PLC Doulos 09

Final Day at Doulos

2009-04-03T10:42:00.000-07:00

Some of the Doulos Staff

Costumes for the 10th grade Expedition Night

We have made many friends this week and have had such a great time immersing ourselves in the Dominican Culture. Yesterday after school, a group of 8th grade students invited the youth of our team to join them for some fun at the river. We have learned during our stay that a common recreation for the people of Jarabacoa is to gather at the river to swim, play, and cook out. Our youth found the river to be full of activity and excitement. They enjoyed floating with the current and socializing with their new friends. While there, they came across several Doulos students of various ages.

Today is our last day at the Doulos Discovery School. We are all busy putting the final touches on the playground, sewing costumes, and tying up loose ends. We are full of mixed emotions about leaving the school to return home tomorrow. Although we are dreaming of long, hot showers and the bathroom facilities we are accustomed to, we also share a similar sadness knowing that we will soon be saying good-bye to our many new friends.

Links to more great photos!

http://picasaweb.google.com/doulosplc/RosolDay5?authkey=Gv1sRgCKaIr42PxI3iQw#

http://picasaweb.google.com/doulosplc/ComstockDay5?authkey=Gv1sRgCPe02JCiw4_xiQE#

Pictures from Wed pm and Thursday

2009-04-02T11:57:00.000-07:00

Bravo Music Camp

Morning Meeting and Check Presentation.

Link to photos from Wednesday pm and Thursday

http://picasaweb.google.com/doulosplc/RosolDay45?authkey=Gv1sRgCJzhiLmesbXKtAE#

Wednesday Afternoon and Thursday

2009-04-02T11:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we offered two after school camps for the younger students (K – 6th grade). We had a Bravo Music camp and a crafts and games camp. These camps ran from 3:00 to 5:00 and will continue through Friday. People in our group brought their musical instruments and were able to introduce the children to the flute, violin, trombone and recorder. They also used recordings to help the children with instrument recognition. The group purchased a dozen recorders for the school and they began to teach the students how to play hot cross buns on their instrument. In the crafts and games camp the children enjoyed making band bracelets with their names or other inspirational word on them. They also enjoyed playing Chutes and Ladders, Jenga and Checkers. We discovered that the people of the D.R. play checkers by different rules than we do in the U.S. No one has quite figured it out yet.

Thursday
The day started at the school’s morning gathering where our group had the privilege of presenting the Doulos Discovery School with a check for $30,000. This donation came from the Prairie Lutheran capital tithing campaign and was possible because of the generosity of the members of Prairie Lutheran Church. This money is going to be used by the school to construct a cover for the basketball court and gym platform. The school currently has no athletic space that is protected from the rain causing physical education and sporting activities to be canceled throughout the school year and for much of the rainy season of November through February.
The work teams continued on the final touches of the playground painting and staining project. The playground is looking good and we were praising God for the scattered clouds that gave us an occasional reprieve from the hot sun. A couple women who are gifted seamstresses continued to work on making costumes for the school. These costumes will be used by the 10th grade class as part of their expedition on the Renaissance Period. The students will be selecting a Revolutionary Leader to study and will take on that persona in a final presentation. Costumes have been made for historical figures such as Martin Luther, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Queen Elizabeth and Isabella de’ Este.

Today we also had the fun opportunity to offer more than 30 prom dresses for the high school girls to select for their upcoming dance. These dresses were generously donated by many people in Eden Prairie. The girls were not expecting this and were very pleased by the large selection.

As the week has progressed, it has been fun to see the relationships develop between the Youth of our group and the students of the school. The students seem to really love having us here and they are eager to help. Today, a large group of elementary students spent their lunch recess assisting our teens pick up garbage around the perimeter of the school.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday Morning

2009-04-01T11:16:00.000-07:00

We do not have internet access daily so we have not been able to post since Monday. Here is a brief summary of what we have been doing.

Monday
Monday our morning started early. After our personal quiet time we left on foot for the school where we joined the teachers and staff as they gathered in the library to pray for the students, the school, and the day. Then it was off to observe the students in their morning meeting. This is held at the outdoor amphitheater. It is student lead. They have daily announcements, sing the National anthem, and end in a student led prayer.

Then off to work we go..… Monday was spent at the Doulos school painting the existing playground and staining the decking on equipment and under the mango tree. The first challenge for the staining crew was to sand off any old paint off the playground decking. The work on the playground looks good and the children are eager for completion so they can have their playground back.

At the end of the day we split up into small groups and went to the homes of some Doulos students to share a meal and time of fellowship. Some families were able to go to the home of the child they sponsor. We reconvened at the end of the evening to share our experiences with each other. It was very moving for everyone. We were all overwhelmed by the love that we received as well as the love we witnessed within each of the Dominican homes. Many photos were taken during this time and you can view some of these on the link below.

Tuesday
Tuesday was our “day off”. We started the day at a local coffee manufacturer where we learned about Coffee production and fair trade regulation. During a tour of the plant, we were able to see how the fruit of the coffee berry is removed and how the coffee beans are collected. We witnessed about 40 women who sat and separated out the bad beans for a wage of $1.25/hour. We learned that this is a very desireable job and is often passed down by generation. While at the plant we were able to taste coffee samples. The coffee was served in a shot glass size and was black but very sweet. This was typical Dominican coffee.

