And then it rained...

Brett creates an ark

The VBS theme this week has been Noah and the Ark. We started on Monday talking about God's good creation. Tuesday brought the bad news that the creation had been squandered and God wanted to have a do-over. Therefore, Noah was contacted to build an ark.

Kids' planks fill in the ark outline

Our ark was crafted by Brett Nelson with the able assistance of Art Light and Bob Van Hoecke. It's a masterpiece! The kids were given "planks" of paper and asked to include their names in a drawing of something God had made. We pasted the planks to the ark, symbolizing how we should listen to God when asked to do something others might think of as crazy.

Thanks for the lift!

Today, Wednesday, was a rainy day here in Santiago. Appropriate to the theme! As the children entered, they were given animal stickers and helped to put them up on the ark.

After we talked about all the things that were covered up by the water and all the work Noah's family must have done on the ark, the kids had some coloring pages to work on. There was the usual hunting for just the right color crayon, jockeying for a photo, questions about whether there were toys today, questions about where some of their favorite St. Anne's folks were.

Well, that was fun!

VBS at Cristo Salvador is an intense session of songs, story, crafts and behavior management. In fact, it can wear a person out in a very short time!

Tomorrow we'll talk about sending the dove out to look for evidence that the waters have receded. The craft requires some prep work, tracing a dove and cutting it out of a paper plate. While the guys hauled sand at the children's shelter work site, Eleanor and I started work on the craft. Before we knew it, we had lots of help. It was great fun having our Cristo Salvador friends take up scissors and gather around the table for a work session.

With any luck, there will be sun tomorrow!

Everyone helps prepare!

For more photos, click here!

Noah's Ark

Danilo and Jim building the stairwell.

So if you remember the Disney movie "Fantasia," you must recall the scene famously called the "Sorcerer's Apprentice." Remember the brooms, all the brooms dancing wildly around the room, spilling water until finally the whole house is floating away. Well, that's exactly what the work site was like first thing this morning. We were trying to put flexible plumbing pipe together to get water from the street onto the roof to make concrete when chaos struck! Pipes falling apart, water flying all over the place, people running around (me included) trying to fit the pipe back together again, or turn the water off at the street, or just get out of the way before getting drenched (I did), which didn't feel so bad in the heat. Finally, we got the pipe pieced back together, then... no water, a water main break a block away shut all the water on the street down. Not to be dissuaded, we set up a bucket brigade and brought water from the church's cistern across the street. Mission accomplished, although by that time it was too late to do the roof, so we helped pour stairs instead.

Smoothing out newly poured stairs.

So goes a day like other days on a construction site on a mission trip in the Dominican Republic, humor and flexibility essential attributes. Yet the work gets done, and wonderful functional schools and churches get built. We have worked with Chencho, the master builder on other projects, San Lucas Church, and a house in the poorest section of the barrio. There is a lot of mutual affection and respect and he is just a delight. Yesterday afternoon during vacation bible school I spied him in a back pew watching the kids sing, having a great time.

That there is poverty, abuse and deprivation in this neighborhood is simply a fact, and an obvious one at that. But what is not so obvious is the strong sense of community. People genuinely care for each other here. For the second time I have witnessed Padre Hipólito

build a congregation that became a family, and now he is fulfilling a dream in this place by adding a school for the children. It is, if anything ever was, the work of the Holy Spirit.

Tomorrow, hopefully, we'll get to the roof, but tonight, in my tiredness, and in my missing you all, I give thanks to God that those of us here, because of your commitment and love, can be part of this holy thing. We are, after all, representing you.

Monday - Lunes

Chencho checks out his new crew!

Today was our first day "on the job." We had all slept well, eaten a hearty breakfast, brushed our teeth and put on our workin' shoes. Father Hipólito came by to make sure we were ready to go and then called us a cab. Some of us piled into the van and some climbed into Padre H's car and we headed out through the Santiago rush hour traffic. Over the river and up the hill we went. Those of us in the car made it to the church where we waited for the van to arrive... and waited... and waited. Oops! Wrong turn! They showed up after a detour to the hill next door.

Jack waiting for an empty bucket.

