No, I Did Not Learn Spanish Yet

There is only one short night of sleep before I begin my journey to the Dominican Republic. Really short. Super short. They are picking me up at 6:15 in the morning. I don't usually see that time of the day. Por que? (See? I threw in a little Spanish already!) Why would I wake up so early in the morning? Why leave behind all my gentlemen? Why go to the Dominican? Why, oh why, go to a place where you may see creatures like that!? Inside the HOUSE!?

Well, I'll tell you.

*cue the music* tu-du tu-du tu-du

No! No! Not like that!

Fine. I won't sing it.
(My apologies to everyone who has not seen Monty Python's Search for the Holy Grail. I'm truly sorry you have not seen the funniness and the line memorization possibilties that movie has to offer.)

We going there to serve and encourage Leo, Cheryl, and Zamar. They are missionaries in the town of Baitoa; their ministry includes three churches and a school. We plan to do whatever needs done including painting, building, speaking to the school children, putting on a conference... I may even be able to help Cheryl with her blog.

We will also help install a safe-water system. There are three big manuals of instructions. With this in place, the people will be able to get safe, clean drinking water. (It's a good thing there are women on the team so that the instructions are read. What? What did I say?)

One or two days will be spent in a particular valley where a particular former Franciscan monk lives and works. His name is Pastor Reuben; he loves Jesus and loves people. There is such poverty in this valley that after visiting there, my dad told me that it is the worst poverty he has ever seen -- and my dad has seen poverty in Haiti and in India. So far I haven't been able to imagine worse poverty. We are delivering to Pastor Reuben the Cash for Cluckers money that was raised. This Kids Church class collected offerings each week since October in order that Pastor Reuben may buy chickens for the people of the valley. Chickens for both meat and eggs. Have you ever thought you couldn't do much because the need was too great and there were so few to help? It's amazing what can be done when you step out and start. These children raised $1,258.20. That's worth about 175 chickens! (give or take a few cluckers)

So. Those are the reasons that I am leaving on a jet plane. (I do know when I'll be back again.) My bags are packed. After checking off all the items on my "Don't forget this stuff" list, we did the weigh-in. Just under 40 pounds! Woohoo! I still had ten pounds to spare.

That means I get to wear my lightweight coat to the airport instead of furreezing. You see, it's light enough to pack into the bag so Little Brown Coat can take a joy ride to the Dominican and back.

I'll take a lot of pictures! (including pictures of the plane as requested by Josiah)