Hey guys, Meagan here!

We’re in the air now on our way to Atlanta. It’s such a nice view from up here because there aren’t many clouds and the water is so pretty! I had a wonderfully amazing time on the trip and returning home is bittersweet. I’m excited to see my family again but I’m really going to miss the DR and the friendships I made. Yesterday I had to say goodbye to 2 young girls who totally captured my heart. Last night the people from Sendero and Quisqueya gave us a goodbye party It was very sweet. Well I love you all and I’ll be home soon. (Yes Hanna, I bought you postcards ☺ )

~Meagan Thompson

Well we are on the journey home. It’s a bittersweet feeling. I’m ready for some real American food and my own bed, but it still can’t compare to the time I spent here in Dominican Republic. I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything!

_-Dana Straub

It always blows my mind being up in the air. The view is just so intriguing. Like right this minute, from my window seat, I think we can see the Bahamas! Anyway, it’s still amazing how quickly this week went by… it seemed like it was just yesterday that we were arriving at Casa de Abraham…and I’m definitely going to miss the memories made there. The trip to the Dominican was quite an experience and was worth going on. Alright, I think im going to take a nap now. Peace out!

~Ashley Morgan

Hey ya’ll!!! Happy Sabbath! J

First off, I just want to say HI to my parent and all my friends, I miss you all like crazy and can’t wait to get home to see you all. Oh and mom and dad, YOU GOT JOKES! Don’t worry I will find that blanket when I get home!!!! J

So our trip is coming to a close, and boy is it sad! The many things that we all have experienced here will travel with us from now until forever. The kids here are just beautiful, and have the biggest smiles, even though they have so little, the impact that the kids have had on us are just incredible. It’s weird to think that our time is almost over and I feel like we could have done more, but what we are bringing home with us are grateful hearts and the hope that what we have done here has impacted all those we have encountered.

It’s awesome to see all the different sides of the people who we came with. None of us care what others think about us, but we are putting ourselves completely out there and giving our all for the people here in DR. I have never seen such a hard working group, one that rarely takes breaks, and its awesome to see what we have accomplished. For me, I went 3 days being sick, but even though all I wanted to be was at home in bed, all I could think of was the people that I have met here, and the more I want to spend time with them, drawing them closer to Christ.

So even though we are leaving tomorrow, what we are bringing home is greater and far more valuable then what we left behind. We have truly created memories that will last a life time.

God bless ya’ll, and pray for us as we travel home tomorrow. Can’t wait to see you all, and show off the AWESOME tan I got!!!! Lol J

Love you all!!!

Sarah Quimby

Feliz Sabado a todos en casa!! J (happy Sabbath to everyone at home) I cant wait until I go home tomorrow!! I’m excited to tell everyone about my trip and to see ½ of my family. My mother is actually enjoying herself in Mexico and she wont be coming back until Friday, but I’ll be with my Dad. Well anyways every night we have worship and I’m always looking forward to hear the word of God. The trip has come to an end but I’m so happy that I came and I’m hoping and wishing to come next year please pray for our safe travel as we head on back I can wait to see you mom and dad!!

Love you all!!

Maria Galeas J

Hello everyone!

So I know it’s the last day on this trip and this is my first blog…but I’ve just had the most amazing experience so I must tell everyone about it. Jole and Omar(hehe) took five girls including me to a local hospital to look around and also pray for people. First off we stopped in the pediatric ward and saw lots of babies, which mostly had congestion. We prayed for the babies and their families and then gave them teddy bears. We saw the “burn unit”. It was a room just like any other with two people in it but the room could hold up to 6. We also prayed for the two men in that room and heard their stories of what happened.

Never in my life will I think the same way about hospitals. People always complain about privacy in our hospitals and only if they knew how it was down here I don’t think they would. We are so lucky to live in such a wonderful country that is so clean and that has so much capability to cure us when we are sick and fix our broken bodies. Here they may not have the best medical care in the world but they do have lot of hope in Jesus.

Now to my dad and mom…I miss you! I have loved my experience here, but I am ready to come home. Dad thanks for always telling me stories about medical stuff and mom thanks for always telling me stories of Africa. After this I know I have a calling from God to go work over seas in a hospital to help the truly needy. I LOVE YOU!

