Our 2010 Mission Family

Have you ever thought about the bonding that built over time during life's mundane activities among Jesus' disciples as the group grew to twelve and wandered throughout ancient Israel and Judea? The Bible tells us many stories of their milestone experiences together, but the detail of daily life in that time is thin. Some days, it's those "little things" that overshadow the highs and the lows of those milestones. Did Bartholomew accidentally drink unboiled water or eat raw salad in Sychar and spend a few days dearly regretting it? Did Thaddeus "lose" all of his money after successfully haggling for a bargain with a street vendor in Bethsaïda? Did Simon plot out activities for the next few days in Jericho, only to see unexpected rainstorms call for a complete revision of plans? They hadn't yet seen the Resurrection nor been filled with the Spirit. Just how mightily did those downturns weigh on their collective outlook? What challenges they must have faced in their daily lives, beyond those about which we read in the Bible!

Our 2010 mission team cannot compare to THE disciples, but we certainly hoped that our words and our deeds demonstrated our discipleship to the Word. Our 2010 team faced illness, bad weather, and theft. We got tired, wet, hot, angry, afraid, and frustrated. But we remained united in support of one another. We stayed true to our dedication to bring spiritual and material support to the school and adjacent community in El Tamarindo. One of the many great things about our mission trips is that although we return home to quotidian chores and concerns, each of us has faced and shared unanticipated difficulties. It is the sharing of those challenges which help form new friendships and create a bond not only with one another, but with those who made the trip in years past. There is even a level of inner fulfilment and satisfaction that links each one of us in spirit to everyone else, across time and distance, who has taken action to uplift those in need. Those friendships and bonds may possibly fade ever so slightly over time and distance, but will certainly never disappear nor be forgotten. What a blessing for us to have been able and willing to perform these deeds, and what a reward to have met and made friends with such wonderful people.

Pictured above are. . .

..... in the back row:

..... Yoel (our Dominican van driver), Phil, Jules, Gin, Marty, Karen, Alana, & Tim

..... in the front row:

..... Michael, Ivy, Michelle, & Ruddy (our Dominican security/translator ).

A Message from Rev. Barrera....

Dear brothers and sisters:

Greetings in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, to you and your entire congregation there in the States from all the children and the whole community of El Tamarindo here. And I hope everything is going good after your visit with us. And all of you have had a safe trip back home in gathering together with your love ones.

There is really no words to express my sincere gratitude for your dedicated efforts, time sharing and working, financial support, and for your wonderful gift for us to continue operating the school and doing our work here. The non-stop rain shed and sent by the mercy of God was nothing compared to the joy and blessings we¨ve all got. I am a front believer that everyone got a part of the abundant faith left out by each one of you during participating in the worship and biblical lessons. And this is the result, because my God is a God of hope, is a God of faith and is a God of love.

Both the school (the children) the teachers and the support staff are really thankful of you. The first ones for continuing being the recipients of the benefit shed by God through you, and the others for being part of the work that God has chosen for them as being servants of his work.

Thank you so much,
Blessings,
Rev. Juan Francisco Barrera
Pastor and Director
Escuela de ICM
El Tamarindo, Dominican Republic

Videos Are Available!

Here are two videos of our time with the children of El Tamarindo - More to follow!

MCC 2010 Mission Trip Photo Album

New photos are available - Click Here! Videos coming soon!

¡No Más Lluvia! No More Rain!

Greetings from Boca Chica!

A beautiful Saturday morning has greeted the Mission Team and the rest of the DR as the sun has finally made its first appearance since our arrival! The rain, caused by a stalled tropical depression, has resulted in some serious problems for the DR. Homes have been flooded, people evacuated and some roads still blocked with high standing water. Heavy rains always present the most challenges for those folks living in very humble shacks along the many steep river banks around Santo Domingo. So please keep those folks in your prayers.

Yesterday was our last day at the school, and we made the very most of it! Projects included making necklaces and bracelets with beads, sun catchers using sheets of transparencies and lots of colored paper, glitter, and glue. We also did the hands project! Our maintenance team helped out by carefully painting the hands of each child and then each child placed their hand prints on one of the newly painted classroom walls. Turned out everyone wanted in on this project, including our drivers and the cooks who have prepared our food while at the school. The kids loved to point out their own hand prints on the wall!

