Last weekend Ryan and I headed to Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic to scout out the area for this summer's EOE mission trip. I was very excited to go and experience it since I will not be able to go this summer. My mom came into town on Thursday to watch the boys and Ryan and I left for Atlanta later that evening. We flew out from Atlanta early Friday morning, and arrived in Santo Domingo in the afternoon. We will be working with SCORE international; specifically with the church planters.
I had the opportunity to use my Spanish that I took in high school (and also college). I have to brag on my high school Spanish teacher, Mr. Griffith...he was one of my favorite teachers, and a great teacher he was! It was fun to me to try to communicate with some of the people there. Even being there just a few days, Ryan and I improved with our Spanish. It was MUCH easier communicating then in Slovakia. I was completely clueless to the language there...at least here, I was able to identify words in road and store signs.
I was glad to come home and see my babies!! I missed them!!
Below are pictures of our weekend with explanations! Enjoy!
These two pictures were taken from the road going to Juan Dolio from Santo Domingo.
Check out the water shooting up between the rocks!
This is a picture from inside the SCORE hotel. It was really nice, and provided meals, so we will not have to worry about that aspect this summer. Also, the hotel has 24 hour guards.
Ryan outside of our door.
the road in front of the hotel
This is a picture of the pool, which is on the back side of the hotel.
Here is the land outside of Via Espana church. This church was the only one that we went to that wasn't in a village. SCORE owns much of the land around the church and has future building plans.
Via Espana Church
On Saturday morning, we went to Via Espana church. Every Saturday they teach Bible classes for about 3 1/2 hours. They have about 160 students enrolled...mostly younger (teenagers), but some even younger then that like 9 or 10, and also some in their tweenties. The students have to pay a small fee for the class. (This is mainly to teach them work ethic and responsibility.) I was impressed at the number of young students they had, willing to spend every Saturday morning in Bible classes (that they have to pay for). Of course, there's no air condition...which isn't a big deal to them because mostly all of the students do not sir conditioning in their homes, but for us it would be. At the end of the day, they also had a short segment of teaching English to the students. Ryan and I taught one of the groups:) It brought back memories of teaching English in Slovakia.
Classes
Saturday evening they did a Christmas program for various villages. (Above is a group of students singing at the program.)
Ryan with one of the future leaders of Via Espana church.
Me outside the church:)
After chruch on Sunday, Ryan and I had about 2 hours until we had to meet one of the missionaries to head to another village. The hotel wasn't far from the beach, so we headed down so that I could put my feet in the Carribean:)
Here we are:)
the beach
Here is the 2nd church we went to on Sunday. This church was a little furhter away, and way back in a village.
Los Montones Church
village
Our last morning before heading out, Ryan and I helped out at a clinic in another village where there is another church plant. We took blood pressures, temperatures, and weights.
Folks working at the clinic.
Another church plant in another village. We just drove through to see this one.
This picture shows what a typical village house may look like. Obviously some may be a little better and some a little worse.
Last week was our yearly friends week with the Russells and the Lowhorns. We made our traditional trip to the Ryman to hear Andrew Peterson's, 'Behold the Lamb of God'. As usual, it was spectacular! We ate dinner at Demo's beforehand, and stopped to get milk shakes at Steak and Shake on the way back. Thanks to the Hawkins for watching our kids...and especially Coleman and Cayla for watching them during the party (which was at the Hawkin's house).
the guys
the girls
The kids had a blast together, and got much practice learning to share toys:) Here's Aedan and Holland in the the kitchen playing great together. They were rolling the ball back and forth, and actually sharing...yay! It was picture worthy!
Charis is stylin' as the Little Mermaid here. She is so cute, and is really growing up.
Aedan enjoyed knocking the chicken down with Rocket. He thought it was so cool and funny! See, he's a Clemson fan already...knocking down chickens:)
Rocket is in his hand and he's about to make a swing!
Christmas countdown with the Lowhorns.
Our time together was cut short by the snowstorm that moved accross North Carolina and Virginia. We were able to do our Christmas morning with the kids and also get some group shots of the kids. 
opening the gifts
