So Many People; So Little Time
We loaded the bus and made our way to the capital city of Santo Domingo. The first stop was at the Straw Market where we spent a little over an hour being pummeled by the vendors—“lookee, lookee. Cheapie—this price JUST for you, my friend.” Larry polished off his bartering skills (which are significant) and got machetes, etc. Watch out, World. Trevor has a machete! (Praise the Lord they sell wooden ones for little guys)
Joann is feeling a little better, as is Larry, so we were in full force for the day. Both of them were a little weak, so continue to pray for them. Larry met the clinic "doctor" today, and he is helping him organize all the supplies that have come in during the last two weeks while he has been gone. (Speaking of Larry, he's about to move here to go to medical school and become a doctor!)
When we couldn’t tolerate any more shopping, we got back on the bus and headed to the Conde—a pedestrian mall area where thousands are out shopping. We gave out lots of tracts; people were walking up to us and asking for them.
On the way out of the city, we swung by the handicapped orphanage to deliver some of the soft toys we had forgotten to take the other day when we were there. It was no problem to play with the children who were awake from their naps. Pam made the rounds to the care givers, telling them we were Christians from the United States, and we wanted to say thank you for taking care of these precious children. And she gave them one of the toiletry bags containing a tract.
We also went to Boca Chica where the new SCORE complex is being built. It’s a long story, but the ultimate outcome is to have a Bible institute and some other things there.
We are now back at the Training Center where there is a mob of Dominican children here for a special time of games and Bible stories. Taylor went down to assist them in a cool water balloon toss. Thanks for your prayers—especially today as it has been hard physically on several of the team. Tomorrow we will be going to church at Consuelito where we will be bringing them new hymnbooks from “their sister church in North Carolina.” While the rest of us will be returning to the Training Center, the men will be finishing the little house—they don’t want to leave with a job unfinished.
Here are some more of our team members’ impressions.
“What I have learned this week is to be more thankful for what I have. Of all the places we have been, from the handicapped orphanages to the villages—the people have so little, but they are beaming from ear to ear. The verse that constantly has come to my mind is “suffer the little children to come unto me.” I’ve had so much fun with them because I can get down on their level, and they can have fun with me. The people here do not have a lot, but they were willing to give what they have to us.”
Larry Brunson
“This week has been so tiring, but so rewarding. I have learned that age doesn’t matter when God works through you – Trevor is looking forward to seeing his friends from the village at church tomorrow, and I loved seeing him hold the babies at the orphanage; it was so touching. Taryn has held every child that is smaller than her and plays with them; she helped us paint (although she had more on her than on the walls), and has made more friends here at SCORE than all of the rest of us. Taylor has really stepped up this week and has helped so much even making a friend in one of the villages, and he gave him his e-mail address (we weren’t sure what his friend was going to do with it though). I have loved seeing my children in this environment. I didn’t know what to expect from them, but they are shining lights making friends, passing out tracts, helping when they can…
I personally have heard stories for years about the people here, but now I can speak from experience – Larry and I now have a burden and a heart for the people here. I have not missed any luxury we have at home. I enjoyed walking a mile through open fields with animals all around us to go to church. I laughed while painting an extremely primitive house while chickens were running under my feet and a very large pig made disgusting noises. My heart ached when I was explaining to the children of a village how to color with the crayons and children’s tracts that we gave them because they had never colored before. I could go on and on but we would be here forever. My heart is full to overflowing. I came to minister to the people, but I have been ministered to. I have truly been blessed.”
Cris Brunson
We’ll hear from Bev (who is too busy to stop and write) and Bill tomorrow.
Sherri
Published on July 7, 2008 at 8:30 am | Permalink | 0 Comments