march 22

 03-22-11

Having a lot of fun in DR.  Meeting a lot of interesting kids.  The Sendero school is basically done we just have to put a roof on it.  The food is amazing and good.  Having fun!  Pastor Sean says if we can finish the requirements he will shave his hair of, and Ed shave his go-tee off.  Now we are going to work extra hard!

Sincerely

Jared Stoia

P.S.  Grandma if you read this don’t blame dad for the pics.

I almost regretted going on this trip but I am so glad I gave a chance. I have so many Dominican friends that help me buy soda and stuff like that. I have been seriously working really hard and have never drinken so much water in my life! The weather here is really hot, and at night it can get really cold but I always keep myself warm. On Sabbath we went around the city and gave out bibles. I had no idea how many people wanted bibles here. Every one wanted one, but we only had so much to give. VBS can sometimes be boring but still fun. Its all really hectic. The showers are also sooo cold. Buts it not a big deal. Anyways Im having a lot of fun. -Victor

Hay EVERYONE!!

Its been AWESOME here at DR but I think about you everyday! Im trying not to call because in going to get home sick lol but I miss your cooking mom, I miss talking on the phone with my fav. Person and everything but not the weather! Lol its too Hot but thank God I haven’t gotten sick or nothing! I sneaked into the kitchen to cook wit my fav. DR people and drinking SOOO much water if not ill get in trouble with the staff lol ive also met this new local guy and we have been working together junto con Sr. Silie and we call ourself the 10 min crew since were so fast ^_^ but its all been great I hope Tony and Daesy are behaving and not giving mom trouble. A nd Eva…ohh gezz idk what to say but that I miss going to school with you and rushing me in the morning! Lol Nancy and Luis hope you guys been going to gym and lose 50 pounds lol just kidding..my best friend…I MISS YOU!! Tell your mama I said hello and that I hope all is well!! Im counting the days to come back home!! Even though ive been having a great time so far but I MISS and LOVE each and everyone of you!!

Con Mucho amor!

            Maria Galeas

This is the third mission trip I have been on and it’s been just as amazing as the first two. I’ve had a couple of new experiences, writing on the blog being just one of those many new experiences. I have been pretty healthy so far, but accidentally swallowing salt water and mortar water have given me a few close calls. I have mainly spent my work days pushing wheel barrows for either the dirt or mortar crew, but today I was also able to try my hand at painting, which was actually a lot more fun than I had originally thought it would be. VBS has also been a fun experience, because each time I have about 15 or so kids in my group and a few moms too. I’m glad I have my aunt Jeanie, uncle Eddy, and cousins Gabi, Bri, and Paige, but I also really miss my family back home, too. This mission trip has been a blessing so far and I hope I can make a further impact before we come home.

– sincerely Geoff Morgan

Hey mom, dad, Erin, Jamie, and Crackin,

I love you all and cant wait to get home to c u guys and I also cant wait to do some dishes and see you guys. I love everyone of you and cant wait to tell you all about this wonderful trip. Erin I have some stuff to tell you and mom and dad you gave a “lost” boy to this mission trip and you will be getting a young man who will be starting on a journey that takes a life to full fill and that is that I will be starting baptismal classes with pastor Shawn soon and we will be working around my schedule so I can finish it. I love the lord and cant wait to let know how it happened.

Love you all see ya soon,

Will Davidson

Moms, Dads, Grandparents, Church Family

You should be VERY proud of your young people.  We took down a bunch of kids and they have become young adults!  To watch the transformation in them physically and mentally is exciting.  BUT to watch the change spiritually is amazing.  The worships here are truly inspired, Pst Shawn and Ed need a huge thank you for that.  Just before we left on this trip I heard a sermon by Pst Dwight Nelson.  He read where the Bible says in the end days the Lord will form up an army of young people who will take His mission to the whole world.  Family, I believe He is calling recruits now and from our young people here.  It is time that we as a church embrace these young people, accept them into our church family and let them practice their participation in our churches today.  They are no longer content to be sitting quietly like an audience.  They want to be up front and leading.  And if we don’t give them the chance, they will do like the hundreds of youth before them and leave our church.  The data on this is indisputable.  After graduation from academy, our retention of our young men and women is abysmal!  It is TIME we change that data!  I know their music and worship style is not “traditional.”  But I don’t remember reading anywhere in the Bible or the writings of Ms White that our traditional way is “THE” way.  It is just the way we have always done it.  But you know what?  The traditional way ISN’T WORKING!  Our young people are leaving our church by the hundreds!  Maybe it is because we won’t change the way we do things?  The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over yet expecting different results!  It is time we work to retain our youth by the hundreds! With prayer and counsel from Jesus we can make that happen!!!  Please join me in praying that we as a family can find Jesus’ plan for our young people in our church.  From this day forward I pray we will be known as the church that retains the HIGHEST percentage of youth in the world!  Please join me in making this a subject of earnest prayer!

Joel

3.23.11

We have mixed over 60 bags of mortar with Carly, and my back is about to give out. But the smiles on the children’s’ faces is what bring me through the day. Throughout the hard days of work, I have managed to make a new friends, Abner, a young native boy that hangs around the work site in Quiseya until school begins for him. Today, I gave him my camera to take pictures for me. Turns out that he is a really good photographer. Along with Abner, about 190 children joined us for VBS in the nearby SDA church. I have done VBS many years before, but never had I seen organized chaos in such a way as I had today. Children were jumping up and down along with student leaders who tried to pronounce the lyrics from the Spanish songs the best they could. As it was the last day of VBS It was sad to say goodbye to the kids. But I’m looking forward to our vacation day tomorrow. After all the hard work under the scorching sun, a vacation is exactly what all of us need. But I’m sure after snorkeling, and sleeping on the beach, we should be ready to get back to work on Friday. Well, its off to the shower for me now to wash off all the mortar stains. To be honest, the cold shower is a perfect way to end my days here in DR. Hope all is going well in America. Its sad to think we are leaving in a few days, but I miss my mom’s Indian food. J

Goodnight,

Brandon