Ty Brand's posto :]

Hola! Where to start!? It's so beautiful here in DR! It's so green and the temp is perfect. When we arrived, we were picked up from the airport and quickly thrown into this culture. The way they drive!! WOW!! Talk about loco! They drive, basically, however they want. Usually, there are no lanes, so they drive on both sides of the street, swerving around each other. Surprisingly, we all like it and laugh in shock. We all love the drive in the trucks to our sights everyday, they are such an adventure!! I spend all day with beautiful Laura <3 she translates for me alllllll the time! I've been frustrated with the language barrier, but then the women at my sight include me in baking, or a child sits on my lap, or splashes me (Walldi! the little boy that has the most pics on my camera!) he even helped me clean dishes, and then i am reminded of God's grace. Man is God so good! Our team has grown so much together, we are so united and understanding of each other, and wow do we have some funny stories to come back with. I miss you soooo much mommy!! And daddy and jen and bay....HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY LITTLE SISTER <3 I hope u had a beautiful day, we celebrated by going river water rafting! Thank you to everyone who contributed to this life changing experience and for all your prays, God's listening, because he's doin some work in all of us.

All my love - ty :)

Bailee Marshall's post! :)

(7/29)Hola everyone! So I must say, I have been having the best time here in the DR. Currently, I was just playing a game of "Pass the Ball" with a whole bunch of random people from other churches. I have really made a lot of new friends and it's been really awesome.

I am working at the physical therapy site, where I give ultra-sounds, massages, and other stuff. It surprised me how much everything at the physical therapy site reminded me back to my physical therapy days. I even met a guy who had the same knee surgery as I did and it immediately brought back memories to those painful days when I had to strengthen my knee. The site leader, Dan, is really awesome. He's from the States so he knows English, which has been such a relief. However, the langauge barrier has been very frustrating, especially when trying to communicate with the patients. But God has been good, and I have people who can translate for me. The receptionist at the physical therapy site, Rosie, is so hilarious. She doesn't speak a word of english but her facial expressions and everything is so funny.

Anyways, I feel so amazingly blessed to be here. Last night I ate at a host familys house, who happened to be Rosie. She served us chicken, rice and beans. After we played dominoes and she taught us a typical Dominican style dance. It was thundering and lightning too! So crazy.

(7/30)So today we went white water rafting! I won't say too much because I could go on and on, but I had the best time. I was nervous, but God truly was with us and me on our raft and our guide. We had some crazy things happen to but we all are safe and sound and WET! I have a few bruises from it too!

Anyways, I have been having much fun. God has shown me how blessed I am and I'm so honored to serve Him. Tonight we go into town so I'm really excited for that!

Thank you to everyone who supported me and has prayed for me! I love you all!

Ps. I miss my family! I love you mom dad Audrey and Logan. Xoxoxoxoxoxo Can't wait to share the stories!! :)

Bailee Marshall

Hola everyone! So I must say, I have been having the best time here in the DR. Currently, I was just playing a game of "Pass the Ball" with a whole bunch of random people from other churches. I have really made a lot of new friends and it's been really awesome.

I am working at the physical therapy site, where I give ultra-sounds, massages, and other stuff. It surprised me how much everything at the physical therapy site reminded me back to my physical therapy days. I even met a guy who had the same knee surgery as I did and it immediately brought back memories to those painful days when I had to strengthen my knee. The site leader, Dan, is really awesome. He's from the States so he knows English, which has been such a relief. However, the langauge barrier has been very frustrating, especially when trying to communicate with the patients. But God has been good, and I have people who can translate for me. The receptionist at the physical therapy site, Rosie, is so hilarious. She doesn't speak a word of english but her facial expressions and everything is so funny.

Anyways, I feel so amazingly blessed to be here. Last night I ate at a host familys house, who happened to be Rosie.

Hope Ekholm's post

Sorry guys, internet was out last night. We will try to blog twice today. The website is not working correctly right now... So our pics are not downloading... Maybe tomorrow.

Hello Everyone! [Que Pasa Todos!]

