Last Day In The Dominican

I can't believe how fast this week has gone by.  It seems like just yesterday that we landed at the Santiago airport and looked around for our missionary guide to pick us up.  Today was our relax and rejuvinate day - a time to reflect on the week and give our muscles some rest. We had breakfast at the group home again, then drove to an area north of Santiago that has 27 waterfalls you can climb up to and slide down.  It takes all day to do the 27 so we just did the bottom 7 but it was a blast!  The second to last one had a jump or slide option and most of us did both (slid down then climbed back up and jumped).  A few of us even jumped twice.

After that we drove to the beach on the north side of the island and spent 2 hours swimming in the ocean, sitting in the sun, and enjoying some of the local shops on the beach while enjoying some "cerveza" at the local beach hut.  Our bus driver helped us negotiate good prices on beach chair rentals as well.

We're both sad and excited that the week has come to an end.  Sad to leave this beautiful place and the beautiful people and mission here, but excited to be going home to family and friends and to share our story and and experience.  We have some incredible stories to tell and are excited to share the mission here with others back in the US to make them aware of what is going on down here.

See you all soon, and thanks for the continued prayers as we finish our journey tomorrow!

Too Hot to Handle (a Shovel)

!Buen dia a nos amigos en los EEUU!

Ok, that exhausted my Spanish vocabulary.
Today is the hottest day since we've been in the DR, but since we've all pretty much maxed out our sweat output, the jump from 91 degrees to 96 isn't anything to write home about ;)

Given that it's so blasted hot (and my back feels like I'm 83 years old), it was quite a relief getting to spend the morning painting the outer wall at la Escuela Luterana la Concordia instead of slaving away in the trenches. I had the honor of sketching the school logo on the wall yesterday and putting on the finishing touches today. A local Dominicano stopped by to watch me paint so I offered him the brush. He happily filled in the lamb until the woman for whom he was waiting told him it was time to go. He might not be the next Rembrandt but it was pretty sweet getting to share those brief moments with him.
And the most beautiful thing about this trip is that it's chock full of moments like that--moments when we connect with a stranger over something as simple as painting a wall or snacking on yucca or playing with a headlamp. Sometimes broken words are involved in those moments and sometimes words are completely unnecessary.

And now lunch break is over and I must join my brethren in the trenches for our final afternoon of dirt-slinging.  !Adios!

--Kristin~

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off To Work We Go

Today is the saddest day of the week for us, but not for the reason you'd expect.  Today is our last work day and even though we are all sore and tired, we are sad to see this work end. This has been an amazing week so far and we look forward to finishing it strong!

Last night was our last church service for the week - this time at the building next to the group home where we've been eating our breakfast.  All of the kids and young adults from the home and surrounding area were there and after the service they sang a song to us as well.  It was just amazing.  They called Pastor Josh up at the end of the service to introduce him and they jested with him about being dressed casual for church, which gave us all a good laugh.  The group has been so much fun to work with here!

Today we are finishing as much trenching as we can at the building site and four of us are finishing up some painting at the current preschool site.  Tomorrow is our rejuvenate and relax day which we're spending hiking at some waterfalls and spending part of the time at the beach.  Pray for us to continue strong and have a safe trip home on Saturday.

In the Trenches

The past few days we have been in the trenches...literally.  We have been digging the foundation of the new church building under the sweltering Caribbean sun.  While that sounds like it would be unbearable, it isn't.  We have been able to build great relationships with the Dominican workers even though we don't speak the same language.  They are patient in showing us what to do and are quick to remind us to take water breaks.  Yesterday a group of neighborhood boys were making comments to us.  Despite not knowing what they were saying, I could tell from their tones that they were not encouraging in nature.  When one of the Dominican workers heard them, he walked over to the fence and reamed them out.  They left shortly after.

Despite the hard work, no one is complaining at the end of the day.  There are no bad attitudes and everyone is excited to continue the work.  That being said, we are all kind of glad there are nothing but cold showers at the end of the day.

The Most Unlikely Things...

The most unlikely things can be the best things. I never thought I would ever play basketball with the kids here in the DR. I knew we would shovel dirt, go to church, work hard together as a team, and the like, but I never thought we would get to play basketball with the kids.

