DR Updates

We will most likely only be blogging once a day. However, there are many photos being uploaded on facebook throughout the day. Even if you don't have a facebook account you can view the pictures at www.facebook.com/sendmemissions

Thank you for all your prayers!

DR Update posts... coming from The Great, The Mighty, The Miss Jen!

After very little sleep the day began "not so bright" (because it was 330am) and early (because it was 330am)...but honestly, i jumped out of bed as darin's alarm started playing "oh how He loves us"...en espanol!  What a beautiful language.  I did not feel tired, but energized...I stayed up during our sleeping hours packing and repacking our bags in my head...so, once up i did just that, repacked to ensure a good fit and a great day of travel.  Out the door and on the way to the airport with our group...excited and ready for what God has in store for all of us!

God was soooo amazing throughout our airport experience.  Everything went super smooth...every bag made the 50 lb. weight limit, our suitcase was one of the "exact 50 lb. bags"!  All of our luggage made it to the Dominican Republic and we all walked right outside and loaded up for the hotel.  *funny side note:  we each had one large suitcase and one smaller suitcase, plus our carry ons...you wouldn't have believed how the top of the van looked...stacked 3 suitcases high!  looked like something from a dr. seuss book. still makes me giggle thinking about it! (see picture below)

Our hotel is nice...and we all get to eat dinner together.  This team that God has brought together...we are getting to know and understand some of the pieces that He knew would be a great fit for the big picture.  we have strategized and planned...and prayed, ALOT!  i know so many of you have been praying and are praying...please don't' stop.  we need you.  you are a part of this trip as well.tomorrow will begin early again...but should be brighter!  730am breakfast!  can't wait to see both of the centers tomorrow and some of the faces we will connect with throughout the week.  i am tired, but i am confident in my God.  i know He will give me the rest i need...i know i will never be the same.  and i'm truly thankful.  no turning back...let's do this thing.  GO TEAM! 

DR Mission Team Update - We're Here!

The team has arrived and we've made it to the DR!!! We've got a short time to get ready and head down for dinner. We'll post more this evening. 

Here are a few pics from the last few hours... 

Jen giving directions about VBS

Everyone taking it all in and getting ready for this next week

Trying to get all the luggage packed and ready for it's road trip

Nicole & Leslie ready to hit the road!

And we're ready to go... Hotel Platino here we come!

DR Mission Team Update - Miami

Our entire team has made it to Miami! We had a great dinner with Howie & Marvina at The Cheesecake Factory this evening. We've all headed to bed for a few hours of sleep and then it's off to the Miami Airport at 4:30am. 

We hope to post upon arriving to the DR tomorrow. 

Thank you for all your prayers! 

The DR Mission Team will be posting updates on our website daily!!!

Please continue to pray for our team as we prepare to leave on June 22nd for Miami & June 23rd for the Dominican Republic. 

Feel free to leave words of encourage for our team and we will be sure to pass them along to the team. 

Packing for the DR

So our packing has begun! Thanks to the different VBS groups right now at First Christian Church for collecting funds for the Backpacks, Balls & Bracelets and to Oak Grove Baptist Church for the bags & toothbrush covers! 

Our volunteers have been a huge help in getting these supplies ready to go! 

New Hope Mission Team in Alabama

There is a mission team from New Hope Baptist Church right now in Montgomery, AL serving children & parents of Jackson Square Apartments. They will be there until this Friday, June 15th. 


Please pray for the Bishop Family (Pastor Chris & Tasha & kids), Timmy Murphy, DGee Hodges, Taylor Hodges and Garrett Albritton. 

Less than 2 weeks away...

Soon, very soon... we will be heading for the DR!!!


There is a group from Sarasota currently in the DR with Howie Hooper (our leader).


Check out Orphan's Heart blog to read what they are doing and to see some of the faces of the children we will get to love on in less than 2 weeks! Packing has begun for our supplies (pictures will be posted tonight!!!)


Keep praying for our mission team as many of us are heavily involved in VBS this week at our own local churches, as some of us are under the weather and need healing to our bodies before we leave, and as some of us are extremely anxious and nervous all at the same time.


Don't forget that once we leave, we will be updating our website daily. Share with your friends and family as we will need lots of prayers.