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 :)