We then had the always emotional closing ceremony where we presented the incredible teaching staff at the school with gifts, our prayers and thanks. An incredible group of dedicated ladies. We also presented Rev. Barerra with our cash contribution to assist with the upcoming school year. Once again, thank you sending partners for making this all possible.

We also presented the two scholarship recipients under the Rev. Arelene Ackerman's Far Reaching Faith Scholarship Fund with new back packs and supplies for the next school year. They both just finished with their end of year exams and were pleased with their efforts. And we delivered more than 7 suitcases FILLED with school supplies! It was the biggest delivery of school supplies in the history of our mission trips.

We also presented the school with the final result of the tapestry quilt project that included the individual fabric squares that were designed by each child on Wednesday.

Rev. Barerra then presented each of the mission team members with a gift made by the children and the students sung a special song for us. Rev. B gave special thanks to MCC DC , Rev Arlene Ackerman, and Brian Christinkas for their support through the tough times the school has faced during the past two years. MCC DC was presented with artwork designed by the scholarship students in appreciation of our efforts over the years.

So, que paso ahora? This morning, 4 mission members crowded into Carlos' car to go back to the school in an effort to finish the painting chores that were delayed by the storms and rain. Tonight we head into Santo Domingo to visit and worship with MCC Santo Domingo.

This marks my fifth mission trip to the DR, and this trip has presented the most challenges when compared with our other efforts. We are a small group. just 10 (and one in the USA!), but we managed to raise over $17,000 to support this important effort. The three days at the school were the toughest i have encountered, with heavy rains forcing us to constantly make schedule changes. The heavy rains always create health issues for the people of the DR, and we have not been immune to those challenges either. But we are standing together as a team, knowing that God continues to be with us in this great mission. But we are all looking forward to tomorrow and what promises to be a day of well deserved rest and relaxation and more sunshine!

Please check back later for photos of yesterday's school activities and, I believe, some videos clips from the school.

Signing off from Boca Chica, go USA soccer team!

Tim Helm

Time to Go Home? Say It Isn't So!

Greetings to you all on our final night in the DR. Just wanted to take a few minutes to update you on some more details of our whirlwind week! We'll continue to post information to the blog, even as we return to the States tomorrow.

Where did we leave off? Ah, yes...after meeting the wonderful people of El Tamarindo! So, we arrived on Thursday to find that Rev. Barrerra, the teachers and children were spiritedly chanting "No Mas Lluvia! No Mas Lluvia!" which means "No More Rain!" Well, you already know it continued to rain, but still the work, fun and learning continued. The teachers and children were excited to decorate backpacks that they would get to take home on Friday. The mission team was amazed at the creativity and artistic abilities of the students. When it was time to paint their names on their backpacks, the students hesitated to use the paint for fear of "messing up" their new prized possessions, preferring to have the teachers add their names instead! The recreation teachers organized the kids for some teambuilding exercises, most of which had to be completed under the tents or between rain storms! Cheering and laughter filled the air as the students learned that although competition is healthy, cooperation is often a more effective method of accomplishing goals! The maintenance team painted one of the classrooms in preparation for our "Laying on of Hands" festival that we scheduled for Friday. A wonderful (and impromptu) theatrical presentation of the story of "The Woman at the Well" was enjoyed by the children and adults alike! We realized during the telling of the story that we had made a great decision in choosing to use this story as our theme. The adults were learning the significance of Jesus' reaching out to the Samaritan woman at the same time as the children and what a powerful message it was for all. In Christ's eyes, we are all worthy of receiving the Living Water! It doesn't matter where we live, how we look, what language we speak...we are equal! We continued to be blessed by the people of El Tamarindo and by the joy that filled their hearts and was reflected in their faces!

Friday came too quickly...our last day with the children. Again, we heard the chanting of "No Mas Lluvia" led by Rev. Barrerra! It was a day full of activities and fun, caring and sharing, laughter and tears! Again, we shared in the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. The children made necklaces, bracelets and keychains...and the adults made quite a few, too! It turns out that beads are VERY popular in the DR! Some of the older children also made suncatchers out of repurposed overhead transparencies...and, again, their artwork was beautiful! Check out our photo album for the latest pictures of these crafts and more!

