Dominican Republic Day 1-

After our bus arrived at about 3 am in Jarabacoa, we all got settled in our cabins at the Students International compound. This morning we had a delicious pancake breakfast, some free time during which most of us napped, and both practical and cultural orientations. During orientation, we learned about our mission here and what's expected of us, as well as some Dominican Republic history and slang. We experienced a brief message about discovering God's character and what our purpose is in life, and about what God's mission here is and what He has been developing at Students International for years. Each group got to meet their site leader(s) during lunch, and then leave to go visit their sites and complete orientation. At the education center in Los Higos (Kirby, Kendall, Sofia, and Michael's ministry site, led by Hector) we toured the newly built preschool and were introduced to the mission of the school. We then were able to help remove a concrete water filter from its form so that the school and community can have purified water. Our team also got to experience a fast paced Spanish conversation between Hector and a local woman who generously welcomed us into her home and offered us coffee! We are so excited for our time here, so thankful for our amazing site leaders, and eager to experience these next two weeks at our sites and Student International. This afternoon, we will have culture night and dinner, and prepare for full work days of serving at our ministry sites the rest of the week.

- Kendall Miller and Sofia Kunstle