Our final day of groundwork started with some high-quality entertainment on the way to the site. It was “Flashback Friday,” so Pastor Brian shared his extensive playlist of all things ‘80s. At times, the narrow center aisle of the shuttle bus turned into a dance floor, and some of the adults re-lived their younger days with music that came out before the teens on our trip were even born. Two of the more popular songs that everyone seemed to know were . . . “Walk Like an Egyptian” and “I’ve Had the Time of My Life.” Ahh . . . good stuff! J

DJ Jazzy Kannel

Since this would be our last day up close and personal with dirt, we took some group photos together to record the experience for posterity. In order to jump into one of the foundation holes, we had to remove two frogs that had curled up in the corners overnight. Fortunately, we had a young man in our midst who had no problem picking up the little guys and relocating them for us. Thanks, Ethan!

Frog-tastic!

Civilized us

Wacko us!

Almost buried alive

Other highlights included:

·       Comparing bug bites and rashes on our legs. At this point, we are a dermatologist’s dream!

·       Making dirt relocation look like so much fun that some of the Dominican boys watching us grabbed shovels and wheelbarrows and joined right in

·       Being attacked by flies at lunch . . . they wanted to eat almost as much as we did!

·       Saying good-bye to the outdoor toilets, which were essentially holes in concrete blocks, the DR’s version of port-a-potties

Todd was the winner . . . most "decorated" legs!

Actual work

Place of employment vs. Place of enjoyment

Finding Nemo, Finding Dory . . . now Finding Lizard!

Not dead . . . just under the spell of Ethan, lizard-whisperer!

One of our DR mascots

Training the next generation

Want flies with that???

Shade . . . we take it when we can get it

Everybody needs somebody to lean on

Note: The seat was not attached, slid right off, purely decorative. :)

Afterward, we returned to home base for some down time, clean-up, and a special dinner of empanadas, fresh pineapple, and brownies. Yuuuuum! Then we headed back to El Tablon, but not for prayer walking this time. Instead, we joined the local church in hosting a movie night for the community. We helped prepare homemade popcorn in their kitchen and watched the Spanish version of God’s Not Dead, with English subtitles so we could follow along in our own language.

Our crazy crew

Sleeping beauties

Traffic, trucks, & motorbikes

Beautiful murals all around

Empanadas . . . almost as good as Andrea's!

Chivalry is not dead . . . Ethan brought water for the ladies!

All smiles w/ Christine, a teacher & Envision DR intern

Pre-movie thumb wrestling & pseudo-volleyball, without a net

Maxing & relaxing

Popcorn crew in the kitchen

Kathy & Delores . . . one of many new friends!

A full house!

When the movie ended, the pastor explained the plan of salvation and asked if anyone wanted to receive Jesus into their heart. An elderly gentleman started waving his arms in the air and then came forward to pray with the pastors at the front of the church. This man was someone who had been visited by our team on the prayers walks and is currently battling colon cancer.

One lost sheep . . .

. . . surrounded by good shepherds!

As we reflected on this one soul that was saved, we were reminded of the VBS lesson we had prepared for the trip. We chose to focus on the parable in Luke 15:3-7 that describes the good shepherd who leaves his 99 sheep to find the one sheep that’s missing. When the sheep is found, the passage explains that there is great rejoicing!

In a similar way, this Dominican man was the one lost sheep Christ wanted to find that night. To think that we helped play a part in bringing him to faith in the Good Shepherd was incredibly rewarding. A cause for great rejoicing . . . here on earth and especially in heaven!

“Yo soy el buen pastor. El buen pastor su vida da por las ovejas.” ~ Juan 10:11

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” ~ John 10:11