This trip has been one of meeting up with people we haven't seen for a while. Today we saw Chencho, the job foreman. We worked with Chencho on the construction of San Lucas and on a house rehabilitation in the Cristo Salvador neighborhood 5 years ago. This was the first time we'd seen him since then. What a great reunion! We got a tour of the children's shelter, from the roof down. Then we put on gloves (yes, and sunblock) and got to work. Some of us shoveled sand, others raised the bucket of sand to the roof, and still others broke plaster off the walls in the section of the shelter that has been remodeled from an old house.

Surrounded with love and admiration.

A full bucket heads across the street.

After a break for lunch, we had our first session of VBS. About 80 kids came today. Poly led songs, we talked about God's good creation and drew animals on paper plates. Seeing the kids was great. Those of us who have been here before saw familiar faces. I was astounded to hear that one of the boys I've known has just finished 6th grade and is 11 years old! Where has the time gone? Isn't he still a very little boy?


The day finished with a trip down the street and around the corner from our hotel to La Sirena and the market before we had dinner and our nightly meeting.





We have much to be thankful for today. Good work, good company, many blessings. Now we rest and start again tomorrow!

Click here for more pictures.

Sunday Morning at Iglesia Cristo Salvador and an Afternoon With Family

“I think this is a new section of pavement,” Eleanor said, “I don't think this store was here two years ago,” I added. So was our conversation during the first drive across the bridge and up the hill to the little community of Pastor. Even though some things have changed there is so much more that is familiar that it feels like coming home. It certainly felt that way as we walked into the Church, hugging adults and children alike as there was mutual recognition. As Father Hipólito, the acolytes, and I prayed before beginning the service it felt both like being home at St. Anne's and preparing to lead the service again at Cristo Salvador. It is a joy and a privilege to preside at the Eucharist with this wonderful congregation, and my Spanish is getting better!

Sunday afternoon conversations.

Yum!

We were invited to a fabulous lunch at the home of Fr. Hipolitó and the wife Dulcina where we also watched the final game of the World Cup. Even though the Dominican Republic is a fanatical baseball place, the strong connection of a common language and heritage created a vocal fan base for the team from Spain and shouts of joy reverberated though the neighborhood when the game was won in overtime.

Spain! ¡España! ¡Campeones! Champions!

While we were at the Church this morning we stopped in to check out the school which is being built across from the Church. It is up, the concrete block walls and the roof, but just. There will be plenty to do. It's really exciting to see Fr. Hipólito's dream come into reality. Within the next year there will be a thriving school for kids from the barrio.

A first look at the shelter project.

It feels good, to see this neighborhood, and the Church become a better place. Tonight we walked to San Lucas, the beautiful church we worked on for several years. It is a thriving community, someday Cristo Salvador and the school will be just like it.

St Paul said in the letter to the Romans: "Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of God’s glory. Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

Paul's right, you know, in the end it's not about being right, or successful, or powerful. it's about being faithful, and hopeful, and loving.

DR20

Care and Feeding of Missioners and the Blog!

Good morning from Santiago! This is Martha writing.

The 2010 Dominican Republic team has arrived on site! We had a very smooth trip from Dulles through San Juan, Puerto Rico to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. While in this current age of travel there is not much "feeding" done by the airlines, we were well taken care of! All bags arrived with us, customs and immigration were cleared with no problems and we were met on the sidewalk by a grinning Father Hipólito.

I know that part of Father Hipólito's smile came from seeing the familiar faces of Jim Papile, Art Light, Eleanor Ware and myself. The other part came from realizing that when I told him were were bringing "tall guys," I really meant it! He looked waaaay up into the faces of Brett Nelson, Ben Webster and Bob & Jack Van Hoecke and welcomed them to the Dominican Republic.

As I write this, we are assembling for a quick breakfast and then headed up to church at Cristo Salvador. By day's end we'll have more stories to tell and maybe a picture or two. For now, know that greetings will be offered on behalf of all the people of St. Anne's and we will think of you all as we worship here today.

So, we'll try to "feed" this blog more regularly as we progress through the week! Keep in touch!

