We are exhilirated with the experiences we had yesterday.  It was harrowing on the roads. They ARE loco in the way they drive. Carmen, our interpreter from WV, said if you can drive in Santo Domingo, you can drive anywhere in the world!! [Our driver from the aeropuerto drove 90mph! Our drivers since have been much more reasonable!!]
   Natanael’s family are all Christians.  The grandfather (Abuelo) was so tender-hearted. He wanted us to pray with his family almost as soon as we arrived.  We did so shortly before we left.  The grandmother (Abuela) was very sweet, as well, and is a true horticulturalist.  She was proud to show us herplants in a contrived covered area on the side of the structure where they live.  They live in a wood hut, tin roof, no walls, only curtains hung to separated four spaces in the quarters plus a very unhygienic kitchen.  While we sat there, a rooster hopped in thru the open window (no glass, of course, only a wooden shutter that could be used to close it.  He hopped onto a table of sorts beside
the window and hopped right back out.  I imagine the table is used for food preparation, as well.  Ian and I walked into the kitchen to see the rooster out back and saw the ducks they raise “as a small business.” They were pitiful specimens, tho the rooster was quite handsome.  The ducks were filthy.  I
encouraged Ian immediately back from the window.
   The mother, age 25, Yenifer, was very quiet and sweet.  Carlos, the father did not speak much either. Abuelo and Abuela [we never got their real names] were the greater communicators and even knew just a bit of English. The children were quite shy — Damari, the oldest, a girl, age 7, and Natanael.  The youngest was sooo winsome with his quick smile — Samuel.  Many other children surfaced in the quarters throughout our 2 1/2 – 3 hour visit.  Some were cousins, others “amigos.”  Carmen was wonderful as our translator, but had difficulty being in several places at once, as there were also two aunts who were there and a child of one of them.  Once a mother from nearby came to check
on her son.  We were told later she has AIDS and she and her family are receiving help from the World Vision International [Vision Mundial] projects. 

   Natanael warmed up with Ian.  Ian and he threw the baseball and Natanael was obviously enjoying it and learning from Ian to throw overhand. Once he handed the glove to Ian, it seemed to learn from him how he uses it. 
  When we were ready to go, we wanted to pray and learned that Abuelo and Carlos
had gone to get us coconuts.  They returned with three and Abuelo proceeded to
use a machete in an outdoor “kitchen” area that they must use to make the
coconut candies that he also makes to sell as “a small business.”   That seems
to be the only way they have of generating income.  Afterwards, we prayed the
aunt who first wrote to us in response for Natanael wanted to read Ps. 128. 
Carmen translated it.  We then had a meaningful prayer time. 
   [The three coconuts each went home with Carmen, Lusmarie [the local onsite
project contact who directed to Natanael's dwelling], and Miguel, our WV driver.
  Then we went to a local shopping department/food store with a Food Court and
each of them had lunch (4pm by then) on us. We only ate the snacks we had
brought. 

  I had spent about an hour writing on this with much more detail when I hit a key that made it all disappear again. Probably spent 15 minutes trying to retrieve it to no avail. The enemy is fighting my publishing the information about the Vision Mundial’s work here with over 40,000 children in the Dominican Republic.  We were told that they are all chosen as the “poorest of the poor!” The Dominican population is about 7 million!

More to come ….