props to Julie Haylsip (middle right, blonde in black tee) - taken atop Spirit Mountain
A Typical Friday - April 16...
Had a killer nacho dinner at Erica's, with mango on the side and headed over to worship at Patrick and Erin's house. I walked around town for a bit with my pack on my back since I was heading to the Villas the next day; I felt so traveler-esque, and so American. A blondie with a pack roaming around town in Chaco's. Stereotyping made easy.
It turned into a karaoke night after having a blast lifting our voices to the Lord; Patrick continued to play on with Hootie and the Blowfish and other classic rock favorites. (Oh, and how could you forget desserts galore?) Praise night is my absolute fav.
Kymberlee and I walked back with Whitney and spent the night at her house. Even though the work team was coming the next morning, I stayed up spending time on frivolous things like Facebook, allowing myself to indulge in the internet.
Work Team Arrival - Saturday, April 17...Roomie, Jess's birthday
There are no curtains in the guest room, and Kymberlee and I awoke with the sun (Good Morning, Earth!) -- and many roosters, of course. Whit made us french toast, and I packed up my things to hop in the taxi when Gio arrived honking. Off to the airport again. I look forward to the rides with Gio, learning more about each other and practicing Spanish, on my end that is.
Mosaic was on the way from Ohio to New York to you guessed it, here. Check out their site to learn more about this amazing community in Christ.
Meet the crew...all-around fantastic friends, brothers, and sisters
Guys:
Ted Kruse- pastor, comedian (given title)
Kevin Locke- business owner, consultant, strategist, dad
Zach Locke- High School soccer, working/playing with kids
Ben Locke- High School soccer, I love kids!
Jack Thompson- High School soccer, skits, guitar, love kids
Brock Kertoy- college grad, evangelism, encouragement, soccer
Dave Smith- dad, drama, graphic design, sign maker, creative, insightful, love kids, draw, paint
Girls:
Alissa Kruse- mom and mom-to-be, kindergarten teacher, creative, leader, loves kids, teachers
Nicole Rice- mom, art teacher, creative, painter, organization, leading, excercise
Colleen Locke- mom, discipleship, design, creative, store owner - vintage interior design stuff
KC Locke- High School Volleyball, teaching kids, love kids
Julie Hayslip- social worker/Child services, talking, listening, leadership, crafts
Michelle Surrena- mom, art teacher, acting, painter, good with kids
Erika Hayslip- mom, R.N. (nurse), creativity, crafts, problem solving
Quick rundown of the day: "Hi, group!" at the airport where we loaded and met briefly.
-rested at the Villas for a minute
-had some grub made by the cafe: delicious tuna sandwiches and other wraps
-took a tour of Doulos where I tried my best to explain things and give a tour of campus without the buildings being unlocked
-got fresh and ate dinner before heading over to school
-where there was a bluegrass concert put on by the US Embassy's cultural branch at Centro Franklin..."The Student Loan" played, and man did they play. I was excited to see the workteam -- and Dominicans' -- response to bluegrass on a Saturday night. I was not disappointed with people dancin', hoopin', hollerin' and clappin'. I got up and danced around a bit too -- as previously mentioned, it's impossible to listen to bluegrass sitting still.
Sunday, April 18 - Tryin' out church...
I remember what it was like for me the first time at La Vid (the vine) -- overwhelming, exciting, and foreign. I imagine it was a lot of the same for the workteam.
We had some mango and cereal, then headed over to church at 10. We were surprisingly early. Music and worship was intense and all-in as it should be and as it always is there.
The group loved Pastor Luis singing a "Bienvenidos" song during the greeting time, where people travel all over the church not simply to the row behind them.
We had an interesting couple with YWAM (Youth with a Mission) and their son talk about their new ministry in Azerbaijan, near Iraq. They used to live in the DR and were back for a visit to share about their new ministry. The husband spoke for the message, which was a bit ironic; our group from Ohio came all the way from the US to hear an American speak at church. He talked about something that has really been on my heart in my time here, something that God has been showing me a lot about how to defeat -- strongholds. Por ejemplo, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
The group had lots of mixed reviews and opinions of the sermon, so it was a fun discussion throughout the afternoon.
We had lunch at church afterward, and I really enjoyed being the only ones in the open space of the shed, with the breeze blowing through and mountains in the background. (I love the view from La Vid.) Order up: huge carrot slices, tortilla chips, and ham sandwiches -- pretty un-Dominican. We changed clothes and headed up to Manabao to see Spirit Mountain.
