Concrete, Painting and Pictures

We'd like to start this blogpost by sharing some quotes that were overheard today.  The editors have decided not to provide any context, but feel free to ask the students involved for additional information when they get home!

• "Share the rat... you stupid cat!" --Bailey
• "NO!!  You're just going to bite me again." --Melynda

After breakfast, our team took a tour of the school and church grounds, including the newly built water treatment facility that our team helped with on prior trips.  For many on the trip, the tour brought back fond memories of conversations had while digging foundations, and friendships that were formed with Dominican friends while painting murals together.  It was a reminder that ministering to physical needs is important, but that our teams' main purposes are eternal.

Throughout the day, half the team poured concrete for a new floor and the other half painted classrooms.  Nick and Tad took the lead by repairing a broken wall.  Dawson, when not painting, showed a servant's heart by sweeping up detritus from a neglected classroom.  Rachel put her medical training to good use by cleaning and bandaging wounds suffered at the hands of razor wire and the cement mixer. (Don't worry Moms, no one on our team was hurt!)

Lunch and the afternoon siesta was a welcome relief from a vigorous start to our day.  Kang In took an impressively lengthy nap.  Bailey and Ingrid sketched scenes from the trip, while Christina read a book aloud to them.  Kai continued to shame the other students with her commitment to completing assigned summer reading. 

A lively basketball game broke out before dinner.  Dawson had his hands full trying to cover Jeremy on defense.  Dan pulled down some tough rebounds.  The highlight of Adam's day (and possibly week) was cleanly blocking one of Cameron's shots.  This was clearly the first of many games to come.

As we post, the American and Dominican students are bonding by playing kemps in the cafeteria.  The relationships are so strong, it feels like we never left.

Thanks again for your prayers.  Enjoy the pictures below.

--Written by Adam and Tiffany