Welcome Back to Being a Missionary

I am very excited to be back working/living as a missionary. I arrived in the Dominican Republic and knew I was back “in mission” when the airport gate would not attach to the airplane and the bathroom had a long line and no paper towels. Welcome back to being a missionary!

I arrived at the mission site, after 26 hours of travel, at 10:30 at night. The driver, who has what I am beginning to recognize as a typical Dominican sense of humor, spent the drive telling me that the house had no furniture, food, kitchen or anything but we would “work on that”. I was so tired after traveling all night without sleep that I figured the floor would be fine for one night! As it turns out, the house was incredible and had everything I could have hoped for and more. I am so happy to be here. To top off how well I am being cared for here and welcomed, I have already inherited a dog and a goat (which anyone who knows me well can attest that these are my favorite animals that I had been missing so much).

In the week I have been here: I have visited four communities, eaten in a family’s home, got my first accounting lesson for my new job, been to four masses, visited with both groups of religious sisters, bought my way thru the open air market that comes over the border from Haiti, shopped at two grocery stores, ate out twice in nice restaurants and was invited for dinner with the two American priests. My days are very full.

My first impression is of a warm, friendly people who can laugh about anything and tease each other about everything. The undocumented are very poor here and have no access to education for their children and no medical care. It is dry and has no crops for at least 6 months of the year here. Lots of need, and so many things that need doing, which I slowly hope to become involved in.