Day 5 Team 3- Noah Cupery

Today we had the opportunity to visit the villages once again for SMT(Strategic Mission Time.) As we walked through the village we stopped at our first house. We met a woman named Marta. Marta told us about how she loved being a teacher but didn’t hesitate to tell us that everyone of her students were trouble makers. She went on to tell us that summer break couldn’t be long enough but she assured us that being a teacher was one of the biggest blessings of her life. To close our time together, we gathered in our circle and prayed for Marta and her family. 

As we continued our day we stopped at our second house and met a man named Antwan. Antwan shared with us that he didn’t have a job and that he would love prayer for that. He also shared with us that he has never ceased praying to God in the good and in the bad times. I assured Antwan in my prayer that God would remain faithful to his family whether he found a job or not. 

As we finished up our morning, we stopped at our translator, Ronnie’s house. We were blessed with time to get to know his brothers, ask them about life and about their futures. We laughed as they talked about play wrestling with each other. And how the younger brother usually wins. We wrapped up our time thanking Ronny for his faithfulness to Mission of Hope. We had a blessed morning. I believe that God is working in these folk’s hearts. We ask you all to join us as we pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ in the Dominican. We know that God is able but even if He say not yet, not yet to a solution to poverty, not yet to a solution to water and food for kids, or not yet to a solution to every problem, we will still remain faithful. Now to Him is able, amen.

Rony (our translator) and Noah 

Day 5 Team 2-Sami Ford

Today was an absolutely incredible day. It definitely felt the most productive out of all of them so far. In the morning my group got to work on a house ripping up the floors and help making lunch with Rosa for everyone. Lunch, as always was very delicious. We got to build closer relationships with many of the locals that we already met and many of us got our hair braided by Diana. 

Later in the afternoon our group got to play with a lot of the kids. Some played basketball and others, including me learned games from the younger kids. Then we got to go up to the mountain campus for a couple hours to buy gifts from their shop, that provides jobs for locals (one who was also one of our translators; John) and get to know others more. To be totally honest, I also went on social media for the first time this trip to talk to my friends on the free WiFi. The days have flown by so fast and I can’t believe it’s already day five. I’m really disappointed that we have to go home on Wednesday. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to go on this trip and that God had his own plan for everything. I realized today just how much God has watched over us this whole trip, 

Sami

Day 5 Team 1- Camber Ebert

Our day started off this morning with a delicious breakfast of French toast, fruit, and cereal. Then we headed out to the village of Ascension for a day of work and SMT. When we arrived, we stopped at a house that my small group had worked in on Thursday. Then we split into two groups of eight. My group went further into town to start with SMT, while the other group stayed back to work on the house. Our group of eight then split in half with an intern and translator for each group. When we arrived we were immediately greeted by my young friend Robér. 

My group (Mckenna, Grace, Michelle and I/our intern-Sam/our translator-Oliver) visited 5 houses. We met Alicia, Maria, Frankie and Family, Filomena, Anise and her children, and Llorena and her family. Filomena moved to the Dominican Republic from Haiti a while ago (she didn’t remember how many years). She has ten children, though five of them have passed away. The other five are living in Haiti and are unable to come to the Dominican Republic. Filomena has a hurt leg, especially her knee. Sometimes she is unable to walk and she always has to use her cane. She visits the doctor often because of her pain but she told us that her money is wasted because they say there is nothing wrong with her. We all laid our hands on her and prayed for her health and safety as well as her children. Llorena is the grandma of Rosa and Anayeli, they all live together. Anayeli (18) not even a month ago had her baby Ámamelady. Luckily everyone in the house spoke Spanish so I was able to communicate with them. I was even able to hold Ámamelady’s hand (she held my finger). I was able to pray for their family in Spanish! This concluded our SMT and we headed back to the house while singing (screaming) some worship songs on the caravan. We ate a delicious lunch made by Pastora Francisca (rice, beans, salad, and cherry juice). 

After lunch we split up again and started working. Our project was to help build a new foundation for a house to go on. It was for an elderly woman and her family to live in. I was working at this house on Thursday and I was awestruck by the progress the Dominicans had made since then. My job was to help move dirt out of the spots they were going to put concrete in. I worked for about two hours shoveling dirt, moving rocks, and dumping buckets full of dirt. The phrase “Dame la pala” or give me the shovel, was used often. I was thrilled with how this day went because I feel like I made an impact on several lives. 

