Anticipation

OK...nothing deep here. But for 5 years I've looked across our yard, checked the growth of
trees that began as seedlings, seen them weather tropical storms when mighty trees in the area twisted and snapped, and this year the long awaited fruit have appeared. I love avocadoes.


OK...now I'm starting to think deep. Is this a tad bit of how God anticipates and looks forward to our growth?

DR History

The interns spent part of their last break in the DR capital, Santo Domingo, getting a bit of the island's history.

Shhhhh!!!!!

We sent for Jarisa's mom and sisters to come spend the weekend.... ...and to participate in a "farewell" suprise party for Jarisa. It was a success!!
We'll miss you, Jarisa!!!

If all goes well, Jarisa will be departing from the Dominican Republic this Tuesday the 15th of July. She'll be traveling with the Cloverdale Team, who'll help her get through all those obstacles that one faces when traveling abroad.

What a hike!

Cloverdale (as well as Levy) hiked (any where from 3 -5 hours) up the mountain to El Morito. This involves carrying a backpack with overnight needs, sheet, food, and water.

Activities upon the mountain involve work projects (painting, roofing, or cementing local villager's homes), a gospel meeting, and a movie. Those with a bit of energy left over take an additional hike to a nearby water fall.

Count Down

Normally "count downs" are things one happily looks forward to....Christmas, birthdays, summer vacations just to name a few. Specifically, we eagerly anticipate several count downs before the year's end...a new grandbaby, daughter's graduation and marriage.

One count down is difficult to see approaching. Tj and Holly's 2 year commitment with MannaDR ends this August. We know God has awesome things planned for them and us; we just hope that it involves our paths continuing to cross!!

In Rememberance of Him

This Sunday we gathered around to "commune" and remember what the Lord did for all.

Brian led our thoughts to use this time as:

• A memorial of Christ Jesus
• An occasion of thanksgiving
• A public proclamation
• Expression of confident expectation
• Time of self-examination
• Time of sharing with Christ
• A demonstration of unity

As we "supped" together, we shared what this time means to us, shared passages that touch our hearts, sang songs that praised and thanked our Father for what he did.

We did as families do around a table of love and appreciation, we enjoyed each other and were encouraged by one another, knowing we had a Father who loved us so very, very much!!

VBS

The groups have done a great job planning and presenting their VBSs this summer.

So far:
"Courage" (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; Ester) presented by Levy
"Fruits of the Spirit" presented by Highland View
"Trust" (David and Goliath) presented by Fairfax

Still to come:

"Creation" presented by Maricamp
"Faith" (Noah's Ark; Daniel and the Lion's Den) presented by Cloverdale
"The Power of God" presented by Lake Cities
"Amigos de Dios" (Apostles being called) presented by Westminister