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Santo Domingo with Dayton United Methodist Church

There is always a first for everything...and last week was my first time ever being a part of a Kids Alive Mission Team.  I am so very grateful and thankful to God in providing me with this opportunity to spend with the 18 adults and youth from Dayton, PA serving our ministry in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

One of the things my fellow riders in the car from Jarabacoa to Santo Domingo was discussing how awesome it is for teams to come and serve, to love on the kids, to be sponsors with some of the kids, and to bring donations.  But how amazing it is when those teams and sponsors are able to come bringing with them spiritual food for our kids and staff and missionaries.  As I arrived late Monday morning to the Care Center and met up with the team, they were ministering to the kids through their puppet ministry.

This week gave me a glimpse into the lives of our missionaries who serve in Santo Domingo.  Being able to see them in their daily environment.  Being a part of the team.  Learning and understanding better the things our missionaries face on a day-to-day basis.

I was grateful to be able to reconnect with Randy and Peggy West, missionaries who served with World Gospel Mission in Kenya and later in the states as pastors to MK's.  What was so rewarding and a little surreal is that my family supported and prayed for the West family while they served in Kenya and later in the states.  I have cherished Randy and Peggy and how God has used them for his glory since the first time I met them at our church's mission conference.  Now, I got the opportunity to serve side-by-side with them here in Santo Domingo.

I am grateful and thankful and blessed to have served alongside of the team from Dayton UMC.  Getting to know the adults and youth and learning more about the Dayton Church.  How God is really growing this church and being the light of Jesus in their community.  I was touched by their love for God through the daily devotions in the morning, their attitudes and service on the site (even when it was really, really, really hot), the debriefing time in the evening and their generosity.  Observing how the teens and adults worked with the Dominican staff and children even though they had the language barrier which did not stop them from trying to communicate.  Their attitude in how they followed the instructions of how the Dominican construction workers did things instead of trying to do it the "American" way.

We did many things throughout the week.  Painting.  Tile work.  Raking.  Picking up trash.  Cleaning rooms.  Washing chairs and desks.  Puppet ministry.  Crafts with the kids.  Home visits.  Playing soccer.  Giving hugs.  Sharing smiles.  Working together.  Sorting donations.  Giving out clothes.  Praying together.

Boys' Soccer Club

Puppet Ministry

Puppet Ministry


Raking and cleaning up the work site

Sanding the concrete

Sorted clothe donation

Craft time with the kids

Craft time with the kids

Craft time with the kids

Pastelita de Platano - like a shepherd's pie but with plantains instead of potatoes

Jonathan playing in the container

Girls receiving clothes from the donation

Kami and the teachers choosing what clothes to give to the girls

Painting

Steve, Dana, Juan Carlos, Randy

Beautiful Artwork by Moe

Kami & Romulo with the group

Finished classroom

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