We got our first glimpse of the fabulous quilt tapestry that a local woman constructed out of the quilt squares that the children had decorated on Wednesday...and we think it is breath-taking! What do you think?

Recreation continued with the highly-coveted "PELOTA!" Beach, soccer, ping-pong, wiffle and volleyballs were in high demand and got lots of use as the rain finally stayed away! The maintenance team continued painting and fixing and then turned their attention to fun. Everyone - children, teachers, and volunteer community members participated in the "laying on of hands" festival. Bright, fresh colors were painted onto hands of all sizes and then gently (and sometimes not so gently!) placed onto the walls of the classroom as a lasting memory of our time at the school. This project was one of our biggest hits...everybody wanted in on the action...even Mama, the cook and mother to two of our beloved teachers and favorite honorary student!

We blinked and it was the end of our last day with the kids. Then it was time to say goodbye...or really "Hasta Luego!" as we all hope to see each other later! Words and gifts of love were exchanged, and of course, so were tears! Some would be able to return the following day to paint and play, but we'll tell you about that later. So, please keep coming back to hear about the journey. We have so much more to share! Feel free to leave your comments...they are like little postcards to our souls! See you all soon :)

The Water Theme Continues

EVERYWHERE!
God bless our teachers and recreation instructors this year! After arriving in the rain and enduring a late afternoon shower, we all joined in to prepare supplies and equipment for a full day at school. Sorting out the contents of so many suitcases; trying to guess what is in the suitcase that went astray at the airport in Miami, and sorting selections by project and task and planned activity. I can just imagine what each one was thinking as we drove in the driving rain that first morning along the highway from our living quarters in Boca Chica to the El Tamarindo community. But, all fears and trepidations disappear when we enter the classroom / assembly / sanctuary where all 90 or so cheering, laughing, jumping children greet us without hesitation, nor worldly care for the weather outside. Even the airport was closed that morning, but our mission was up an running.

So, what about the maintenance and construction team? We too must plan around water. The #1 request we received was to paint the exterior of the building (preserving, of course, the fantastic "Noah's Arc" painted last year by our youth-group mission to El Tamarindo). But of course, rain and latex paint do not come together to produce a satisfactory result. But that allows us to redirect part of our portion of the budget towards other needed repairs and activities. Both bathrooms need attention - LEAKING WATER - of course!! Both toilets at the school leak at various points, but the most challenging one was leaking from the bottom. And the bottom of that one was cemented to the floor! We decided to re-direct part of our outdoor painting budget towards calling in a professional. A local plumber from the community offered his services, and for less than $4 we had new floor bolts, wax seal, and white cement to re-seal the deal. In his community, everyone jumps in to help, and we will make sure the local plumber's efforts are compensated. But this will be nothing like the $100 to "come take a look" to which we are accustomed back home. Our plumber arrived, assessed the situation, and we were off the la ferretería for his supplies.


Meanwhile, our team has attacked the indoor painting. Students and teachers were more than happy to scrunch up into one less room, or move outside under the temporary canopies while half of the downstairs was painted. Naturally, there was water seepage there too, making the ceiling by the windows a challenge to scrape down and re-coat.

We've all made it to day number two. The rain continues to fall. . . . . . . . . . Tomorrow is another day, and the one thing on which we can count is that whatever the weather may be, we shall all teach our lessons and perform our repair work. It will meet a very real need, and it will be greeted with the full and complete appreciation of everyone! After all, there's always next year to pick up where we left off !!!!!!

Living Water!

