JuCUM Jarabacoa

I took the 2 hour bus ride from Santo Domingo into Jarabocoa. When I arrived, green bandana wraped around my forehead and my American backpack, every taxi guy in town was generously offering me a ride. I also could have had the oppurtunity to go paragliding, waterfall hiking or camping in the high peak. But eventual someone lent me a cellphone and I called the YWAM base and asked for a ride. The first 2 days of volunteering I did yard work with 2 other volunteers and 2 staff guys. A new team came later and I helped with VBS translating, juggling, kid carrying, guitar strumming, and sometimes general MCing. VBS stands for vacation bible school. We had about 40 kids from the barrio and from the orphanage. In my free time I played Sprinkle (a wild sort of ping pong), read C.H. Spurgeon, Judges, Jonah, and Joshua, and watched High School Musical (code name “Rambo 3″) One day 3 of us “jucumeros” went to a motocross race with clip boards to survey guys on sexual topics. I also brought along the good person test. We got pictures with the American who won the race. Someone at the motocross recognized me from a concert I had down at their youth group. I finnished writing a song and got some worship songs together the night before. Anyway, I got in touch with TEARS (true evagalism always requires sacrifice) and after a week of YWAM volunteering, took off on a motoconcho and climbed aboard a guagua to get to La Vega, a city about 30, minutes North of Jarabacoa. Ttyl.

Love,
Nathan

A great first half

My team leaves tomorow for the airport. The trip has been amazing. From workig hard in the hot sun to staying with Dominican families and waking up with cold bucket showers and roosters, our time here has been quite worthwhile. The Vida Joven club went great. I had the oppurtunitie to MC it with our host. With a black cape we sang loudly, introduced some skits, juggled and over all had a goofy time being fools for Christ. Our team leader preached on the young rich ruler.

My Spanish has been improving. I got a shave and a hair cut. We swam in the Caribean. I have worn my fleece once. I’m looking forward to my time with YWAM Jarabacoa. Hope to show you a slide show of all the great pictures my team has been taking. Hopefully I’ll get a few good shots. Grace and peace. Time to do some reading…

Love,
Nathan

We have arrived!

We made it after 20 hours of travel. We met our friendly host at the airport and drove to camp. We went down onto the pueblo to meet some kids and made friends quickly. Some communicated with a smile and a laugh or a tricky tap on the other shoulder, and others practiceed their Spanish. The next day we hiked up a water fall. I jumped off and the. That night I had the fantastic oppurtunity to lead worship. The next day at 6am we got up to start work. I’m building a table with a very big football coach I’m small already but next to him, wow, I’m a twig. The summer staff here are awesome. In the morning times I’ve been learning a lot from scripture. As I slowly read through the New Testament I’m always fed. We should not live on bread alone but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God. I pray this will continue on when I return!

Love,
Nate

All packed!

I’m all packed and ready to go. My bible is in a handy place to get at in emergencies. Hopefully I’ll have the reference for YWAM in soon.

Grace & Peace

Nate

Soon

We are taking off for the DR in just a few days! I’m excited that everything is coming together. Keep us in your prayers.

Love,
Nate

Daiving in, splashing living water?