Spirit Mountain is the cafe farm owned by Chad Wallace (Doulos Project Manager) and another partner. You drive out in a taxi to the bottom of the mountain, passing by all of these little houses and driving down windy, rocky roads where at the end you get out to hike. The hike starts out with a somewhat questionable suspension bridge, and when you get to the gate, you've hit Spirit Mountain. While Chad was explaining a bit about the coffee and how it's produced to us, Keren, his 7th grade daughter, was running around chasing baby chicks. I wanted to join in.
Then, we headed up by the river on the trail that the last Mosaic team cleared out. Some of the views look tropical, others remind me of home, while still some look like I could have been gazing out from a European mountaintop onto goats and green spances below.
When we reached the top, the view and almost equally the breeze were both killer. The stone stepping path was just put in by the 4th graders the week before, making it easier to get from the water source to the sheltered kitchen.
Sunday night, we hung out at the villas and enjoyed each other's company. Devo times are always special, especially with Mosaic!
Monday, April 19 - First day of chaos at school...
We started off the day right by making it to staff prayer on time!! (Woohoo! resounds in my head.) Afterward, the group checked out morning flag where we have student assembly: prayer, "Doulos" display of creativity, the pledge, and morning announcements.
Then, they participated in what we call a BBK (Building Background Knowledge) on Education in the Dominican Republic. It's a fun time for groups to learn more about education, while challenging themselves to engage and learn with the bits and pieces of information given. At the end, each group presents to the whole with a large web they've created.
During this time, I was trying to figure out exactly where everyone was heading. I decided to take it one day at a time. All of the teachers hadn't filled me in on when/where they needed help, and some didn't need help at all throughout the week. That meant creative problem solving needed to come into play -- (enter Maddie).
Some days run together, and I can't remember if this afternoon was one where Mosaic crew played some soccer with our kids, but that happened a few times throughout the week. Did I mention they were mad-skilled at soccer?? (for the whole, that is)
Tonight, teachers were hosting the team, which was something new and fun for everyone to participate in. I got a last minute text to join Jack, Nicole, and Julie at Tim & Whitney's house. (Yes!) I was going to hang out by myself, and although I was exhausted I love feeding off of others and re-energizing. We had amazing fajitas, homemade salsa, and a smorgasboard of dessert. I've never liked lemon squares more. The best part of the evening was the conversation, where we all exchanged stories about our lives and got to know each other.
We came back and shared our times with one another -- what did you have to eat, where did you go, what did you talk about, what did you learn. I know a lot of the Mosaic peeps loved hearing about life as a missionary here.
Tuesday, April 20 - on a roll...
BREAKFAST. We had a huge breakfast, full of choices almost every morning at Cafe Taino. What a surprise! Cheese, scrambled eggs with fixin's, grilled cheese/ham treats, juice, hot chocolate, toast, oatmeal, the list goes on...
Folks were squeezed in here and there again. Praise the Lord for patience and grace, because
Mosaic needed a lot throughout the week. They had to depend on me to tell them when and where to be, and it was not always immediate that they got those directions.
I really enjoyed the challenges presented to this team, because although they were different than one would expect on an average mission trip (i.e. physical tests, poverty...). Many were challenged by the slow, somewhat disorganized pace and way of life here in the Dominican Republic. We come from such a go-go-go society in America, where our culture appreciates material goods and use of time, the amount of your success, and so many other things that don't make much sense to me now. Our group was challenged by this throughout the week, and at the beginning I didn't have so much hope. By the end, God had really turned things inside out and showed up where He was least expected.
Here are some ideas of what Mosaic did throughout the week:
Erika, R.N. - helped with hearing/eye checks
Kevin, Jack, Zach, Ben, Brock - building lights for the garden (and working their bottoms off), digging trenches in the garden, moving rocks, you name it
Julie, Colleen, KC - helped Ciara in 5th grade, Erica in 1st, Amanda in 4th...
Dave - working on signs in the woodshop - and on paper in the library
Alissa - kindergarten teacher aid extraordinare
Time for family dinners!
--
There's so much more I want to write, but for now I'll have to conclude. If you want to know anything at all about the week, know that God stirred and moved. He shook and brought joy, tears and hope. Friendships were built, and memories were made -- ones I think will last a lifetime, but that's my opinion. Personally, I cherish my friends at Mosaic and can't wait to see them next.
Much love to you! Peace in Christ always.
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