I am so happy to be writing this today, having returned with the entire team alive and well from our mountain adventure. Some of my own kids nearly gave me heart failure at the waterfalls, but all lived to tell about it.
After a very late night on Friday (helping another group get settled), we got up at 5 am and left at 6:20 to ride the bus northward to the mountains. The groggy team became more and more alert as we began to see the beautiful scenery. The mountains do not appear especially high, but actually are higher than the peaks in Georgia. They are "sharp" rocky mountains, unlike our rounded, treed mountains in the Blue Ridge. The foliage was gorgeous, with many flowering trees and loads of banana plants.
We reached RANCHO JARABACOA at about 9 am, and enjoyed some leisure time while waiting for our tour. To our American brains, it was a disconnect to have mountain views, beautiful rushing river, and tropical foliage and temperatures. It was somewhat cooler than the sea-level village that we had left. We enjoyed ping-pong, dominos, billiards and talking birds while waiting in the shady pavilion and gardens.
Our first tour left about 10 am -- an open truck that took us through the mountain city of Jarabacoa, and on to several scenic areas. We stopped first at a higher elevation scenic area to take pictures, but declined to "bathe" in their public bath, as pretty as it was. We went on to the Confluencia (the confluence of the Yaque and Jimenoa Rivers). Beautiful scenery! Because it was Saturday, the Confluencia was very crowded, and vendors of all persuasions surrounded our truck, including a few dozen Dominican boys on horses trying to convince us to ride with them. We decided that was not the best place to spend very long due to the beachgoers , so enjoyed the water view for a short time and left again.
We went on to Salto Baiguate, a very beautiful waterfall at the end of a long hot trail. There, my own children (and some of yours who will currently remain nameless - but were the "adults" in the crowd) proceeded to attempt to give me my first heart attack of the day. While I was on the rocks in the river taking pictures, several of them decided to take the trail to the top. From my perspective below, it appeared that they wanted to take the fast way down to the bottom of this 200 foot waterfall. They later assured me that they were several feet away from the edge. After frantic hand motions (they couldn't hear us), they finally got the message to back off and head back down. It was with great relief that they all arrived safely back. We headed back to the truck with some very tired and hungry hikers, and were driven back to the rancho. After a couple of hours in the Dominican sun, several of our group were reminded that sunscreen does not work retroactively..... quote--- "I don't burn"---- but this is a Caribbean island very close to the equator!
At lunch, we were served an all-you-can-eat buffet of ham, chicken, potatoes, salad & fresh sweet pineapple. DELICIOUS!! After that, we took a short "Dominican Pony" ride around the town. These are about the size of a Welsh pony, but very skinny. Most of us were accompanied by an equally skinny Dominican boy who took the reins and took control. I learned too late that you could say "no" to the extra rider! And we also learned too late that tips were expected for each boy. None of us had DR coins, so they were given bills to change out and share among them. If you have read previous posts, you may conclude sooner than we did, that Dominican boys do not like to share! One of our party (a Police Captain) had to break up the disagreement and redistribute the funds appropriately.
Our last tour of the day was to the Salto Jimenoa waterfall, about 130 feet high. It is reached by walking across a narrow suspension bridge on which they only allow four people at a time, and has only the suspension cable to hold on to- no safety fencing or rails! Definitely not for the faint of heart, but everyone made it across. At the end of the bridge was a rocky trail, and finally the viewing platform of the falls. The falls were beautiful, but the area more congested than Salto Baiguate which had been deserted. We took many pictures, then had a big surprise (well - surprise to most).
After posing for a picture in front of the falls with Rebecca, Captain Abel de la Cruz launched into a speech about how special the day was, and how he was giving glory to God for everything. He went on to say that the hot sun was not as romantic as moon and stars, but then proceeded to pull out a ring and propose to Rebecca! It was in Spanish of course, but being translated by one of our group. Rebecca was surprised, but happily agreed. Girls squealed in delight, and guys congratulated them.
This is a relationship that has been scrutinised, criticized, praised, GREATLY bathed in prayer and fasting, and subject to much counsel from many sides. It is with joy that all four parents give our blessing -- knowing that neither Abel nor Rebecca are perfect, and many challenges lie ahead with culture and communication. They understand this, and will walk worthy of the blessings. Abel went on to say that they would be a great example for the young people of the community, and would maintain a pure testimony for all to see, saving their first kiss and intimacy for the wedding day. They anticipate many decades of ministry together in spreading God's Word through Godly music training in the DR.
It was rather anticlimactic, but we then went to the pools below to swim (everyone fully covered). The sandy pool was crowded with not so-covered people, so we went on down to the next pool which was rocky and empty of people. We soon found out why it was empty, as the swift currents and many rocks were treacherous. Daniel was swept into an eddy, but was quickly rescued by Justin. We are so grateful to our ALERT man for his quick thinking and actions without regard for his own safety. Mason was right behind him. Justin turned what could have been a tragedy (and ruined Rebecca's engagement) into a nuisance of the day, and is our hero forever. After a few more minutes of near heart failure (second time that day), we moved them all into the "baby pool" - the next pool down with little current and about 2 feet deep :-). Enough excitement for one day!!
We headed back to the rancho, got in the bus and headed "home". We stopped for chicken & fries along the way, where we were able to be a blessing to the bus driver and handed out tracts to other customers. We were absolutely exhausted when we arrived home, but stayed awake long enough to attend a college graduation party for one of the special guys here at the mission. Dario happened also to be the translator for Abel when we were interrogating him via email last year -- so he has a special place in our hearts as well.
It was a great day for us - seeing the wonders of God's creation, rejoicing with Abel and Rebecca, and having returned ALL alive to the camp! SO amazed that God protects us even in our foolishness if He has more for us to do. There is absolutely no doubt that this entire trip has been in His awesome hands!
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