will add more picts soon
M.I.A. Day”. What neat thing to be able to get to know the Hindes a little and hear about their adventures and Missing in Action or (Mission) MIA = Miami Airport!
Expectations:
M.I.A. Day”. What neat thing to be able to get to know the Hindes a little and hear about their adventures and Missing in Action or (Mission) MIA = Miami Airport!
Wasn’t that the name of our first blog we were supposed to do? Yeh… I think it was. If I get time I should read over that blog… as of right now… I don’t have time. We’ll get more time soon because of what
our ministry is and how often we can be there. But here’s how my trip started.
our ministry is and how often we can be there. But here’s how my trip started.
Left home around 3pm with the entire family… stuck in traffic a bit and started to get nauseas with thoughts that I could be late and miss my flight but little did I know that would be the least of my worries.
Could have been the thought of leaving my family and familiararities for 11 mo or my dad’s driving
on most days. I was actually numb. Too many emotions all at the same time I seemed to just shut off.
It was the easiest thing I could do. I still felt, don’t get me wrong. I just wasn’t feeling any particular feeling, fully. Which isn’t like me.
Could have been the thought of leaving my family and familiararities for 11 mo or my dad’s driving
on most days. I was actually numb. Too many emotions all at the same time I seemed to just shut off.
It was the easiest thing I could do. I still felt, don’t get me wrong. I just wasn’t feeling any particular feeling, fully. Which isn’t like me.
I got to the airport welcomed by my awesome friends and started to get things checked in…
I was over 3.5lb which was exactly my dresses & skirts stuff sack so I threw that in my carry-ons.
(I understand I packed too much, but it’s been helpful to others that want a change of pace or a
change of clothes)
I was over 3.5lb which was exactly my dresses & skirts stuff sack so I threw that in my carry-ons.
(I understand I packed too much, but it’s been helpful to others that want a change of pace or a
change of clothes)
My flight was delayed 2 hours to Chicago allowing my flight to Miami to leave without me.
I sat next to two neat people on the flight… Jake was a handsome blessing who helped me out very
much when I was frantic and confused on what to do. (“hi Jake”) Janna was a fun girl with a punk
rock twist on her way back to Maine. (a state I forget about often, she said it’s really beautiful)
Sitting by these tworeally helped me take my mind off of leaving my family. So I get to Chicago and
end up standing in line for awhile to be told that there were no other flights leaving the airport and
the earliest flight would be 8:40 the next morning surpassing the time I was to be in Miami by an
hour forty minutes. So I am pretty much stressed at this point… and my (new boyfriend)
Jake had to leave on his connecting flight. (jk about boyfriend) But really… I was alone.
It was not a cool feeling.
I sat next to two neat people on the flight… Jake was a handsome blessing who helped me out very
much when I was frantic and confused on what to do. (“hi Jake”) Janna was a fun girl with a punk
rock twist on her way back to Maine. (a state I forget about often, she said it’s really beautiful)
Sitting by these tworeally helped me take my mind off of leaving my family. So I get to Chicago and
end up standing in line for awhile to be told that there were no other flights leaving the airport and
the earliest flight would be 8:40 the next morning surpassing the time I was to be in Miami by an
hour forty minutes. So I am pretty much stressed at this point… and my (new boyfriend)
Jake had to leave on his connecting flight. (jk about boyfriend) But really… I was alone.
It was not a cool feeling.
Asking God what the heck is going on? What are you trying to teach me? I was for sure not
making the flight with all my teammates and that made me sad. I was expecting to see all of their
faces for the last several months. Instead I was searching for an outlet and trying to get on facebook
(my only form of communication) as fast as I could all by my lonesome in the Chicago airport.
making the flight with all my teammates and that made me sad. I was expecting to see all of their
faces for the last several months. Instead I was searching for an outlet and trying to get on facebook
(my only form of communication) as fast as I could all by my lonesome in the Chicago airport.
So I chatted back and forth with Meghann, Lauren, Nate (from home) and Casey from the AIM
office and Dave my team leader. Everyone was helpful and supportive and Dave said that there
were about 20 WR’s at the airport praying for me. It was so encouraging. I sucked it up and
spent the night with my Lord on the floor and waiting area seats. It was a long night. I ended up finding
out I was going to get to Miami about 1pm on Sunday and staying at a HOTEL with the Coaches
and leaving Mon morning around 10am.
office and Dave my team leader. Everyone was helpful and supportive and Dave said that there
were about 20 WR’s at the airport praying for me. It was so encouraging. I sucked it up and
spent the night with my Lord on the floor and waiting area seats. It was a long night. I ended up finding
out I was going to get to Miami about 1pm on Sunday and staying at a HOTEL with the Coaches
and leaving Mon morning around 10am.
What a Blessing. So this turned out to be awesome after all. Of course! Praise you God…
you have everything under control… why would I ever had to of worried.
you have everything under control… why would I ever had to of worried.
The hotel was nice and I cleaned up, took a nap and met Mike and Kathy Hindes for dinner at
ä fun restaurant and was able to hear about the works of God that they have been a part of.
Not to mention treated to a really good meal. Slept well and was rested for another day of travel.
ä fun restaurant and was able to hear about the works of God that they have been a part of.
Not to mention treated to a really good meal. Slept well and was rested for another day of travel.
Off to the Miami airport again with the Pashcall’s and the Hindes’. Long lines, lots of chatter, and
many cultures and even more anticipation. The flight sucked to tell you the truth. My ears popped
so bad and was really painful, but luckily it was a short ride. It was HOT getting off the plane. I think
they said it was 90 degrees about. Well, I FINALLY got here!
many cultures and even more anticipation. The flight sucked to tell you the truth. My ears popped
so bad and was really painful, but luckily it was a short ride. It was HOT getting off the plane. I think
they said it was 90 degrees about. Well, I FINALLY got here!
We were met by Sarah & Caitlin who were eagerly awaiting us for the past several hours.
Took a taxi for a ½ hour and was then to take a public bus to our location/hotel. The hotel where
the coaches were staying is where we had all our meetings for the week. 
Took a taxi for a ½ hour and was then to take a public bus to our location/hotel. The hotel where
the coaches were staying is where we had all our meetings for the week.
Well we get to the bus station and find out the bus leaves in 2 hours and we have time to chill… or
walk around for a bit. The bus ride was about 4 hours… soooo slow, loud music, kinda chilly from
the air conditioning but such a blessing to see a little countryside and spend time talking to Sarah. 
walk around for a bit. The bus ride was about 4 hours… soooo slow, loud music, kinda chilly from
the air conditioning but such a blessing to see a little countryside and spend time talking to Sarah.
I was super excited to see my team when I got to the hotel at about 9pm. Thankfully they were still
there in the middle of worship. I was warmly welcomed and my heart felt full. After my hugs it was
time to set up camp in the apartment with 10 other girls.
there in the middle of worship. I was warmly welcomed and my heart felt full. After my hugs it was
time to set up camp in the apartment with 10 other girls.
(note: my bed for the week was on the floor in the corner)
So, like I mentioned in the previous blog… the sleeping wasn’t great at first. (Well, I still wouldn’t
say it’s great) Barking dogs are bad and I hear it gets worse in Haiti. Showers are out of buckets
that are brought to a tub. Usually in the evenings we can pump water, so we fill up a plastic garbage
can type thing with water and bucket out of that. We have power in the evenings too. I am actually
praising God right now that I am typing this with a fan blowing on me at 9am on Monday morning
Jan 12. (Well, I’m finishing it today)
say it’s great) Barking dogs are bad and I hear it gets worse in Haiti. Showers are out of buckets
that are brought to a tub. Usually in the evenings we can pump water, so we fill up a plastic garbage
can type thing with water and bucket out of that. We have power in the evenings too. I am actually
praising God right now that I am typing this with a fan blowing on me at 9am on Monday morning
Jan 12. (Well, I’m finishing it today)
W We play in the streets with the local kids throughout the days. Moreso when we hadn’t started
our separate ministry areas. There are going to be a lot of patty-cake games, kickball type games
and learning songs they sing this year. It sounds like they’re pretty universal things that kids enjoy.
One of the things we do the most is EAT. (it feels like) K, maybe not actually eating but figuring
out meals and budget and places to eat, etc, etc, etc. It’s really hard & expensive to eat healthy.
So we have to find a good balance between portions and exercise. This should be interesting.
Zack & Jenn eat the most by far… and with the most hot sauce on everything too. The Squad found
an awesome bakery close by that has been catering our taste buds for the past 9 days.
