sugar cane.