WEEK 1

We arrived so tired and jetlagged that we pretty much slept all of WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY. Although Leti did go with Stef to do a study on Thursday afternoon.

Can you tell how tired we were? By the way, I sleep on the bottom bunk.

                                                                   







FRIDAY is meeting day. I went with Alf to do a study before the meeting and he wasn't able to study so we did some RV's instead. The KH is about 10-15 minute walking distance. So we walked to the KH.

No AC, just ceiling fans and lots of open windows to let the air through. The hall is cool enough to enjoy the meeting. Brothers and sisters already knew we were coming so they greeted us with open arms. Stef had her first assignment in the TM school. She did a good job!!

The congregation is made up of 90 or so Publishers, 4 Elders, 16 Regular Pioneers, 36 Auxiliary Pioneers. There is an elder and his wife in the congregation that serve in Bethel. The brother works in the service department and his assignment deals directly with all the "needgreaters" in the country. So right away, he zeroed in on us and wanted to know our story. More on that later...

SATURDAY
We went out from a brother's house that had lived in San Bernardino for 30 years, brother Blake. Brother Peña, the elder from Bethel, took out the group and made the arrangements. He considered the importance of using the "hojitas" to record interest we find, out in the ministry. That problem is worldwide!!! We just don't learn, do we? Well, guess who Brother Peña wanted to go out on service with? Yep, yours truly! Brother Peña, Mexican descent, with family in Oregon and Washington, who's wife is Dominican, spent several years as needgreaters here in the country after he had served in Brooklyn Bethel. By the way, his overseer in Brooklyn, Tim Purscell. Back to the story, they both were appointed as Special Pioneers and then were called into Bethel. He gave me a lesson on the Dominican culture. He said: "Dominicans are really friendly, they're really loud, as a matter of fact, if you talk to them and they start to get loud, you get loud with them, it's actually an ok thing. They're not trying to fight or argue that's just how they are, so join them. Remember Paul, was everything to every man, so you be Dominican so you can win over the Dominicans".

He also stressed something that we thought was very impressive, we've never heard this before. He mentioned how this country receives A LOT of needgreaters. The need here is so great, that he said the branch doesn't really care where YOU choose to serve. If you want to live by the beach and serve in those areas that's fine. If you want to serve in a city/urban setting that's fine too, there's congregations that need help there as well. If you want to live like an American you can and if you want to live like a Dominican you can do that too. And the varieties of climates exist here too. You can have hot/humid climate by the beach, to cool/cold climate up in the mountains. So the decision is YOURS to make. He told us, but we're relaying the message. YOU INTERESTED?

Back to the ministry. We went to a territory where a lot of the cops live. The territory is called "policia". The cops here make very little money, so a lot of them are corrupt to make ends meet. Surprisingly enough, their  families and them are very receptive to the bible message. We actually talked at every door!!!! You ask a question, you pull out your bible, you answer the question and you begin the conversation. Half the time we were asked to come in the house and sit down. You place literature at every door. What a nice change of pace.

 We get to the territory however necessary

In Santo Domingo IKEA is a popular eating place. So after service we went to eat lunch there. We picked up a few things there, went to the hardware store and went grocery shopping. Alf & Stef had invited a young couple over for dinner so we made a Nacho's night. We even found some pickled jalapeños, that were actually spicy. We all had a good time.

SUNDAY
Morning service from the KH. Territory was close by. Worked with Kelvin Rodriguez and his son Benjamin. First door, young man comes out. I tell him that I'm new to the area so I really don't know what worries the community, so I asked what they were. He told me the young ones get into trouble a lot. After we read 1Cor. 15:33, I asked that if  those worries would come to mind if all young ones would follow that counsel. Of course not, he answers. He then tells me, "you know, for the last 2 months, I've tried to read the bible every day. I ask God to help me understand it, but it's so difficult. I've heard people talk about passages I have read, but I cannot even contribute anything to the conversation because I really don't understand what I'm reading, can you help me?". Are you kidding me, I thought to myself. Of course I can I told him. After i explained our free home bible study, I showed him the BT book and I had him choose the chapter he wanted to consider first. I promised to return with the book and start the study. Second day out on service and already blessed with at least an RV if not a Study!!!!

Meeting here is at 6pm. We felt right at home. Local MS gave the talk and the Watchtower was lively with lots of participation by the brothers. More brothers welcomed us and already Leti's making friends with some lovely sisters. They asked me to give the talk on 5 de mayo. I agreed, with one condition, they have to have mariachi's, since it's 5 de mayo. They didn't get it. But they did say they like mariachi music, most of the older Dominicans LOVE Mexican music. The older stuff of course.

After meeting, since there's a little crowd of us who walk home together, one of the sisters asked all 4 of us over for coffee and cookies. We had a good time with "Mamota" (Big Momma) and her single daughter.  She's a crack up! You guys would like her too. Later her other daughter and her husband (secretary in the congregation) joined us. They just built a house next to Mamota. They seem to be a nice couple as well. She's a veterinarian so her Leti bonded over animals, especially "monkees", I mean dogs.

MONDAY
National day off from service, or so we were told. We planed our first beach trip. We were supposed to hang out with the CO at the beach but he wasn't feeling too good. The CO is Mexican and is married to a Swedish sister. They met here, she was a needgreater and he was sent here after going to the Gilead extension school in Mexico in 1981. Really mellow and down to earth couple. We went to their apt. so Stef could cut the brother's hair.


      Jehu y Rebecca Lopez


But first we ate some fried fish in Boca Chica. MMMMMMMMMMMMM!!! Finger licking good.

After the haircut we went to the beach in Guayacanes, because it's less crowded. We had a nice swim and nice nap under some nice shade. Ohhhh so nice!!

TUESDAY
Alf had mentioned us to the AH overseer and he told him to bring us along with him so that we could help out in the maintenance of the AH. Open air hall with some BIG OH fans!!! Leti and Stef were on paint duty and Alf and I did some plumbing and cement jobs. Full day at the AH. A Creole couple school has just started, so we got to meet some of the students. We were surprised of the help the AH overseer gets everyday of the week. We counted at least 20 brothers and sisters doing various kinds of jobs. Plus there was the kitchen staff making food for the couple school and all the volunteers. This is everyday of the week!

AH view from the parking lot

Baptism Pool

 

View from the platform

Can you tell how big those fans are?

Women's Restroom, can you tell what's missing? Post your comment. If you get it right we'll tell you why.

That's coral rock found here at the AH site

Working at the AH with Alf & Stef