Me tinks we're on Dominican Time

Time sure flies when you’re having fun! A lot of things have happened since the last time we wrote! We’ve had a lot of memorable and exciting moments as well as some sad ones. Since we wrote last we’ve made a lot of new friends with different young people from the church that we attend here. Some are missionary kids; some are here on internships while others are Dominican. The times we’ve spent working together and playing together at the beach will always be favourite memories, that’s for sure! One of our friends from the hotel we stayed at the past couple of years had us over for a real Dominican meal! Her house was really cute and the food tasted amazing! It was nice to just sit and chat, her with her little English and us with our little Spanish. It was like hanging out with one of our friends from home! Dominican’s hospitality amazes me more and more everyday… I think Newfoundlanders have some competition! lol
We spent a lot of our time working at the clinic getting things ready for the opening. When the day finally came for the dedication and opening you could sense the excitement not only from the missionaries but also from the people there at the village. This clinic will change the future of this village. There will no longer be stories of little Danica’s ( http://heroholiday.absolute.org/2007/08/02/danica-how-we-all-fell-in-love/#more-148) from the village of Nazaret and surrounding area.
The day after the clinic opened a medical team from the US arrived. We all traveled around the country to pick them up at different airports and then spent the week leading them around to different villages. The teams focus was mainly clinics but we also did pre-natal checks, house visits and school health sessions. The week was full of amazing experiences. On one of the first days we traveled with them to a village where some set up a clinic and others went to the school. After doing a tooth-brush demonstration and skit the team began to pray for a little boy that has been in a wheelchair for years. He was in an accident when he was younger and hasn’t walked since. As we prayed over him we could feel God’s presence. God was definitely doing work. We then began to pray for his mother who has back pains most likely caused by lifting and taking care of her son. After we had prayed with her she began to jump and bend, things that she could not earlier do! God had healed her back pain. Our thoughts are still with the little boy as we continue to pray for him. We all believe that one day God will send him the miracle of walking or perhaps a blessing of a different form; no matter what it will be incredible... While the team was here, each clinic ran very smoothly and we were able to see hundreds of people. It was great to be part of something so needed by the people here in the DR… During the clinics that week we also met a little girl that was very malnourished, from the village jus below Nazaret. As we talked to a missionary that works in the area and the team assessed the little girl it came to our attention that the mother was very nourished along with her other kids. From past experiences with the mother we were told that she was neglecting the younger children because they are not her current husband’s children. This little girl was not receiving any milk and as a result she was very fragile and lethargic. We gave her some milk and we have been going back to the village every couple days to check on her family and to make sure they are being fed and taking care of. Please begin to pray for this little girl named ‘Rutch’ and her brothers. (I think its Ruth with a Creole accent)
During the week of the team Josh celebrated his 23rd birthday!! We had supper on the beach and then camped out on the beach with some missionary friends. It was definitely an awesome way to spend your birthday with the waves crashing, lightning in the distance, the Milky Way over head and a bonfire burning nearby! (P.S Kikĕ had her first banana boat and loved every minute of it)
On the teams last day we were invited to go to the kindergarten graduation of the school in Nazaret. It was so cute seeing them in their little cap and gown! We all enjoyed being part of the schools first ever graduation. As you looked around at the parents and missionaries that run the school you could see the pride glowing on their faces.
Now that the clinic is opened and running and school is closed for summer all our time was put into finishing up the child sponsorship. We go from house to house visiting the children asking them different questions that will be sent to a sponsor once the child is sponsored for school (see http://www.dominicanadvance.org/home.htm if you are interested. If you have any thoughts or questions, email one of us!)
Another exciting thing that has happened over these past couple weeks is that I was able to share some of my “newfieness” with my roommates and some of the missionaries we work with (Williams’ and Pensinger’s). Krissie’s friend Elise came down and has been visiting with us for the past week and she was able to bring down some Newfoundland berries and other things for me. I was able to make a Newfoundland scoff for them all complete with cook dinner and cheesecake! I would have to say it was my first time ever eating bread pudding and peas pudding while looking at palm trees!
As we sit and talk about these past couple weeks we are amazed of how much has taken place! They have held some of our favourite memories thus far on our trip!
God is amazing! He sends us friendships, allows us to experience new beginnings with the school and clinic, helps us give medical treatments to various ‘forgotten’ villages and helps give children the opportunity to be sponsored.

Saunders Out!