And it has been so much fun! It has built team chemistry, it is a way to compete that is also fun and transcends the language barrier, and causes tons of smiles and laughs. And if you are wondering how we have any energy after working hard all day to play basketball, your answer is as good as mine. But honestly, we know from whom the energy comes. The energy to work 4 days-in-a-row, the energy to keep smiling through it all, and the strength to play such a fun sport with some of the local kids as a way to communicate with them even for those of us that cannot speak Spanish, which includes me!

So one of the most unlikely things here has been one of the best things. Praise Jesus for how He works!

Another Beautiful Morning in Santiago!

I can't believe it's already Wednesday! This week has been flying by way too fast.  We've had so many amazing experiences, and even though the work is hard our spirits are high and we are loving the experience.  We wouldn't trade the cold showers, long walks up the hill to the Seminary, the picking and shoveling as we dig trenches - the experience has been incredible.

Last night we got back to the Seminary just before 5pm and quickly changed into some shorts and headed waited outside for our Dominican friends to signal us it was time to play basketball.  5 minutes later they were at the bottom of the hill motioning us down.  10 of us went down to play with about 8 of the Dominicans.  As I was walking towards the basketball court, a little boy maybe 5 years old saw me coming and recognized me from yesterday.  He started running towards me at a mad dash and jumped up and hugged me around the neck and started cheering.  What an incredible feeling it was knowing they remembered us!

They assigned us into 2 teams, this time we started with 8 of us "Americanos" on the court.  After 2 minutes, the Dominican that was organizing the game tapped me on the shoulder and motioned to swap some people out, so 2 Dominicans and the other 2 of us Americans swapped into the game.  We played for just over an hour, swapping people in and out every 5 minutes or so.  As Robin said in an earlier post, it's incredible to see how we can communicate so well even though most of us don't speak the language.

None of us had brought a watch or phone with us so I asked Tom how to say "what is the time" in Spanish and he and I went to ask one of the boys that had a watch on.  After another 15 minutes we headed back up the hill to the Seminary, after making arrangements to return today after work for a quick game before we go to church.

We got back to the Seminary to discover the missionary preparing our dinner was running late so we all had time for showers and relaxing for a little before a dinner of pulled pork, coleslaw, corn salad and fresh pineapple.

This morning we arrived at the work site and Bill, the primary supervising missionary for the work site, told us we were half-way done with the trenching so we should be able to complete that before we leave!  Its amazing to see the progress we've made so far and gives me a second wind knowing we're half way there.

It Rained, It Poured And We Dug Some More!

Monday night we went to bed listening to a heavy rain storm, assuming things would clear up by morning.  Well, 7:15am came and it was time for us to walk down to the group home for breakfast and it was still raining, though not nearly as hard.  It was more of a refreshing mist, but due to the heavy rains all night we decided to take the long route to the house instead of trying the rather steep steps that would be quite slippery after the rain.  Monday, the group home had run out of gas and wasn't able to brew coffee but this morning we had 2 pots waiting for us, along with hard boiled eggs, some kind of sausage and some mangoo (a dish that is very popular down here).  The coffee was a great boost of energy and a nice way to start the morning!  After 2 cups, I felt ready to conquer the world - or at least some more trench digging.  

And that's how we spent most of the morning.  Four of the guys went to do some painting and carpentry work at the current preschool/church facility (building a picket fence to keep the kids away from the barbed wire fence) and the rest of us used pick axes and shovels to continue work on the trenches that will be the foundation for the walls.  We're planning to dig down about 1 meter and so far we're almost 1 foot everywhere and close to 2 feet in some places.  Working in the shade had the benefit of staying cooler, but the dirt (clay) there hadn't dried out so it was twice as hard to pick and dig.

After lunch, Kristin, Hannah, Ashley and myself walked back to the current preschool/church to sketch out 2 drawings that they want us to pain on the front wall surrounding the complex.  The building was locked so we weren't able to start painting it yet but we got everything sketched out and ready for painting later this week. 

The rest of the day will be filled with more digging, then heading back to to the seminary (and another round of basketball with our neighbors down the hill. They already told us they'd be ready by 5pm for us to play with them!)