My Dominican friends call me by many names. To John (one of the Mission of Hope workers) I am “Dominicana” because I have the characteristics of a true Dominican. To some I’m Kimberly or Kimber and to everyone else I’m Camber. I’m am truly blessed with my ability to speak Spanish and because of this I have made many amazing new friendships that I will never forget. Pastora Francisca’s husband Juan Pablo or Papito, told me that with my personality and work ethic I am a true Dominican. He said that I have found my people and I am welcome here whenever. I am so grateful for this spectacular experience. 

Camber

Day 4 Church Day- Devon DeYoung

Our team started off the day with a church service at the mountain campus.  The message was given by Paster Jodi, a paster who had grown up in Mississippi and moved to the Dominican Republic after meeting his wife here.  We had a breathtaking view of the mountains in the background of the roof during worship and the sermon.  

After the mountain campus, we rode a bus (pic of Derrick and our driver) an hour and a half to Santiago to another MOH campus. There we had a relaxing and fun afternoon. Some of the highlights included playing volleyball, bags, more cards, talking with team members and bonding, and of course (with the help of many) being able to get into an upper hammock.  In Santiago, we also had the privilege of having more worship time with a band of staff and local Dominicans.  The band was incredible and the experience of being surrounded by 3 different campuses of people and staff singing in both English and Creole was powerful.  MOH leaders also gave insight into their plans for the future and how we can continue to be part of the team from home. 

In the Dominican Republic I have learned many things.  There are a few things that really stand out to me. One  was something that Derrick said on how we have seen many beautiful views over this week and how we can clearly see God’s beautiful creation in these views, but we don’t always realize this at home with the green grass and being able to grow crops.  Another is the power of communication.  We have formed a lot of bonds this week with each other, translators, children, local Dominicans, interns, and so many more.  The conversations we have had will have more of an impact on me, and hopefully the others, than any of the physical work we have done in this one week. 

Devon

Day 3 Beach Day- Jessica Bahr

Today was beach day today! From flying off of banana boats, to snorkeling over a coral reef, to running over the scorching sand, or just even relaxing by the ocean side, we did so many memorable things. Being part of a team made the whole experience even greater. 
Snorkeling was such a beautiful thing; there was so much to look at, there was no way of even seeing it all. We swam so close to the fish and the coral that you could even touch it. On the count of three, Carter, Hope, Camber, and I even touched the coral together. The beauty of God’s creation truly had shown in today. 
We even got to go shopping today, which was [unsurprisingly] one of the highlights of my day. In the beginning of the trip we didn’t think we’d get the chance to get many souvenirs, so it was a happy thing for more than just me. Simply seeing another part of the Domincan Republic than we did in the beginning of our week was eye-opening as well. There is so much difference among places here that it’s pretty hard not to notice. No matter where you go though, people are always happy and that’s the most important. It tugs at my heart strings seeing people here so happy, even makes me sad to think that people in the US typically seem to find the bad in situations. It’s just such a better way of living to be genuinely happy. 
With time, even after all that’s been going on in the news, as a team we’ve seen that the Domincan has great potential, even more through Jesus. We, here as a part of Mission of Hope, are part of the beginning to it all. It’s such a joyous thing to be able to be a part of it. Every day changes me in a different way and brings us closer to what we’ve been saved to do, and I couldn’t have wanted to experience more on a trip. 

Also, hello family! I love you from miles away! 

Jessica

Day 2 Overview

Hello All,

Well yesterday's overview shared that we would always be in 3 teams but today we were put first into 2 teams and then all together for awhile. In the morning we all worked at the church as some sifted sand, some helped with cement for a block wall and others played with kids.  Just like yesterday pastor Francisca made us lunch.  It was so delicious.  After lunch we broke up into two teams as some did Strategic Mission Time and others played basketball with local kids.  It was a great but hot time.
We got back to the campus early and went for a swim and then had dinner.  Later tonight we had a worship night and sang songs with the MOH staff.  After worship time we shared our highs and lows and prayed for each other.  I think our team is really getting to know and care for each other through this time.  After our team time we had some free time to play cards and bond together.

Thanks for all your prayers.

P.S. Tomorrow is our beach day and our team is excited for the day.