He who goes to the poor will lack nothing.

Proverbs 28:27

Thank you everyone for all of your prayers for our trip! And thank you especially for all of your eagerness to hear of how the trip went. Both of us have been talking non-stop about it in between "getting things done" here at home. It didn't take long to have to jump right in to the regular schedule....the kids and I had a fieldtrip first thing Monday morning, and Bruce is finishing up a side job in the evenings this week. It will take a while to process all of the experiences we've had, as well as all of the things that need (and probably won't) change around here in our own country. We have an even deeper sense now of how blessed we are as a nation, but how much we take for granted every single day.

There is so much to tell about from cultural differences, food, people, and faith, to many one-on-one encounters with new friends. I've decided that it will be impossible to tell everyone about everything in ONE sitting!! I'm going to have to space it out....I will make my first installment today in "Dominican Memories" and will probably continue on with little bits until I run out of things to say.  I pray that you won't get tired of hearing about it for a while!! I also have SO many pictures to share that I will post in chronological order, a small bunch at a time. Does that sound good?

In the big picture, the good news is that we were able to finish the house to the point that all the local contractors have been able to come in this week and do their jobs. It's a very small three room house with a family room/kitchen, a bedroom for the father, a bedroom for the three girls, and one small bathroom. All the block was laid and the roof was on and filled in where needed when we left.

Yesterday we received an email from the missionary there that said that the stucko crew has finished the outside of the house and will be working on the inside this week. The electrician has been in to hook up and make outlets. And, the plumber has the water running (they have never had either of those). I think next week they will paint the inside and outside. Believe me when I say, that you will be amazed to see how far we came in one week and how much this family has NOW compared to how VERY little they had before. It's hard to imagine that they will now "rent out" the little shack that they lived in before....someone else will live in the same conditions that they've been living in for years...and there are so many more who continue to "make it" like that day-to-day.

Have a great week Friends!

More to come soon,

Deborah