Sharing our memories

Hello friends!

Here is the link to the slideshow we presented last night in Friday Harbor. We had so much fun! Thanks to everyone who came out to see us. You are all a blessing! Thanks to those who supported us in prayer and giving. This is for you! paste this link into your browser:

http://vimeo.com/14926117

Love,

The Woodward family

prayers and devotions

One of the beautiful things we experienced with God was spontaneous times of devotion and prayer. I would add praise to that list too. Whether prayer sprang up in crisis, thanksgiving, adoration, praise or concern...there was a frequent flow of communicaton with the Creator during our time in the Dominican Republic. Somehow I think this is the way we are supposed to live. Your thoughts?

Toys and games #3

We just finished four days of the San Juan County Fair here in Friday Harbor; animals, exhibits, rides and games...something for everyone. As I watched kids around the fair, having fun, I noticed again how much we have in the U.S. to provide fun for our kids. As I continue to reflect back to the kids in the Dominican Republic and those who live in the bateys I'm reminded that joy and fun don't come from the games themselves, but from the interactions between people. It doesn't take much to produce fun for kids.

Baseball is the #1 national sport in the Dominican. Almost every afternoon you can see a group of kids and young people organizing a game of baseball in a field. I took a picture of a group of boys getting a game going. They were happy to pose for me. Girls play house just like girls in the U.S. The little girl in the photo is cooking up some tasty stew, with her own ingredients. Almost all of the activities are outside, no T.V.'s, no video games, no screen time, just kids playing with kids.

Toys and games #2

I love these pictures which capture the simplicity of toys. The little boy in the doorway has a wall socket with a wire dangling from it. He was carrying it around, making up his own use for it. Who knows where he got it, as most homes in the bateys don't have electricity. The little girls hanging from a tree branch was so cute. She used the branch as a swing and was laughing most of the time she swung back and forth. It was a matter of time before the branch broke and when it did she laughed all the more. The little guy with the can drums was amazing. He was cranking out the beat with his sticks and entertaining everyone. His nickname is "el pastor".

The girls jumping "Chinese Jump Rope" as I call it, where having a blast. The stretched the rope between their waists, much higher than the ankles, the way I taught it in elem. P.E. They seem to make the jumps; great athleticism.

Again I was struck by the simplicity of the things that kids use to have fun.

Vic for the fam

Toys and games #1

One of the favorite toys of the young boys in the bateys is the balancing tire toy. It is not as easy as it looks. Kyle gave it a try and found out how challenging it was to keep the tire rolling. The boys make a stick with part of a plastic bottle on the end, shaped to guide the tire. In almost every batey we would see a boy with this toy. See the video for a demonstration. One of the boys gave me a video lesson.

I'm going to do a little series of blogs on creative toys, no video games, electronic games, etc., just good old imagination.

Vic for the fam

Colmado, a 7-11?

After arriving back in Seattle, by some strange twist of fate, we entered a Wal-Mart. Whoa! What a far cry from the little stores, Colmados, we found in the bateys or other villages around Barahona. Colmados, pictured above, come in all shapes and sizes. You could find various package items; crackers, snack items, fruit, some vegetables, etc.

I must admit, we were a little overwhelmed in Wal-Mart. Still adjusting to life in America and on occasion I'm fighting a judgmental spirit that rises up inside me.

Batey Tours part 2

A batey tour is a Venture team's first connection with the children and the community. Americans get a glimpse of life as it is in the batey and feel the love the children extend to them during the visit. As the week goes on, depending on the project, there are more and more opportunities to relate with adults and children. Life is hard in the bateys, yet God's presence brings hope and joy for all who trust in Him. Often times that hope is given through a team member who reaches out to a child or to an adult, with a loving smile or embrace.

I saw this time and time again. It is usually the American who is blessed by God when he or she gives the simplest smile or attempts to communicate in broken Spanish. It is the smallest gift of grace that touches the heart.

I went out several times with teams who provided cement floors for families. On one trip to Altagracia I recognized a young man who came to the basketball clinic last year. This year he was being blessed by a team who gave his family a cement floor for his home. I wish I could remember his name, but he and his wife with their little girl are pictured with me. He was so grateful for the floor and he worked right alongside the team.

