Republica Dominica - Vignettes and Story and a half...

This entry is complied by the whole team giving y'all an idea of what we do...

Sports: Yo, Harry, Josh Gates, Jason, Doug, TK

"In the words of Yo, "we enjoyed geting owned by some Dominicans at baseball..."  It was obvious who was teaching who on the old field in the middle of the city; none of our team were really baseball players, but all day we participated in drills and makeshift games with kids both elementary and high school.  Though the hot sun left us burnt and exhausted by the day's end the experience was unforgettable and definately worth it."  -Doug

Education El Cllejon: Carolyn Jones, Mary

"I have been extremely impressed witht he preschool we are helping. They have a small building broken up into two very small rooms for 12 students each.  There is also a larger pavillion outdoors from some classwork and lunch as well as a nice playground. The school is well organized with a surprising amount of supplies.  It has definitely been a challenge communication with the kids and trying to understand where they are coming from, but it has also been very rewarding as well.  It's a great blessing to see the way this preschool is helping the kids with life skills adn a headstart in math and reading which they many never learn later in school." Mary

Education Mata Gorta: Daniel, Katie D

"The preschool is set to give the children from the poor town a chance in public school by giving them a jump start with reading and writing.  They have responded well to us and our bubbles and guitar songs.  Ihad to keep one entertained so he wouldn't bother the construction team at our site, so I "pulled" off my thumb and moved it around.  They was folled by a "double pound-it" started by him. " Daniel

Agriculture Los Higos: Adam, Kelly, Cassie

The first two days working in Los Higos were interesting to say the least. Our activities included knitting, irigating the garden, diggin up sweet potatoes and digging up several hunder pounds of clay to make and oven for a family.  there are some things to talk about , but God really showed His hand in one area in particular. On Monday the people of  Los Higos rioted in the streets because for years the government has promised to fix the road up to their village, but it still has not been done.  So since the road is in such poor condition they made it worse by cutting trees down in the road, burning them and even digging ditches across the road.  Fortunately theyt workings of Satan did not keep our team away.  God has been faithful and continues to be faithful as we near the end of our time." Adam

3/28/08 Updates...and the long awaited story

Social Work Los Higos: Nadeah, Ashley, Josh Gilbert, Jody
"Hola from Los Higos!  We have the privelege of working with Andre in the tiny village of Los Higos in the beautiful mountins outside Jarabacoa.  The people here maake roughly $1300 a year, abut $100 a month and double in December. The beautiful thing about this village, outside the amazing scenery, is the people do not seem to recongize their poverty.  You'll see the kids walking barefoot or at best in shoes 2 sizes too big that an american most likely from SI brought ot them. But they are so happy to be alive and LOVE Andre and of course us.  Everyday we help Andre with his "club" which is basically an after school program for kids in the village. It has been a privilege to help out and pray that God will continue to work through Andre and SI." Ashley

Construction El Callejon: Justin, Zach, Stan
"We are working with a couple of other students from other groups at clearning out an area of land next to the school so they can expand.  So far we've cleared the land and are working on putting up a chain link fence and pourign footers for the foundation. All of this may sound simple but when everything must be done by hand with picks,and shovels and cement mixed by hand it takes a long time." Zach

Special Ed/Physical Therapy: Nikki, Steph, Laura, Brooke
Special Ed and Physical Theraphy sites for SI recently got a face lift when they moved from a cramped church basement to a piece of beautiful propery outside of Jarabacoa.  The school now has rooms for all the classes, administration, and a yard!  The change has enabled everyone envolved to do their job more effectively.

Art/Media: Katy
Katy is busy taking photos for us and SI this week. Due to the incredibly slow internet connection I can't get things to upload in a decent time frame.

And NOW...The Story: Forest Fire

*Just a quick note- "Taylor University, friends, family and the United States of America should be extremely proud of two young men on our team - Zachary Lee and Justin Kyle Rush- who put their lives on thei line to save not only the SI base, not only the beautiful city of Jarabaco, but the entire island of Hispanola and the Dominican people from the hellish flames of a ragin forest fire. that caught the DR unaware.  Armed with only simple garden hoses and the shirts on their back they  beat back teh blazing flames into utter submission.... T.K. held the hose.  Justing and Zach have humbly asked that the Dominican president wait until their mission trip is over to hold the awards assembly and honorary citizenship...
  -Written by two team members :)

That's all for now... Brooke