Horseback riding!

Anne and I love horses! So we decided to go horseback riding before she left. There's a stable not far from the Mak house and the owner gave us a discount. So away we went! It was so much fun. Possibly the most fun I've had! The horses were well trained and because Anne and I are "experienced" riders, we got to do some running! Oh man, the feeling of running on a horse!! Of course, my legs were jello for the next few days because I haven't ridden a horse in a long time. Here are some pictures:


Anne with Simba. He has one blue eye and one black eye


This is my horse, Felipe.


Jungle riding! Just kidding, we were in the sugarcane fields.


We had a break and ate the most delicious fried plantains and fried sweet potato ever!! Oh my, it was so good.


Photo-op!

In conclusion, I'll leave you with this: Anne decided that I look like a ballerina when I ride (English training) and I decided that she looks like a cowboy (all those years at the rodeo, roping cattle!!). Thanks, Anne Laverty, for a wonderful afternoon!

Monday Night: See you later, Boons!

Monday night we had our going away party for Anne and Garrett. There was DELICIOUS food, a slideshow of photos from their time here and a many questions asked (a funny memory, scripture about your time here, something you'll miss, something you won't miss, etc)! It was a wonderful night with laughter and tears. Here are some pictures:


It's true! We do love the Boons. And we miss them terribly!


Lots of friends were there to celebrate Garrett's and Anne's time with us! Sorry we didn't take a picture with the guys!
(L-R) Back Row: Holly, Lauren, Anne, Kendall, Emily, Ashley, Erika
Front Row: Robin, Kim, Cara


Big D, the chef himself! Oh my goodness, his food is amazing. He has a restaurant on the beach in Sosua (Big D's BBQ) and he also does catering. There is a picture of the salad below. What I didn't get pictures of was: the guacamole with homemade tortilla chips, the beer chicken, the ribs, the potato salad, sliders and a few other mouth-watering things!


Anne and Holly


Anne and Lauren


Ahh, yes, the salad! We had leftovers for a week!

We love you, Garrett and Anne!! A whole whole whole lot. And we miss you!!

Our Cute Kids!

A few of our students:


I love how short Elijio looks between Memo and Anidelis


Antony and Leury put chalk on their faces


Marta la Loca


Alturo drawing


Wilson making a creation


Wildania and Yunairi


Leury eating his breakfast; he really enjoys it!


Antony showing Profe Lauren that he ate his vitamin!

To the PARK!!

Last week we piled (seriously!) all the kids into the Mak truck and took them to a park in MonteLlano. Here are a few (or a lot) of photos of the trip:


Piled in with Profe Lorena


In the back of the truck with Johan


Racing up the stairs to the slide!


Bienvenido sliding down


Marileidi, Gustavo and Davidson


Ambiolix


Profe Ashley and Anne spinning the kids around


The kids spinning themselves


Wili and David pushing Nicol Cristal and others


Profe Cristina


Ariela and Wilsenci


Such determination


Yuneci sliding


Again Wilsenci with a look of determination


Gustavo with Escarlet


Leury with the See-Saw


Bianca Nicol


Lisela


Antony


Carlos Alfredo


Ariela and Nicol Cristal


Ana Wendy


Yunairi


Ambiolix

They had such a great time that we're thinking about making it a regular event at Colegio Makarios!

Monday Morning

Monday morning we all woke up very early (5:30, to be exact) in order to worship as the sun came up. The ideal plan was to drive up to the top of Mt. Isabela and sing from there. But God has a different plan and sent the rain to keep us inside. It was a lovely time of singing hymns and contemporary Christian songs. Here's a short video:



After praise and worship we watched the Lion King, ate pancakes (compliments of the guys)...






...and played a few rounds of Bananagrams. All before 10Am! It did make for a longer day, by the time evening came, but it was worth it!

Sunday

Sunday was a wonderful day of rest and community. We went to church in the morning for Anne and Garrett's last Sunday at Templo Bíblico. Then out to Maimon to eat delicious fish. La Sirena for frozen yogurt. Played Bananagrams (soo fun!) and watched a few episodes of 24 Season 4! Such a great day! Here are the girls at La Sirena:


Anne, myself, Erika, Emily, Lauren, Kim

Saturday

This weekend was the jazz festival in Cabarete. As many of you know, I'm not the biggest fan of the beach. But you might not know that I don't really love live music either. I mean, don't get me wrong, I don't hate it by any stretch of the imagination, but I don't love/crave it either. Anyway, back to my story. So my roomies and my friend Crystal (we graduated together and she lives in Santiago) all spent the weekend listening to the music and laying on the beach. They begged enough. I went out there on Saturday just for the afternoon. It was so great to spend time with Crystal! We ate lunch at Lax and then went to José O'Shays.


