[Guest Post] Melissa shares about our time with the school children

Waiting for the bus

What an experience our family has had. Two days ago we learned again how schedules are different in the DR.  We took a 20 minute walk to meet the bus again. This time we walked in the daylight.  We praise God for our family as they greeted every Dominican passing-by with a smile and an "hola."

We arrived at the bus stop "on-time." The target time was 3pm. We arrived at 2:59pm.

We waited.

We waited.

We waited.

Getting on bus

A good lesson in patience emerged because we waited for over an hour before the bus arrived.

Excitement and nervousness stirred in our kids--uneasy about the unknown. We arrived at the school. The schoolyard was filled with children dressed in blue & white uniforms. The sheer numbers of students amazed us.  Six years ago only 40 students attended. Today almost 600 students attend in two sessions--morning and afternoon.  The wealthy Dominicans and nationals pay for their kids to go to school in the morning session. Then in the afternoon session the poor families especially the Haitian children go to school for free.

Johanna, the Principal

The principal Johanna gave us a tour of the school and we interacted with the students during on of their recesses.  The girls painted fingernails and faces. The boys played a pickup game of basketball.  Our children showed brave hearts as they tried to communicate with the students.

The most stretching experience was the bus ride after school. Imagine 90 kids plus 12 US Citizens packed into a 66 passenger bus. The afternoon session had Dominican and Haitian children to take home.  So we felt  surrounded. The school children wanted attention and love, so they crowded closer and closer--pushing each other out of the way to touch us. Of course, our children were overwhelmed.  Personal space is different here in the DR.

Our family was taken-aback by the visible poverty and odorous filth as we dropped children off at their homes. But there was hope.  On each child's face hope shines through. Praise God for this school's dedication and love for the children who attend the school. We look forward to spend more time with them and possibly sponsor one of the children as a family.

Thanks for your prayers. We leave in four hours for the airport. We are scheduled to arrive at 10:30pm tonight. Adios!

"Catch a Wave...And your out of your comfort zone"

Missions trips s-t-r-e-t-c-h you.

Every day we have experienced new things: new foods, new schedules, and new activities.

The Dominican Republic is on the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. The country is surrounded by water. I am a Navajo and our traditional lands is surrounded by four sacred mountains on high desert plateaus.  So it is a stretch to engage the water as one who's ancestors engaged the desert.

So when my bro-in-law Jeff asked us to go out-of-our comfort zone and go surfing. Part of me was excited for the new adventure. And the other part of me was a bit uneasy.

However, our family has been on a quest from the first day of 2011. On Jan 1, 2001 we jumped in the iced-over Winona Lake with other "polar bears" to declare that we would go beyond our comfort zones this year.

Rafi & Gustavo of Macao Surf Camp

Our family took another step out-of-our-comfort zones. Each child had fears. But each one overcame them. We praise God for new Christian friends from the Macao Surf Camp--Rafael & Gustavo. They minister to Dominican youth by training them to be surfing instructors. Each youth has dropped out of school in junior high because high school demands extra money to pay for transportation. Please check out their fb page and pray for their upcoming Christian Surf Camp in October. 

My favorite story is Carissa. Her countenance had traces of tears forming in her precious little eyes. But she cautiously listened to the instructors, followed her personal trainer's directions, and after two wipeouts, rode her first wave onto the beach. I was so proud of her. The smile that glowed from the beach out to me was priceless. 

So when you take your missions trip with your family. Take the lead. Experience new things. Then debrief with them to instill confidence in the Lord and to guide them as they experience challenging obstacles.

[PHOTOS] Family missions trip to DR

Some pics of our journey so far to the Dominican Republic (DR).

Old part of airport as you enter

Paperwork to enter the country

Roads in Punta Cana

Bus ride to church

10:30pm Post service farewells

Melissa thanks Robinson our translator

Our worship is LOUD!

Last night we experienced church Caribbean-style!

The experience began before the bus ride. We had to go to a bus stop on a street-corner after the sun went down. The walk went down streets lit with an occasional street lamp glowing amber in the dark night. We passed and greeted Dominicans out after a long's day work. We guessed we walked about .75 miles to the church bus stop.

I tried to take a video of us waiting but the camera did not have enough light. So I waited for a passing van to shoot some grainy footage. I'll try to upload a short clip or two if I have time and have extra time with the internet access being so slow.

Anyways, we graciously declined rides from other buses, vans, and taxis. Then the bus arrived. What a relief! Standing on a darkened street corner where the street light is not working with your family in a foreign country takes faith or naivete. I had both. Yet my brother-in-law Jeff has been here many times. We praise God for his leadership on this trip. So we stepped into the school bus for our 30 minute trip to the church and school campus.

We arrived late; culturally acceptable here. And the pastor's wife greeted us with a hug and a kiss. We met a couple from Warsaw, IN, the Wildman's. I met Rod on January 1 at the polar bear plunge in Winona Lake, IN.  Others greeted us with a hug and kiss too. We felt tremendous warmth and love.

Upon arrival the church meeting and the kids meeting competed for who was going to be louder. I'm serious! The volume for each sound system seemed to be red-lining. My girls followed their cousins and aunt Stephanie into the raucous children's church. Scripture set to merengue music and dancing overwhelmed them as they entered. What a cultural experience!

We entered the church service amid a full merengue worship band fanfare. Praise choruses on Spanish Powerpoint directed our praise to God. Hands raised, eyes closed, and dignified dancing surrounded us. Praise here in the DR is embodied with total and complete engagement. You must worship with your whole mind, soul, body, and strength. I joined in  as "wild" as a Grace Brethren could. :)

I have much more to write but I'll end here and try to upload some pictures tomorrow. We got back very late. As one church attender put it, "Our worship is loud!" It sure was. My ears are still ringing this morning. Thanks for praying. We get to visit the school tomorrow.

First Day in DR--God is working

Arrived with God already working ahead of us.

My bro-in-law Jeff informed us that we were also taking seven desktop computers to the Christian School in Bavaro where Dominican Pastor Pasquel needed them for their Christian School.  We did not know how we were going to get them to the school once we landed.

The Lord provided a way!

Our desire on this missions trip as a family centers on three core values:

1. Glorify God
2. Love the people from the culture
3. Love one another

We want to glorify God now.  We packed light, checking in only five bags which allowed us to add the seven computers. Our God is great!  Then we arrived at the airport in Punta Cana hoping to connect with the courier who would transport the computers to the school while we went another way to go to our accommodations.

We don't speak Spanish. So this complicated things. Yet God is awesome!

While getting ready to locate the computers in baggage claim, Jeff met the expediter, Renardo. As Jeff was signing for the computers and showing his identification. Jeff told Renardo why we brought the computers and who we brought them for. Renardo hooted and smiled even bigger. He knows Pastor Pasquel. In fact, Renardo is also a pastor working as a Continental expediter.  How great is our God!

So Renardo helped us through customs navigating the red tape and contacting our courier. We got through as quickly as you can in a Caribbean culture. (\[Side note: in the airport there was not one visible clock. Culture shock for my kids who wanted to know what time it was. :)] All praise to God who reigns on high. He is at work and we praise Him.

I reflect on this somber day that people here did not stop in silence. 9-11 only affects we US Citizens. Regardless, we stopped in silence to remember. Even though another part of the world goes on with life without remember those heroes ten years ago. May God be glorified in our services today. We will post pictures as we can. Internet is limited here. But I will seek to post as soon as I can. I walked over to a hotel lobby to access the internet.  God bless! Daron for the Buriff-Butler tribe