SB '05 DR - Part one

Ok, I have no clue how to relate to you all the things that I experienced over spring break in the Dominican Republic (SB '05 DR). As I have said, it is very hard to describe how I felt on the trip; it was just life. Overall, I loved the Dominican culture- the language, the food, the simplicity. One reason I wanted to go on this trip was to see a program/school for teens, since I want to some sort of counseling for 'troubled' teens. God used this trip to confirm this desire in me; I loved this place and I could totally see myself working there with the teens at Escuela Caribe. I am really considering working there after I graduate. Ok now for an overview of the trip:

The people:

Our group consisted of 15 TU students and two sponsors and their two teenage children. For the most part, the 15 of us students did not know each other before the trip began. I knew two of the people 'a little bit', but not well. Despite our weekly preparation meetings, I still didn't feel like I really knew the others in my group. But I got to know them so well and had such a wonderful time with them on the trip. We had some interesting mafia games, great sharing times during our late nights, fun sing-a-longs, and encouraging support throughout the trip. We were not without our problems, but we were able to work through the hard times and all get along. And despite many crazy times, our leaders were great. And their kids were some much fun to hang out with. I love you all!! "Here's the thing we started off friends..."

The travels:

Well, things started out smoothly: we packed, left, ate, arrived and check in all fine. But bad weather delayed our flight from Indy to Newark. Once in Newark, we headed to the hotel we were booked at for the overnight layover. But they said our reservations were for May 24th, not March. So after about an hour of figuring that all out, they sent us to another hotel that they said would put us up for the night. But we got there and we didn't have any vouchers. So we waited in the lounge and ordered pizza, since we were all hungry. Finally, at about 12:30, they gave us rooms and we headed to bed very worn out. Keep in mind, we had spent about the last 3 hours waiting for a hotel room. The flight down to the DR the next morning went smoothly, thank goodness.
Flying back, the plane arrived in the DR about 5 minutes before we were scheduled to leave, so that delayed us about an hour. Then, due to that, we had to wait about an hour on the runway in Newark waiting for an open gate to get off at. Because of this wait, they delayed our connecting flight to Indy for another two hours (since we got to a gate with about 5 minutes to our original connecting flight was to leave). We finally boarded the little plane to Indy and had no gate since they were all full and we had to walk off the plane outside and take a back door into the airport near a gate. There, that about covers it: about 10 hours in the air and about 5.5 hours waiting for flights.

I hate to end this here, but I need to get my laundry and head to bed. Tomorrow I will continue the story. By the way, way to go Cubbies and UNC! Oh, and a big thanks to all who supported our team to the DR with prayer or money!!!

Quick update

I really should be in bed now...but I just got back from my spring break trip and had to give a quick update about it. It was beyond words. I heard a story told there about a man and his daughter and they were on the search to find the perfect snowflake. The dad had gone inside and soon afterwards the daughter came in telling her dad she had found the perfect flake. When she opened her hand, all that was there was a little puddle of water. I think you get my picture. I can tell you what I did, but all the things I experienced and felt and the growth I experienced cannot be put into words. The best way for me to describe it in a short amount of time was that it felt like normal life. I don't think it ever sank in that I was in a different country on a mission trip for my spring break. It just seemed natural; the projects we did, the places we ate and the people we met. It was life...somehow it felt no different (though it was, don't get me wrong)...it just felt right.

Well, I ought to get to bed since I have to work tomorrow morning and have classes. There will be more when I get the time. For now, I will leave you a link to the place where we stayed: Escuela Caribe.