Cindy’s blog
Buenos Dias! Como esta??
Megan- SCUMC March 10
Today was our second day working. We are already making connections with all of the kids! We love playing baseball, jumping rope, soccer, chalk, and catch! We’re finding we can communicate with our limited Spanish, and that they know a lot of the same games that we do. The girls love my long, silky hair and enjoy playing with it. Vikki, Cindy and I have all had multiple manicures, varying from chalk to marker to nail polish. We have all learned to keep close watch of our cameras and sunglasses, the kids love to take them! Angel doesn’t like to give things back!
Shepherds join the Community
Yesterday Shepherds Community UMC from Lakeland, Fl spent their first day in Cuesta Arena. We began laying conduit in the mission house and playing with the children. This weeks VBS is centered around the story of Easter. The children learned the weight of the cross with sins is much heavier. In the evening we joined the church in a special service to raise awareness about violence on women.
Returning to Santiago
Last night we arrived safely to Santiago and were greeted at the airport by the family. We arrived home to be surprised by the birth of Sairy’s niece, born this past Thursday. The house was decorated for Christmas with lights and a beautiful Christmas tree. For dinner we had yuca and queso frito!!! This morning we woke up and are beginning to prepare for the group.
Message by Emily
On July 19, 2011, a mission trip group of twenty youth and six adults stepped out of an overcrowded bus and into the community of Cuesta Arena in the Dominican Republic. They had no idea what to expect about the work they would be assigned, or the people they would meet. The area around them was empty, except for half of a cement house, a deep hole, and a picnic pavilion. Then a couple of locals arrived on the site, and started gesturing what needed to be done. People that had learned Spanish in school used broken language to help the process along.
Message shared by Kate
Imagine: a profound blue sky with white clouds so pure and clean hovering above you. A mountain range far beyond in the distance captures your eye. As it borders the area, it wraps around inviting you to wonder what is on the other side. How majestic the landscape is before you. A luscious green forest surrounds you with wild coconuts at the top of the trees awaiting your thirst to cleanse your dry mouth. Birds sing to you as you wipe the sweat off yet another time. The laughter of children makes you smile just at the sound of it.
trinity video
Trinity UMC-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q3zzXQ6cJM
Luis’ videos
Luis has made 2 videos from the groups that were here this summer. Check out these links for them on Youtube.
VOY- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PZD20zgTXk
St Pauls- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4HK8yXBIv0&feature=related
I will post the video I made for Trinity as soon as it is uploaded.
Last Day in Cuesta Arena
Today was my last day in Cuesta Arena. Yesterday we drove to Cuesta Arena and there was a parade of las reinas. Every pueblo has their own saint and each saint has their own day. Each pueblo then has their own festival to celebrate their santo on their saint’s day. Each festival has queens or reinas and today was the parade through the pueblos to show off las reinas. All of the people were in the street to see the parade. This made us visiting the homes of the people of Cuesta Arena very difficult yesterday.
Wedding and Concert
Tonight at the church we had the privilege of having a wedding and a concert. Thanks to the brilliant construction of a beautiful building, both happened simultaneous. The wedding started some time after 6. The church was beautifully decorated with flowers and a red carpet. The bride and groom are members of the Haitian church that meets on Sunday nights. After the ceremony, the guests headed upstairs for the banquet. The upstairs was decorated and tables set up for a full meal. A short time after the wedding headed upstairs, the concert began.