Every time I sit down to write an update, it is hard to decide what to tell you. There are so many stories to share, pictures to post, and praise to be shared. I find myself at that usual loss of words tonight. 

My weekend away went well, and our staff here handled everything extremely well while I was gone. We have a family group of 75 people this week, and their arrival was pretty complicated on Saturday when I was gone. But our staff did an amazing job of getting everything taken care of, and so far, our group is still happy! 

I had a lot of travel troubles last weekend getting to the US and back. I almost missed several flights, got stuck in Customs for two hours, lost a bag, got sick on a plane, and had to watch two of my friends get left off of our plane to the DR. Needless to say, I was really relieved to make it back in one piece and be free of travel for several more weeks. I went to the US for two weddings, for my friends Katie and Christian, and Jeremy and Caroline. I was lucky to get to go back and celebrate with them, and am so thankful I got to go. BUT, I was very very glad to be back in the DR and found myself missing everything about being here. 

Since being back, the week has been wonderful. Construction resumed on our two houses on Monday, cement blocks were passed down a steep hill, walls were built, floors were leveled and prepared to have concrete poured, and a lot of backs became sore and tired. Tuesday was one of our craziest days of summer. This group holds a HUGE carnival at night on the baseball field where kids play games, get candy, and go crazy for hours. It was so fun to watch everyone playing together, but even more fun to watch the insanity unfold. Kids started lining up hours in advance, police were arranged in advance to contain the craziness, and all hands were on deck to work carnival games, play games, and run a program at the end. I ended up in a booth where kids got to throw water balloons at me, but this turned into more fun for the adults who wanted to pelt me with balloons. We aren't talking random adults here either...we are talking about the Director of the ministry, our Dominican staff, members of the worship band, and pretty much anyone else I know in the village who thought this would be funny. I had a blast and laughed through the entire night! 

Tonight we went back out to Cielo after our day of work for a dinner and church. I love being here for worship. There is something incredibly beautiful about the way Dominicans worship that inspires me, amazes me, and humbles me. I see the passion and love they have for Christ and I feel like my faith is small and insignificant in comparison. And yet I feel so very joyful when I stand in this church and worship, even if I do feel like I am not enough. In some ways, God feels bigger here. I know that is strange, but that is a feeling I always have when I visit this place. 

I miss you all and am thankful for your prayers!