Allison:

Throughout this trip, I’ve taken time to sit and watch the children interacting with each other and with everyone else on the team. I’ve noticed how much the kids genuinely enjoy seeing us, and that even just giving them a hug means the world to them. They simply want to be with you. No matter if you’re sitting and watching them play or playing with them. 

On Monday, I was worried that the kids wouldn’t like me, I wouldn’t understand them, or I would feel awkward. Though this trip shoves us out of our comfortable bubble-like nest, we jumped right in. We were quite the sight to see jumping around while we sung, but there was never a moment where I felt uncomfortable or like I couldn’t interact with the children because I didn’t understand everything they said. The younger kids call us ‘Tia’ or ‘Tio’ and the other kids love to ask us ‘Como te llamas?’ and then pronounce our names to make sure they get it right. 

As the week progressed and we grew closer to the kids, they started to wait for us beside the gate and greet us with hugs and by yelling our names. These memories that we come away with, affect us infinitely. I fell in love with the people here, the culture, and the endless adventures. From painting the playground to playing Gato, Gato, Perro…these are experiences that last a lifetime. 

While we combated many hectic situations and were stressed, it was never terribly overwhelming and we worked quite well together as a team. Today was especially hectic as it was the day that kids came and picked up their report cards from the school, but we managed and had lots of fun too. There’s something to be said about becoming immersed in another culture. We’re all God’s children, it unites us and that’s what truly matters; not the language you speak.

Mary Margaret:

While the largest part of the team worked hard with crafts, songs and games; Webster, Tom and I worked on a few of the painting projects Milquella had for us.  Yesterday we finished painting the Parish Hall, above the sanctuary, and started prepping the playground for a new coat of paint (or two) and a new theme. 

As we were getting close to the end of the bucket of primer, I started thinking about the story of the loaves and fishes.  Would we have enough primer?  It was so thin I wasn’t sure it would cover anything very well.  We ended up with enough and more.  The same was true today.  We started with six quarts of different colors, six paint brushes and one ladder.  In the end we had a beautiful house, see saws and a jungle gym decorated in many colors with paint left over. 

The same was true with our craft supplies the congregation so graciously donated.  The bottom line is, when we are together doing the work we have been called to do, there is always enough to go around and a little bit more.

Katy:

This year while packing for our trip I decided to bring along my journals from years past and to reflect on those trips while living through this one. While I was reading through them I stumbled across a saying from one of our talks with Padre Tony. That we bring God’s love when we are willing to give God control of what is to come and that in the Kingdom of God your size is not important.

One lesson I have learned through 5 trips to Bani, is that you have to let go and allow God to take control. Crafts, supplies, and activities, may be laid out to the last detail but what matters is not the ‘things’ but the relationships going in and on around them. Because when things come along that are unexpected you have to stop and remember what is important, why am I here.

So tuning in to the relationships around me has been my ultimate goal this year. Many people return each year to VBS because of these relationships. These people are my family and what happens to them impacts me and the world around us. Why do I come everytime? To see my family both from Winchester & Bani in order to remember that relationships are the true love God wants for us. This means I may spend hours painting leaves on vines to watch the preschoolers smile and give hugs when they see their improved playground. Work in a sweltering classroom with many voices calling out for help to end up getting tons of smiles and hugs when they finish their project. Have no running water and a million mosquito bites to sing or play one more time with the kids and adults. But in the end it is all worth it because I have been in relationship with others whom I love and receive love in return.

It is hard to express what it means to be here, there are small heartbreaks and joys that accompany each day. Yesterday I watched as a little girl, who has come to at least 3 or 4 VBS climb up into a dumpster to look for something and when she didn’t find anything wander through the garbage in the field. When she showed up this morning, in her best outfit, for school she gave me a huge smile and hug. I returned the gift to her and many others today. While painting the playhouse one 4 year old little girl called out “Tia” and “se lindo” which translates (roughly) “Auntie, it’s lovely”. I was so happy she felt close to us to call us so familial a name and approved of our painting. To let go and let God take control invites these opportunities into our lives. While we are not here to fix anything, we are here to live each moment with these loving beautiful people- Nosotros familia! I hope more people from Christ Episcopal Church will come join in our family! 

Kevin:
Today marked the halfway point of this year’s VBS in Bani and I will definitely admit that the week has been just flying by.  For me, this year has been a great chance to reflect on the growth and change that has taken place in the community.  I have enjoyed seeing familiar faces like Alexander grow and take charge of parts of the Bible School.  Today, he wore a t-shirt from Virginia Theological Seminary that Rachel, our seminarian, sent over with her mom, Deb.   Our painting from two years ago is still holding up well and we can see each of our flowers in the cafeteria.  In addition, this day has marked a great opportunity to evaluate our teamwork and the progress that we are making as a group.  Our group has transitioned extremely smoothly and we have worked well as a team.  Our youth have bountiful energy to take out onto the playground and lead games, our educators have an abundance of creativity to adapt our crafts to the needs of four different age groups, and our musicians take charge in leading the children through a variety of song and dance.  We also have a painting team working on various projects in the parish hall and playground.  In the evenings, the group has kept each other entertained with lots of laughs and thoughtful reflection.  We have also been joined by Emily, a recent Clemson grad, whose learning all about Episcopal mission work in the Dominican Republic.

