News from the Dominican Republic - Updated Friday; January 27rd, 2007
Posted January 23, 2007:

The "Advance Team",  Fred Bromm and Ad Boyer, arrived safely on Sunday at about 12:30.  We're guessing that they were in the pork restaurant with "the missionary" (Our affectionate name for Rich.) by about 12:45!  The weather is in the 80's during the day and the 60's at night - good for working and sleeping.  The rain has cleared up so please pray that the rains hold off next week.  If it does rain, we won't be able to lay block for the second floor.

Ad emailed some pictures which I've posted below.  The first one is the church building that we will be working on.  The first floor (partially underground) was last year's project.  This year we will be laying block for the second floor.  It looks much different than when we left last year.

Richie treated the guys to a Dominican baseball game Sunday afternoon.
We are thankful the guys headed down early.  Ad emailed me a shopping list of supplies that we will need to finish projects or fix things around the church that we weren't even aware of.  I'll shop for them this week and fill those extra spaces in everyone's suitcases when we head down this coming Saturday.
Posted January 26, 2007:
I got word from Ad and Fred this week, as well as a shopping list for Home Depot.  (I still don't understand why "the missionary" needs all that beef jerkey?)  The rest of the crew will be taking down various tools, check valves, concrete bits, etc. that are hard to find in the DR.  The "Advance Team" has been busy.  They've unloaded 1,000 cement blocks at the job site to get ready to build the walls of the second floor of the church and they are "mixing mud" yesterday and today.  Mixing mud is DR lingo for making concrete by hand - the old fashioned way with shovels in the middle of the street.  A concern for the project was whether the contractor was going to get the rebar in place in time and I understand that that is all taken care of.  (One visit from Ad and Fred convinced him!)  You can see some new pictures below from this past week.

I've also posted a picture of the  way the church looked when we arrived last year.

As alway, keep us before His throne in prayer!

You can scroll down to see the team's photo album and videos.Scroll Down for Video and Pictures!



The church the way it looked when we arrived in 2006.

Christian Bible Church 2006, Dominican Republic



The front of the church as it is today.
Christian Bible Church in Santiago, DR

And you thought that the US was crazy over baseball!!
Baseball in the DR


The "Advance Team" at work in the DR.  My question is "If you have a plumbing problem, why do you call in a salesman and a sod farmer?"
Plumbing problem?!


At least they found the problem.  It was a clog in the system!
Clog in the plumbing?


One of the projects for this coming week is to fix the drainage at the church.  If the sump pump fails, the church fills up with water on the first floor.  We need to install a 4" check valve in this hole.  The problem is that it does not fit, so someone has to crawl down and chip away the concrete.  I believe Paul Burn's name was mentioned several times, but he declined because there were no lazer levels in the DR and he couldn't ensure success without one!!!!
The hole.