Day 2: Dominican Republic mission trip

Day Two:
We woke up way too early. Breakfast wasn’t until 8, but our lights were on in the men’s dorm room at 6:15. We had breakfast and heard about our projects for the week. We would be 1) taking loads of sand and gravel and leveling out the road in front of the dorm, 2) taking another load of sand and gravel and filling in the foundation for Edward’s house, (Edward is one of the pastors that partners with G.O.,) 3) bringing sand, gravel onto the roof of the dorm via buckets and a ladder to add more cinder blocks to what will eventually be the sanctuary above the dorm, 4) transferring truck-loads of fill dirt from behind the dorm to other work sites G.O. has going, 5) working in the G.O. warehouse to sort clothing and other various donations to be split among the several churches that G.O. partners with and finally 6) painting one of the classrooms and the kitchen.

Brie and Amy prepping the walls for paint by scraping them with rocks.

Putting on the peach paint in the classroom and kitchen - photo from Alecia Johnson.

We had our work cut out for us! Isaias, Tim Kraus’ brother-in-law put me in charge of painting while Brie went and worked in the warehouse for the morning. After lunch, we went got on a bus and drove to the “Hole.” The Hole is Santiago’s trash dump, however people have set up a squatter community within the dump because building materials (trash,) are free. Felix, another pastor partnering with G.O., over the past 9 years, has built a church and nutrition center where 250 kids receive a lunch meal 6 days a week.

Walking down the steps into the Hole

The church sign

We helped serve the kids their lunch and went upstairs to see the church. Felix explained that when he started, there was no church or feeding center, just 6 people meeting for worship in the small room of a house. He went on the tell us that years ago, he approached the drug-lord that ran the sex and drug trafficking in the Hole and told him that he wasn’t there to report him to the police or interfere, he just wanted to help feed the kids and share God’s word. The drug-lord said, “I’ve been watching what you’ve been doing and I like it. I also notice that you bring lots of gringos (white people,) down here. If you ever have any problems, you let me know and I’ll take care of it.” Amazing how God works through anyone to facilitate His plans! After lunch, we went to the basketball court that G.O. put in and played with kids. It was eye-opening to see these kids, in absolute poverty and yet they loved to play and laugh and have their pictures taken with us.

Brie playing with kids before their meal.

What's for lunch?

Tim Kraus and Felix

Make-shift houses in the Hole

We soon left and went back to our projects. Brie switched to road-levelling and I continued with the 2nd coat of paint. That evening, we went to the Tiger Mart to buy some snacks and coconut soda.