July 13, 2011

I woke up so early at 4 am. No more sleep!!! Time to spend with the Lord and in prayer. Tried to go back to sleep but it was impossible. I caught with Pastor Mario who was already outside at 630 am feeding his chickens.  After a while, I went back in to read a book. “Secrets of Leadership”.

It is 930 am. So we are taking the Thomases to see their Adoption Lawyer and the judge. Things are a bit off skelter here. They happen as you go. So we have to be there even though there is not a planned appointment with the judge. After 30

  

minutes, the lawyer showed up. So much back and forth whether we will be seen or not. Finally it happens. The judge sees the Thomases and there is hope in why we are here at the cout. It is 12:45 pm, it is a good thing if we can go to Barran Payan, our favored Sandwiches and Natural juices place. YEAAHH, everyone votes for it. So there we go.

Completo, Pierna y pollo, jamon y queso sandwiches plus Granadillo, Zapote, mango, melon juices con leche evaporado made big sense. I am telling. Once you eat from this place and enjoy the ambiance, you forget some of your worries. Sometimes I like to people watch and see hoe the locals are enjoying their favored eatery.

A quick visit with the friends of the Thomases in Arroyo Hondo allowed for a time to get away.  We are finally going back to the house. It has been a long day. It is 4:30 pm.

At 6:45 pm, I am riding the Dominican Metro system on my way to the stop at the Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo. It actually is nice. There are guards in each car for security and protection of passengers I thought. People are talking to each other. Some are quiet if they do not know you. I joked with someone about people keeping to themselves. He said that they are busy thinking about how they can provide for their families the next day. That is why they are quiet in this island country where people are friendly. A drive to the malecon is nice at night, with lights reflecting on the water. Dinner at Adrian Tropical Restaurant is nice. Typical. I am a juice lover. So I order Jugo Caribbeano (mango, pineapple, strawberry, chinola or passion fruit) all together. Yummy!! The sitting is right on the ocean. If you have your car keys and you do not keep them safe, they may drop in the Caribbean sea.

It is late, time to go home. What are the plans for tomorrow Pastor Mario? I would like to be prepared and be ready for our trip to La Roman again. We are being called for a couple of meetings.

July 12, 2011

Buenos Dia Hermano. Como durmiste? Que pasa. Good morning brother. How did you sleep? What is happening? I am ready. Time for departure to Nagua is in about 1 hour. We have several meetings in Nagua and also visit the orphanage in the Colegio Alfa complex. We have worked at this complex for several years doing medical work as well as repairing and building playground for the kids in this orphanage. We have painted the whole complex and cut grass to keep the place livable and safe for the kids.

The new highway to Nagua and Samana is quick and cut down your travel time by half from the old way we used to travel several years back. The 3 tolls you have to pay are ok, granted you are getting to your destination faster. Don Francisco rest and eatery place was a saving grace. We all were hungry and needed and bathroom break. A couple of pieces of pork chop, fried plantains, sweet potatoes, yuka and a coke made it possible to carry on our journey. We arrived at the orphanage well. We dropped off the Thomas family who were there to play and visit with the kids. It was nostalgic and memorable to see these kids again.

Pastor Mario and I went on to several meetings to meet with the church planters and their mentors. Pastor Manuela and her husband Rey, Pastor Tomas De Jesus, etc… to catch up, discuss marriage conference, discipleship, medical missions and others. At the end, the meetings were fruitful.

We stopped at a local supermarket/ grocery store to buy supplies for the orphanage. It is getting to be time for us to go back to Sto Dgo. The weather is again threatening with rain. Rain has been a constant here. This is the reversal of season. It is Summer time and it is raining so much and daily in this country.

Back in Sto Dgo, La Sirena supermarket is always a good place where you can find anything. We purchased what was necessary and headed on home.

Welcome back!!

July 11, 2011

Buenos Dia JP! Como durmiste? Bien, I said. That was the Pastor asking me as I came out of my room after taking my shower and getting myself together. Bueno, sientate. Sit down. He was watching TV. Que esta pasando? I asked him. Hay una Huelga anivel national. There is a strike on a national level.