I am excited to share with everyone what has been going on since Sunday. First off, I just have to say that I love this country. The beauty of this country is indescribable. The mountains surround the location in which we are staying and every so often we'll hear the deep roar of thunder and the surprising visit of heavy rain. I have been placed in the dentistry site and have enjoyed it so much. My day consists of waking up at 6:20 to be ready by 6:45[after falling asleep around 12 am] and taking part in morning worship until 8, then we eat breakfast. Once 9 o'clock hits, everyone loads the bus-trucks [not sure which is a better description] and are off to our sites. I am the only participant in the dentistry site, so I am really connecting with the dentist, Vanessa. My responsibilities include controlling the suction tube in the patients mouth, preparing and assisting Vanessa during procedures such as, root canals, fillings, correcting chipped enamel, pulling teeth and deep cleans. Let's just say I have seen a lot of blood and a lot of plaque. I am really encouraged to clean my teeth well while I'm here. We do this until about 12, which is when siesta starts, and we eat our lunch together and drink cafecito [a strong coffee in the size of an espresso shot] until 2 when patients return for appointments. I get picked up around 3:40 and rest until dinner.

God is really working here with the full time missionaries and they are awesome. Vanessa is such an example of a Godly woman and encourages me in so many things ranging from my family to friends, my career and how I can look at things in a positive, Christ-like way. Plus, she is a Dominican with a great sense of humor, and it makes the day a lot more fun!

I'm sorry this post is long, I guess I have a lot to say. I could easily say more but it's time to end. I want to shout out to my mom, MONIQUE! I love you mom and think about you daily. I know your surgery is coming up and I have been praying for you :] Vanessa and I talk about you a lot :] I can't wait to see you next saturday [I think is when we come home].

Tengan un buen dia todos!

-Esperanza or Hope

Today we spent our first full day at our sites!!!

Wow!!! its hot and we are all very tired!!! Last night we all learned how to dance "merenge" if thats how you spell it. It was awesome...we all found out we have a latin side to us. It was found in our hips. We also learned a game called "Don Ramon" which includes cups and singing out loud in spanish. We also found the best candy ever, coconut candy! MMmmm yummy! We love you all and miss you much. Talk to you tomorrow.

-Arnold

Quiz of the day:

Out of the following what did not happened today?

A.) Dana Loth peed her pants.

B.) Laura fertilized plants with human urine.

C.) Nicole got a bug bite on the tip of her nose.

D.) Arnold got hit in the chest with a baseball.

E.) Dominican kids tie dyed Brittany's hair.

The answer to yesterdays quiz is.....Beatrice Franklin's leg. She is in pain and very itchy.

Day 2 is over!!!

Hello friends and family, today we all had orientation here on campus and at our designated sites. The students seem really excited to get started. They get their chance tomorrow. We learned a bunch of things today. Some of those things are...that we need to wake up at 6:45am every morning. That did not go over very well with all the students...lol. We also figured out why people are so late all the time at heart of the canyons. We found out that here there is an "american time" always on time an in a hurry, and there is a "Dominican time" always 15 to 30 minutes late. So HOTC must have Dominican roots. We fit right in...thanx HOTC for preparing us well. We are having a wonderful time. Please keep praying for us. We love you all!!!

- Arnold

P.S. guess who's leg this is. Bugs bites have begun.

Kim Patricks post

Hey guys! Wow I can't believe the first day here has come and gone. We are enjoying the bugs and cold water, its great! Im already seeing God working in me. When I first got to the island and on the way to the SI base I was already feeling like I wanted to go home and I was mad because I wasn't enjoying anything. Today I got to go to the physical therapy site, Woah! I fell in love with the people and the outreach. I've never enjoyed being told what to do quite this much! God took my heart and shook it! I love it! The team is getting along so well and there have been almost no problems here. The food is so good! I enjoy the fruit at every meal! I feel like there is so much more to say but I can't fit it all in a blog!

Feliz Cumpleanos from the Dominican Republic to my sister, Kelsey! I love you so much, I can't believe we haven't killed eachother over the past 16 years! You have grown into such a beautiful young women! Kayde and Mom & Dad I miss you too much! ((Wanna bet?!))

- Kim

We have arrived!!!!

Hello friends, we have arrived in the DR student international camp grounds. Its 6pm here and we are just about to have dinner. Here are some pictures for your entertainment.

DR team has arrived in Panama

Hey guys the flight from LAX to Panama was smooth but tiring. We are in panama for a couple of hours and then we head off to the Dominican Republic. Please continue praying and comments on our blog would be awesome. Love you all.

-DR team

We have arrived at LAX

We are now sitting enjoying the wait time at LAX!

DR team leaves tonight

Hello everyone, just testing our blog. We are leaving to the airport around 9:30pm tonight and flying out at 2am. Please keep us in your prayers. Love you all.

-Arnold