August 7, 2009

Hi from hot, sultry Puerto Rico. We are back from the Dominican Republic. I did not think it was possible to find a hotter place than Puerto Rico in July... but I was wrong. Our entire missions team from Puerto Rico complained of the heat. But, we survived.

The trip was a wonderful experience. The Shelbyville Christian Church missions team along with our team of six from Puerto Rico were able to bless so many people, as well as be blessed ourselves. For the sake of order, I have listed our accomplishments in Punta Cana as well as La Romana.

• Three one day VBSs with attendances of 75, 60 and 175.
• One evening family fair with 400 in attendance. Those present were given gifts of toys, hand creams, and toothpaste and a brush.
• One eye glass clinic in which 150 patients received an eye exam and free glasses.
• We left 400 pairs of glasses to be used in another future clinic and will send 350 pairs later on.
• A medical doctor that formed part of our Puerto Rico team saw 150 patients. The Puerto Rican churches provided free medicines for the patients.
• We rubbed down the plastered block walls of a new multipurpose building on the church property in Punta Cana and then painted the part of the building that was done.
• The grounds at this new church site in Punta Cana were also cleaned up by our team.
• We removed a section of a deteriorated driveway and got it ready for new concrete to be poured the day after our departure.
• The church grounds in La Romana were cleaned up and made ready for the family fair.
• We preached on two separate occasions and two people made decisions for the Lord.
• Our ladies helped with some of the kitchen responsibilities.

Each church (three in all) that formed the missions team provided toys, medicines, glasses, school supplies, VBS materials to make the trip a success. Each of the teams complimented each other. It truly was a special trip.

I know we from PR arrived home worn out but content and I am sure that was the case for the team from KY.

There you have it. Thanks for reading the blog.

Johnathan and Mary Reece