Gladys is the name and the owner her daughter Sughey & husband Ivan work there as well…
Ivan had lived in the Bronx of NY for a long time… so it’s nice to talk English to someone, even if it’s regarding food and pastries. Ha ha…
out meals and budget and places to eat, etc, etc, etc. It’s really hard & expensive to eat healthy.
So we have to find a good balance between portions and exercise. This should be interesting.
Zack & Jenn eat the most by far… and with the most hot sauce on everything too. The Squad found
an awesome bakery close by that has been catering our taste buds for the past 9 days.
Gladys is the name and the owner her daughter Sughey & husband Ivan work there as well…
Ivan had lived in the Bronx of NY for a long time… so it’s nice to talk English to someone, even if it’s regarding food and pastries. Ha ha…
Okay. So, our Ministry is in the “Slums” which is as poor as it gets in the Dominican Republic. It is
headed by an amazing man named Miguel with an even more AMAZING heart for these people.
Homes made of unraveled tin cans, concrete pieces and random found boards with rusty nails. Kids
are running around here absolutely naked. Chicken, goats, dogs, cats roaming the streets and
visiting the local homes like no big deal. Music blares insanely loud from corner stores and from
the rare site of a car in this area. The Dominicans drive moped’s and dirt bikes mostly… these are
loud as well… (Dave mentioned that they are 120cc’s and a little bigger – whatever that means)
Our mission is to Share the love of Christ. This means building relationships with the people
of Guachupita (pronounced Watch u pita) and teaching them about God. The people we are
working with Christians but are very new in their faith. They enjoy learning about what God means to
us and how we pray. They want to be taught and have lots of questions. Thank the LORD for Anna.
She has been and continues to be such a blessing in many ways, but at this location her translation
is essential. Things are going to be tough in the countries we speak non of their language. We’ll get
through it. We are going to work with them about 4 days a week in about 3-4 hour increments.
Some days we go for 3 hours once and other days we’ll go twice. We aren’t allowed to wear or
bring anything of value. Not even water bottles, as of yet.
of Guachupita (pronounced Watch u pita) and teaching them about God. The people we are
working with Christians but are very new in their faith. They enjoy learning about what God means to
us and how we pray. They want to be taught and have lots of questions. Thank the LORD for Anna.
She has been and continues to be such a blessing in many ways, but at this location her translation
is essential. Things are going to be tough in the countries we speak non of their language. We’ll get
through it. We are going to work with them about 4 days a week in about 3-4 hour increments.
Some days we go for 3 hours once and other days we’ll go twice. We aren’t allowed to wear or
bring anything of value. Not even water bottles, as of yet.
I would have never guessed this would be as draining as it is. Very dirty and dusty, especially when
we play dodge ball with the kids.
we play dodge ball with the kids.
When we first visited Guachupita we were kinda shocked and heart broken at the poverty and were
told about the drug problem and laziness that has a grip on this town; at the same time though we
really felt the Hope of God. That there is amazing things He is doing in these people.
told about the drug problem and laziness that has a grip on this town; at the same time though we
really felt the Hope of God. That there is amazing things He is doing in these people.
He’s got them covered and has a plan for it all. Satan definitely has his paws dug deep into them.
So please pray for the people of Guatupita. Pray that the Love of God is what fills any void. Pray that
the Grace of God and the Blood of Jesus forgives all. Pray that the Hope of the Lord is what they
cling to in times of need. They don’t really understand any other way of being, especially the children.
Pray that their thirst for the knowledge and presence of the Lord is quenched, but also becomes a
contagious thing that draws the people to the Well of Life in God.
So please pray for the people of Guatupita. Pray that the Love of God is what fills any void. Pray that
the Grace of God and the Blood of Jesus forgives all. Pray that the Hope of the Lord is what they
cling to in times of need. They don’t really understand any other way of being, especially the children.
Pray that their thirst for the knowledge and presence of the Lord is quenched, but also becomes a
contagious thing that draws the people to the Well of Life in God.
These are good people, beautiful children, and yearning hearts for something new. Welcoming us
into their homes and sharing their stories. There are more to tell… but for now I will get you started
with a taste of the DR… a taste of the Goodness of our God because He is Sweet.
into their homes and sharing their stories. There are more to tell… but for now I will get you started
with a taste of the DR… a taste of the Goodness of our God because He is Sweet.
Pray for all teams out spreading Love and Hope to the Dominican Republic.
