Collection of Pictures

The following are links to pictures that we compiled for the week.  Copy and paste the link in your web browser.  Once Shutterfly diplays, select View Pictures and then SlideShow.

Note: These Shutterfly links contain many, many pictures.  For a briefer day-by-day summary view the daily entries that follow this ‘Collection of Pictures’ post.

Saturday – Arrival in the DR & AWANA:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AZtnDFyzZNmLzI

Sunday – Church in Villa Mella and Guaricanos:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AZtnDFyzZNmLsw 

Monday – Assembling Chapel Pieces:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AZtnDFyzZNmLxA 

Tuesday – Assembling Chapel Pieces:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AZtnDFyzZNmLqo 

Wednesday – Assembling Chapel Pieces: 
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AZtnDFyzZNmLu4 

The Chapel Site in Bani being prepared – prior to our arrival:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AZtnDFyzZNmLmY  

Thursday - Assembling the Chapel in Bani:
http://drcouples2008.shutterfly.com?a=1  

Friday – Cercadillo and Friday Evening – Couples Conference:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AZtnDFyzZNmLog  

Saturday – at the Resort:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AZtnDFyzZNmL1Q

Saturday – Resort and Sunday – Departure

On Saturday we departed TIME to go to Boca Chica to stay at the Dominican Bay resort.  It was hard to say goodbye to our friends at TIME.

The weather was perfect, as we relaxed by the pool and beach. 

We departed Santa Domingo Sunday afternoon and arrived safe and sound in Newark, NJ a little before 5pm, and at Grace Fellowship at 9:30pm.  It was a long day.

A special thanks to the drivers from Hanover Toyota who shuttled us to and from Newark, NJ!

Thanks to all who supported us in prayer and financially.  Praise God. 

We are looking forward to next year’s trip and seeing how God continues to work in the DR.  George says… only 51 more weeks until the next trip!

Friday – Couples Conference

About 25 Dominican couples attended the conference on Love and Respect.

Greg and Laurie shared their testimony, followed by John and Ruth giving their testimony.

Then Duane and Vivian spoke on the marriage relationship. The audience was engaged and enjoyed the conference.

Each couple received a copy of the Love and Respect book and workbook.

Friday – Cercadillo

We spent the day with Ina in her village with her children.

For more information about the Cercadillo Project – http://www.cercadillo.org/

A film about the Cercadillo Project: http://www.ryanprouty.com/agape/york/

Someone is willing to donate shoes to the children at Cercadillo. Since there is no information on any of the children Ina has begun to collect information on each child which will be entered into a database so there is a record of each child. These children are not recognized by the government, however this year the children are able to attend public school for only 3 hours due to overcrowding. Attending school is a start, however they still do not have access to health care and are not issued birth certificates.

We set up six stations for the following: obtaining name, measuring height, taking a picture, washing feet, measuring feet, and giving a piece of candy. We were able to record this information for 127 children.

Thursday – Building the Chapel in Bani… Day 4

This morning we woke up by 4:30am and had a quick breakfast (and of course some coffee) and off we went to Bani to put the chapel up.

There were 6 additional helpers including: Pastor Alberto, John Carlos, Steven, Frank, and Jason (Noe’s brother) … which was a blessing, since we originally thought it was going to take us 7-8 hours to put the chapel up.

The day went smoothly, no injuries and perfect weather… and the chapel is complete! Praise God for His provisions.

Timeline:

• Departed TIME: 5:50am
• Arrival in Bani: 7:30am
• Unloading complete: 8am
• Framing of foundation complete and first wall goes up: 8:30am
• FINAL roof panel: 12:30pm
• Chapel complete: 1pm

Highlights of the day:

A close call as the walls came tumbling down… but many rushed to the rescue.

Pastor Leonel and Junia:

The DR Couples Group

After the Chapel was complete Duane presented the chapel keys to the Pastor of the chapel.

The Pastor and his wife extend their many thanks for this new chapel, which is double the size of the original chapel. They say ‘God Bless you for this chapel’. The entire DR Couple group extends thanks for each of you for your support in prayer and finances which enabled this chapel to happen… and extend the same greeting to you ‘May God bless you for this chapel!’

Pictures of the school that is located by the chapel:

Part of Bani was completely wiped out from hurricane Noel in October 2007. This area in the picture below was full of houses prior to the hurricane.

We then had lunch in Catalina, at Noe’s parents house.

Noe and his Mom:

Once we got back we had some relaxation time, which was much appreciated. It was a full day and a blessed day.

More Pictures…

The following is a link to many, many pictures from Saturday – Tuesday:

Copy-and-paste this address into your browser and select View Pictures:

http://drcouples2008.shutterfly.com?a=1

Wednesday – Building the Chapel… Day 3

Today we finished the chapel pieces which included the roof panels, doors, trusses, gables, and windows.  Praise the Lord for helping us to finish on time.  Thank you all for your prayers!

Noe was able to get the truck early and the guys loaded all the pieces by 5pm… we are ready to go the chapel site tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow, our day will begin around 4:30am, with a departure from the TIME Center by 5:30am to go to Bani to build the chapel.

Please pray for safety, good weather, and preparation of the hearts of the people in Bani.

This evening we went to a park where we handed out gospel tracts and showed a film called Unidentified.  There were about 28 people (children and adults) that watched the film.  At the end of the film Noe asked the audience ‘What if the rapture were to happen tonight?’  He also explained how to have a relationship with Jesus Christ by accepting Christ into your heart as Lord and Savior.

Medical Team

This week a medical team from South Texas Children’s Home (http://www.stch.org/) in Corpus Christi Texas is also here. The first day they went out to a dump, where people live. Then they are going to various sites where chapels have been built. Doretta, Joanna, and Rebeca are traveling with them to interpret. The team treated 400 people and used up all of the medicine that they had for the entire week. So since then the team has visited a wholesale pharmacy and obtained enough medicine to last them until Saturday. They are treating around 400 people each day… by Friday they treated 1400 people and will also go out on Saturday.

Please pray for their safety and for those they are treating.

From left to right: Dot, Virgin, Rick, Barbara, Sandra, Tim, and Tom.

Tuesday – Building the Chapel… Day 2

This morning we continued with our bible study with the communication aspect of Love and Respect, looking at several verses with input from each of the couples, and Noe joined us as well.

Then off to breakfast:

Today we made significant progress on the chapel.

The pieces we made included: finished up the wall panels, door panels, window panels, 1/2 of the roof panels, and painted the window slats.

John pretending to be a vampire (with long nails in his mouth)…

… and John after he got her!

In the afternoon once again watched Noe work his magic as he wove through the traffic. He gave us a tour of Santa Domingo and pointed out the squatters village…

… historical and governmental buildings, including the Presidential palace … there were armed guards everywhere.

Here is the original TIME building…

… here is the present TIME Center:

We then went to the Mercado (market), where we found cheepie, cheepie items.

Vendors were also outside of the market:

In the evening we had our date night. They guys planned this years date night and it was spectacular. The ladies had no idea where they were going… but take a look at the pictures to see what kind of evening we had.

Monday Evening – Visit with Ina York

Monday evening we visited with Ina York and delivered some supplies that we traveled with for Cercadillo (the village where Ina serves).

Ina will be traveling back to the states next week to speak at the college she graduated from about her ministry at Cercadillo.  Please keep Ina in prayer regarding wisdom in decision making, the advisory board that will provide guidance, as well as for Ina’s preparation and visit to the states.

Russell, Miosiotti and Naomi were also there; it was a wonderful reunion with our friends.

Duane, Vivian, Russell, Miosiotti, and Naomi:

Vivian and Naomi:

Naomi: