The Team

Our team was special....it always is....we spend a week together...and we have to learn to live with each other and all the other things that go along with "togetherness". Thou, we didn't have as much "bonding" time before the trip...we certainly got some bonding time there. Who are we? My perspective.....what I saw in each of our team members....each had their own special gift.....and I love them all!

Dave

Our "fearless" leader.......

Dave has an awesome sense of humor...he kept us laughing in ALL situations....he was our "momma duck" as we followed him thru the airports.... He was our musical leader as well...(with Katie of course).... When Dave was around...there was never a dull moment....even when we were digging......thanks Dave!

Bob

Our Translator......

Bob kept us connected to our DR family and friends at all times. His knowledge of the language (along with many others) was a tremendous help. We knew what was happening at ALL times! He was one of the hardest workers there...."the energizer bunny" (a lot of people worked really hard.....REALLY hard) He just never gave up. I actually did catch him at a rare moment taking a break....and it was rare!....thanks Bob!

Ed

The sound of reason....

Ed jumped right in to any situation. If you said it was broke, Ed was fixing it within min. If you had a thought about a situation and it was a negative one....somehow, he would say the right thing and your thoughts would change...He made it right. He is strong, but quietly so. Ed is one of the nicest people I've met. (Clydia too!!!!) Thanks Ed....your spiritual strength SHINES!

Jen
Our spiritual Leader...

Young and full of God, Jen kept us focused on why were were there. She never stopped digging, even with her sunburned feet! Jen, our very own pastor, showed her goofy side to us as times. We all tend to put our pastors up high...but she let us know...she is no different than the rest of us. Thanks Jen, for your spiritual guidance....here and there!

Terri (me)

the observer.....

I love the people in the DR....I love the people on our team. I especially love the kids! They are the future of the DR.....I want them to remember the Americans in the best light!!!

I loved walking and talking. I am a bit of a free spirit. I want to do everything and anything to experience all that I can. I want to share what I experienced through my camera so you can experience it as well. I hope I was able to achieve that with this blog..... I look forward to going back...I WILL be back!

Jessi
He love and enthusiasm SHINED!!!! and our other translator....

Jessi loves the people here and it showed. She laughed constantly (w/ Rachel). She knows all the people and because she can speak with them, bonded easily. She was involved in most all casual conversations. She has made some very special friends there...and plans to return after her graduation from college. Her dream would be to teach down there for a year..... She will go back year after year and help in any way she can. I believe she may be the future leader for this mission to the DR.....Her passion is strong.....and her faith is real! (momma is proud) Thanks Jes, for keeping things light....even when mom didn't think you should...you reminded me that this was suppose to be FUN too!

Katie

A workhorse and wonderful spirit!

Katie amazed me in many ways. Her world travels and other missions has given her multi experiences. If she didn't have a shovel in her hand, she had a guitar. Honestly, she worked like Bob worked. I rarely saw her take a break...and she had the bruises to prove it. When we all finished on Friday to play.....i turned around, and she had a shovel in her hand, STILL working! She never gave up. I was impressed by her...the things she has done, the things she did, and who she was becoming! God has a plan for her....I look forward to seeing where He has taken her!! Thanks Katie for being part of this team in many many capacities!

Rachel

Always Happy, always smiling......

Rachel seemed to me to be a born leader. She had a wonderful free spirit and a contagious laugh. She was a hard worker and I see her and Jes becoming long time friends....partners in the vision for the DR. I enjoyed all that she added to the team....I look forward to her writings....her vision and expression will be thru the written word.... Thanks Rachel for being such a wonderful friend to Jes and sharing your joy on this mission.......

Sarah

One word..amazing!

Thou Sarah is blind, she opened many eyes....not only to her team members but to the Dominicans as well. Sarah never EVER let her disability stop her from doing ANYTHING! She proved thru determination, nothing should ever stop you! I never heard her say "I can't"! In fact, her most heard words were....Is there a shovel laying around...does anyone need a break, I don't like just standing here....and where are we going now....She experienced this trip like me. Wanting to do it all! Thank you Sarah for showing us all how to SEE....with our hearts!

Anna

Quiet spirit...creative heart.....

I could see Anna's creative spirit at work. Her joy of seeing thru her camera lens got to because I understand that joy as well. She is gentle, had a wonderfully contagious smile, and is soft spoken and she made many friends in the DR. I wanted to walk with her more around Yuguate, but it wasn't meant to be. I know we could have experienced this trip more visually......Next time my friend. Thanks for sharing your love of "vision". I look forward to sharing pictures and visions with you in the future!

With you following this blog, I hope you have been able to feel, see and enjoy this journey, "almost" as much as we did. This place will change you! These people will change you. The change is forever......in our hearts, our souls...in our spiritual being.......Thou, not all pictures were shown because I tried to follow the story line, I plan to add nothing more than pictures at the end. Keep checking for the new additions. It takes a long time for the pictures to download, so they may come daily as did the blog entries.

Again, I want to thank everyone who played any part of our success of this trip....through prayer, financial, or just reading the blog....seeing what we do, hopefully will make the reason these missions are so important obvious! God does amazing things. When we open our hearts... we can be part of those things...no matter what part you may play. God blesses us in many ways... I hope your journey in life is as amazing as this journey was. We are all called to do different things.... Listen...is God calling you?

Le Bendega mi amigos!

Terri