After the tour we were transported to the Coffee Farm owned by the Wallace Family. The vehicles were unable to reach the farm, so we headed out on foot. After a mile trek, uphill, we had lunch and viewed the coffee trees growing on the mountain. Then it was off to the waterfall. Little did we know, we had signed up for OUTWARD BOUND! This was a “short”, two plus mile trek, winding uphill under rocky terrain. We crossed over makeshift log bridges through streams and across a 30 foot suspended bridge. We reached the end of the primitive road and then took a steep, 200 yard, downhill wooded trail to the river and waterfall. On this trek we encountered both a pig, some goats, and a few free horses. The youth of the group were well ahead of the more experienced and were frolicking in the cool water when we arrived. The waterfall, which reached approximately 80 feet high, was spectacular and well worth the long journey. We were told that only about 400 people have ever viewed this awesome sight. We spent about an hour enjoying the falls before we began the journey back. We all were grateful that a majority of the return trip was downhill!

http://picasaweb.google.com/doulosplc/Comstock2?authkey=Gv1sRgCOLNn6ze597JKA#
http://picasaweb.google.com/doulosplc/RosolDay3?authkey=Gv1sRgCLOn5M-jwLidVA#

Wednesday Morning
Part of our work team spent the morning with the high school students of Doulos. They walked them through a vocational assessment survey where they did exercises to understand their person skills and talents. The teens of our group participated as group leaders in this endeavor. This project will continue for the next two days.

The Japanese garden has been such a great sanctuary for the students at the Doulos school that this year the eighth grade class is designing and building one at a local Catholic School and Convent. Our work team was recruited to haul rocks to the pond and spread sand and gravel. This was definitely back breaking work. Randy and Nate showed off as they raced with fully loaded wheel barrels. After finishing their pond volume calculations the Doulos students helped our work-team form a rock moving chain gang. We joined the students as they prayed over the project.

2009-03-30T08:43:00.001-07:00

Sunday morning was spent in worship at the local, open air, church. We were able to experience how, as believers, we are all one in Christ as we listened to the music sung in Spanish along to familiar tunes from PLC and heard a powerful message which was kindly translated for those of us who are not bilingual.

On Sunday afternoon we went to the Doulos School and became students. We were introduced to their style of expeditionary learning as we learned about the education need in the Dominican Republic and how the Doulos Discovery School is working to meet that need.

At the school we saw the teachers’ lounge that many people from PLC worked on last year. The lounge is beautiful and the teachers wanted you all to know that it is a much used and much appreciated sanctuary for them. (Check out pictures for some views of the lounge) There are also pictures of the completed fence, another project from last year.

Click on links below for complete pictures.

http://picasaweb.google.com/doulosplc/RosolDay2?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGiptrvlr2zwwE#

http://picasaweb.google.com/doulosplc/DoulosDeb?authkey=Gv1sRgCNOJ1-Ca_43BHA#

Saturday

2009-03-30T07:36:00.000-07:00

Today we began our work at the school. We started to paint the playground and the strongest of the group were recruited to transplant some palm trees in order to widen the parking lot. There is no school in session but we were blessed to have some students and local children come to play. They are so friendly and eager to lend a helping hand.

Saturday evening our group walked to town for dinner. We ate street food and were introduced to a some traditional Dominican fare such as morir sonando, an orange juice drink thickened with outmeal powder, and tostones, fried plantains.

We appreciate all your prayers for us this week and would love to hear from you too!! Please post a comment on this blog.

Here is our trip verse;

Sirve de todo corazon!
Serve whole heartedly as if you are serving the Lord. Ephesians 6:7

Arrival in the D.R.

2009-03-28T08:17:00.000-07:00

Our day started bright and early with an arrival at the MSP airport at 3:30am. Our flight schedule included a very short connection in Atlanta but it all went seamlessly. Once in Santiago we were met by warmth, sunshine and some friendly faces from the Doulos School.

The drive from the airport to our accomodations in Jarabacoa was about 40 minutes. A view from the window displayed a beautiful country. We were struck by the lushness of the landscape, the cleanliness of the streets and the many smiling faces on all of the mopeds and motorcycles!!! And, everyone loves to honk their horn - a greeting, warning, or both.

After we settled in, we were given a short tour of the school. It was just a short walk from the clean but spartan cabins that were our accomodations. The school was rustic, but clean and functional. Those from our group who were seeing the school for the first time were impressed by the beautiful Japanese garden and the colorful painted walls with Bible verses in both English and Spanish. The school day had just finished, so we were able to watch some of the kids play soccer and basketball. The kids in our group quickly made some new friends and joined in the games.

After a brief rest, we enjoyed a simple yet delicious meal of typical Dominican fare: rice, beans, and pork. After our meal, the day concluded with prayer, reflection and sharing as a group. We all went to bed exhausted but content that our week would be filled with discovery, service and fellowship.

Use the link below to view more pictures of our trip.

http://picasaweb.google.com/doulosplc/DoulosDayOne?authkey=Gv1sRgCMPkpNqKvs_5_AE#

2009-03-28T07:59:00.000-07:00

Doulos Discovery School Jarabocoa DR

2009-03-21T19:08:00.000-07:00

Six Days and Counting

2009-03-21T18:51:00.000-07:00

The t-shirts are printed, the journals are ready and tomorrow the team will be blessed. So begins the days of preparation for Team Doulos.