Dom Rep 2009 Team Is Home!

Today, for the first time in more than a week, I will be making my own coffee and not drinking it with the 10 other members of my team! But, I will use the coffee I bought in the Dominican Republic and I will savor the memories of a wonderful mission trip as I go about a beautiful summer day here in Reston.

Spending the last couple days of our trip on the beach gives us time to unpack the experiences we have had while living in Santiago and being part of the community at Cristo Salvador in Llaguita del Pastor. We are able to laugh at how each of us had difficulty sharing our paint brushes with the kids who wanted to help us. We marvel at how quickly the 150+ kids at VBS became individuals to us, even if we couldn't remember all their names. We point fingers at each other for emphasis in conversation, just like Father Hipólito. We teach Gabriel to swim, play shark with Rosana, applaud Lilian Maria's karaoke performance and float in the pool with Poly and Lilian. We are grateful for the opportunity to rest as a group, knowing we will miss each other when we get back home.

Father Jim as long told us that all our mission trips are more about the relationship than the job. I hope that from the stories you've read over the last eleven days, you have felt the strength of the bond between Cristo Salvador and St. Anne's.

We couldn't make this trip without the support of the entire St. Anne's congregation. The 2009 Dominican Republic team will be sharing some stories during Rev. Denise's sermon on July 19. Come on by!