Work Day Two Update

We are currently in the middle of Day Two of the construction work, and by construction I mean pick-axing and shoveling seemingly endless amounts of dirt out of ditches for the foundation of the church and school building we are working towards!

It has shown me how much hard work I can really do! We have also had chances to interact with local people, kids, and some of the missionaries.

That has been my favorite part of the trip so far: the conversations! The conversations between our team, the conversations between us and the missionaries, and some of the bilingual conversations between our team and the Dominican workers. My favorite conversations have been the ones on the bus rides to and from the worksite, talks while working that help the time go by faster and help us work longer, and conversations between myself and the missionaries here who have given their lives to serving the people of this country that so desperately need Jesus! They are great men and women of God!

God has given me and our entire team lots of strength and lots of smiles and laughs so far, and I praise God for that! Thank you all for your prayers so far, and please continue to do so!

-Pastor Josh

Lessons from the First Day of Work

What can be said about a day toiling in the dirt in 85 degree weather with 75% humidity other than it was hot?

A great deal, actually.

First of all, it was exhausting; but it was the kind of exhaustion that leaves one craving the next day's work, a pride in accomplishment, and a fulfillment that allows one to enjoy the rest of one's work.  In the United States, we call the kind of work we are doing "unskilled labor."  While it is true that one may not need a high school diploma to dig in the dirt, I learned today that there are methods and techniques to properly clear the trenches.  These methods are tedious and require a great deal of skill, so much so that the Dominican workers did most of the precision work and we hauled out the dirt they carved out for us.  

Just three days into this trip and it already has been an experience riddled with realizations.  One of these is that the terrible roads and road construction in Milwaukee are such a blessing.  Here we are driving on dirt roads with pot holes reminiscent of a small crater.  Our narrow and closed lanes are such a luxury compared to the one lane roads built for two-way traffic that we are driving through here.

Yesterday I posted about how language is not an inhibitor in regards to worship across cultures.  Today I experienced first-hand that playing sports does not require a unified language either.  We were able to play basketball with some young adults from the church.  They played with a lot more skill than my seventh graders.  We had a lot of fun and they must have as well because they asked when we would be back from work tomorrow so they could come and get us again for some more games.

Finally, in our devotion tonight we were talking about love.  During this discussion I started thinking about CS Lewis's book The Four Loves.  In this book, Lewis makes a point that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, prior to Creation, lived together in perfect unity and in perfect love for one another.  And I realized, as I remembered this, that love predates Creation.  And I thought that is pretty cool.

First Day on the Job

So, today we begin the work we came to accomplish. The day began with devotions at 0700. After that we walked down to the home built for orphaned children with disabilities to have breakfast with them. This walk was no easy feat. The road leading up to where we are staying is quite steep and so the walk down the side of the hill wasn't very easy, even with the concrete blocks positioned intermittently in the hill to help us down.  We were greeted by some of the children and for breakfast we were served Mangoo (Sp?) which is apparently a very common Dominican breakfast. It was unripe, boiled plantains with onions and fried cheese over the top. The consistency was unusual, but it didn't taste that bad. We also had "Hot chocolate" but it was more warm than hot and had a cinnamon flare to it. It was very good   Our bus picked us up at 0800 to bring us to the work site.  When we arrived the local Domincan workers were in the process of measuring and marking out in chalk where the walls for the church and school will be, so we were asked to begin clearing some of the leaves/garbage away on what will eventually be the paved driveway. I got to use a machete for the first time ever. Very cool. Used it to cut up the rest of what used to be a mango tree to move it out of the way.  Some of the team worked to set up what would be our "bathroom" for the day while still others helped pick up rocks on the area where we will be building. We also have witnessed the biggest centipedes any of us had ever before, and not just long, but fat! Once the lines were finished, we were able to start digging between the lines they sectioned off for us, where we will eventually put a few layers of bricks for the wall base.  Everything is done by hand here. After a quick lunch break of rice and beans and unidentifiable meat, it is back to work now. Hasta luego!

What I've Learned from Dominican Church Services

What is a typical church service like for you?  If you're like me, you know the Divine Services and Matins like the back of your hand (perhaps even better).  One of the things I have been struggling with in recent months is finding meaning in worship.  Of course, I know the traditions and symbolism of all the parts of the traditional Lutheran worship, but the familiarity allows the mind to wander.

