Once we got into Santo Domingo we were greeted by Kailey, Dr. Angel and Robinson.  SO many tears of happiness and tight “squeezer hugs”, as the kids like to call them.  It was a truely joyful moment!  We packed up and made our way to San Juan where our family rents a home.  Over the last year our housing has shifted a lot due to our prolonged time in the States.  So when we finally arrived in San Juan it was the FIRST time that Adam and the kids had seen the new house.  Kailey was gracious enough to move all of our belongings into the new place when we were still in the States (with help from Courtney, shoutout to you amiga!).  But Kailey took it even a step further and UNPACKED the basics so that when we opened the door for the first time it truly felt like home.  Our living room was all there, the kitchen was set up and our beds were ready for us to fall into them.  This was a HUGE labor of love that still makes me tear up when I think about it.  The new place is a second story apartment right in front of a park (for those of you who have been to the DR, it is 2 doors down from Dr. Angel’s house, in front of the same park).  Neighborhoods in the DR often have a very urban feel to them with homes very close to one another which restricts air flow (we still joke about a previous rental house where  our living room window was the recipient of a local business’ hot air exhaust, haha!).  Having the open space of the park right in front of the house makes for nice breezes and a good view of the neighborhood.  Like all Dominican houses, it isn’t without it’s quirks.  A big section of tile in the living room had to be replaced and we will likely have to replace more in the future.  Perhaps the best part of this house is that Ben and Emily are finally in their own room!  They each have their own bed in the room next to ours.  I’m not sure who was more excited about them having their own space, the kids or us (spoiler alert: Me.  Definitely me. I was the most excited by far!).  We brought a few things from the States like familiar bed sheets and blankets to make it feel like home.  Within a few nights they were completely transitioned into their own room! 

Over the course of the following weeks we settled back into life in the Dominican.  We re-connected with friends, colleagues and co-workers.  We got caught up to speed on each of the projects that we are concurrently operating (preschool, med clinics, volunteer program, etc.)  and prepared for the Aquinas College group to come work with us.  We were surprised by a visit from Carl, the owner of the Mission House that we rent for our volunteers.  He is a YWAM missionary who lived in the area for many years.  It was a blessing to spend several days visiting with him.  Once AQ arrived we were going nonstop.  As a team we worked in the preschool and mobile medical clinics (over 150 patients and 300 children received care thanks to the group!).  It was a pleasure to have them working with us!

In the interest of transparency, we don’t want to paint a completely rose-colored-lens picture either.  There were also challenges to our visit.  We saw firsthand how our time away had made it hard on our co-workers and how we had dropped the ball repeatedly by not being present over the last 11 months.  We love the work of BBOH/FUMSIL and the people in the communities where we operate.  So the idea that we’ve hindered or hurt the program(s) isn’t an easy one to swallow.  But, once we know better we can do better.  And thanks be to God we are in a position to DO better, to roll up our sleeves and get to work.  So, back to work we go, more dedicated and motivated than before to “stumble toward heaven” (shoutout to Padre Dan!) and bring as many people with us as we can.