Mission Day 1
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 86 F, Humid Events: Arrival in Dominican Republic! Orientation Meeting Mission-in-a-Mission Walking Tour of Santiago Dinner Rehearsal Lights-out News: We arrived on time in the Dominican Republic, boarded a bus to the Mission School, ate lunch, then went on a Mission-in-a-Mission walking tour of Santiago (which also included a cab ride not soon forgotten!). |
Mission Day 2
Weather: Partly Cloudy, low 90s F, Humid Events: Morning Rehearsal Afternoon Concert: Rehab Center Evening Concert: Open to Public News: We slept well overnight (everybody was very tired!). We sleep in a school dormitory on floor mats placed inside mosquito nets (the dormitory windows do not have screens -- just shutters that open to let air in). So far, the mosquitoes are not too bad (personally, one or two bites last night despite bug spray). We had a nice breeze that probably kept the bugs away and also made for cool temperatures sleeping. |
Mission Rehearsal
News: Click the 'Rehearsal' button at the bottom-left to see photos of our musicians preparing for the upcoming concerts. |
Mission Day 3
Weather: Partly Cloudy, a few Showers, 90 F, Humid Events: Morning Concert: Men's Prison Afternon Concert: Women's Prison News: Most everyone was nervous about entering a prison to perform. We could only take our instruments (and lucky for me) one camera. Soon, everyone seemed to relax. The inmates were very respectful and curtious. Everyone performed well. The choir received rousing applause. At the end of the men's concert, they stood and shouted for an encore of 'Blessed Assurance' (Jonathan's sax solo). Through God's grace, their harded eyes seemed filled with joy as we left. |
Mission Day 4
Morning Concert at Men's Prison (different prison) Afternoon Concert at Men's Prison (different prison) We think of Mission as sharing God's grace through music. But we also receive the gift of learning other customs and cultures. The picture at left is our lunch break under a shade tree eating Dominican foods. We ate fruits from the trees in the pasture. Each concert begins and ends with rap-like songs performed by a pastor-in-training. For some among the mission team, this seemed like a strange way to introduce classical music. We learned this is a tradition at gatherings. The rap-songs were actually about Jesus. Soon everybody became accustomed to this form of spiritual celebration. |
Mission Day 5
Weather: 86 F, Afternoon Shower Events: Morning Concert in Village Afternoon Concert in Village Evening Concert in Public Park I believe today was a day that made lasting impressions on many. We traveled to two different 'villages' outside Santiago. We walked among the villages gathering children for concerts and VBS activities. It seems certain many heard music unlike anything they had heard before. And it seems certain many saw life unlike anything they had witnessed before. Today was another day of sharing, another day of learning, and a day of new perspectives. |
Mission Day 6
Weather:Upper 80s F, Pleasant Events: Morning Concert in Village Afternoon Concert at Korean Church Shopping Evening Outdoor Concert at Monument Park News: A very busy day with three concerts. Everybody is looking a bit tired but you would never know it when they perform. There is also a lot of energy when walking through the village to gather children for the concert. Tomorrow is our final concert at the church where we are staying... then some rest and recreation at the beach. |
Mission Performance (Outreach)
News: Click the 'Performance' button at the bottom-left to see photos of our musicians performing. |
Mission Day 7
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 86 F, Pleasant Events: Morning Concert at School Church Lunch on the Road to Beach Playa at Sosua Bay Beach They saved the best performance for last -- it was great! Then off to the beach. We stopped for lunch on the way -- local fish. Then water, sand, rest (the shade tree on the beach and rental chairs were very much appreciated by yours truly). |