The woman with the pan in her hand is sorting out peanuts or some type of nut. She graciously offered me some when I inquired as to what she was doing. Sharing food is so common in the batey, a sign of community and giving from the heart. There is much food to give, but the people seem to share with neighbors when they are in need. Beautiful! Hmmm...I read something about that type of community sharing in Acts 2: 42-45

They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.
Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met.

Batey Tours part 1

One of the first things a short term Venture team experiences when they come to Barahona is taking a tour of the bateys. I think this was one of my favorite times of the week because we had the opportunity to meet with the children and adults in the communities. It is so interesting to sit back and observe the LOVE that is shared back and forth from kids to team members. Of course for us, most often we were recognized as people who they had seen before, and also there are people who we've built relationships with in most of the communities. Our improving Spanish really helped tremendously.

In the video you see the Bombers baseball team playing with the kids on a tour. This is a common sight with almost every tour and the kids love it...we do too. The kids will play anything and they love Duck, Duck, Goose as you can see.

More to come as we continue to reflect on our incredible six weeks in the Dominican Republic. Thank you for your support and prayers. We are almost home now, in Seattle today and then an afternoon ferry ride.

Love,

Vic for the fam

Sad and Happy

Today is our last full day at Casa Betesada. Emotions will run high this evening for all of us. There is a pool party planned this afternoon, a chance for friends to come by and say hi, hang out, get cool in the pool. Then this evening we will have the offical "despedida" or good-bye party, complete with dinner and dessert. I imagine some merengue too. You should see Ellie and Carly dancing, much fun! It brings joy to my heart to see the wonderful friendships we have made here this summer.

Six weeks here has really helped us break some of the language barriers we had last year. Our Spanish is improving. Monique's effort with Rosettta Stone last year really paid off for her. Her ability to communicate has grown leaps and bounds. She really doesn't let the translators speak English to her, so they help with Spanish everyday. Beautiful!

I'll be continuing to write and post pictures so stay tuned. Thanks for your support and prayers.

Love,

Vic for the fam

I LOVE BASEBALL

This week we are hosting two teams from Seattle, 14-16 year olds and 16-18 year olds. They are the Seattle Bombers. Coaches, dads and players are all here to work with the I LOVE BASEBALL program which is part of Children of the Nations. I love the mission of I LOVE BASEBALL.

“Our goal is to help develop young men into leaders and encourage them to pursue an education and spiritual growth while training for a career in baseball.”

These two teams are playing games and conducting baseball clinics in the bateys. Baseball is the national sport here in the Dominican. Everywhere you go, in the late afternoons, you can usually find a pick up game of baseball. The fields are often just sandlots, open spaces where goats are grazing, donkeys wandering and sometimes horses scrounging for something to eat. I even saw some pigs wander out on the field where the players were instructing the kids in basic skills. I'll post that picture next time...too funny.

There are always little kids and sometimes adults checking out the baseball activity. Baseball draws a crowd here. Want to learn more about I LOVE BASEBALL go to: http://www.ilovebaseball.org

Always revealing

I have been reading through John's gospel in The Message while here in Barahona. The Holy Spirit spoke to me this morning and He is causing me to contemplate. Jesus tells his disciples, you and I also, to "ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I've revealed to you". Do I know what He has revealed to me, and am I listening and looking for what He is revealing today? Are you?

John 16 23-24

"This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I've revealed to you. Ask in my name, according to my will, and he'll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks!

"I've used figures of speech in telling you these things. Soon I'll drop the figures and tell you about the Father in plain language. Then you can make your requests directly to him in relation to this life I've revealed to you. I won't continue making requests of the Father on your behalf. I won't need to. Because you've gone out on a limb, committed yourselves to love and trust in me, believing I came directly from the Father, the Father loves you directly. First, I left the Father and arrived in the world; now I leave the world and travel to the Father."

His disciples said, "Finally! You're giving it to us straight, in plain talk—no more figures of speech. Now we know that you know everything—it all comes together in you. You won't have to put up with our questions anymore. We're convinced you came from God."

