Thank God, We're on the Same Page

No matter how many skype meetings, phone calls, emails, and fb messages you exchange, nothing gives you more clarity than a face-to-face meeting.

My biggest task for the year is to direct the construction of the ministry's new multipurpose center across the park from the old club. A month ago, the only thing I knew about this undertaking was that the building will be two stories, the bottom level serving as a classroom and office space, while the second level serves as a large, open worship space. I also knew that a large group from Canada would be building a majority of the structure in February. That was the extent of my understanding, and my confidence was quite shaky.

It wasn't until I met my team that things started to become more clear. Meet the in-country team:

Lou (engineer)- Lou's a Vietnam vet who has lived in Peurto Plata for 27 years and has built too many buildings too count. He sports a pony tail and a great double braided beard. He has all the local connections and building knowledge, and can get any job done cheap and fast. He comes off as a hard-ass, but underneath you will find an articulate, intelligent man who really wants to help. His ultimate goal is to start a vocational training program for the kids at the club. He still hasn't warmed up to the idea of volunteers building the club, but we're working on it.

Paola (architect)- Paola is a pleasant Italian woman who has done architecture all over the world. She loves all sorts of art, and has a particular interest in eco-friendly building practices. Since Paola is not licensed as an architect in the DR, she works under Johanna, a Dominican architect. They are diligent, particular, and are very concerned with getting things done right. They envision a center that stands out in the community as an artistic expression of the kids and their pursuit of environmental awareness. Paola hopes to teach an art class at the club.

I had met with both of them individually before planning on getting the group together. The concern leading up to our first team meeting was that they would butt heads and cause tension right off the bat. My vision for the center included a mixture of both Lou's and Paola's, so I was hoping to bridge the gaps.

No drama to report. Our meeting was perfect. Every time there was an agreement among us, I would breath a big sigh of relief. We all brought very different skills and insights into the meeting, but in the end we agreed on some very key points:

1. We love Italian food
2. Its all about the kids
3. We have a great opportunity to involve the community
4. The more eco-friendly concepts we incorporate, the better
5. This process is going to be fun and creative
6. Its all about the kids

Now that we've got that figured out, let's grab a shovel and get dirty.

peace and watermelon,
David  

We made it.

87 degrees of Dominican sun is out today and after a long trip to the place we'll call home for the next year, we're so happy to be around familiar faces of our DOVE family, whoop!

Beads of sweat immediately dropped when we stepped out of the airport yesterday into that Dominican sun. We still had our zip-ups on from leaving a beautiful Minnesota fall night (we will most likely put those away for the year:) the day before. We sat down for 5 minutes before we saw a Juan and the DOVE gua gua (a small white bus) to pick us up! 

(We stopped to say hello to the beach)

We dropped our bags and immediately took off for the club. Our new club director, Kara (who is also my new room mate), worked with our teachers and kids to host a fundraiser for a little boy from our club, nine years old, who shattered his leg and broke his jaw in an accident.

The kids worked all week to sell tickets for 25 pesos to help the family with their medical bills. The fundraiser was a mixture of dances and skits. It was a perfect day to arrive. Hectic, but perfect. All the kids were at the club and the whole DOVE team was there with open arms.

(Fundraiser!)

We are beyond excited to be here and we are SO grateful for the support that we have gotten from loved ones back home. Fundraisers, coffee dates, dinners- we felt the love when we were home- so Thank you..gracias...and we love you all very much.

Stay tuned for updates.

BuenaVibra,
Lin and Dave

Quick and Fun.

A couple things I’ve learned so far this week…

• Red ants really do bite.
• Dancing in the Dominican is more fun.
• Dominican people are scary resourceful, they can fix anything.
• Dominican kids will take any chance they get to play with your hair. 
• Street food really can make you sick.
• God is so creative in the way He brings people together.
• People here really do run in a totally different time zone.
•  Life is better with sunshine. 

That is all. 

Talk to you very soon. 

Los Cocos.

These beautiful people live in a community called Los Cocos. Los Cocos sits on the side of a mountain just on the outskirts of Puerto Plata. 

 Within the barrios of Puerto Plata are small pockets of Haitaian Communities. Haitians here in the DR are persecuted, which in turn, makes their lives here in Puerto Plata very difficult. I have the extreme honor of serving with the Haitian Pastor that serves these Hatian Communities, Pastor Jacob. Truly a remarkable man. Love literally pours through the room every time he smiles and then you can't help but smile yourself. He is so humble and gentle. His heart beats for the people of these communities...it is pretty dang amazing. 

Pastor Jacob asked us to accompany him to Los Cocos. The reason for our visit was due to a miscommunication between members of the community and the mission, regarding a sick pig that needed medication.

Our visit turned into to much more than a visit for the pigs. Kids ran to greet us at the gates, as they all know and love Liz. The exquisite mothers of these children wait for us at the top of the hill, greeting us with a kiss on the cheek. Some of the people in the community speak Spanish, but mostly know Creole and can understand most French.

