Independence Day!

At 8am I was woken by the sound of distant drums and honking. At first, I thought I was either dreaming or just hearing the regular sounds of the morning commute here is Santo Domingo. But as the noise continued and steadily grew louder, I realized something very different was happening.

Turns out an impromptu fiesta had erupted at the end of the block, not far from my apartment, in honor of Dominican Independence. After taking Sam for his morning walk, I wandered to where the action was and attempted to make sense of the chaos. Teenagers layered in rags attempted to perform some sort of play, men dressed as women ran through the crowd, large groups of uniformed girls with batons danced to the music performed by several marching bands, and people dressed in extravagant Devil costumes all contributed to the spectacle!

Breaking Ground

Constuction on Jackie's new house has started! This is a huge blessing because it shows that progress is being made! The pictures are of the children's dormitories and bathrooms (eventually a school house, kitchen, and dining room are to be added). The funds for this project are slowly trickling in but would you join us in praying for this property? The sooner the construction is finished, the sooner Jackie and her children can move into a safe neighboorhood with lots of room to play outside!

If not for you

"And then I saw him...He appeared alone in the middle of the crowd. He was a double amputee who had worked his way through the sandy beach. Just as I had noticed him, one crutch slipped, and he fell hard against the sand. Undaunted, he pulled himself back up and began again, only to fall a second time.

"It all happened in what seemed like an instant, long enough for me to see him to my right and choose to turn to my left....

"So I turned to my left. I gently placed my arm on my son's shoulder, turned him away, and began talking to him to distract him from the scene below. We went a few feet, and I felt sure we were free from any responsibility - until my son stopped me. To my surprise, he said, 'I have to go help that man.'

"I watched my ten-year-old son run across the beach and, without explanation, begin to pick the man up...I watched as the crowd turned and saw Aaron's futile effort to help the man back to the hotel deck. Almost immediately I watched the crowd more towards Aaron and the man. Someone picked up the crutches, while others reached down and picked up the man. The group moved as if they were one unit, committed to helping the man complete his journey.

"After the group helped him return to the hotel deck, Aaron came running back to me, and there were tears in his eyes. He looked at me with his innocent conclusion: 'I couldn't help him. I wasn't strong enough.'

"He couldn't see that no one would have helped the man if he had not taken the initiative...I explained to Aaron that his strength carried the man. It was because of him that the others came to his aid."

-Erwin McManus "Chasing Daylight"