Faithpacking with Ali: DR

Showing posts with label DR. Show all posts

Friday, March 20, 2015

Rep. Dominican 3rd Round!

Yes, the Lord had called me to return to Republic Dominican for the 3rd time! The best part of this trip is see how much the kids had grew over the year since last time I saw them (a year ago)!

This year theme was "Armor of God"- Ephesians 6:10-18
¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.¹⁸And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

It was a fun and entrainment theme, the kids loved it! Our drama team did a fantastic job explaining the passage about Armor of God from the bible. It was blessing to see those kids emulate what they had learned during their time at camp!

There's tons of pictures I could share! I will just share the highlight of the camp!

Kate, Faith, Lavinia, Kaitlyn, and Emily all ready to board for our last leg to DR! (Click here for arrival pics!)

What a great 2014 camp!!! (See more!)

Our drama team did WONDERFUL job performing!! (click here to see more!)

Swimming time was a must in our daily activity! (Click here to see more!)

This year we were able to decorate our camp t-shirt as part of craft activity! We also did bunch other fun crafts too! (Click here to see more!)

We have group discussion everyday to review what they learned from the drama and how it's related to the bible. This was my main job at the camp. In addition, Julie and Penny, our amazing American Teacher was able to provide teaching workshops to those teachers who works with those kids at the school! (click here to see more!)

We also provided science workshops for the kids to learn different fun stuff! Even had auto class for the boys to learn how to fix basic things. (Click here to see more!)

Sports is other main activity we had here at camp. Baseball was popular last year but this year it was basketball and volleyball! (Click here to see more!)

During our free-time (in between activities) you will find everyone all over! It was fun to see everyone just chilling, catching up with each-other, and playing different kind of games in the cafe area. (Find more pics here!)

At the end of the camp, we were able to help celebrate Ramon and Mira their official wedding ceremony!!

What a WONDERFUL missionaries we have this year! We made this camp possible along with Our Father in Heaven!!! All of us are from different States, NE, NY, CT, FL, CA, TX, and the Dominicans!

I had a WONDERFUL time and experience to return! I will be looking froward to what next year will have in store for this Ministry!!

Side note: I know this post is way OVERDUE- almost a year late, however, around this time of the year I normal will know if i will be going again. It has been a difficult deciding whether if I should go again. I have been praying to the Lord about if I should return, I didn't had this urgent feeling where I want to GO again! It was a bittersweet feeling, HOWEVER, I will continue praying if I can return next year!

This year will be in my PRAYERS and for sure MISS them!!!!!

Especially, I will miss my little sassy friend Liris!

She saying a prayer before dinner time to everyone!! What a brave girl!! LOVE YOU!!

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Thursday, March 20, 2014

Rep. Dominican Round 2! (See You Later!)

It's bittersweet when the camp comes to end!! Please take few moments to view the pics by click on the link 'See you Next Year".

See You Next Year!

Whew... that was little emotional to put this one together! It makes me miss the kids even more and how wonderful time I had there!

Next journey is to Boca Chica Resort for few days to relax before heading back to the United of States....

God's is good by allowing us to come and ministry to those children!
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One more IMPORTANT thing I want to do before closing this...
I want to Thank You to ALL who had donated to allow this trip to happen!
Second, for all your prayers and support me on this challenge and life change experience!
Third, HUGE Thank You to my church Open Door Baptist Church for all the support and encouragement to return. This church is part of my testimony why I went on this trip. This church has a STRONG support of Missionary for the Lord. I've got the inspire to do this because of this church and how we love the Lord through his serving!!
Lastly, The Lord for allowing me to attend this camp and be part of his will for me to learn more about who God is by planting seeds in those lovely precious children!!!
Again! THANK YOU!!!!!

Rep. Dominicana round 2 (Campamento)

Am telling you this year's Camp was WAY better than last year! We were blessed with a better camp site, more accessible for Leslie who is in a wheelchair and much prettier and clean! There were many things that had improved this year compared to last year. I will be listing them along with pics!

1. This year we made changes on how to present our bible stories to the kids. Last few year they would use interpreters and the actors would either voice or sign. Julie and I had worked very hard to make changes by using sign language ONLY no interpreters allowed! We had all staffs who knows sign language to preform, even some part does not require signs we still use our staffs!

Drama Pics!

