This is our last day here in Santo Domingo. We will be loading on the bus to the airport at 4 a.m. and then hopefully flying out at 7 a.m. We should arrive in Kansas City around 4:30 p.m. and meet up with the rest of the group from Jamaica, then take another bus back to camp and should arrive at approximately 10:30 p.m.

Today we went to our last village to minister and hold VBS. I believe this was a village that has not been visited before so the people and children were much more curious and cautious than in previous villages. We tried to break the ice by handing out cookies first thing. Even the elderly ladies of the village came out to get cookies.  After the kids ran some races and won some events, Ari tried to pass out prizes to the winners but soon found herself in the midst of a mob (see the picture). Everyone wanted to receive a prize, and one little girl in particular LOVED her little stuffed animal (see picture). The cutest little kids were intrigued with our bus too and loved sitting on the front of it. Our HG students did a great job, as usual, with their skits and dances and held the attention of even the youngest ones. After we did our presentations, one of the SCORE staff interpreted, shared the gospel, and prayed with everyone.

In the afternoon we decided to do a service project instead of having free time. The HG students and staff helped at a local medical clinic by cleaning, sorting donations, washing out bins, and organizing everything on the shelves.  Our work was MUCH appreciated by the doctor who volunteers at the Clinic and the HG students had great attitudes through all of it . . . even though the temp felt like it was 110!!!

The HG students performed for all of the groups here at SCORE this evening so they could see what we do when go out into the villages. The groups cheered wildly for them and even learned and participated in our “Standing O.” It is great to see our HG kids so well accepted wherever we go. The SCORE interns said they were the “hipest” group they have ever had, and meant that in a good way. 

We will finalize our day with an evening at the Snack Shack with students purchasing food items they want for snacks (hamburgers, hot dogs, pop & ice cream). The proceeds for that event go to SCORE so it is for a worthwhile cause, or so we tell ourselves. I think everyone will be returning with a greater understanding of what it means to be a servant, how spoiled and blessed we are in the States, how to have a daily quiet time, and hopefully have made some lifetime friends. We look forward to seeing each of you very soon. Signing out for now, your daily correspondant, Robin 

Timothy F. Wolfe
The world needs a savior.
http://www.scoreinternational.org/contact/missionaries
http://scoremedicalmission.spaces.live.com/

Everyone was excited for today as we knew we would be going back to the orphanage again.  We started the day by going to another Sugarcane village.  This village was unique in that they actually had people working there.  There were men rounding up cattle into a stall while riding a horse and swinging a lasso(never thought we’d see actual cowboys over here), there were men driving trucks to haul stuff and a factory of some sort (probably coal) with lots of activity going on around it.  Some of it was pretty distracting for the games and such with the kids, but at least we knew the people did sometimes work.  We were able to do a few different things with this village as SCORE allowed us to take some items that had been donated to use as carnival prizes. The kids really loved that and crowds always gathered around the prize area.  We were also able to give away some diapers and baby clothes, and they were much needed.  There was a 17 yr. old girl there with a 2 month old baby and she let everyone hold the baby.  Many of the mothers in the villages look to be very young teenagers, so we were hoping that our sin box skit might get through to some of the people.

Then in the afternoon we went back to the orphanage and the kids were ready and waiting for us.  They couldn’t wait to do the “Get Loose” dance with the HG students again and spent hours perfecting it.  We also did carnival games with them and gave away prizes, let them draw with chalk on the sidewalks, played many games with them, did crafts and just loved on all of them.  One of the main things they asked of us this time was to paint a part of their wall inside with a mural of some sort. Someone had previously done some great paintings on the walls but this particular part was blank.  So our artistic students and counselors planned out what they would paint, bought the paint and then spent hours completing it while everyone else played. They did a great job and the mural looked great.  Hope you are able to see the picture of it.

Hola!  Wow…What a day in the DR. We all got a good night’s rest before rising early this morning for some quiet time with the Lord and breakfast. We then loaded up the two vans with all of the equipment and medication needed to set up the medical clinic. We traveled to a very large sugarcane village (appx. population of 75,000) in Consquelo. This area has been hit hard with poverty due to the primary sugarcane factory closing down a few years ago. This has left literally thousands of Dominicans without employment. We teamed up with a local Dominican Pastor who has planted churches in Consquelo to reach them for Jesus Christ.