Can we say "RAIN" boys and girls? Fortunately for us, water fits our chosen theme of "The Woman at the Well", as we are in the middle of a tropical wave that dumped rain down on us the past two days with more thunderstorms forecast for tomorrow! If we didn't know better, we'd think the theme was to be "Noah and The Ark" as our security guy joked this morning that one of the cars we were riding in was a "fish car" because of all the water it had to get through! So, Thank God for the "Living Water!"
Our day started with a fabulous breakfast prepared by the wonderful ladies at our hotel. It took a while to get to the school, but we finally had a chance to meet the students and staff we have heard so much about. Rev. Barrerra presented our lesson and had the story of "Jesucristo's" encounter with "la mujer samaritana" read aloud to the youth in English and Spanish.
I was amazed at the challenges associated with getting 38 children, ages 3 to 6, to complete a nametag project in under 2 hours! (Praise God I did not decide to be an elementary school teacher!) I think some others in the group might echo that statement! LOL It was a blast, to say the least. The older kids (7 and up) were a bit more efficient at the crafting process...we think we'll defer the "serious" crafting to them! All of the kids decorated quilt squares which we are having a local woman assemble into a quilt-tapestry that will be presented as a gift to the school on Friday. We can't wait to see how beautiful it is when she is finished and we are excited to know that someone from the community is receiving an opportunity to work in such dire economic conditions.
We had the opportunity to share in a wonderful meal with the students and staff...all of which was prepared in the open-air kitchen behind the school. Let me tell you...those ladies know how to make magic happen! The work that they do each day is just this side of the "loaves and fishes" story.
Our afternoon included some outdoor activities under the tents that served as protection from the rain. Much laughter and great pics to follow! The maintenance team had a plumber in to do some serious toilet repair work while they prepped for the week's projects and developed their game plan. Paint was purchased and will be applied to walls tomorrow...even if we move the students out under the tents a room at the time.
A tired bunch of adults made it back to the hotel, went for dinner and are likely snoring by now! Tomorrow is another big day with the kids...about 80 in total, plus the unofficial kids that have "aged out" but still hang around for the experience. We know that there is much more work to be done, learning to be achieved, and fun to be had tomorrow. I sure hope we are ready! Pics of last night and today's events can be found here. More to come as we go along!


On a more personal note...I once again have confirmation that we (read I) are spoiled, whiny, ungrateful, wasteful people in the US. The differences in wants and needs are very apparent when viewed from this angle. There is so much that we take for granted that simply is not accessible in other places in the world.
Last night, we found out that the very limited money that the school has received from a private organization is no longer available because that organization is no longer in existence. There is no money in the budget for July...which is 7 days away. Did you know that $22,500 will make school possible for these kids next year. If you do the math, that's 125 students at $180 for the year! That really sounds like one of those "save the children" commercials, but I assure you it's not hype! I was sitting next to the head man last night when he talked about the situation and the tear that I watched run down the edge of eye was real.
Seems like a good time to adjust priorities a bit...redirect some of what I waste to better causes...at home and abroad. (Yeah, there will probably even fewer Christmas presents this year than last...we have more important work to do!)
Check back in to see what God's got planned...bigger and better things to come, for sure!

Bienvenidos a Miami

The Durham half of the group has landed in Miami. We've set about behaving like quite the group of tourists. Say "Queso!" (You know - "Cheese!")

Packing and Packing and Packing Some More!

Good evening friends and family! In just a few short hours, it's off to the airport and on to an amazing journey of discovering God's blessings in a strange new land.

Packing is almost complete...at least as far as necessary supplies are concerned. I weighed my "supply" bag and discovered it is 94.9 pounds! We've been joking about skimping out on the amount of clothing we are packing and this seems like a compelling reason to do so.

Allow me to send a big shout out to the generous folks at American Airlines who are making this "strong man & woman" competition possible! The plane may never be the same!

Check back in for pictures and stories of our adventures. Thanks again to all of our Sending Partners who have given so freely to make this possible. May you be richly blessed and living in the overflow of all that God has for you!

Suitcase Packing Frenzy !!

Remember the paradox of the unstoppable force and the immovable object? Fortunately, our mission team's commitment and God, or strength, both belong to the former of these two entities. WHY? Because the suitcase we packed yesterday between church services clearly seemed to belong to the latter. I finally managed to get it up on a scale, but it weighed a mere 59.5 pounds. So now hearing from fellow travellers who have up to 90 pounds, I think I may have to scrounge around and fill some of those air pockets! What wonderful friends and supporters we have to enable us to take these scholastic treasure chests along on this journey. And, we're also thankful for the professional travel support we receive from Executive Travel in Washington DC, and to the generous support of American Airlines. Together, these two work to grant to each one of us a weigh limit exemption on one outgoing piece of luggage. It helps make these trips the best they could possibly be!

It's finally time.....

I agree with Jules....I seems like just a few days ago we were talking about a mission trip...and now ...here we are. This time tomorrow we will be on a plane headed to meet the rest of the team in Miami. Then.... DR bound.

