Our first day in the DR! (Well half day. :)

Day 1 – We made it! After two great flights we landed in Santo Domingo. After making it through customs and immigration, we headed for our luggage. All was accounted for and we were on our way. The moment we stepped out of the airport and walked down onto the pavement we all felt it…heat and humidity! J We loaded our luggage onto the two busses from SCORE and got on. As we drove through the towns and on the highway many of us were reminded of the past years here in the DR. Some of us for the first time saw poverty in a whole new way-face to face. It doesn’t matter how many times you come to the DR, when you see children running barefoot through mud and other things you can’t help but feel your throat tighten and your heart reach out for a way to help them. We were greated at Score by a welcome team who had a cold drink of mango punch, singing, clapping and our very own Alden Community Church sign with last year’s pictures and all! As we got settled in we were reminded once again that “it’s not about us”…without getting into details some of us waited until last night after Devo’s to get any air in their rooms. But at Devotions we were reminded by Pastor Mike that it really isn’t about us…we sang “it’s all about You, it’s all about You, Jesus”. Today (Saturday) we are headed out into two different villages. We will feed one village, ministering to both through music, skits, testimony (Brad) and crafts. We are equipped with small things like a guitar, some craft supplies, balls and games and willing hearts. But what trumps it all is the love that God has given us….without His power we’d be useless, inadequate and this trip would be worthless..Instead we stand ready to go, hearts prepared to be used by our Lord. We can’t wait to share what God is going to do today….Thank you for coming along on this trip with us! Thank you for praying-it is soooo needed and we feel your prayers and they lift us up. Praise God for He alone is worthy of our praise!

In Christ,

Your Team