The mission team did a great job…Levi was the ‘bouncer’ at the door directing traffic and keeping the peace, Sidney & Kara worked the triage taking blood pressures and temperatures, Abi & Catherine worked directly alongside Bob providing medical attention, and Tammy, Michael and I worked the pharmacy…wow…don’t tell everyone that the associate pastor and his wife were giving out drugs all day…ha ha!! We completed the medical clinic around 4:00 pm and then traveled a few miles to Monte Cristi, where we assisted a missionary baseball team (from FCA and Global Baseball) unload a tractor trailer full of food that was shipped in a container from a group out of West Virginia. The food will go to feed the village for about 3 months…praise God for His provision.

The weather was beautiful today…yet extremely hot…and HUMID. We are now settling down for the evening at the Score Complex…just had dinner actually. We’ll be doing a devotion together here shortly…then it’s time to turn in for the evening…we are all exhausted.

We miss all of you…please continue to pray for us…we’ll send another update tomorrow evening…ADIOS and good night!

Brad

It was definitely a cultural experience. Hearing the pastor share the Word and having the need our interpreter so we could understand. We took communion together and following the service we headed back to the Villa.

Shortly after lunch we boarded the bus and headed to the orphanage where our group and another group from Ewell Bible Baptist Church worked together to show Christ’s love to the kids. It was a moving experience to give them two hours, which doesn’t seem like much, but it’s two hours of attention, fun, joy, and love. Check out their blog through the link above.

We’re challenged as we consider what happens to these orphans when they turn 18 and they must leave the orphanage. It’s a tough reality to face as we got to bond with these kids, break the communication barrier and play games. One child continued to say “para mi?” Which means for me? For me? In reference to a wrist band one of us had. When asked “por que?” Which means why? He would respond with “ti mi amigo.” You are my friend.

Before we left the child named Kendal… had a new Nike rubber band around his wrist and was all smiles.

Pray these kids at the orphanage will feel love and know love from a Heavenly Father. Pray that our team will reflect well on what we take fro granted, especially our families that we have. Pray for the truth that what we consider insignificant accessories is another’s treasure.

Pray for us today, as I write, we are getting ready to head to the hot springs. Where we will be in close proximity to an active volcano. Pray we do not get too comfortable. Pray we have great team time, reflecting and debriefing what God has put before us. Pray that the students do not push me (Rhett) into the volcano, like they threatened to. (This is only a joke :-).

But seriously we ask for your prayer support for this day away to still be less about us… but more about how God can meet us in a special way in some surrounding Creation. Pray for those in Los Guido who still do not have running water.

We’re blessed by your prayer and support from the US. We’re humbled and thankful.

Muchos Gracias,
Rhett

For us we first went to is the most oppressed part of San Jose. We didn’t really know what we were in for. We knew we were going to play with some kids and assist in a kid’s ministry a church does each Saturday. But as we approached this part of town we were informed that they had not had water for a few days. And that many church neglect this part of town. In this small area 45,000 people and roughly 90% are refugees from Nicaragua. The team was led to silence and to just open our eyes and close our mouths and take in what we saw. Just off the road a bit, beyond the homes immediately in front of us, we saw hundreds of tin metal shanty’s with the beautiful backdrop of mountains. We saw one of the most oppressed areas within the beauty of God’s Creation.

Our team began the day very humbled. The students did great with the kids as we shared a story and colored pictures with them. It’s been difficult to communicate with the children due to the language barrier. However, we still were able to demonstrate the love of Christ. We were with a church who’s pastor has had a broken heart for this oppressed community and began to do a kids program every Saturday. He informed us of the various forms of abuse that these very children come from.

We left that time with much to meditate on with the Lord. His Spirit was beginning to really stir in our team.

Following lunch we we’re going to distribute Gospel tracks but plans changed due to weather. Following a brief opportunity for souvenirs we went to the grocery to purchase our goods for our evening ministry opportunity.