God has really worked this all out....lol...and we worry in doubt....silly us. I can't wait to be blessed by the smiling faces of the children when we arrive in El Tamarindo. I'm ready to get hard at work beautifying their school.....in more ways that one :)

Thanks for all your support! I hope you enjoy traveling along with us on the amazing journey God has for us.

For my Pittsburgh family.....I feel like it's Kennywood day tomorrow...I got new my outfit all picked out :)

Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future:

-Alana

MCC-DC's Blessing and Send-Off for its 2010 DR Missionaries

Two terrific send-offs from MCC-Washington today! One at each of the Sunday morning services, which were both well attended for Father's Day. Our 4 missionaries participated in both ceremonies. We were joined by other church members who are departing this week for MCC's annual conference in Acapulco. From right to left, wearing our official 2010 DR Mission t-shirts in the attached group picture are Karen Hertel, Colleen Kersey, Michelle Martin, and Michael Herman.

We each shared our inspirations and our expectations for this great adventure. This is the first trip for Karen and Michelle. Colleen's plans took an unexpected but happy detour. And for myself, this is mission trip #3.



The prayers were earnest; the blessings were many, and afterwards we got many personal expressions of support and love from our fellow worshippers. T-2!!!!! Can't believe it's finally going to happen!

Ready, Set...Can We Go Yet?

The countdown is on...it's hard to believe that we are almost ready to travel to the Dominican Republic! It seems like just a few days ago that I had a conversation about travelling somewhere so we could speak spanish...half expecting to get laughed at! Well here we are - packing suitcases for a Tuesday departure! Truly, God does work in amazing ways and once again, the joke is on me!

This is my first "real" mission trip and I am like a little kid...giddy with excitement...can't hardly wait to see how God pours out some of that irresistible grace and love on us and those waiting to see us in the DR. I am honored to be a part of this team. I am blown away by the incredible generosity of all those who have given of their time and resources to help make this happen! Thank you all so much.

You are invited to check back here often as we share the blessings that we experience each day. I'm convinced that there will be much to celebrate as God shows up and shows out. Please don't miss it!

Jules

Jesús y La Mujer en El Pozo de Samaria

The Bible tells us in John 4:4, that Jesus and his disciples needed to pass through a town to reach the next stop in their journey. Many people would not walk through this town. They did not like the people who lived in this town. They thought the town was dirty and that the people were not clean!

The Bible says that a woman from the town came to the well to get some water. When the woman reached the well, Jesus asked her, “Will you give me some water?” The woman was surprised because she did not think Jesus would speak to her! Jesus said, "Woman, if you knew who I was you would ask me to give you something to drink. I would give you Living Water. It will be water springing up from a well into eternal life!"

This is the story that will be the basis for our Mission Team's Summer Bible School in the Dominican Republic. Agua viviente, la vida eternal. Please join us as we share this remarkable story with our 90 students at L'Escuela de ICM El Tamarindo.

Tim Helm

Great Anticipation

The excitement is mounting as we begin to focus on more of the essential details associated with the trip! Those who have been sooooooo gracious to support us, are sharing in our excitement as June 22 gets closer. My little friends Riley and Caden, five-year old twins, and their teenage sister, Sabrina, in Chapel Hill, NC have made a banner that they want me to share with the children in the DR. Their Moms have explained what this trip is about, and have had them involved in picking out items to share with their Dominican friends, whom they have not yet met. They have even given me a lamenated pic of themselves holding this beautiful banner that has loving expressions and hand prints all over it! I was so very touched by their excitement and generosity! Three more friends have committed to supporting this mission financially. Glad to have the Pay Pal link to email them :-D !!! BLESSINGS!

Those Wonderful Smiles !

This is my third mission trip to the Dominican Republic. One thing which has stuck with me is the beauty of the children's smiles and the sparkle in their eyes. Although their little community of shacks and dirt trails is full of adverse living conditions and many hardships, their spirits are pure and their appreciation is heartfelt. Our goal is to help their school at El Tamarindo to thrive from year to year, and to bring to these children opportunities they might never receive without a helping hand. Our work is that which God has asked us to do: to help the poor, the orphans, and the disadvantaged. Long hours of hard work with the maintenance/construction team are transformed into nothing less than sheer joy by their enthusiasm for the lessons and crafts our teachers bring and for the improvements we make to their school. I am thankful for the many friends and family members who have made contributions towards this year's mission. You will not be disappointed! I thank everyone for their prayers of support, and I pray that you will receive many blessings in your own lives in return.

