Mission Dominican Republic 2011
Lord of Life Pastoral Intern Dave McCarty and his wife Lisa led a mission team to the Dominican Republic in October 2011. Read their updates below.
Dave and Lisa McCarty led a group from PIMA (Professional Insurance Marketing Association) to the DR in October 2011. The group went to the DR to serve alongside the local church by repairing a water system that had been destroyed by hurricane Irene, do Kids Club at the local school, get to know the people and culture first hand by living and working in the community, and perform other services such as pouring a cement floor for a young family living and sleeping on a dirt one and helping build gardens for local residents. |
Friday, October 14 This afternoon we had Kids Club (VBS) at the school and that was a treat for us and the team. We then had a thanksgiving and celebration service with the community. One of the team members created a video of the week that told more than any words could do but still wasn't able to capture the relationships with the people and God that were built this week. Thank you for your prayers and support. |
End of day on Thursday, October 13
Incredible day. The water was connected to the school and what we didn't realize is that there are 10 families that receive water via the system at the school. So in addition to the school children having water again another 10 families who have been carrying water in buckets since Hurricane Irene will have a water spigot with running water for the first time since July!!
Incredible day. The water was connected to the school and what we didn't realize is that there are 10 families that receive water via the system at the school. So in addition to the school children having water again another 10 families who have been carrying water in buckets since Hurricane Irene will have a water spigot with running water for the first time since July!!
Also this afternoon we dug a trench through the jungle and brought a water PVC pipe to a family that was living far from a road. They have never had water and had to hand carry from a stream.
The team is tired but enjoying working alongside the home owners and community. Looking forward to building home gardens tomorrow.
Thanks for your continued prayers.
Thursday, October 13
The team had a wonderful day in Santo Domingo yesterday. We visited families in Villa Esfuerzo, shopped and toured the historical sites of the DR.
Today we hope to finish the water project! We need to pull a cable across the river and connect it to the columns we built on Monday. We will then hang PVC and span the entire river and up from the spring up the mountain. Then we will bury pipe to the school and a home. Hopefully we can turn on the water at the school this afternoon for the first time since Hurricane Irene!!
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Wednesday, October 12 Sunday morning was spent with Cross Cultural Orientation which is a structured curriculum that helps the team prepare for the week of service. Sunday night we had a great worship with the community. They sang and we sang, they prayed and we prayed, they preached and we preached and we shared God's love in and amongst each other in unity and oneness. Tuesday the team worked on the school's water system that was destroyed by the hurricane. We worked in the jungle/woods and carried in the cement and got the sand and rock and water from the river. Some of the team went with Pastor Juan hiking a long ways to the water source (spring) and cleaned and repaired that. Yesterday we poured a cement floor for a very poor family of 4 that have been living and sleeping on a dirt floor. We also left cement behind so that the little neighborhood of 3 families could finish a latrine. They've used "nature" up to this point and could not afford the materials to finish the latrine. They had hand dug a 15 foot deep hole and lined it with boulders. The young family was overwhelmed with emotion as we left and so were we. Today the team is taking a day to visit Villa Esfuerzo. We will tour the school LOL supports and also do visits in the community. From there we go to the market and historical area to be a "tourist". Thanks for your continued and never ending prayers and support. This wouldn't happen without you. G&P2U. Dave. |
Saturday, October 8
Our team arrives in the DR today from TX, MD, Oh, NJ, KS, and MN. These are people I work with around the country in the insurance and marketing world. Over the years Lisa and I have talked about our work in the DR and they often have said; "Wow- I'd like to do that some day." My initial response; "You mean there are other Christians in our business?" I was a little surprised and a lot embarrassed to find a number of people I work with that wanted to serve others and give back to the world in a way that says thank you to God and glorifies his name. After a lot of talk and should of and could of's - last January we simply set a date and a couple of us said were going to the DR in October.
Twelve of us accepted the invitation or answered the call. The group comes from all different faith experiences and traditions. Most have never done a mission trip and none have been to the DR.
Lisa and I are looking forward to introducing our American colleagues to our Dominican friends and family today and throughout this week. It is exciting to see God's love lived out through our work place.
Please continue to pray for us and consider joining us in the DR this January!
Friday, October 7
At left is a picture from San Cristobal DR. Lisa and I arrived yesterday. It was a long day of travel but nice to arrive and reunite with friends. We were able to visit one of our sponsor children (Leslie) and her family. We had sponsored her brother Luis for many years and he's now 19 years old. Today we are preparing for the team to arrive tomorrow. The devastation from hurricane Irene is much worse than I realized. Roads and water systems were destroyed by the mud slides. One of the first projects for the team will be to repair a water system for the local school that has no water for the kids currently. LOL prayers and support are greatly appreciated.