December 24, 2012

Convention days came – and went.

The people came – and they have gone.

Those statements are like the dates on the tombstones with only the little dash between two dates to represent a lifetime. In this case, most of what that little dash held was felt, and cannot be “tellt”.

Convention...the big tent open at the sides, green grass under our feet...the quiet before the meeting ...the same familiar “order”. Of course it was “the best!” just like we've said about every convention we've been to through the years.....but this one had an added dimension I've never seen before. The beauty of the people – all “shades” of color and white, young and old, mixed totally, and in perfect harmony. It was, in a way, like a foretaste of heaven – like the gathering of many nations into one.

A convention is made up of people. I wish you could have seen them arrive! Especially, if you could have been here to greet those from Bani! I don't know how many spilled out of the big modern taxi-van, but more than we would have said was “capacity”. One of our friends drives for the taxi company, and can bring everyone from there. All those little girls in their pretty dresses with their hair parted into any number of braids or “twists” ending in colored balls or beads, kept reminding me of chocolate cupcakes with bright colored sprinkles in the frosting. Smile.

Yesterday afternoon it all happened in reverse, except that children were hard to gather, all were slow to finally get settled in their places. There were so many good-byes to say, so many pictures to take - to try as we do in our feeble way to keep hold of each other; so many hugs and parting kisses. But, one by one the vans finally passed through the gate and were waved out of sight down the alley.

Quite a number were still here for supper and the night. After supper, everyone sang hymns again under the dining tent, as the young people had the night before in the meeting tent. I didn't stay, but the sound came in through the open windows and was beautiful.

Breakfast this morning was at 6:15, and at 7:00 two vans rolled out the gate with all those workers and friends going on to the convention in Haiti later this week. They board the bus in Santo Domingo. Those good-bye's were hard...hard to see them go. But, there was the nice thought that somewhere, before they came to us here, others had told them good-bye – and in Haiti they will receive the same glad welcome we gave them here. I missed the picture of some holding up the flag of the Dominican Republic for them to remember as we all waved until they were out of sight.

Clean-up day! A mountain of laundry that keep growing as fast as we tried to shrink it. Thankfully, the sun shone, and the tents could all come down and be stowed away for next year. A few other cars have left during the day....friends from Canada who will spend the remainder of their holiday at one of the resorts, and also Russell and Ronaele and family from California. This afternoon we told Brenda Lang good-bye. She's been with this staff for two years, and now is on her way back to her home country, Guatemala, to join our Darla Fisher.

Tomorrow the remainder of us will “disperse”.....but I'll face tomorrow when it comes.    

Events, Experiences, Impressions

Only two weeks...surely it must have been longer! How can one learn so much, see so much, feel so much in so short a time? And now, how am I going to sort it out to share with you? If only I could send you each a portion of the richness!

Today, the meeting tent is going up. It is a reality now that convention is NEXT WEEK. I'm remembering, too, the little convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico the end of THIS WEEK. Our visitors from Mexico have been with us the last few days, and are appreciated so much. Samuel Herrera has been in the city of Juarez - famed for crime - and told us of the prosperity of the Gospel there.                  Claudia and Brenda Rodriguez are from Monterrey, where we have many friends.

Friday evening we had a little celebration for Glen's 79^th birthday, and Tere's birthday that follows. Cake and ice-cream, balloons and a banner helped us feel festive. Afterward, we sang some hymns together

 I've mentioned the countries represented around the table, and our two languages – but there are also the colors! We are quite a range of “skin tones”, and it makes a lovely “bouquet”.

Later Friday evening, Stan and Sue arrived from Albuquerque bringing Anna. Everyone is happy to see Anna, who spent so many years here.

Saturday morning, after the study, we hurried to be ready to leave for the weekend. Derek drove our group that started with seven of us. When we came to the city of Moca, we wound in and out and round about through narrow streets crowded with pedestrians, children, motorcycles, bikes, dogs, trucks and traffic that midwest USA has not even imagined. Somewhere in the midst of it all, we came to the home of Yocelyn's parents, where she and Claudia were to stay until Sunday evening. We all came in for a little while, and glasses of cold Coke were very welcome. Each glassful handed over was neatly wrapped with a napkin, which made it nice to hold.

Five of us – Derek, Samuel, Jordan (Jordan is from Canada, an exchange student this year in Guadalajara in Mexico), Marie and myself – went on to our destination on the north coast. The road, curve after curve, goes over the mountains, following the ridges, and the scenery is inexpressibly beautiful....but there was no way to stop to take pictures. The beauty here is not of majestic snow-capped peaks, but of shade after shade of green; of palm trees climbing the slopes; of fence posts along the road that have sprouted and become a living fence; of deep valleys below that are clothed in grass and plant life.

There was a momentary view of the ocean in the distance, and then we came down to the coastal cities of Cabarete and Sosua, tourist destinations, lined along the ocean front with condos. 

 

 We turned in at “The Balcones”. The gate opened, and the gatekeeper smiled and greeted Derek with warm recognition. We followed the stone walk around to the front, and were welcomed into the condo where Syd and Martha Mose from BC, Canada, spend a few months each year. Margaret Greenaway was Syd's aunt, and some of you would also know Donna Mose, Syd's sister. Larry Greenaway and Janet Mose would be cousins. Anyway, you would know we were certainly HOME!