Crystal and myself


Ashley watching....


the UT game!! We rarely get to watch games here, so it was so fun to be 4 Longhorns singing the fight song and yelling at the TV. We got some funny looks from the locals!

Wilne!

I love little Wilne from Chichigua! A while ago I posted a picture of him taking a bath in a bucket. He doesn't like me, generally. Our conversations (in Creole and Spanish) go like this:
Me: HEY WILNE!!!
Wilne: I'm not your friend

And that's it. But recently he's decided that he likes me! And I have photographic proof:


love the outfit!


tickling him


i look like a crazy gringa forcing a Haitian baby to play with me!

Also, just after this photo was taken, he raised his hands for me to carry him! Ahh, I just love this boy!


This was the first day that he decided he liked me!


I was SO excited! It was a victory!!

Wilne's little life hasn't been the easiest. His mama died of TB when he was just a baby and a neighbor took him in. He's had head fungus and skin infections since all of his life. And a lot of the older kids pick on him. But to me, he is just precious. And he can tell me as many times as he wants that we're not friends because I know that deep down he loves me!!

This is what he looked like when I first met him:


Ahh! Presh

Medical Team!

The medical team came back this week! They checked out our students for about a week, gave medicine and made quite a few people feel much better. We really appreciate all the care they give our families. This is their 3rd year to come down to our little school.

We also had a dentist and his assistant come down during the same time so that all the kids got their mouths cleans and the bodies checked. Hopefully Bud and Jeri will come back again and continue the great work of trying to saving our kids' dying teeth!

Here are some pictures (taken by Charlie M. Nettles) from their time here:


The Ohio Medical team


Bud and Jeri working on a kid


Jenna playing with the families outside


Tyler checking out Gustavo's family (his mama, Lourdes, and baby sister, Estayci)


Jody and Darren discussing something important


Kim translating for Ashley while talking to Wilsenci's and Wilton's family


Julia looking at Yuneci and her family


Jack listening to Andy's breathing


Kim translating for Julia for Andy's family


Marileidi and her newest friend Jenna


Tanda with Yunairi's little sister, Ana Luisa


Nurse Laura irrigating Ambiolix's ear; he was not pleased!


Marileidi hugging Kim

We cannot wait to see you guys next year!

Chichiguans at the Beach!

Though we don't have any older kids coming to the school on Fridays we still want to keep up with them. So on Sunday the medical group that was here helped us take the kids from Chichigua to the beach. We talked about Job 38:8-11-
"Or who enclosed the sea with doors when, bursting forth, it went out from the womb; when I made a cloud its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, and I placed the boundaries on it and set a bolt and door, and I said, 'Thus far you shall come, but no farther; and here shall your proud waves stop'?"

And then we swam! And rolled in the sand! And played soccer! And ate! We brought peanut butter, jelly, bread, oranges, bottles of water, and Dino cookies! They had a lovely time. Here are some pictures:


Marquito and Emilio...


...so excited to get in the water...


...almost there....


...SPLASH!


YAHOO!


You can see Marquito and Emilio in the background splashing away


Ernesto and Ronal


The waves were huge that day (even though it looks like there weren't any in the picture)


JOY!


Into the water!


Sili tried to do a flip but tripped...


...and face-planted!


Emilio and Ronal take a little break


Ernesto playing soccer on the beach


Martin, Jessica, Emilio and a few others. I love Emilio's undies!


Jaquelin and Sili RUNNING for the water! Sili finally did his flip without tripping!


Ernesto


The whole group: (L-R) Holly, Sili, Ronal, Martin, Susan, Jessica, Sara, Jaquelin, Emilio, Ronal, Marquito, Ernesto, Kendall, Guivenson, and Felipe

A sunset moto ride through the cane fields

Sorry the pictures are blury; we were on a moto, after all!

Welcome, Tasha Lee!

The newest addition to the Makarios family was welcomed into the world last Friday! I don't know all of her measurements but I do know that she is presh! Here are a few photos of the little one:


Her papá and older brother, Diego, were so excited. Diego just kept clapping and saying, "Chichí" (what Dominicans call babies).


Sleeping in the arms of her mama. She has the same nose and mouth as Diego!


And look at that hair. She only opened her eyes once while Anne and I were there visiting. She was enjoying sleeping!

We are so excited to get to know you, Tasha Lee Morel!