Jesus answered them, "Do you finally believe? In fact, you're about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I'm not abandoned. The Father is with me. I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world."

Neighbors

How often do you connect with neighbors thousands of miles from home, person to person, face to face? We did yesterday as our "neighbors" the Ellingson family stopped by to visit us here at Casa Betesada. They are here on a brief respite from their work with Samaritans Purse in Port Au Prince, Haiti.

Ellie and Leif found the little kitty who lives here at the Casa and I think Leif wants to adopt it. I'm not sure we will talk his mom and dad into though.

Vic for the fam

Mucha lluvia hoy

Today has been quite a day thus far. We woke up to pouring rain as a tropical storm is hanging in over us. Matt, Andrea, Abby and kids (the Ellingson Family) were going to fly over here to take a break from the work in Haiti, but they couldn't land due to the poor weather conditions. They are driving now. We should see them some time today...yippee!

The Casa is quiet right now. Brandon Bleek's team from Creekside Covenant left this morning as sheets of rain were coming out of the sky. The drive to Santo Domingo for them will be interesting. Keep them in your prayers. The streets in Barahona looked more like rivers than streets. We went down to the coffee factory, Cafe Melitta, stopped by a panaderia (bakery) this morning with them and got a serious shower each time we left the bus.

Have you seen the short video clip I took of them mixing cement in Algodon? Here it is:
http://vimeo.com/13556780


I even got in on the mixing, but needed to lean on the shovel quite a bit....Ha! I learned how to properly lean on a shovel when I worked on the Whittier City School District summer gardening crew...an acquired skill.

This Sunday 32 baseball players and coaches will arrive to do clinics and play games with I Love Baseball, which is a ministry with Children of the Nations. http://www.ilovebaseball.org Please join us in asking God to halt the rain for their week here. Life shuts down pretty much here when it rains and we don't have a Safeco field to host the games.

Vic for the fam

transportation

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I tried to capture the many modes of transportation here in the Dominican. Scooters and small motorcycles are definitely the most popular. Not only do they transport people but they are used to carry water, food (see men who were picking up plantains they dropped in the street) gas, etc. Walking of course is a biggie, see women carrying laundry on their heads.

The cars are small and so are most of the trucks. You can't buy most of them in the U.S., many Toyotas.

Dominoes

When I was in downtown Barahona last week with a team headed to the coffee factory, I saw these older gentlemen sitting around playing dominoes. I had to ask if I could take their picture. No problem...and they invited me to play. I had to decline...but I think part of their enthusiasm is that they saw easy money, as they were playing for dinero.

It looks like a perfect retirement plan to me. Ha! Dominicans love to play dominoes. You can see people playing quite often outside their homes.

Vic for the fam

serving

This passage came to my heart and mind this morning...from Mark 10:35-44 and Luke 22

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask."
What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory." "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?" "We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared."

When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

As I reflect on the various teams who have come down to the DR this summer, everyone has had a heart to serve and Jesus presence is rich here. What an incredible gift to be hear amongst His people.

Luke 22:25-27

Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

Whether the project has been training teachers, surgeries, recreation with children, painting schools, laying concrete floors, health screening of children, clearing brush, tree planting or fix it efforts around the Casa...all have come to serve. Above are just a few glimpses of work for the sake of others.

more community pictures

The kids are precious and they love our attention as you can see. Ellie and Carly are giving them tons of love every time we go out to the bateys. Monique is getting her hair braided and as the girls were finishing up my camera battery died...but I did capture the finished look on someone else's camera...picture coming soon. She looks beautiful!

Community Happening

The flooring project always seems to attract neighbors and others from the batey. Here are a few candid shots I took while hanging around watching the work. Today we went back to pour another floor in an adjacent house. You should have seen the smile on the woman's face who now has a new floor. Her furniture is back in place and she is so happy. Her home will be mud free during the rainy season now.

Oh..by the way..I did get messy and hauled some dirt today for some floor prep. I even threw some sand around, yahoo! I think I mentioned this before, but this flooring project is such a great one for Venture Teams. The work is so rewarding.

More to come....

Vic for the fam