Day 2 Mission: Meet New People

Friday, February 17

On Friday we had to wake up at 6:30 am (which is 4:30 our time). Between the time change, the roosters and the mosquito net, we didn't sleep very well. We used Ruth's new cell phone for our alarm clock and it was still dark when we got up so we had to use my flashlight to get dressed.  Since we had to switch everything around at the airport, it was hard for us to find anything in our suitcases.  Eddy and Carrie picked us with their new (used) truck around 7:30 and after a quick stop at the bakery we were off to meet up with the work team from Crown Point.

All the work teams that come down to help get a beach day.  Usually it is at the end of the trip, but we got to go to the beach our first day here! We met them at the Mission House, which is where the work teams sleep and eat during their stay in the DR.  We have some good memories at that house because our family stayed at the mission house one night during our visit in August for Carrie’s wedding.

We traveled to Cabarete by bus. It is a two hour ride throught busy downtown Santiago, beautiful mountains and also some areas of poverty. Cabarete is Eddy and Carrie's favorite beach. It is a popular tourist beach, with not only Americans but also many Europeans and Canadians.  The beach is known for its kite surfing and windsurfing. During our visit in August we saw hundreds of kitesurfers and windsurfers. We were surprised that we didn't see any kitesurfers this time.

We enjoyed meeting the Crown Point group and had a great time on our bus trip, lunch, dinner and time on the beach with them. They were so excited about the time that they spent working on the school. Ruth and I know personally how quickly you form bonds with your fellow group members on a trip because we both visited the Pathway to Jesus school with our husbands exactly one year ago. - Karen

Day 2 Mission: Accomplished!

Driveway at Eddy's sister's house.

Two feet from the back door of Eddy's sister's house

Carrie in the bakery.

Some of the Crown Point group on the bus.

The group waiting at the beach.

The fruit lady cutting up our papaya

Carrie getting her hair cut on the beach by Amie, one of the people on the Crown Point team.

Another new friend.

Love these ladies, I'm going to try this one day.

Day 1 Mission - arrive in the DR with 200 lbs of supplies

Thursday, February 16

Our much anticipated trip is finally a reality - today we leave for the DR.  Two grannies, 6 suitcases filled with supplies, one backpack and one camera case.....hope we aren't overweight on any of our bags.  We are almost holding our breath as each suitcase is placed on the scale.  One of Karen's is about 8 pounds over, so we shuffle and make some quick adjustments.  As my last suitcase is weighed in it tips the scale 20 lbs OVER!  We knew the minute we walked up that our check-in attendant was not going to budge one inch on weight and after a unsuccessful attempt at appealing to her soft side we conceded and made some quick decisions. Needless to say, the Tootsie Pops for the students did not make the trip with us.  For the most part we were able to take down everything we had hoped.

The traveling went smoothly and we arrived in the DR just before 10 pm as expected.   It was heartwarming to see Karen and Carrie hug after not seeing each other since Carrie & Eddy's wedding in August, 2011.  And Eddy being the wise man that he is greeted Karen with "Hello Momma!".  We spent the first night at Eddy's sisters house sleeping on a double bed under a mosquito net.  The walls in the home are built about 6 feet up but there are no ceilings.  The tin roof shelters the home from the elements but does nothing to keep the sound contained to one room.  We tried to keep our giggles down as we crawled under the net which is tucked tightly under the mattress on all sides.  Turning on the light was not an option because that would luminate the entire house so the flashlight came in handy.  The homes here are very simply furnished  and are spotlessly clean.  Most food for the day is purchased from local colmados and prepared the same day so many homes do not have a refrigerator and sometimes the cooking is done outdoors.  The home we stayed in has no closets which is typical,  but each family member has so few clothes and possessions that they are not needed.   Eddy's sister has two daughters Adriani and Adriana and in the morning  their little faces peaked into our room to see the Americano women who were their house guest. The language was a barrier but it is amazing what a candy bar and a few hugs can do.  The Dominicans are a warm, caring people who go to great extremes to make you feel welcome and comfortable.

live, love, eat

at o'hare, ready to go

no suckers for the kids, thanks to this lady

reorganizing suitcases

 

arriving in the DR

Karen and Carrie

The group from Crown Point, Ind. Christian Reformed Church is here. Thursday, they finished their job of building a wall around the school and building cabinets in the office.  Friday they go to the beach and we will be joining them.  We are looking forward to hearing about their week and enjoying a little time of relaxation before we start our work project on Monday.  - Ruth

So Day One Mission:  Accomplished!

Grannies on a Mission: Live, Love, Eat

Hola from La Republica Dominicana!  We are the Grannies of "Grannies on a Mission"  - Karen Hoekstra, Carrie's mom and Ruth Boss, a friend of the family and we are in the DR for 8 days visiting Carrie & Eddy and doing a short term mission trip.   We have embarked on this trip with the intention of experiencing the culture, making new friends, working for the ministry of Pathway to Jesus School and Church and most importantly share Christ's love through our words and actions.

Grannies on a Mission: Karen and Ruth