last day of 2014

The last day of 2014 was packed full. Our team was hard at work on three different construction sites all morning, laying cinder block walls, pouring concrete columns, and pouring a cement floor (one bucket at a time). After lunch we finished the day's construction and mustered enough energy to provide a Bible School for 65 (very excited) children of Cielo. A couple of bumps and bruises, 3 or 4 blisters, and countless smiles tell the story of a safe and rewarding adventure so far. We're all looking forward to ringing in the New Year with our friends at the church in Cielo tonight. Happy New Year to our friends and loved ones in Los Estados Unidos!

first day in cielo

Today we began work at three of our four work sites for the week. Bucket by bucket, working side by side with the families whose homes we were building, a lot of dirt and cement was moved. And a lot of new friendships were made, within our team and with the beautiful people of Cielo. 

a long day of travel

After an hour and a half bus ride to the Milwaukee airport, an hour and a half flight to Baltimore, a two-hour layover, a three and a half hour flight to Punta Cana, and a two and a half hour bus ride to Santo Domingo, we are happy to report that all of us (and all our luggage) have arrived safely. Enjoy these photos from our long day of travel, and we'll see you tomorrow after our first day of work in the village of Cielo.

ready to go

Thanks to all of you who were able to come to our last team meeting in the United States! We packed nine bags with gifts for the patients and staff at the leprosarium, crafts for VBS, and t-shirts for the Domimican staff at Mission Emanuel. The students practiced the puppet and music songs. 

We dedicated our trip with these words from Isaiah 45: "This is what the Lord says...'I will go before you and will level the mountains. I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord who calls you by name'."

We are ready to go!