We are here!! We have arrived in the Dominican Republic and are currently in the middle of our Launch training. Basically, Launch is a time of teaching, worship, fellowship with our squad, and getting oriented with our new country as well as what to expect on the race as a whole. It has been really good so far – we are at a church here in Santo Domingo that must double as a conference center or something similar because it has rooms with beds, a nice big room for us to eat, a large kitchen, and my favorite parts – a flat roof we can hang out on as well a beautiful courtyard where Vanessa can hang her hammock. 🙂 Yes, we have been VERY blessed this first weekend!
Each team was asked to make a video during these first few days about why we are here on the race. I will post ours soon. Katie and I spent a lot of time filming and editing it, and I’m glad I’ll have to opportunity to share it with you. I really think it captures the heart of each member of the team, and highlights what we have chosen to be our team passage – the beginning of Isaiah 61.
We just found out where we will be going for the rest of this month – up in the mountains to a town called Arroyo Cano. We’ve heard mixed reports on how rustic this place is, but 4 of the other teams are in San Juan, a big city, so it will likely be worse conditions than they will experience. I’m excited about the mountains though! I remember the Dominican mountains being beautiful last time I was here, and I can hardly express how great it is to just be back in this country.
Today, as one last thing to do as a squad before we all head separate ways, we were able to visit the beach. The water was beautiful! There was loud latin music everywhere, and there was a mix between some tourists, many locals, and a handful of pale missionaries. 🙂 Katie and I walked up and down the beach just talking and experiencing the culture.
Well… tomorrow we head out! More to come…. thank you for the prayers!