My First Mission Trip

This is my first mission trip ever with a mission team out of country and I am extremely excited about sharing with the citizens of DR and receiving from them. God has been so gracious to me and I want to give back in gifts, talents and resources what God has given to me. I realize that there are so many needy people around the world that God has mandated we assist. I am thank God for this opportunity and pray for many more.

Peace and Blessings,

Rev. Michelle

What A Blessing!

It is hard to believe (and it isn't) that I'm about to make another trip to one of my favorite places on the planet, and I'm going with some of my favorite people, to visit and share experiences with some of my best sisters and brothers! What a joy, and a blessing!

One of the most amazing things about this mission experience is the number of people we take with us on each trip. This year there will be ten of us taking this journey, physically. There are countless others who will be with us in spirit, and these folks are our Sending Partners who are supporting us with their financial gifts and through their fervent prayers. This mission experience knows no bounds. There are people being blessed all over the place by what will be taking place at a small, mostly unnoticed school in the barrio of El Tamarindo in the DR. Again, what a blessing!

There is so much more that could be shared, and it will be shared. Make regular trips to this site over the next few weeks. You won't want to miss what God is up to as we journey to the DR!

Grace and Peace,

Phil

MCC MISSION TEAM 2010
I.C.M. EQUIPO DE MISIÓN 2010
Dominican Republic --- República Dominicana

MCC Washington, D.C.

Tim Helm
Michael Herman

Karen Hertel
Colleen Kersey
Michelle Martin

Imani MCC
Durham, North Carolina

Ivy Hooper
Alana Maffesanti
Rev. Phil Mathews
Jules Taylor

Pilgrim U.C.C.
Durham, North Carolina

Michelle Mathis

MCC King of Peace
St. Petersburg, Florida

Ginette Heroux

We've Come This Far By Faith....

Dear Mission Team Members,

March 14, 2006 - MCC Washington affirmed its commitment to establish a ministry in the Dominican Republic. Wow, what a remarkable four year journey this has been! Our prayer of establishing a church in Santo Domingo seemed, at times, to be wishful thinking. But under the remarkable leadership of Rev. Tania Guzman, the church is growing stronger in new members and in discerning their call to God. You are going to enjoy meeting and worshipping with these pioneers of faith!

We have sent mission teams to the DR every summer since 2006. For the past two years, it has been the Fellowship's Youth Ministry that has stepped up to serve as our mission workers. This year, the Youth Ministry's attention will be to present its DR stories and experiences at the Fellowship's General Conference. So, the mission responsibility has been turned over to the adults for safe-keeping in 2010. Let's pray we are up to the task!

The school/church at El Tamarindo is a special place. Here is where Rev. Francisco Barrera has been serving as school headmaster and pastor for many years. The school is for elementary students, up to 6th grade. Yes, the DR resource books will tell you that education is free to all in the DR, school compulsory for all children for the first 8 years. The reality is that most public schools are poorly staffed, with limited resources, often a great distance from the poorest neighborhoods, and sadly, often unsafe. The result is only those who can afford a private school tuition can send their children to school. So El Tamarindo, located in a distant ghetto of Santo Domingo, serves as a safe and affordable place for the little ones. The dedicated teachers often share hugs with the children. A mid-day meal is usually served thanks to one of our first year mission member's "pennies from heaven" campaign. Amazingly, Rev. Barrera also serves as Pastor of the church at El Tamarindo, where most of its members are children! Now that's Faith!

No doubt the kids already know we are coming - with our wild arts and crafts, crazy bubble machines, sweaty warm smiles, and a hot breakfast each morning. Most of all, they are looking forward to celebrating the love of God with you!

So, are you ready? Excited about the challenge of doing something different? But worried about re-arranging your work schedule. How hot will it really be? Not sure whether you will be able to raise enough funds? Who will take care of the cat while I'm gone?

Lean on the Lord, trust in God's Holy Word....God has never failed us yet.

Tim