Mission Accomplished - we served kids in Jesus' name

Our team is home and we accomplished all we set out to do.  The playground is awesome and we also had time for the puppet shows, drama and carnival.  To see all the pictures click on this link: Flickr

On the plane ride home I asked each team member their top three high points from the trip. 

Hands down the #1 high point was seeing the kids play on the playground for the very first time.  The best way to describe it might be watching a young child open a really amazing present at Christmas - one that's been sitting under the tree for a few days.  Before we came to Constanza, there wasn't a slide in the entire community.  Now there are six and the favorite of the kids is the large circular slide.  We had the privilege of watching about 100 children go on a slide for the very first time.  I watched Don Schaap cry as the kids first started playing and many others on our team were a little teary eyed.  

#2  A consistent high point among the team was our day of play with the children.  We played on the playground, painted nails, administered tattoos with Bible themes, played dizzy bat relay, tug of war, water balloon relay and shared a drama about sin/redemption and a puppet show about Noah and the Ark.  This was a hugely fulfilling day for all of us.

#3  Our free day of rafting came in third for many.  The Dominican Republic is an unusual place with amazing natural beauty and disparaging poverty.  We were humbled by the poverty as it was a severe contrast to the way we live.  At the same time,. we were thrilled by the natural beauty.  The mountain views were spectacular and the trip down the mountain in a fast moving raft was a wonderful way to end our time in the DR.

Also in the top three for some on our team were:

• Attending church service with our Dominican brothers and sisters in Christ was a reminder of how big our God is.  He is multilingual and is worshiped in many different ways.  While the language barrier made it difficult to follow the preaching we enjoyed the time of worship and the warm handshakes, hugs, and even kisses on our cheeks after the service.
• Working with the Kids Alive staff in the Dominican Republic was simply amazing.  Many ranked getting to know Craig, Libby, Brian, Kyle, Jeff, Ann, Arsenio, Jan, and others in their top three.  The staff in the DR are Christlike servants who made us feel welcome and encouraged us as we came to encourage and serve alongside them.
• Another consistent comment was how well our team gelled.  The eleven on our team represent five different churches.  We met together about eight times before we left but we have now forged deep friendships after having this experience together in the Dominican. 
• Something that happened by "chance" was another highlight.  On our final day in Constanza we set out into the hills to walk through a very poor barrio.  Just as we began to walk into this area the skies broke loose with a very strong thunderstorm and pounding rain.  We sought refuge in the first shack we came to.  The man, who none of the Kids Alive staff knew, graciously invited all 14 of us in and we stayed for well over 1/2 hour.  His home was roughly 8 feet by 12 feet in size with a curtain dividing it into two rooms.  In his kitchen which consisted of a propane camp stove and some assorted pots, pans, cups, and plates also sat his motor scooter - his most prized possession.  We learned that he grew up in this barrio and his mother lived just a few shacks away.  He did not own the land where his house stood and would be considered a squatter.  The home, made from widely assorted lumber, tree limbs, and second hand tin for the roof, cost him about $70 to build.  Water dripped through the holes in the roof which marked the nails previously holding the old tin on another dwelling.  He had no electricity or running water in his home although one bolt of lightning that hit close to us briefly lit up the lone bulb hanging from the ceiling.  He labored 5-6 days a week for 10 hours a day for a landowner working his crops.  This netted him $8 US a day and a breakfast meal which was taken from his wages.  One person on our team had been handed some money shortly before leaving to go to the DR and was asked to use this for the trip.  Part of this this money was used to bless this man who showed us great hospitality with groceries.

A HUGE thank you to everyone who gave sacrificially to make this trip and this playground possible!  We're not coming back the same as we left and Constanza is a place with more joy as a result of your gifts!