Vacation

We finally got to go on a vacation. This past month has been kind of slow since classes are out. My team and I have done a lot of admin work and planning for next semester. But it's time we took a vacation. Omar and Logan had family come in and they went to different resorts (the DR is know for it's beautiful resorts). The rest of us (mostly me, Karly and Ben who have already been to several our first year here) kind of wanted something different. Matt and Ashlee (who are ICS and will be here for 3 to 5 years) were also in the mood for something different. So we decided to go to Jarabacoa up in the mountains (where we heard it was cold). Guess what? It was. It only got to about 75 during the day and dropped down to the 60s at night (which is cold for us!). We had a beautiful hotel right beside the river. It was absolutely wonderful!

The Hotel we stayed at

While we were there we hiked to two different waterfalls. They were so beautiful and it was so much fun. Particularly after spending so much time in the city by the coast. I'm a mountain boy. I like the mountains and woods.

We had to cross several suspension bridges.

 

 

 

I had to climb over the fence and up the stream to get this photo. Totally worth it!

 

 Me and the team at the Second waterfall!

 

Lastly, We went horseback riding!

 

We were crossing streams and rivers!

 

This was the best vacation I've taken in the Dominican Republic!





Family Visit

My family came to visit me this year. Mom, Dad, Sarah and Josh (who was a last minuet addition. I really enjoyed them coming, especially Josh and Sarah cause they've never left the States before. One night I invited a few of my Dominican friends over so my family could meet them (and vise versa). It was hilarious. The next day we went to the beach. Though the water was a little rough we had a wonderful time. Mom and Sarah particularly loved the warm weather (upper 80's with a heat index of 95). The only set back of their visit was on the night they were suppose to leave a bad snow storm hit the northern hemisphere and their flight was canceled. They had to stay an extra 2 days in Santo Domingo. They were finally able to make it safely home and I was very glad of their visit. It'll be 6 months before I see them again.




Me, Dad, Bob, Starliner

 

Josh really wanted a Coconut

This is why we call him 'Monkey Boy'

 

 

Christmas in the Dominican Republic

This is my second Christmas away from home (and in the DR). It doesn't feel like Christmas. It's 86 with a heat index of 96 during the day while at home it's 32 with a wind chill of 28. But I've made the best of what I've got. When my dad came to visit he brought me a suitcase full of Christmas presents.



My Loot!

Not as pretty as Mom's but good enough.

We also had a candle light service this year. I kind of took charge of it because the candle light service at my home church was always a big deal for my family. For candles, I cleverly devised a holder using the tops half of empty pop bottles. For the message, I wanted it to feel like home so I had my brother Luke take pictures of the program when he went to church that evening and sent them to me through facebook. Though I got the page numbers mixed up it was a very special event for me. The team really enjoyed it too.

Vida Christmas Dinner

 For the last four years we have a Big Christmas dinner for the Vida Students. This is a time were the students from all the different universities come together and share what the Lord has done this year and to fellowship with one another. Leyla (one of the national directors) shared how special it was to see everyone together. The first time they had a Christmas Dinner there were only 12 students. The 2nd one there were 40 and last year (my first) there were 70. This year we had over 100 students. We had students from UASD, UTESA, UNPHU, and UCE. Praise God!

Leyla Speaking

UASD Students singing

The Vida Student Leaders from all the Campuses.

 

 

Me and Starliner

 

 

The Tuesday Planning Team

Me, Logan, Starliner, Elis

 

Vida Estudiantil!

 

 

Ben's Baptism

My team mate Ben got baptized here in the DR. He had been baptized as an infant but wanted to be baptized as a believer. So after a month long class on baptism he was baptized at our church. Now baptism is quite the experience here in the DR. Most baptisms I've seen in the States are a more solemn occasion. Here it is more of a party. Another interesting thing about Dominican Baptisms (and hilarious to watch) are when the girls get baptized. Either they afraid of water, or they don't want to get their hair wet. Some girls when they go under don't go under all the way. They have to go again and even a third time if they don't go all the way under the water. This video is only a part of the whole ceremony (there were 25 people getting baptized that day so I cut some of it out). You'll recognize Ben right off cause he's the only white guy to get baptized.

 

 

My New Team

Here is my new team this year.

Back Row: Ben, Omar, Matt, Me
Front Row: Logan, Karly, Ashlee

Ben and Karly were STINTers last year. The New guys are Omar and Matt. Omar came here on a vision trip last year and the Lord brought him back to STINT. He is our new team leader. Matt and I went to Marshall together. He STINTed two years in Argentina then when the ministry was turned over to the nationals he decided to come here to the Dominican Republic to do ICS (International Campus Staff). He will be here for 3 to 5 years.

The New girls are Logan and Ashlee. I had never met Logan before, but I went to Argentina on a Summer Project with her boyfriend, Will. She reminds me of my sister because she loves the sun and the ocean. Ashlee is our other team leader but is also ICS like Matt. Ashlee has been on staff with CRU for a while and like Matt has STINTed in Argentina.




My Dad's visit Part II

During that same visit Dad also spoke at one of our weekly Vida meetings at UASD. He spoke mainly to the guys in Vida but told the girls to take notes on how husbands should love their wife's. He started off by saying that he and mom have been married for 33years and have 4 children. The students were impressed because most families here are separated. For someone to have been married 33 years impressed them. Then dad said that if he was to rank himself as to how good a husband he was he would only give himself a C+. That really got the students because to them, he was A++. Dad when on to explain that the standard for husbands was Jesus and His love of the Church. He listed 18 points that described how Jesus loved the Church and how men were to love their wives. Almost every Vida student afterward asked me for a copy of that list.

Dad speaking at the Vida Meeting

The Vida Students were hooked by the message