Team Time

Around T.E.A.R.S. summer time means team time.  With visiting teams from across the States and my home and native land, Canada (reminder: tomorrow is Canada day!) there is a buzz of activity.  Often when teams come they connect with El Camino church here in the barrio which is great but then the same people get to interact with the visitors and El Camino "benefits" (in a manner of speaking) from the visiting teams (i.e., resources, helping hands on work projects, kid's programs, etc.)  Things have been changed up a bit as T.E.A.R.S. has been working to build bridges in other barrios and with other churches.  It is exciting to see relationships formed with new churches and communities.  This is most often easier said than done...or desired.  Differences can often be amplified and overshadow what could be new expressions of unity amongst the body of Christ.  These steps forward are exciting.  Your prayer in this area is gratefully recognized and appreciated.  Please continue. 

This summer will see teams support local churches and communities in the area of outreaches, bible studies, house visitation, children's camps, construction, medical clinics, and teacher workshops.  Thank you for your support which makes all of these important ministry opportunities possible.  Que Dios le bendiga mucho....

Mix of Sun + Rain

Here is the DR (from my experience anyway) when it rains it pours and when it's sunny it's sunny.  The past couple weeks have been on & off rain & sun...still hot yet actually this morning required a sweater.. DR in June...sweater?  Loco.  There have been the exceptional "monkey's weddings" (rain & sun at the same time...anyone else call it that?!)  which here in the DR they call a "boda de bruja" (witch's wedding...just doesn't have the same innocent tropical ring to it as monkey's wedding).  Anyway, the last few days I have been able to borrow a friend's pasola (moped) and got stuck in a more cats & dog rain moment.  The footage isn't superb (again, my apologies) but you can get a sense how the streets quickly turn to rivers.

Barrio Greetings

A warm greeting from some friends here in the barrio. (Again, sorry for the video quality.  I have to save it as a such a small video file to get it to upload.  Looks like it was shot on the first video camera ever made...with a shoe box).

Restoring Health

About a month ago I sent out an e-mail sharing about the critical condition of Escarlet (pictured, Feb '08).  Escaret, granddaughter to Moreno & Tigua--the family I lived with Dec-March--had a ruptured appendix and several complications following her initial surgery. Additional procedures--including a second surgery--not only meant prolonged pain for Escarlet but additional costs related to her required care.  When I visited her in the hospital she briefly woke up from her sleep, was able to form a weakened version of her normally bright smile, but really just layed in her meek hospital bed and surroundings in great discomfort.  Unable to hold down food, her already small frame lost size and strength during the past month and half of this process. Thank you for thinking of,  and continuing to remember, Escarlet & her family in prayer.

I talked with Tigua the other day and she said Escarlet is at her aunt's house (outside the barrio) recovering and doing better.  I am grateful to God's provision of care and sustained recovery for this special girl and really do appreciate that you would remember her in prayer.  These moments--while filled with questions, anxiety & pain and for all involved-- can provide windows to the sufficiency and need for Christ.  I trust that in the pain and ordeal this has been for Escarlet, those who know and love her will have also witnessed God's care, love, and provision and draw nearer to Him (and let Him draw nearer to them).  

Another Morning at the Office

With one week of school left I wanted to spend some time capturing the energy (mucho), cute faces (mucho), and hard work (mucho) of the students.  These were a couple shots by Bertico (friend, photographer, rapper, seller of delicious purified water, and husband + father). 

(in the) Dominican Domestic Divo

So, I've heard of "Domestic Divas" and am assuming the masculine form would be "Divo".  Assuming "Divo" is correct and appropriate I would like to self-appoint myself as an (in the) Dominican Domestic Divo.  After 1 month of being back and living solo I have now done my own laundry three times and, as of lunch time today, made rice three times.  This is not so much self congratulatory raving but rather just letting y'all know that Darin is surviving as a bachelor here in the DR.

Truthfully, I have been one the road to "Domestic Divo-tion" for a few years and really enjoy the domestic divo duties (which here includes: laundry, dishes, cooking, killing cochroaches, dusting + dusting + dusting, watering my dying plants, sweeping, mopping, and preparing a fresh greca of coffee for spontaneous visitors).  While I do miss the perks of living with a family here (pause: much love & appreciation to Moreno & Tigua) I am enjoying the learning curve.  Like...how do you best dry your clothes and avoid the sour smell?  How do you get the timing down so you can start cooking the rice, get one load of laundry in, back to the rice to drop the heat and put a plastic bag on top (go figure), back to the laundry to spin it quickly because you just know the power is gonna go soon...I know I sound pretty rookie but picture doing it in the worlds largest convection oven/humidifier....throw in a little foreign language and your spent by mid-day.  

Ok, no grumbling.  Just want to express both the joy and....the dynamics...of learning the ropes here in the DR.

Pictured here are my pants hanging on the wall with a not-so-pictured fan blowing on them all night and today's lunch special, white rice with fresh (oh, so fresh) mango (arroz blanco con mango...que rico).

Well, all this to say that Darin is keeping fed and clean (mainly).  Ven a comer en mi casa...yo puedo lavar tus ropas tambien.

School's (almost) Out

Here are some more of my neighbors.  A cute crew.  Living right next to the school I get to hear them arrive every morning, sing the national anthem and pray before they head off to class.  School gets out June 20th and starts again in August---with the addition of grade 4 class!  For more info on the TEARS school and teacher sponsorship program click here.

Sunrise + Wires

I love mornings in the barrio.  The air is still cool (relatively) and the streets are quiet (relatively).  As the sun creeps in you can see the web of wires that is spun through through the barrio...(relatively) providing electricity.

Laundry Day

Well, the video quality is...shall I say..."dial-up quality".  Sorry.  But you can see laundry day at my house....with some Bryan Adams in the background (compliments of my neighbor...do they know I'm Canadian!?)

Dominos

Uno puede ver gente jugando dominos cada dia en el barrio.

Fotos con Fey

Yesterday, we got back on the photo-beat in the barrio.  It was great.  Well, truthfully, it can be overwhelming.  So much happening. Where to start?  So many requests for pictures...many cute faces cute attached to not-so-cute (sticky) fingers that seem magnetically drawn to cameras + lenses.  

This week I was touring the barrio with Fey.  Fey is Mr. Personality, Mr. Charisma and an awesome photographer.  His personality and creative imaging are a one-two punch when photographing.  I feel like I ride the Fey-wave as he strikes up countless conversations with no hint of pretense (the bling doesn't count).

When the photo crew goes out our hearts really are postured toward seeing God at work, enjoying His creation, and sharing His love. As we explore new ways of seeing and knowing, it is our prayer that the images and conversations  along the way will always point to Christ.

I invite you to remember this crew in prayer.  You can pray in so many ways.  That the images that are captured would make a special gift to one's home.  That the conversations that happen along the way would invite people to consider, perhaps in a new way, who Jesus is, what he has done and is doing.  That as we photograph we would not only see brokenness but God's redemptive work in lives, homes, and in our community. 

(More) Just Plain Cute

I think I could start a "cute face of the day" blog here in the barrio.  This little dude was a natural with the camera during yesterday's photo class.  We will be starting an online collection of images from photo class, TEARS ministry and barrio life.  It will be ready at the end of June.  The link will be posted here, you can browse...and even buy!  Stay tuned...

Just Plain Cool

Well, not sure how you feel about 50Cent but these guys looked pretty cool at church yesterday.

Just Plain Cute