Report from Dan and Kristin

Hola from the Dominican Republic! It is quite warm here today; a small breeze here and there, but there is not a cloud in the sky. The mountains and surrounding rice fields make for beautiful scenery when we step outside of the walls we are building. Yesterday when we first got to the worksite, we had the opportunity to take a walk around the area. A couple of the local Domincans wanted to show us what was around and they pointed out numerous beauties. The rice fields, people making bricks by hands, a butcher hut, and banana fields. The agricultural diversity is very evident. We even saw some Holstein (black and white cows, which we often milk in the U.S.) cows walking down the path behind the worksite. This morning on the way to our worksite, we saw a crop duster spraying the fields and even some John Deere tractors. (It felt like Kristin was at home).

In our devotions this morning, one of the passages was from Romans 12. It talks about using the various gifts that we have been given by God. It has been evident today to see the various gifts being used on the worksite. New gifts are even being revealed and discovered. It's beautiful to see teammates stepping out of comfort zones to complete a task or build a relationship. We are excited to see these gifts continue to develop through out the week, whether they be physical labor skills or building a relationship. Whatever those gifts may be, we are excited to take them home with us and apply them to our lives at home.

Please continue to pray for health and strength as the heat is taking a toll on our arctic acclimated bodies. Also pray that God will continue to reveal Himself, which He has done in so many ways already! Thank you for the continued support, prayers, and love that you have shown us; it is felt!

Dan and Kristin Sterk