MISSION BLOG: Daily notes from our youth mission team to the Dominican Republic

Click here for general information about the Dominican Republic.

Sat, Feb 10 - Home Safe and Sound

Dear Friends,

Sue called this afternoon reporting that everyone is back safe and sound here in Suffield. The trip back was gratefully uneventful. They are all exhausted and feel extremely happy and satisfied. It sounds like they gave it their all. They miss their new friends in the Dominican Republic and already miss one another. They are already planning their next trip back and how to do it even better. The three of them will be gathering together for a weekend to plan their presentation. Both this mission team and next week's Habitat building team to the region of Gulfport, MS are planning to share their experience in worship on Sunday, March 4. Some additional material might be shared on Youth Sunday, March 18. Should you meet anyone who has served on a mission team, please do them a favor: listen for a few minutes or longer. You will be blessed by very powerful stories of God's love in their lives and in the lives of friends far away.

Look for our Habitat Mission Blog the fast-approaching week of February 18-24.

Grace & peace in Christ,

The Rev. David Reed-Brown

Fri, Feb 8 - Visiting Churches & Preparing to Return Home

Dear Friends,

Today was our last day on the island, and we took full advantage of it. Domingo de la Cruz, the pastor of the church took us around today. His son spoke some English, but we took Edwin, the 14 year old from the Bronx with us. We saw 6 sites of churches in progress. Some are just the cleared land and some are cement buildings. The main church is in Beron and there are so many people on Sunday that they have to use lawn chairs outside. Also, many people have to walk very far after working very hard. The small churches are also good to keep the men out of the bars and give the women a chance to socialize. The pastor invited us back to help build the new churches. We would love to do this.

We also went to the pastor's grand daughter's home. She is 18 and attends the university in Higuey. She was glad to see us and remembered Robyn and Nadine. She is studying cultural studies about the countries that are a major source of tourism on the island. We drank coconut milk right from the coconut.

You'll be proud to know none of us got sick. (We are knocking on wood.)
We have made wonderful friends. We'll miss them very much, and also miss the maid service and having food whenever we want. Not to mention the sunshine and 80 degree days.

Our flight leaves tomorrow at 11 we will be back in Suffield by 3 o'clock. See you in church on Sunday.

God Bless,
Shannon, Sue, y Justin

Thurs, Feb 8 - The Beauty & Hope of the Body of Christ

Dear Family and Friends,
    Last night we had a wonderful time.  Elizabeth made potatoes, pasta salad, salad, garlic bread, and a banana dessert all with no meat.  Hooray! We were able to talk with them about the church and their hopes.  We decided we will try and earn money for a computer for the school located in the church.  They are very excited about the land they have purchased to build a new church closer to the hotels. 
    We have noticed that our Spanish is getting better and our English is getting worse.  But we do know enough German to start a volleyball game. 
    There is a boy here named Edwin who was born in the Bronx and still speaks pretty good English.  He translated the sermon for us except when he spaced out.  He is 14 and we are going to give him our Spanish bible because he does not have one.  Tonight we are going back to church without Justin because it is women's night at the church.  Elizabeth said if even one man goes, then the sermon will have to be about a man.  (Justin is heart broken) 
    Tomorrow we are going to deliver the last of the school supplies and see the construction of the new church and go to the clinic.  The beginning of the week went very slowly, and now it is going by very quickly. 
    We love the people here and have made a lot of good friends.  Roberto sent us a dessert platter to our room and we feel like royalty. 
    The weather is beautiful in the 80's with a breeze off the ocean.  It is really rough being us. 

God Bless
Sue, Justin, Shannon

Wed Feb 7 - A Difficult Day of Horrible Images

Today was very difficult. We saw horrible things that will stay as pictures in our minds. We went and gave out more school supplies and vitamins. It is difficult to decide whether to give to the very poor - who's parents don't even try and work - or to the children that can go to school because their parents work 60 hours a day. We prayed about it and gave supplies to the children God put in front of us. At one place it was a mob scene. The only problem we really had was that the parents didn't seem to believe us: that the gummy bears were vitamins. They were eating them themselves. Tonight we are going to Elisabeth and Joel's house for dinner.

The Lord's Prayer in Spanish

El Padre Nuestro

Padre nuestro que estás en el cielo,
santificado sea tu Nombre,
venga tu reino,
hágase tu voluntad,
en la tierra como en el cielo.
Danos hoy nuestro pan de cada día.
Perdona nuestras ofensas,
como también nosotros perdonamos
a los que nos ofenden.
No nos dejes caer en tentación
y líbranos del mal.
Porque tuyo es el reino,
tuyo es el poder,
y tuya es la gloria,
ahora y por siempre.

Amen.

Tues, Feb 6 - The Clinic and Santa and Food! O My!

Today we went to the clinic. She was so please with all the medicine. There were a lot of women and children waiting. They have to walk a long time to get to the clinic. So many have an upper respiratory infection. We talked to the nurse and left some books for the patients but didn't talk to them. We went to visit Roberto and his family they have three children the youngest is 3 months old. Everyone is so nice and wants to show us hospitality by feeding us, but we have been very nicely saying no, that we are not hungry and drinking only bottled water. Yesterday we would give the gifts to the children. They were so excited, we felt like Santa Clause. On our way back we realized that they are just happy for us to visit with them. So today we gave Roberto the school supplies and told him to give them to them another day.

Roberto works two jobs at the hotel he is a bell boy from 8-4 an then he works in the kitchen from 5-12 he only makes $225.00 a month. He is very nice and the family is happy. When he gives his kids the presents he can be the hero, he works so hard. Today was another beautiful day, and we got to see open ocean where the fishermen came in after fishing. It was the nicest beach we have ever seen.

Tonight we are off to church again. and then we will rest a bit. Will write again tomorrow.

Keep Praying for us!

Shannon, Sue an Justin

Monday, Feb 5 - We're Here!

Sue called sending us a message that they had a great trip. She, Shannon and Justin went to the local church yesterday, and today (Monday) they are going to the school to deliver all the supplies. Everyone is well. Although, the weather is overcast! (Only a mild bummer!)

Sat, Feb 3: All Hugs and Smiles, Mission Team Flies to Dominican Republic!

Our youth mission team for the Dominican Republic gathered at the Drenzek home here in Suffield and left for the airport shortly after 2 pm. They were very excited with smiles and hugs all around. Each of them packed incredibly light for the eight day trip in order to maximize the quantity of mission supplies. They are brining over 150 lbs. of school supplies, books in Spanish and one year's supply of vitamins for 35 children. We pray for our friends in this photo (left to right): Justin, Youth Leader Sue Begin and Shannon. They will be back one week from today, February 10.

Youth Commissioned for Mission to Dominican Republic

The week of February 3-10, we have a team of three going to the Dominican Republic. They include Shannon Smith, Justin Drenzek and Youth Leader Sue Begin. In worship on Sunday, January 28, our church Commissioned them for their short term mission work. We were honored to have The Rev. Dr. Aidsand Wright-Riggins III, Executive Director of National Ministries for the ABCUSA, participate in the commissioning with us. The team hopes to provide assistance to a local school - they have been collecting books in Spanish along with other supplies. A clinic also requested vitimins for over 35 children.

During their trip, please check here for daily update "blogs" and photos.