            For me, the day represented some of the best reasons that I love mission work, especially here in the Dominican Republic.  In the afternoon, I spent time on the playground playing with some of the youngest ones.  It really does not matter what kind of game you play with them, they are so excited and happy to have some attention.  From chalk games to “gato, gato, perro” (the Dominican version of “duck, duck, goose”), the children are eager, smiling, and full of energy.  They talk your ear off as well and it does not matter if you catch every word, they keep on talking.  I could not believe that one of the young girls from the preschool, Rosalba, told me yesterday that she could say something in English and she then proceeded to say “My name is Rosie” in perfect English.  She even told me her mother works in a pharmacy, which as a pharmacy student, was a completely pleasant surprise.  Today, as Rebecca had a conversation with the teacher, she mentioned that Rosalba had even mentioned us to her parents at the end of the day and that her parents mentioned her excitement about our visit when they dropped her off today.  To realize how much our simple games and activities mean to those children is incredibly uplifting and shows us the kind of good things that we are able to accomplish.  Personally, I have considered focusing in pediatrics as I continue in pharmacy and the opportunity to work with the children in this capacity helps to highlight some of what I find most rewarding in this potential opportunity.  A second example of that is in the pride all of the children show in their crafts.  Today, we made a house out of popsicle sticks to go along with today’s Bible story and several of the older children all asked for markers to write out the phrase that went along with the story underneath their house.  The words of the story truly resonated with them and they put them on their crafts to take along with them.

            Mission work can be tough – today was particularly hot and sweltering and the fans/water in the church were not working because the electricity was out, but moments like I’ve described above help to validate the wonderful parts of mission.  These are the reasons I keep coming back.  To work as a part of a team and to reach out to children in the community gives me a terrific sense of giving back.  In addition, I take a lot out of their sheer pleasure and delight in our presence here and it is incredibly uplifting.  This evening, we’ve prayed for a fruitful continuation of our VBS as we go through these last two days with the hopes that they are as successful as our first few have been.  I too am looking forward to these next few days of games and learning as we help to uphold this week’s theme of  “To proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God”.

George and Kathryn:  As soon as we started to play games, the enthusiasm from the kids elevated. It didn’t matter what was going on in their personal lives, they just played. Both of us are not fluent in Spanish, but we still communicated well with the kids.

George:  When Webster and I worked on the playhouse, Yaniel pressed his face against the fence, shouting “What are you doing to my house?”Webster and I just laughed. Yaniel is in for a big surprise tomorrow when we paint white with primer the entire playground. But then we will paint it beautiful colors.

Kathryn:  The first girl that I talked with was Brainy. She was also the first one to understand that I did not speak a lot of Spanish. But, even with not be able to communicate through words we communicated through hand motions and what little Spanish I knew.

George and Kathryn:   We can’t wait to build on the relationships we established so far!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Proclaiming the Good News of Christ

Hola from the Christ Church Mission Team.  Today was our first day of Bible School.  We had about 80 children from age 4 to about 14.  Some have returned from previous years and have certainly grown physically and spiritually!  They were so glad to see us and we were greeted enthusiastically.  Many even remembered our names!

Our opening began with lots of cheerful children’s voices singing the songs which Ashley and Rosa led.  Then we divided the children into classes by age, and they participated in art, music, story and games.  Our story was based on the scripture of proclaiming the good news of Christ.  The craft project we did was to make a microphone out of rolled newspaper, black plastic bags and various colors and designs of duct tape.  The children then proclaimed their good news!

One young boy was just sitting and not participating. Rebecca noticed him and went to help him get started on his microphone.  When he had finished, he proclaimed his good news, “Jesus loves me!”  He got it!

Our first day of mission was successful.  We are tired, but ready and excited to return tomorrow.  Keep us in your prayers.

In Christ,  Deb and Ann (and the Mission Team)

We made it!  We got here with all of the luggage, and with the chance to meet with La Revenda Milguella who gave us the schedule for La Biblia Escuela.  We hit the ground running and made it through the first day.

As we go through the week, I cannot help but be aware of two things.  The reassurance of prayers from Christ Church.  We started our trip early (2:45am) and started the Bible school the next day which is a lot on a little bit of sleep.  When you have so much happening at one time, it can be overwhelming.  However, knowing of prayers offered from Winchester and working with a good group, it is amazing what we find we can do.

The other is the gift of community at home and in Bani. We caught up with the staff at the diocesan office in Bani, and we also have two additional people helping here – Ashley from Haiti and Emily Gibson (not kin) who is an intern here.  This helps with he music and the Spanish speakers.  We are also seeing friends, old and new who help to make the Bible school run smoothly. This is a community event in so many ways.

We will share more reflections and stories through the week which I hope will give people a flavor of our experience.  Sharing our stories is our way of helping the greater community know how Christ’s love is being shared in this mission which a community helped to make possible.

Webster

Almost Time to Leave for Bani

Thank you all for generosity as our team prepares to leave for the Dominican Republic early on the morning of June 22nd! The suitcases are well on their way to being filled. There's still time to donate. Items needed include: Crayola crayons, self-adhesive googly eyes, colorful Duct tape, and decorative pom-poms.