~Natasha Allen

Hello Family and Friends

Please forgive me for no pictures or recent posts. For the past 3 days we have had little or no electricity where we can access the internet. Currently I am working on battery back up at Richie´s mother-in-laws house and only have 1-2 more minutes of power. Will send pictures ASAP!

Everyone safe and sound!

Love
Joel

Hey guys, Meagan now J

Today was such a relaxing day! Definitely nice to take a break after 4 really long days. Sunday through Wednesday our daily schedule went something like

Worship,

Breakfast,

Work

Work

Work

Lunch

Work

Work

VBS

Dinner

Worship

Shower

Sleep

So today was a relief. But I guess I have to spill the news to mom and dad… I lost my wallet today. I honestly don’t know how. I know the location I lost it but I don’t know how it left my hand. It contained about $50 and an empty memory card… L Everyone was really nice about it and they’ve been helping me out financially so I’m ok.

I love the beaches here. They are absolutely gorgeous! There are palm trees everywhere and the water is clear. You can stand wherever and look down and see your feet perfectly.

Last night and this morning there were a lot of gloomy looking clouds in they sky so I was really afraid it was going to rain. Last night before I went to sleep I “blew” the clouds away J This afternoon was perfect.. One thing about the beach was that we get bombarded by people wanting to sell us stuff. And they wouldn’t just ask you once it’d be like infinite times, even when we were sleeping. It was a nice day though.

The kids here have touched me so much. The last day of VBS was yesterday at Sendero and in the middle of the crafts I broke down crying. It was so sad that all these sweet children weren’t going to be with us anymore. One girl who looked about 12ish pulled me down next to here and wiped away my tears. When I told her why I was crying, she told me to please stop because if I didn’t she was going to cry too.

Mi familia, I love you and miss you lots. I’m dying to play our new piano!!! Every time we sing I really want to play. Piano withdrawls.. Caleb I’ll be home really soon! Kisses for Hanni. Mommy and daddy I miss you. Please bring Hanna and Caleb to the airport.. or at least wake up when I get home in the middle of the night! J I love you all!

~Meagan Thompson

Hola!! J

This is Maria and I just wanted to let you know that I’m having the best time of my life!! J I’m so happy!! This is my first time going on a plane and outside the country! When I was in the plane I was so scared and thought I was going to die but at the same time it was so exciting to fly off. When I got here to D.R. I was so excited to start working. Now I’m here sore and wishing that my mom will give me a massage but I wont get that until next Friday b/c she’s in Mexico enjoying her self with her family after not seeing them for 25 years. I’m so happy for here! J I’m here w/ JC and he said that when he gets home he wanted to drink Arizona Fruit punch and Goya pineapple soda! Even though I’ve been so exhausted and tired and sore from working all day, it has been a amazing experience.

On Monday night, I said my testimony to the group about how God transformed my life from the way it used to be. I also talked to them about how you have to defeat your battle not by yourself, but with God. Also that if you pray to him, he will answer it if it is his will not yours. I have no words to explain how thankful I am to God for giving me this opportunity to be here in the Dominican Republic. The food has been so good, the locals have been so kind, and the kids have been an inspiration to me just by their smiles. I have seen two kids that are not good in health, and it made me cry when I saw them. One of them is ten moths old, umbilical cord hernia, and the other one was about three and had a disease called turners syndrome. When I see these kids, I wish I could help them so much with their health problems, but all I can do is pray for them. My spiritual life with God has been stronger than ever because of this mission trip,

I have met new friends in this mission trip, and this mission trip has given me a clearer mind about things. When I come back home on Sunday, I’m not going to keep my mouth shut, but instead spread the word more than ever. I’m thankful for the people that gave me the opportunity to be here, and I’m hoping and praying that I can come next year because they are going to be here waiting for me. I thank God for everything he has done for me and I’m praying that I will be able to come next year to Dominican republic and as many mission trips as a I can.

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Hi, Everyone... Joel phoned me this a.m. They are having trouble having electricity to update the blog. "We're in a third world country- We haven't had electricity for two days! I hate to leave the work site to search for an "internet-cafe!"'
He'll write it ASAP. And he may already have! Just FYI to those of you wanting words from or on your kids. Deb Stoia