We prepared sandwiches, a drink in a plastic baggy, and cookies for our opportunity to go feed the homeless in downtown San Jose. Several Score reps. came along and needless to say our students were a bit nervous. We sang some favorite worship songs and hymns to prepare our hearts before hoping off the bus, which was parked half a block away from the police station.

Quickly, as we got all the goods we had for these men and women, we were swarmed by many, ready to receive the food and a Gospel track. Our students did great at standing in the line and smiling as they handed out to these men and women. We were very proud of our team for how they conducted themselves in this situation which was unfamiliar for us all.

The impact of this opportunity began to play itself out immediately after as God began breaking our hearts. Most were silent on our drive back and as we returned to the Villa we met as a team. Cried as a team and prayed as a team. Our hearts broke for what we had faced. Seeing the face of Christ in these people… whom with so little and in such margins bear the image of God and our deeply loved by Christ. We reflected on some Scriptures together upon what God says about the oppressed and the prideful. Our hearts were heavy. His Spirit was convicting many of us of how we have lived in such ignorance.

It was a powerful night. Many tears were shed. Many hugs were given. Many prayers were said. That God would not let us forget what we have seen. That through this tension we were faced with, we would see His Hand in it all and follow Him as He asks.

Pray for us and the processing through the brokenness. Pray for our leaders as we shepherd our students. Pray that we will being to see how Jesus is calling all of us to light up the darkness. And truly live out His message of Reconciliation as we read in 2 Corinthians 5.

With Compassion
Rhett

We were informed that despite some of the professional (baseball) success of a few of its natives, the town is greatly oppressed & deep into Satanic ritual & practice.  The church was located right in the middle of the neighborhood & was nothing more than a concrete building.  Even though we were obviously outsiders & couldn’t speak their language, few of us have ever been so welcomed as we were at this church.  The people were very warm & excepting, but it was the children of the church that especially touched our hearts (& our cameras…just ask us to show you when we return!) Afterwards most of us went back to the Complex for lunch while Jeff & Andres (our “Missionary for the Week”) led Jake, John, & Eric to another village to take estimates & measurements for a work project we’ll be doing on Tuesday.  While riding in the back of the pick-up truck, we were able to get a clearer picture of what “Third World” meant while traveling through the heart of the sugarcane villages.

The rest of the day was ours to catch-up on some much needed rest.  While some napped, others took the time to fellowship & “fry” on the beach.  Later on, Heaven, Samantha, Theresa, Amy, Katie, & Eric went for a horseback ride around the neighborhood.  We then met back up for dinner, had a time of devotions (from Luke Chapter 9), & practiced our skits for the week.  (We also took the time to sort through an assortment of donated goods that we brought to distribute to the people. So far, the Dominican is hard to explain: the sun is so much hotter, the people so much warmer, & the moths are so much LARGER!  But how many of the thousands of tourists who come through here will ever see the world that we have only yet begun to see?  Beyond the beaches & resorts are a loving people who need Christ in their lives.  Pray for them & us.

P.S., Thanks for your continued prayer support…Heaven is feeling 110% better today!

This morning we got up fairly early for some breakfast at the Embassy Suites, then Bob picked us up as we headed into San Pedro for church.  This is the third time Tammy and I have been able to worship with these Dominican believers in San Pedro, and it was once again a blessing to be in the service with our DR brothers and sisters in Christ.  Pastor Tollentino was so gracious – as was the church members.  The students had the opportunity to do a drama to “the Potter’s Hand” before the church– they did an awesome job.  Bob translated for us during the service…the message was wonderful.  The Pastor preached out of 1 Timothy on the subject of the love of money.

No work takes place on Sundays out of SCORE…so after church, we have just been settling in our rooms at the SCORE Complex (we checked out of the Embassy) and resting for a week full of ministry opportunities.  In the morning, we will be traveling to one of the largest sugarcane villages in the DR and setting up a medical clinic.  We will be there all day.  Please pray for us as we will have the opportunity to share the Gospel in the morning and in the afternoon before anyone receives any medical attention.

Please check back at this website every day for updates of our trip…I will be updating each evening.  God bless you and thank you all for making this trip possible.

Brad