Day 5 - On-site @ Jim Smith School in El Rosario & CCED School Evening Fiesta

Today was a very full day for me and our team. Not only was it our final day of construction work at the Jim Smith School in El Rosario, but I was going to meet Alexanader my sponsor child who attends school here in El Rosario.

In the morning, we took a short break to express our gratefulness for the faithful work of our Dominican friends--Basilio, Javiel and Ismael. This was an especially meaningful time for me since it was the first time I had heard an expression of our new friends thankfulness for our being there. Ismael, who mixes cement for us and doesn't say much and can hardly speak a lick of English, shared from his heart how much we mean to him. Through a translator, Ismael thanked us for building churches for their people and schools for their children. He also thanked us for providing work for him and others when we come. I praised God for allowing me and others to return to the DR. Later that afternoon, I gave a copy of Henry Blackaby's Experiencing God in Spanish as a personal gift to Basilio, Javiel, and Ismael. In this way, God could multiply His work in their lives while I am away in America. I have Javiel's address and will correspond with him frequently until I return next year. Please be praying that God will reveal Himself to each them and show His transforming power to them.

Early in the afternoon, I met my sponsor child (pic in uppper left), Alexander Montero Galva', for the first time. I brought him a large American smile :), a Moore family photo, and several gifts (baseball bat and ball along with a soccer ball and air pump). He didn't have much to say to me, but I assured him that I loved him and was glad to finally meet him. I will try to arrange for meeting him and his family upon my return next year, Lord willing.

Since this was our final day at the work site we had visitors from the medical work team including Dr. Monica Goble, Jim's wife, who took this photo (upper right hand corner) of me, Pastor Michael Goble, and Basilio (young man working on the ladder).

After returning to the Guest House that evening, we prepared for a fiesta at the Christian Center for Education Development (CCED) School. This was an opportunity for our team members who have sponsor children at this school to enjoy dinner and dance together. I hope to have somehting similar at the school in El Rosario so I can meet with my child's parents.