Today was our last full day in the Dominican Republic. As we put this together our eyes are swelling with tears and our hearts are broken, but full of love. Our last day here is impossible to describe. So many mixed emotions, but if summed up on one word ... bittersweet.
The day began with some finishing touches on our projects in Algodon. The bus unloaded us this morning where we finished our skin care clinic that we started yesterday. We played with the kids and took some more photo's. We walked around the village once again to exgrave it in our hearts and in our memories because we knew it would be the last time we would see it for a while.
The afternoon was our favorite part of the day if not the whole week. We picked up our kids from the batey, and we took them to some waterfalls and natural pools that were about 30 minutes away. It took us an entire school bus plus a 15 passengar van to get there because we took so many kids; and thay was only the Gathering sponsorship kids! It was pure bliss seeing the exictement on the faces of these kids. So many of them have never been far away from their batey before, let alone somplace as gorgeous as this. When we first arrived at the falls the kids immediately jumped in and started having a great time. It was during this time that we gave them our gifts we had bought for them. They we simple things like hygeine products and small toys, but they we elated to recieve them. Our translators did an excellent job of making sure EVERYBODY went in the water. They picked a few of us up and threw the dry ones in the pool. It was hard to be mad at them because it was actually really fun, and their spirits are just so cute. Some time had passed and Zach decided he needed to be baptised. We suggested he get baptised in a couple weeks when the Gathering has their baptisms and luau. However, the Holy Spirit moved him so much it needed to be right there, right then! Deron gave the invitation to anyone else who wanted to be baptised .. and one other did! Our friend and translator Francis needed to rededicate his life. You can see the photo's of this epic moment below. The whole afternoon was filled with laughter and excitement. Lis brought our some facepainting for the kiddo's. It was so funny how none of the kids really knew what it was. We had a translator explain to them not to get it wet because it will was off, but of course there were some touchups by the later afternoon.
All good things must some to an end. The evening started to some upon us and we had to go home. Everyone was a mess trying to explain to there kid(s) they wouldn't be able to see them anymore because we had to go back home to San Diego. The scene of the bus pulling away with little hands sticking out the window was unbearable. As they hit the rode we all heard one last scream of "Adios" and "Gracias". I think it was at that point everyone on our team had agreed we NEED to be back!
This evening, we shared one last dinner together. Our translators, house staff and COTN staff members all joined us. They threw us a little fiesta with music, dancing and lots of great food. Raymon (a translator and new friend) made us a slideshow of our experiences over the past week. He surprised us with it tonight and played it for us. He did a really fantastico job. There wasn't a dry eye in the room! He also gave us a copy of it on a CD. We cannot wait to share it with you all.
Well tomorrow we leave our mission house at 6 am. 13 of us go off to Punta Cana for a few extra days, and the rest of us catch a plane home! Though we are leaving, we leave our hearts behind with the promise to come back soon. Hopfully we also leave behind some impact emotionally, physically and spiritually. While some have given their blood, sweat and tears, to this amazing place, some have even given their lives to God.
Although this is the end of our trip, it is not the end of our journey with COTN nor the end for the people of Algodon.
El final!
The day began with some finishing touches on our projects in Algodon. The bus unloaded us this morning where we finished our skin care clinic that we started yesterday. We played with the kids and took some more photo's. We walked around the village once again to exgrave it in our hearts and in our memories because we knew it would be the last time we would see it for a while.
The afternoon was our favorite part of the day if not the whole week. We picked up our kids from the batey, and we took them to some waterfalls and natural pools that were about 30 minutes away. It took us an entire school bus plus a 15 passengar van to get there because we took so many kids; and thay was only the Gathering sponsorship kids! It was pure bliss seeing the exictement on the faces of these kids. So many of them have never been far away from their batey before, let alone somplace as gorgeous as this. When we first arrived at the falls the kids immediately jumped in and started having a great time. It was during this time that we gave them our gifts we had bought for them. They we simple things like hygeine products and small toys, but they we elated to recieve them. Our translators did an excellent job of making sure EVERYBODY went in the water. They picked a few of us up and threw the dry ones in the pool. It was hard to be mad at them because it was actually really fun, and their spirits are just so cute. Some time had passed and Zach decided he needed to be baptised. We suggested he get baptised in a couple weeks when the Gathering has their baptisms and luau. However, the Holy Spirit moved him so much it needed to be right there, right then! Deron gave the invitation to anyone else who wanted to be baptised .. and one other did! Our friend and translator Francis needed to rededicate his life. You can see the photo's of this epic moment below. The whole afternoon was filled with laughter and excitement. Lis brought our some facepainting for the kiddo's. It was so funny how none of the kids really knew what it was. We had a translator explain to them not to get it wet because it will was off, but of course there were some touchups by the later afternoon.
All good things must some to an end. The evening started to some upon us and we had to go home. Everyone was a mess trying to explain to there kid(s) they wouldn't be able to see them anymore because we had to go back home to San Diego. The scene of the bus pulling away with little hands sticking out the window was unbearable. As they hit the rode we all heard one last scream of "Adios" and "Gracias". I think it was at that point everyone on our team had agreed we NEED to be back!
This evening, we shared one last dinner together. Our translators, house staff and COTN staff members all joined us. They threw us a little fiesta with music, dancing and lots of great food. Raymon (a translator and new friend) made us a slideshow of our experiences over the past week. He surprised us with it tonight and played it for us. He did a really fantastico job. There wasn't a dry eye in the room! He also gave us a copy of it on a CD. We cannot wait to share it with you all.
Well tomorrow we leave our mission house at 6 am. 13 of us go off to Punta Cana for a few extra days, and the rest of us catch a plane home! Though we are leaving, we leave our hearts behind with the promise to come back soon. Hopfully we also leave behind some impact emotionally, physically and spiritually. While some have given their blood, sweat and tears, to this amazing place, some have even given their lives to God.
Although this is the end of our trip, it is not the end of our journey with COTN nor the end for the people of Algodon.
El final!
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