Day 7-Our Last day

Our final day at Stenton Family Manor held mixed emotions. While we were all ready to journey home to see our families and get some rest, it was very difficult to say goodbye. We knew that we probably would never see these particular children again. They, too were aware that we would be leaving. We all made the most of the time with lots of hugs and piggy back rides. I think the favorite activity however was the relay races and water balloon toss!

Before we left, we had the opportunity to talk with the staff to ask what particular items were most needed for each age group and we left behind not only all of the equipment we brought, but lots of ideas for activities for the summer.

Our trip home was smooth, with lots of chatter, laughter and sleeping! Several of the missioners talked about their experiences and how much perspectives were changed. It was a wonderful week for all of us and many are already looking forward to next year!

Thank you again for all of your prayers and contributions. Everything we brought was in full use when we left Stenton Manor and now we know what things to bring for our next mission!!

The Philadelphia Mission Team 2010

Day 5!

Today was another day full of smiling faces and laughter. A woman from the Wissahickon Nature Center came and took the kids on nature walks around the shelter. She gave them all bug boxes that they really enjoyed playing with! They loved walking around and finding interesting bugs in their own backyard. Others made animal masks out of paper plates, construction paper, and feathers. Some of the kids played with balls while others drew themselves in chalk on the pavement. After a full day of playing with the children, the group went into the heart of Philadelphia and ate some delicious Irish Ice in Mango, Cherry, Lemon, and Blue Raspberry flavors. After the Irish Ice, we travelled to Pat's for some delicious Philly Cheese Steaks, except for Mike and Kelley who are vegetarian, and Hayley who doesn't care for Cheese Steaks. They ate Chinese food instead. Overall, we had a full day of fun with the kids and stuffed stomachs.

Mike Sills and Kelley Ficklin

Day 4

Today was a very eventful day at the Stenton Family Manor. For some reason there were about 70 volunteers and about 50 kids. We don't have the excuse to say that we were outnumbered anymore! The biggest reward of the day by far was seeing the happy, smiling faces of the young children we helped. During the afternoon we all played outside with the kids that ranged from about 5-12 years old. We drew pictures with sidewalk chalk, and enjoyed games of basketball, soccer, football, and four square. Overall, by the end of the day we were all extremely tired but walked out with smiles on all our faces. :)

Sam Allen, Kyle Jeffries, and James Allen

Day 3

After an early rise of 7am, the group all piled into the kitchen. There we ate our cookie crisps and frosted flakes then packed our lunches for the long day ahead of us. Once we arrived at the Stenton Family Manor shelter, we met up with the Clayton United Methodist church volunteers. We learned that this shelter was one of two in the entire country that grows their own vegatables in their "Hope" garden. After sketching out our day, we met some of the wonderful children. Finally after a few hours of intense outdoor play, it was time for lunch. We went inside and enjoyed our nicely packed lunches in the "employes" room, while the kids devoured their hot dogs with gusto in the back lawn. Next we ventured out to the pools while some stayed back with the preschoolers. After a funfilled day it was time to leave. On our way back we were hit with an enormous rainstorm, in which Grace and Hailey sprinted about. For dinner, Kyle, James, and Sam prepared a magnificent feast of salad, fruit salad, bread, and chicken alfredo. (With a little assistance from our Tunisian chef friend who's also at the hostel.) All in all it was a fufilling day. Off to compline now.

-Emma Toomer & Grace Gillen

Philadelphia Mission Day 1&2

The first two days of the Philly Mission Trip were very entertaining. The car ride there was 3.5 hours and we made it in time for Ghana's last goal. After we became aquainted with the Chamounix Mansion, we went shopping. Groups of 2 and 3 went shopping for various supplies we needed to get through the fun and exciting week! Our dinner on the first night was make-your-own pizzas, and it was a mess. Then we had fun with compline lead by the fabulous James Allen, and it was truly inspirational. Day 2 we went to church at the Philadelphia Cathedral, and it was a "different" approach on church. There was a lot of movement from the baptismal font to the lectern to the altar and lots of singing! After, we went to the Reading Terminal Market to eat our lunch. Then we traveled as far as New Jersey to experience the Historic Philadelphia area (i.e., we got lost). The two days that we have been on this mission trip have been great! Tomorrow we start to help at the homeless shelter, so we did a lot of planning tonite.

Written by,
Scott Waters