News from the Dominican Republic - Thursday, January 1, 2009
Hello, all!  We landed safely in the DR today at the Puerta Plata Airport.  After a 2-hour drive over the mountains to Santiago, we made it to the Vallette's home.  Everything has gone well.  Newark airport was slow through security, but we've settled into our new home for a few days and had a good dinner at Chimi Jose', a local chicken establishment that the crew has been visiting for the last few years.  5 whole birds went down and we're ready for a good night sleep.

We went to the church building in Los Girasoles today and reviewed the projects to be done which include several layers of block wall, security fencing, new exterior lighting for security, and new shelving for the sunday school children's rooms.  Tomorrow, we'll hit the hardware store and lumber yards to get as much material as we can delivered to start work.

Today is a quick and temporary update.  Tomorrow will be as well, but it will get better though the week as I have a bit more time in the evenings.

Thank you all for your prayers!!!!
News from the Dominican Republic - Friday, January 2, 2009
It's been a great day in the Dominican Republic!  The weather was a balmy 80 degrees and sunny.  We went hardware store shopping today.  I know that sounds rough for a bunch of guys but we put the nose to the grindstone and did it anyway.  Shopping in the DR is nothing like the US and time in the DR does not run like it does in the US.  It took all moring to hit 3 stores and order cement block, contrete, fencing material, and electrical supplies.  You have to spend a lot of time trying to figure out what may or may not be in stock, if its available, and when it might be delivered.  The "when" on delivery can be plus or mines a day or two.

Fortunately we could get the electrical supplies and Fred & I (Gene) who are the electricians on the crew (clearly superior to the grunt labor) were able to run the wiring and install security lighing on the back of the church and tie it into a dawn-to-dusk light.  The cement was delivered but the block and fencing is "manana."  They just didn't say what "manana" they meant.

Please pray that the material is delivered as promised tomorrow so that we can get started on the new jobs.  The crew is safe and healthy with no injuries or sickness.  Thank you again for your prayers.  Tomorrow night I will have a bit more time in the eveing, so I can do a better update with many more pictures on the "Saturday" page.

There are new pictures below and at the bottom of the page I have added links to a few videos to give you an idea of our day.
You can scroll down to see the team's photo album and videos.Scroll Down for Video and Pictures!




This video is of the Vallette's "guard dog", Buddy!  I guess he eats less than the German Shephard!




Click here if the video will not play.


Loading the Pilot at Puerta Plata Roadside Shopping for Some Local Fruit
Here's the crew loading their baggage in Puerta Plata. We stopped on the way for some local fruit.  It's great, fresh, and cheap!
Chimi Jose - Can you Say Pollo? Chimi Jose!
The fine chicken dining establishment! Pastor Ramon came to pick us up and graciously took the cramped back seat.
A Typical Small Hardware Store/Supply House The Church Building at Los Girasoles
Here is a shot at one of the smaller hardware stores that we stopped at today. This is the church building at Los Girasoles where we will work most of the week.  It looks
so nice right now and we were very excited to see the progress.  If you want to see the progress
over the last few years from our other building projects, CLICK HERE.  It's amazing
what God has been able to do.
Gene Working Ad Sleeping
A picture Gene, the "senior electrician", working on the exterior lighting. I told you that waiting at the hardware store took patience.  Ad took a short nap today
becasue of the long wait for the fence material ordering.
Union Job Fred on the Roof
Even in the DR, we work under union rules......the guy on the right is Elvis,
one of the leaders in the local church who stopped in on his day
off to visit with us.  He's coming back tomorrow to help out.		 Roofing is the other "electician" specialty.  Fred and I risked the second story drop to get
the lights up today.  We had to stop for a Uga (local grape soda) after such a harrowing
experience.

Click on the links below to some other videos that I took today of our adventures:
(I've set them on a lower resolution so they won't clog up your internet connection.)

1) Daddy talking to Andrew and showing him what he's up to today.

2) Daddy explains to Andrew about the roof project for the day.

3) Fred on the roof after updating his insurance policy.

4) For those who are just tuning in, a view of the neighborhood around the church at Los Girasoles.

5) Sometimes you have to rough it when you work.

6) A typical steel yard where we ordered some material today.