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.