The mothers we met, are teachers at the school that is held in the church. Some mentioned needing school supplies for the school, some needed medication for infections and rashes, but most? Most of them just wanted to be around us. love us. invite us into their culture. I feel in love.

(I mean.. how could you not fall in love with those faces ^!?)

I must say, I felt a bit silly after my visit.. I walked up that mountain, determined to "help" these people. At the end of my visit? They had taught me more Creole and French then I knew when I got there, they invited me into their homes, their beautiful space, and their lives.

So, they may need some medication and school books. We can give them those things. But? I felt blessed and humbled leaving that place, as these people taught me about love and inviting people into your life, people you don't even know. In one afternoon, the people of the Los Cocos community softened a little bit of my heart and encouraged me to invite people in more often..and? Love, just because...

I am blessed that I will have many opportunities to serve and learn from the community of Los Cocos while I'm here in the DR. Bring on the love.

Keeping it simple.

Keeping it simple.. for now.


Welcome to BunaVibra. BuenaVibra translates to "Good Vibes" and is used to remind us to always come from a place of kindness, positivity, and love (cheesy.. maybe? Do we love it?..yes we do.)

 It took us quite a bit of time to find a blog title that was going to serve its purpose.

BuenaVibra chose us. We stopped thinking and started listening. So here it is. This is the place to come, when you need an update, want to support us, or need a little love.

BuenaVibra is in its VERY early stages of construction. So, there isn't much, not now. Over the next couple months... you will see..there will be pictures added, buttons in new places, please...be a little patient with us.

Thank you, everyone, for your support in this new season of our lives, this new adventure. We feel so blessed to have the support of so many loved ones.

Hasta Luego!

<3 Lin and Dave

An Apple.

It was just an apple. It was a small apple that I had grabbed from my moms house. No time to even consider what color I grabbed or if it was washed. I knew that I would be extremely hungry at some point during my seven hour lay over in fort Lauderdale or at some point during my journey south. I threw the apple in a zip lock bag and in to my oversized carry on it went.

My flight to Fort Lauderdale went quickly, it was the layover I was dreading. Seven hours in an airport terminal with one coffee stand. I arrived at the airport at 5:00am in the morning and managed to drape over my bags for a good solid three hours, when a Latino woman woke me up in a panic, afraid that I was going to miss my flight to Huston! When I came to and realized I wasn't even going to Huston, I relaxed, it was time for coffee.

Surprisingly, the lay over was peaceful. Not once, in the last two years of my life, had I sat down and just read a romantic-filled fiction book. A romantic love story about a guy and a girl was just what the layover needed.

For the next three hours I went back and fourth between my Nicholas Sparks page turner and ease dropping on a group of five men in their mid thirties. They were reminiscing about old trips they’d been on. Their excitement for this next trip to Costa Rica could barley be contained. Kite surfing, white water rafting, surfing, and gifts they were going to buy girlfriends were among the many things they discussed. Before long, it was time to board that plane.

A quick nap later, it was time for the last leg of my journey. I had landed on Dominican Soil. Santo Domingo and Marshall (my ride to the metro station) were waiting for me.

The last 5:00pm ticket was all mine. Four more hours and I would finally be there.  The metro bus from Santo Domingo to Puerto Plata is a busy route. With my very oversized carry on, I mustered down the isle of the bus to find a window seat next to a man named, Fidel.

The apple. I remembered that apple. I hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast and in the midst of tiny cat-naps and busyness, I had forgotten to eat. We’ve all been there, so busy that we forget to even eat.

I pulled out the zip lock bag and took out my apple. It was then, for the first time, that it hit me; this is a new season. Life as I knew it was changing. I don’t know what it was about the apple, but for the first time in months, my eyes weld up with tears.

I tried to avoid eye contact with Fidel, ("you know, like Fidel Castro", he reminded me kindly, as we introduced ourselves). Why was I crying, darnit? As I looked at that apple, I recalled grabbing it earlier that morning…. 

My mom. My house. Driving out of my neighborhood. Everything I owned in boxes and garbage bags in the family garage. It was in that moment that I lounged to feel a part of my old routine life that I decided to throw out the window almost 6 months ago. Just for a moment I wanted that comfort back. One more time before routine would be something of the past. I wanted one more hug from my mom and dad. One more more early morning workout. One more girls night. One more movie on the couch. One more coffee from down the street before heading to work.

I was so busy. So busy planning this next chapter of my life. So busy making sure THIS season of my life would be planned out, unlike the rest of the crazy seasons I’ve already been through. I would take extra precautions before this season started. No loose ends…

 God had other plans. 

No way was I going to move through to this new adventure without one ounce of emotion or reflection. The last six months were a blur and I knew, sitting with that apple in my hand that the next six weeks of my life were going to me “unthawing” from a season where I hid from who God truly wanted me to be.

God took my heart on that bus and used that silly little apple to start to unclench my fists. The next six weeks will be beautiful.