Thanks to all who gave me advice and feedback while planning our trip. 20 missionaries from teen to senior citizen landed in Santo Domingo and got on a very comfortable bus to Barahona. We stopped at Pollo Rey somewhere.... maybe Bani?
Got to Barahona around dinner time. The bus couldn't go up the hill to the mission house where we were staying so we climbed into the back of pickup trucks for the first of many bumpy, windy trips.
We saw the mission house and met our host family. We had a nice light supper, picked out our beds and went to sleep.
The next morning we had time to look around a bit and go to Sunday School. Our neighborhood was full of kids and dogs. From the roof we could see the ocean on one side and the hills on the other.
At Sunday School, we were amazed to see about 50 kids singing and listening to Bible stories without wiggling or talking. Here in the US we need one adult for every 5 kids just to keep them quiet. The kids sang their hearts out and tried to sing along as we sang a couple of songs in English.
After that, we went to the beach, I think it was at San Rafael. I was almost moved to tears to see such beautiful water. What a color! I learned why it is called the Larimar Coast. I was the first one into the water. I was shocked by the cold water right at the waterline. I realized it was fresh water from a nearby river. Once I got out a bit, it was really wonderfully warm. I swam out pretty far and got caught by the undertow. I was rolled around and scraped up on rocks, and I ended up with a hole in the bottom of my swim suit!
That evening we went to church in town. It was 1/3 full of Dominicans and 2/3 full of missionaries. Pastor Pedro was so taken with the idea of a woman pastor that he asked our pastor to help with Communion. She had to read from the Bible in Spanish, and she doesn't speak a word! It was a great service. The congregation was very welcoming and friendly.
The next day would be our first day at the Batey. I will continue later.
Got to Barahona around dinner time. The bus couldn't go up the hill to the mission house where we were staying so we climbed into the back of pickup trucks for the first of many bumpy, windy trips.
We saw the mission house and met our host family. We had a nice light supper, picked out our beds and went to sleep.
The next morning we had time to look around a bit and go to Sunday School. Our neighborhood was full of kids and dogs. From the roof we could see the ocean on one side and the hills on the other.
At Sunday School, we were amazed to see about 50 kids singing and listening to Bible stories without wiggling or talking. Here in the US we need one adult for every 5 kids just to keep them quiet. The kids sang their hearts out and tried to sing along as we sang a couple of songs in English.
After that, we went to the beach, I think it was at San Rafael. I was almost moved to tears to see such beautiful water. What a color! I learned why it is called the Larimar Coast. I was the first one into the water. I was shocked by the cold water right at the waterline. I realized it was fresh water from a nearby river. Once I got out a bit, it was really wonderfully warm. I swam out pretty far and got caught by the undertow. I was rolled around and scraped up on rocks, and I ended up with a hole in the bottom of my swim suit!
That evening we went to church in town. It was 1/3 full of Dominicans and 2/3 full of missionaries. Pastor Pedro was so taken with the idea of a woman pastor that he asked our pastor to help with Communion. She had to read from the Bible in Spanish, and she doesn't speak a word! It was a great service. The congregation was very welcoming and friendly.
The next day would be our first day at the Batey. I will continue later.