Basically, the whole country is sitting still. There is a strike. Nobody is moving from their homes for fear of getting caught in the streets where people may be burning tires and blocking roads. They are striking because the cost of living is going up and up and salaries remain the same.

Well, we had plans to go run errands and do things. So this day, I am obviously staying home. He is staying home. No taxi is running. Nobody is moving. Be home and that is what we are going to do today. Read, watch some news to keep up with this strike, sit outside on the patio to play Dominos, be creative and enjoy your free time.

I had to write some letters to give to some local leaders. I went to see a member of the church that had a printer. While printing my letter, it broke down. I then stayed at these church members home and began to play Dominos with them. Before I knew it I was 9:45 pm and it began to rain. It just is a walk up the street from Pastor Mario’s house. They had to bring me back so I would not get wet. I played a lot of Dominos games (4 people). We won some and lost some. That is ok.

Tomorrow is a new day. Check to see if there is carry over of the strike before getting on the road. We are planning a trip to Nagua.

Has anything been resolved? What is the outcome of the strike? No one talks. Move on..

July 10, 2011

I am up at 4:30 am so I can shave, shower,  and get ready for the busy that will be coming to pick us up at 6:00 am to go to Puerto Plata. From North Santo Domingo to Puerto Plata, it is a 4 hours trip. 30 people sit in this nice 35 passengers Toyota Coaster mini bus. I elect to sit all the way in the back, in the corner, so that I can either sleep or read a couple of books I am taking for the ride. Besides fellowshipping with these friends, brothers and sisters, there will be some down time I will have to myself.

Froylan Perez, one of the nicest and kind man in Pastor Mario’s church leads the devotion while the bus is moving, prays for us and then leads about 7 songs that everyone chimed in in Spanish. I recognize the tunes, but not all the words.

I see young men and women who are now grown, some of whom I saw as babies and kids when I began coming to Dominican Republic. Wow, time flies when you are on a good team, Jesus’ team.

We made good time, arriving in Puerto Plata just as the church was starting at 10:30 am. The hymns, special music, the singing by everyone, the preaching by the Superintendent of the churches reading from Exodus 14:13-14 whose theme was “Porque Claman a mi, dile a mi pueblo que marchant”. He charged, urged the pastors to carry on, the parishioners to make their church a place where new believers can find their places and voices so that the gospel can spread. Many invited guests (pastors) were there. They prayers, gave their benedictions. Pastor Mario and I represent the “Church Planting Movement “ began by Forest Hill Church here in Dominican Republic several years, of which Pastor Mario continues to be our partner and Dominican Coordinator alongside the Evangelical Free Methodist Denomination. I played his American counterpart for Forest Hill Church. Where do we go from here?? We both spoke and gave thanks for the invitation.

Lunch for everyone is at the church. Every body ate well. People began to disperse to go back to their homes and other places. I saw many friends from my times and visits to Puerto Plata.

It is time to go back to Santo Domingo. We load up the bus, and everyone pretty much goes back to their original sitting places. Some lively conversations are taking places here between the 16, 17, 18 to 35 to 40 and 50 year olders. For the young people, they are about future with spouses, dating, and school work. Some parents who are on the bus, could not do or say anything, but listen. I listened. I chimed in bit when my opinion was asked. Well. It is interesting!!! We make it back to Santo Domingo at 7:30 pm, tired, hungry, sleepy and all. The bus takes everyone else to their original pick up stations. Great day for God’s Kingdom and a temple that was dedicated for Him where many poor kids and families will come to fellowship with and know the Lord.  Buenas Noches!!!

