DAY 1!!!

Where to start….well, as day one comes to a close, I am struck by one thing…the most difficulty we had was BEFORE WE LEFT NEW JERSEY!!! Who’d have thought that? Well, if I told you it was Newark airport that caused the problem, probably all of you (if that actually is anyone).


So, more information than anything today: Up at 3am, load the van, pick up my charges on the way to the airport, pull up to Newark’s international departures at 5am on the dot. First ones there! (I know, that’s hard for any of you that know me to believe). Over the next 20 minutes the rest of our party of 30 arrived. Lesson learned: even if the nice people at the Continental Elite check-in tell you they’ll let all 30 of us check in there as a group…well, they’re not telling you the truth. So, an hour later we’re finally checked in, an hour after that, we’re finally through security…Do the math, we were late for our 7:10 flight. Luckily (no, seriously, I’m saying this), God saw fit to have a security emergency shut-down of the airport to stop all flights from leaving. So, we were the last folks on the plane and we finally departed. (Oh yeah, our plane was actually the cause of the security “issue” in the end).

We arrived in Santa Domingo…and one of our bags didn’t arrive…but the other 55 or so made it just fine. Pizza in the airport for lunch. To the orphanage, unpack, pack up and organize medicines, and assemble the hygiene kits for our medical clinic day. Meet at 5:30 for our first meal of the year at the orphanage (Saffron rice, barbecue…well, meat let’s call it, and salad), get on the bus in church clothes and then a truly unique worship experience in “the blue church” in El Brisal. Worshiping with our Pentecostal Dominican brothers and sisters in a boiling tin hut church is an unexplainable and impactful time that really defies words. Then back to the orphanage, a large group time of singing and reading of Psalm 139, and then our first small group study of the trip.

Well, that’s about it. Summary:
-we’re here and safe
-it’s hot
-and we’re turning in early for a day of construction tomorrow
-lost bags:  1
-church services:  1
-medical issues:  0
-days of construction:  0
-Children Carla Corry has selected to take home to NJ:  1