Surely the Presence of the Lord is in the Place

Rachel and Abby with Danny Polo and Mildred. (Oh Mildred)

      Tonight, as always on Friday night during teams, we had our closing and time of reflection. During the presentation video I was once again reminded of the work that our great site leaders do and the amount of energy that they need to run the sites at SI especially when there are teams. It is so evident when I watch the videos of them interacting with the teams and people in the communities. When I see them I am reminded of my time at Genesis - the Special Education site where Nina attends and Karen is the director. With all the work involved as a site leader, the rewards are worth twice the work. I remember the kids at Genesis always smiling and seeing them smile made it all worthwhile.

Me working in Maribels classroom during our interview

This sign will forever be a part of our lives.

     I was also reminded tonight of our daughter Rachel and how if it had not been for her coming down here through the Bethel College Semester program in the fall of 2010, then Karen, Abby, and I coming down to visit her, we very likely would not be here now. I remember how the day that Rachel found out she was going to be at Genesis she was so disappointed and emailed us telling us of her  placement. But yet was willing to stay and not complain and see what God had for her there for those three months. Then the very next day we get a Skype call from her and she was so excited because she just loved her first day there and was so excited to be there. So excited in fact that 2-1/2 months later when we visited, her enthusiasm was so contagious that we wanted to also be a part of that and felt God's call for us to go into some form of service overseas. Little did we know at that time that in a little over a year we would be in the very same site and would work with the very same kids. WOW! And yet only a year before visiting her that November, Karen had the worst week of her life in this very same country. God can do amazing things in our lives if we are just patient and wait on His timing.

The famous Rachel/Mildred photo.

      "God; please help me to slow down and enjoy our last 14-16 months here and to just really soak up all that You are doing here through SI and the other organizations here in the DR. Help me to take the time to visit the sites and communities and remember that the emails can always be answered, and that the Thank You's can always be written, and that the spreadsheets can always be filled out and updated, but to take the time to really get to know our staff and the people here in the DR that You have placed in my life. Amen"

     Bear with me as I share some of the photos over the years from Genesis and the DR in general.

Nelito (Presidente)

Vanesa

Abby on that Nov 2010 trip

Picture taken on one of my many road trips with Marcy

Two oxen down a main street in Jarabacoa. (not a typical scene in Shipshewana IN)

A bridge where the two sides never quite matched up like planned

Typical tire shop in Santiago

And isn't this how you would haul a couple chairs?

First time we bought fresh milk at the local colmado, (and yes, we still buy it there a couple times a week).

Running about 50 MPH down the interstate. Oh, and no straps or chains. Of course not.