We all had lunch together, and then Marie and I were left to spend the afternoon and night. Oh, it was lovely outside watching the waves roll in and break against the rocks, and spread over the sand at the edge of the beach nearby. The verse that tells us that God has “set a bound that the sea cannot pass over” seems so real. The lovely condos and the pool on the terrace are very attractive, but they can never rival what God has created. One looks at that expanse of sea, going on beyond the horizon, and marvels that God can hold it “in the hollow of His hand”.

But, the very best was Sunday morning. We left the shore with its condos and turned off on a dirt road that led to another dirt road and another. We climbed steep hills, avoided deep ruts, and went thru muddy water in the low places. We passed poor little houses close to the road, and people, dogs, chickens and children reluctantly moved out of the road that is their front yard.

 Another turn onto an almost impassible road, up a hill and we came to the home where the fellowship meeting is held. Life is far from easy in this community of Haitians who have crossed the border to try to keep alive. I can only say that the meeting was priceless, and fitting that the first hymn chosen was “Tell me the story of Jesus”. They were delighted to have pictures taken afterward, but they don't think it is proper to smile for the photos! It reminds me of the old-time pictures we sometimes see. I don't think the picture does them justice anyway.

After lunch, we went to the airport in Puerta Plata to meet Murray and Linda from Canada. Krista, their only daughter, was in the work here and died in a bus accident less than a year ago. Linda was here to visit Krista a year ago. They are glad for the opportunity to have this time in the place, and with the people that Krista loved, and who knew and loved her.

Going back to today, I baked bread and cinnamon rolls this afternoon. It all disappeared fast at the supper table! As it often does, the rain poured down this afternoon. After supper, we sat around the table and Samuel told us more of his time in the work in Mexico.

December, 2012

Dear Family and Friends,

Greetings from Bonao....somewhere in the Dominican Republic! I don't know the country well enough to have much idea just where we are. It's a warm, breezy Sunday afternoon here, and hard to realize that it is York Special Meeting in Nebraska today, with memories of the treacherous icy roads we faced getting there a year ago! We were a small group in the meeting here in the city this morning. The incredible noise of the motorcycles on the street didn't manage to spoil the hour in that otherwise pleasant upstairs room. We were invited to stay for lunch, and we enjoyed the food and the time together. Now I'll try to fill in this past week for you.

On Monday, Jeannette and I flew from Puerto Rico into Santo Domingo, the capitol and teeming city of three million. Ruthie and Brenda met us and took us to the home of friends. Glen and Derek joined us there and our friends, Magnolia, Antonia, and Hilda served us a delicious meal of things familiar and not-so-familiar.

In the afternoon, we traveled through this awesome city, often on a multi-lane highway raised above street level, with street traffic below. Once outside the city, it was about an hour and a half drive through lovely green countryside on a very good highway to Bonao. This is the island of Hispaniola...the one we learned in school that Christopher Columbus discovered in 1492. I must confess that I felt I could empathize a little with how he must have felt that day!!

We arrived at our destination; the gate opened and then closed behind us. We found our rooms, got settled in, and I had a little preliminary tour. Benigno had something prepared for supper, and afterward a shower and bed felt VERY good. So, here we are at this lovely place where the convention meetings will be held three weeks from now. It has been a good week and an interesting week. It has taken a little time to feel oriented. Once more I've been given the privilege of trying to fit into a different culture in a place where I haven't even begun to know my way around outside the gate. I appreciate the patience of those I've had to ask so many questions....”where is....?” “should I....?” “how do I...?”

Interruption....the ding-a-ling-a-ling in the alley outside the gate is the ice-cream man. Anyone care for some right now??

I'm often asked my impression of this country. To them, I answer honestly that I'm very content, and it is beautiful and such a privilege to be here! To you, I will say the same - but I'll add that it is a very “Latin” country, and a composite of Ecuador and Central America with some that is “its own” mixed in. It is very humid, though the heat has diminished some now as we head toward “winter”. Some came to the breakfast table this morning with jackets and sweaters. Not I....when that happens you'll know I've really “arrived”. The humidity creeps into everything, and rancidity and spoilage happen fast. Another thing of interest is that the electricity is off a lot. Thankfully, we have a good battery back-up for most things, but the washers and dryers, and the iron, can only be used when the city electricity is on. Those on laundry duty these days keep a sharp eye out for the light bulb that gives us the signal that it is “on” or “off”. The refrigerators also need the main current.

Here, as in many places, we are a mixture of nationalities.  Glen, Ed, Marie, Jeannette, Ruthie and Eilene are from the States. Derek is Canadian. Benigno and Brenda are from Guatemala. Yoselyn, and Maritza are native here, Tere is from Mexico, and Erick from Haiti. A couple from Calgary, Canada, Brent and Valori, have joined us. This coming week others are expected. You can imagine the mix of conversations in English and in Spanish around the table.

The background noise here is not the coqui's, but the roosters; dogs barking; and motorcycles. If we were a little closer to the highway, there would be plenty of other traffic noise. A trip to the local supermarket gives assurance that “everything” is available here, and plenty of it. The Dominican Republic is said to be the “bread basket of the Caribbean”. It is a very productive land, and I look forward to experiencing more of it. The people – the known and the stranger – are warm and friendly.

Our morning studies after breakfast are in Hebrews.  I've appreciated these chapters. They have helped me to see more clearly God's perfect plan, the order of it and the provision for our help.   In 2:1 is that familiar verse about not letting these things “slip”. In Spanish, it says “it is NECESSARY that with more diligence we attend to the things we have heard that we wouldn't let them slip”. I thought of that again this morning. It can happen; we must make this diligence personal.

Good-bye until next time.