Today the mission team attended two Lutheran services in Santiago, Dominican Republic.  These were, perhaps, among the most thought-provoking worship services I have ever attended.  And I couldn't understand a single word.  The services, not held in large buildings with pews, an organ, an altar, and a balcony but instead held in small rooms in run-down buildings in the midst of an impoverished city, were similar to traditional Lutheran services so I was able to identify the Confession and Absolution, the Lord's Prayer, and Holy Communion.  The first service had hymns and I recognized the melodies played by a nine-year old girl (my estimate) on an electric key board and one of the missionaries on guitar.  The second service had no musicians and all songs were sung with no accompaniment.  Each of these services, for me, had more intimate connections with God than any grand organ could hope to achieve.  Not to say that organ music is not beautiful and praising to God, but there were in the midst of extreme poverty, praising the same God as we do in our churches back home... and the songs were just as sweet to our Creator's ear.

As I've reflected on these experiences, I find that I crave fellowship with fellow Christians as much as I crave the water I drink here in the hot, humid Dominican.  This goes beyond the need for seeing acquaintances and friends at church before or after a service.  What I felt today was a unity, unbroken by linguistic or cultural differences.  I don't know the names of many of the people we worshiped with today, but I know I'll see them again; if not this week, in Paradise.  And we will know each other then.  And we will have that unity that cannot be broken for eternity.  This is what I crave in church.  And I am glad these Dominican services reminded me of that.

Sunday Funday!

Today we spent the day acclimating ourselves to Santiago, going to 2 church services - both in spanish.  Pastor Josh administered communion at the second service and we were able to meet many of the missionaries serving down here.  We also spent some time touring the city, seeing the one main tourist attraction in Santiago (The Monument - marking the victory of the revolutionary war over Spain) and had dinner at one of the missionary's homes.  So what would a missionary in the Dominican Republic serve for dinner? Why, bratwurst, of course!  To them it is a rare treat so they decided to grill some for us.  Tomorrow starts the real work of our project so we ask for your prayers as we'll finish the day with lots of sore muscles and tired bodies!

The Adventure Begins!

My alarm went off at 5AM, but I'd already been awake for about 45 minutes.  I always have a hard time sleeping when I know I have to get up at an abnormal time (and anything before 7:30am is abnormal for me!).  I had already loaded my suitcase in the car last night so I just had to grab my carry-on bag before heading out to pick up Tom and Josh.  We got to the airport 20 minutes before we planned and half of our group was already there.  Checking in was a breeze and now we're anxiously awaiting our first flight (MKE -> ORD) with eager anticipation.  Most of the group is reading, but I couldn't resist taking the opportunity to make a quick blog post.

We've all been looking forward to this trip for the last few months, but now that it's here we are tingling with excitement.  We're excited to see how God will use us to do His work in the Dominican Republic and also excited to see how God will work in us as well.  Thank you so much for your prayers during our travels and while we're in the DR.

--Josh Hunholz

Window Seats and Luggage Tags

High all! We are about 48 hours away from departing Milwaukee on our way to the Dominican Republic! I am getting excited!

We have been packing, praying, and purchasing everything from Rubber Bands to Work Shoes, from Luggage Tags to Window Seats on the plane.

So please pray for all of us: For Robin, Amy, Ashley, Tom, Kristin, Josh, Gene, Hannah, Edet, Jessie, Shane, and myself as we prepare to depart, and please continue to pray for us as we work in the DR.

Please also keep Debby and Cindy, our Team Leaders, in your prayers as well. They are wonderful Godly women who will be great assets to us as we spend our week down there.

Pray that no one gets sick, that the trip is safe, that we all survive construction in the 90+ degree heat, and that the Gospel is proclaimed in all that we do!

Thank you for your support. It is wonderful knowing we have prayer warriors empowering us!

Yours in Christ,

-Pastor Josh

Welcome to the Blog Site for Trinity's Dominican Republic Missions Team!  Before, during and after our trip we will be posting some of our thoughts and experiences with our journey.  We are going with the organization MOST Ministries and we are Team 1523.  Our trip runs from June 20th - 27th. You can read more of the specific details of our trip on their website.  Stay tuned for more blog posts to come as we approach our departure date!