Its hard to believe that we have now been here seven days.
Today we continued to follow our usual schedule, painting in the morning and VBS in the afternoon. The highlights today are that we have been doing way more scraping than we expected. On some sides of the church chunks of paint at least 5-feet-long are peeling off the church. It´s clear that the church is in serious need of scraping and repainting (not to mention concrete work). San Esteban church is nearly 100 years old, so the need for work isn´t all that shocking but it´s hard to deal with when we still have so much to do and so little time left.
Today David, Matt, and Justin did a walking tour with Anita Dohn. they were lucky enough to spend time with a woman named Marta and her children who demonstrate incredible hospitality. In addition to visiting and seeing their barrio the three guys also got a chance to play some baseball on a very homemade baseball field. All three of them said the tour was a wonderful experience. They commented not only on the poverty, but also on the joy and friendliness that is so pervasive here in the Dominican Republic. Despite smells, dirt, lack of water, lack of electricity, and all kinds of health issues, Dominicans are an incredibly joyful and friendly people and that quality shown through the visit that the three guys had.
VBS had 108 kids at it today. Things went very smoothly and we were able to meet with the teachers after classes and talk about a party we will have tomorrow here at the Kellogg Center (they plan on teaching us to dance). After planning, a number of us went with them to the HoJo pool to swim and play games. It was a wonderful way to keep developing our relationship with them while cooling off after a very hot day.
This evening we continued our daily pattern of saying Compline and sharing about our day. It´s time consuming but also an important way to end the day and stay connected with each other.
One great comment that came out this evening was when someone offered one of our team members something to drink and they responded, "I don't want any, I'm too full of goat.¨Life in the DR is pretty different than in life in Plymouth after all.
-- Peace in Christ,
The Very Rev. Peter Swarr
Associate Rector, St. John's, Plymouth
www.stjohnsplymouth.org
Dean, Trinity Deanery
Today we continued to follow our usual schedule, painting in the morning and VBS in the afternoon. The highlights today are that we have been doing way more scraping than we expected. On some sides of the church chunks of paint at least 5-feet-long are peeling off the church. It´s clear that the church is in serious need of scraping and repainting (not to mention concrete work). San Esteban church is nearly 100 years old, so the need for work isn´t all that shocking but it´s hard to deal with when we still have so much to do and so little time left.
Today David, Matt, and Justin did a walking tour with Anita Dohn. they were lucky enough to spend time with a woman named Marta and her children who demonstrate incredible hospitality. In addition to visiting and seeing their barrio the three guys also got a chance to play some baseball on a very homemade baseball field. All three of them said the tour was a wonderful experience. They commented not only on the poverty, but also on the joy and friendliness that is so pervasive here in the Dominican Republic. Despite smells, dirt, lack of water, lack of electricity, and all kinds of health issues, Dominicans are an incredibly joyful and friendly people and that quality shown through the visit that the three guys had.
VBS had 108 kids at it today. Things went very smoothly and we were able to meet with the teachers after classes and talk about a party we will have tomorrow here at the Kellogg Center (they plan on teaching us to dance). After planning, a number of us went with them to the HoJo pool to swim and play games. It was a wonderful way to keep developing our relationship with them while cooling off after a very hot day.
This evening we continued our daily pattern of saying Compline and sharing about our day. It´s time consuming but also an important way to end the day and stay connected with each other.
One great comment that came out this evening was when someone offered one of our team members something to drink and they responded, "I don't want any, I'm too full of goat.¨Life in the DR is pretty different than in life in Plymouth after all.
-- Peace in Christ,
The Very Rev. Peter Swarr
Associate Rector, St. John's, Plymouth
www.stjohnsplymouth.org
Dean, Trinity Deanery
