To Market, To Market

Monday was our day to sleep in a bit, start packing, and go to "The Market" in Santo Domingo - a place that draws tourists by its hundreds of vendors and colorful memorabilia. The thing that surprises Americans is the aggressiveness of the sales people. As soon as you come in, they try to entice you into their shop, promising better prices and better quality than the shop next door. There is a huge variation in "sticker price" for the items, though all are the same. Of course, you never pay sticker price - which is on there just to show how much you are "saving". The negotiations begin in ernest as both buyer and seller want to come away happy. If the price lands at 50%, both parties are happy - Americans think they really got a deal, and sellers make about 200% profit!

Before the Market, we took a short drive around the Fort, and the Colonial District. We didn't have time to get out since we got a late start (waiting on Rebecca to get out of school). We had Dominican pizza for lunch prior to our shopping trip.

After leaving the market and fighting city traffic, we stopped at "La Sirena", which is the Walmart of the DR. We bought some ice cream & frozen yogurt to eat, then shopped in the store for a few unique food items that we can't get back home. I don't know if it is always this crowded, or if was just after-work rush, but there was a sea of humanity in the store, many immodestly clad and seemingly most without the Lord. I had a moment of feeling hopeless that we could ever make an impact in the Dominican Republic with the masses of unsaved. Then I remembered the three who were saved, and the ongoing works in Juan Tomas and Villa Mella, and my joy was restored. God is alive and well in the DR!

We are packed and ready to fly home again - back to "normal" life..........Or are we? What is normal?? We have been deeply engaged with the hearts and souls of these people for ten days. My prayer is that each team member will be forever changed, and will never forget the impact that they have had on these young people, and how the desperate physical and spiritual needs here have impacted us as well.

"For me to live is Christ, to die is gain". May we never forget that, and may we live on the edge of eternity for the rest of our days.