Hello, Hola...

If you walk up to a St. Anne's member who has been on a DR mission trip and say "Hello," you might get more than you expected. The response could be, "Hola!" and continue with "Jambo, Buon Día. Aloha, Namaste..." Following laughter, you will get the explanation that this is a call and response song we have sung with the VBS kids at Cristo Salvador. And then, you might get a lesson in how to sing the "Sammy Sosa" song! These are some of the things that bond us as a team.

Learning about chocolate.

Our Saturday field trip included a visit to "The Cacao Trail" for a hands-on lesson in chocolate making and a visit to the Mirabal Sisters Museum for a real-life encounter with the Butterfly Sisters. In the evening we had a planning session for worship music. Poly and his family gave us a lesson so we could sing along to "La Niña de tus Ojos".

The offertory hymn: We Worship You

Padre Hipólito and Fr. Jim

Sunday's service was especially wonderful as it included baptisms. The baptismal candidates ranged in age from 16 days to grandma age. In fact, there was a 3-generation trio baptized. The candidates closest to our hearts were José, Maria and Estacie. Their godparents include our very own Bob VH! Once again we were struck with the similarities of Cristo Salvador and St. Anne's as both Fr. Hipólito and Fr. Jim had trouble getting us back into our seats following the Peace.


We lingered following the service. More pictures were taken, contact information shared, hugs given and returned, tears shed and dried. Finally, we had to get in our waiting bus and wave goodbye.

Bob & Lisa with Stefanie, José, Estacie and Maria

It is not easy to leave. A day at the beach gives us time to reflect on our mission. We spent the morning snorkeling, splashing in the waves, reading and napping. Various vendors stopped by our palm thatched beach umbrella to offer us dive trips, pedicures, horseback riding, tropical shirts and jewelry. I'm not sure what the final vendor was trying to sell but he looked at us and said, "Hello!" With one voice we responded, "Hola!" and continued with our VBS song. I guess that goes to show you can take the team out of Cristo Salvador... but you can't take Cristo Salvador out of the team!

Thank you, St. Anne's, for supporting the Dominican Republic mission again this year!