July 9, 2011

It is early in the morning. I am fascinated by Pastor Mario’s morning routine. He gets up, feeds all of his chicken. He has a mini farm going on here. He knows what and how they all look like. He knows when his chickens are laying eggs and goes all around the bushes around his house picking up these eggs. His chickens know when it is time to feed and they will come running once he sits outside in a green plastic arm chair around the back of the house… Imagine being in South Charlotte in a neighborhood and having 150 chickens running around and no one saying anything!!! He has a little farm going on here. It is similar to going to Africa, Southeast Asia, South America and seeing goats, lambs, chickens, ducks and others roaming around. This is what makes our partnerships unique and authentic. Being that they are in their own localities and adhering to their own set of values. We accept them as they are and where they are. We can NOT change their ways just as they can NOT change our ways. We accept each other as followers of Jesus Christ out to touch one person at a time and changing the world. Together united in mission. It is beautiful. It brings reality to me and what I get to see, reflect upon and think about community, society and they way of life by people in other parts of the world different than mine. I love it.

People are friendly. They greet and wave at you. They stop by to shake your hand and wonder why they have not see you for some time.

It is raining again. This day has been wonderful, peaceful and reflective for me. I am thinking about tomorrow and the road trip to Puerto Plata where I will be part of a delegation of 30 people going to support the church of the Tabernacle of Adoration led by Pastor Tomas Cabrera.

A game of dominos at night makes everyone competitive, excited and cool down from the stress of the day. Dominos along with Baseball are two of Dominican Republic pastime activities.  

July 8, 2011

Well, 5 days ago since I arrived, things are well. It keeps raining every day and cooling the weather down.  Today we are on our way to meet with Campana and Associates lawyers to see about John Alex. Things went well, the meeting was pleasant.

We need to go to a photo studio  to get a couple of passport pictures for J. Alex. It is about time to give the taste buds what they need. Time to chow down.  JT  and the kids love Barran Payan. It is a famous local sandwiches and natural juices place that has an incredible ambiance for those visiting for the first time and/or returning customers.  I love it too.

By the time we got back to Pastor Mario’s house, it was later in the day. I just needed to close my eyes. The trip is going well. I am getting everything that need to be done – done. It is hot right now, but it looks like it will rain very shortly.

Truly enough, rain has come. It is evening and the heat is cooling down. I am reflective about the ministry and how much impact we are making here. I am meeting a lot of local people (church members, friends of the pastor, others in the community). It is good to network with people and be relational. Does that contribute to BGA doing what we need to do well? Everything becomes the sum of bits and pieces.

The night is young . Lights have finally come on. So I can actually read something.  Please continue to pray for us that Doors and/or opportunities will open for us to share the gospel. It is happening. If you know Pastor Mario, he has NO problem  approaching anyone, talking to anybody or otherwise. It is contagious.

July 7, 2011

Good morning Santo Domingo!!! My natural alarm clock woke me up, plus the electricity was out the whole night until 4 o’clock this morning. So I am ready to wake up but it is 4 am. What to I do? I guess I will read some.

A 1 hour workout  at 7am at the local gymnasium set me in a mood to get things going. After a light breakfast, we just hung out for a bit waiting for the driver of the van could get here to pick up  JT and Angie and family to go for a run into the city. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANGIE.  JT’s favor place to go is a juice and sandwich place called BARAN PAYAN, then Mercado modelo to buy some souvenirs, El Conde and see Columbus House.

Pastor Mario and I left to travel to La Romana to meet with the church planters (3 churches) and their supervisors. A stop at Juan Dolio and Boca Chica would suffice. I was so tired and Hungry. Also sleepy. Remember I was up since 4am. This road trip added on another dimension to my fatigue. Reconnecting with our friends from La Romana was essential. Seeing some of the work our different short term teams have done in the past was gratifying. God allowed us the privilege and honor to raise funding to see a church/community center built in a poor community of La Romana in Los Mulos.

Back to Santo Domingo during rush hour traffic. You need to be in it to see it for yourself. It beats I-485 and I-77 North and South bound. It puts to shame South boulevard or Park Road or even Independence boulevard near Matthews coming from Uptown in Charlotte, NC – because of the way driving is done. Everyone for themselves when it is time to go.

At the house, Olivia Thomas and Deyanira Rodriguez are really beating everyone else at a Domino game. It is time for me to relax and reflect on my days since arriving here on Sunday night.