After a delicious breakfast, Stuart Dixon had a short devotional thought for us and the n Bob sent the different crews out to start their day.
The construction crew was able to get 402 blocks put down today, even with still adjusting to the heat, which is close to 90 degrees. Tomorrow should be even better as they settle into a nice routine of synchronized work. There were plenty of local people at the site observing the new church to be built. And children were in abundance as school let out. The school children are all dressed in matching uniforms blue and brown and looking very neat. The talk that is going around about the construction of the church is wonderful for the upcoming children's evangelism as well as the adult outreach. Kim Beisiegel who is in charge of the children's program has decided that she will run two events starting this coming Monday. A children's program for the afternoon and then another for the evening.
The medical clinic has been set up along with pharmacy and will be opening first thing tomorrow to see patients. Rosalie Brito, along with Karen Naranjo and Ellen Potter were busily sorting the various medicines to be handed out at the pharmacy tomorrow. The dental clinic has also been arranged and is now ready to start.

Our quarters at the campground are more than acceptable. The property is beautiful and well maintained. Mango and various citrus trees are peppered over the grounds as well as papaya trees. There are various lizards and gecko in abundance and most of us have become so use to these little critters that we wouldn't feel as if we have had a proper shower without there little roving eyes staring at us. Treden Rousseau who has now been on 4 mission trips with us still has not become use to the giant roaches though, and certainly does not like to see one shoot out from under her suitcase. The area is very flat here, being at only 80 feet above sea level, while the worksite is at 200 feet above seal level with a gradual 1% incline. There are no huge jutting mountains such as in Honduras. A nice breeze flows at the compound and when you are not in side or in the sun it is very pleasant. At the worksite though is a totally different situation as they work unsheltered in the blazing heat, no breeze is to be felt. Each person at the worksite drank about a gallon of water each today. And we continually remind each other to drink so we do not become dehydrated.
The building in which we are living is stucco and shaped in a double L with the bed rooms on two sides and the kitchen dinning area in the middle. We have sectioned off the long open area where the bunk beds are and have made rooms by hanging up plastic tarps as dividers. We are sleeping about 4 to a room. There are no screens on the window and the doors are left opened. We keep mosquito netting on our bunk beds to protect us at night and wear bug spray to ward off any threat of malaria. We have also hired a guard that surveys the area and keeps watch for our safety. The motor bike taxis go by continually, and the honking of horns is the most noticeable when we try to have announcements. At times it is almost impossible to hear each other in the dining room. There is a little store right across the street that Nichole Maisonneuve and Treden went to today and with the help of Sarah Moran to translate they were able to buy a soda. The 2-girls later came and got me and together we were brave enough to manage the soda deal without a translator. Once the word is out amongst our group that there is ice cold soda at this little store, the economy in this area will be booming in the evening.

Don't forget to P.U.S.H. (pray until something happens)

But let all those that put there trust in you rejoice; let them ever shout for joy, because thou defends them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. Psalms 4:11

With rejoicing I send you a smile from the Dominican.

Jennifer Young
Mission reporter