2. Last few years, teachers and mothers who works at the school would cook our meals for us. This year the camp had their own cooker, which was much better, even the food were delicious!! That way the teachers can take educational develop workshop with Julie in the morning to learn more about Deaf Education. Also be able to interact with kids throughout the day!

3. The campground was PREFECT! There were fresh mangoes and bananas trees EVERYWHERE! Plus they had more fun playgrounds to play on, baseketball court, and even a zipline! The dorms were much better than last year, this year we didn't have to get mosquito nets for our windows. Lastly, it was beautiful campground!

CAMPGROUND

4. We have more fun activities set up throughout the day. We had swimming, sports, drama, craft, nail polish, science, and group discussion classes. Kids loved those activities, even during free time hang around the campground!
-to view the PICS click on the blue link!!!!

I return back to America overwhelmed with rich experiences from being back in Republic Dominicana for the 2nd time. Each year has really improved my relationship with the lord and how i want to live my life! I can't explain in words how blessed I am to be able to service the Lord through this ministry!

Praying the Lord will give me another opportunity to return next year for camp 2014!! <><

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Rep. Dominican Round 2! (Arrival)

Yuppers, that's right I went back to Republica Dominicana for the second time recently June! This time I came into Santo Domingo four days early from the camp date. I am blessed and grateful for a great opportunity to be able to see what their life is alike outside of camp.

While staying in Santo Domingo for 5 days before the camp, I stayed with an awesome and sweetest host family that is related to Paulina, one of the top Deaf School advocate in the country. Only 4 of us from America stayed with them and other 4 stayed with Paulina. We were about mile or so away from each other. They both cooked excellent foods for us and was very generosity by helping us to get around the city! While we stayed with them, we had opportunity to experience the REAL life of Republica Dominicana by tour the city and learn what their daily life is alike. Am just amazing and still speechless that I live in America not there!

Back View on the top from our Host family's apt!

Front view

Our host family in middle and rest of us who stayed with them (esp for Josiah in the back and Nicole in the front they stayed with Paulina)
Click here for more pics from Host house!


Touring the city! Click here for more pics!!

We were able to visit the main deaf school where our kids from camp attended in Santo Domingo. While we visit the school (on Thurs and Friday), we observed their classrooms, interact with the kids, and learn what their educate is a like. On both of those days we also were able to visit several kid's homes, this part of the trip was the most impacting experiences I've had down there.

One best part of this experience at the main deaf school was that we got to witness their graduation celebration. Their graduation is much similar to ours here in USA. In addition, we were able to visit another deaf school that "was" in the process of establish the school on the other side of the city. The result was that there were a school that was established in different part of Santo Domingo that way more deaf kids could attend school since the main school is too far for them to travel there. God is amazing in many ways for those kids!! Looking forward to see more of God's work in those kids for their education!!

Click here for graduation and school pics!!

As for home visit, as I say it was the most impacting experience for me because I visit one of the poorest part of the city compared to where I was staying at. The entire time I was speechless and was hard for me to talk. I kept on asking myself why am I in America not here. Please look through the pics the pictures explain more than I could!

Click here for more pics from this home visit!

This experience was worth it because it helped me understand better where our kids come from and life lesson for me. It also helped me to think twice what I want on my daily basis and not to waste my food, etc. I am still grateful I was able to grab this opportunity to see the other side of the world!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Boca Chica Republica Domincia

This was one of my best part of the trip is to visit a village east of Santo Domingo called Boca Chica and we stayed at the Be Live Hamaca Beach Hotel along with the team. It was my first time touch the Caribbean Sea, super SUPER super excited!!

The locate of this hotel was really nice and beautiful beach front of our hotel. It absolutely felt like am on a paradise vacation! The only negative about this hotel is the rooms, would rate it 2 and half out of 5 due to air Condition and toilet not function properly. However, it didn't actually not bother me because I was on the beach most of the time from 9am to 4pm. As for for they had huge buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

On the beach it was lot of fun, they had free dancing classes, such as Zumba on sand and in water (did that one!), Hammock, beach bed with shed, kayak, and windsurfing. I did got plenty of Dominican Republic Sun on my beau skin!

Important part to be able to reflect on how much The Lord taught me on this mission trip. It was nice to share with out teammates on how things were at the camp and what we can do for next year! It was blessing to have a wonderful team to travel with!

Here are the pictures!