Back to Wisconsin

Saturday morning breakfast was the last taste of that incredibly ripe and sweet fruit. Pancakes were available and as some eggs were left over Pablo made omelets to order. We will sure miss his cooking; always on time, delicious, a nice variety, and nearly always Dominican.

The team wanted to leave around 8:30am and after final packing and weighing of suitcases we were set. The official team picture was taken in front of the bus and we said our goodbyes to Ruth and Pablo after Genesis led an emotional prayer. What servants to our Lord Ruth and Pablo have been through the years!

Pastor Anderson travelled with us and we met Nathaniel in the Capital after our usual trip to the tourist mall for assorted "needs". We had about an hour to tour an area of the Colonial City which included portions of the fort and some of the older buildings and streets. We are talking early 1500's here as the Dominican Republic was "discovered" by Columbus in 1492. Santo Domingo is the oldest European City in the Americas founded in 1496 by Columbus' brother Bartholomew. Looking at 500 year-old buildings and imagining who walked the streets never gets old.

Santo Domingo is a unique city of contrasts; old and new, rich and poor. It's large at 1.5 million inhabitants. It's bustling and hectic with winding narrow streets and the 500 year-old Colonial City contrasts with modern architecture in other areas. Seeing China Town in a hispanic country seems a bit out of place. Like the rest of the population in the DR the majority of the population is quite poor and when driving on either the main highways or side streets you see these contrasts; expensive SUV's passing carts propelled by a horse that seems only days from death. Dilapidated homes only a mile from near-mansions.

Farewells were had with Dean and Kim in Atlanta as they had a separate flight to Madison. The rest of the team landed uneventfully in Appleton around 8:45pm. Families greeted and last hugs were made.

Please continue to look to this blog for two future postings as it relates to the 2016 trip. The first is a recap which will include the list of major expenditures and accomplishments. The second will be a photo montage set to music.

Gloria A Jesus