Dominican Republic Trip 2023

 Our trip to the Dominican Republic was smooth but tiring.  We took off after Midnight from Logan Airport after several delays, and landed in Santiago at 4:15 a.m.  We made our through customs easily, finally claimed our 28 staffed suitcases, and then went back through customs again so the bags could be confirmed as ours.  After another wait at the curb, our bus arrived with the DR-based welcoming committee: Rita, Glenn our Driver, and Luis and Lewis, our interpreters,  We loaded the bus with luggage and crammed ourselves in as dawn was breaking. After a 20 minute drive, we arrived at Sana - The Secret Garden - a small, unique hotel with the m out amazing gardens.  We crashed for about four hours and then let the sun and the fragrant plantings and the butterflies and the azure skies replenished us.  We had a wonderful Dominican breakfast/brunch, with fresh papaya, just-picked bananas, plantain, rice, chicken and beans.  There was a bit more time t...

 In a few hours, we will start our journey to the DR.  Given the schedule, there will be a slight news blackout until we reach our hotel in Cotui late Saturday.  We'll get a good sleep and be ready for Easter Mass at the Cathedral on Sunday morning.  In the meantime, here are a few more photos from our most recent student trip.  We can't wait to be at the Altagracia School on Monday!

 The DR Projects group gathered last Saturday at the Norwich Congregational church for Packing Day, and managed to sort through a huge amount of donated material before packing two suitcases per traveler for our upcoming trip.  Jet Blue now (hopefully, allegedly) allows two bags per passenger, and so we were able to pack a large amount, including tee shirts to give to the students at the Altagracia School, dental supplies for schools, clinics and communities, and a large amount of children's clothing that will be given to a number of communities.  In the process, the group had the opportunity to work together and none as a group.  CCDC Pastor Monday Lape-Freeberg came to offer blessings, and we also heard a message of blessing from NCC Pastor Jonathan Hauze.  Huge thanks to Packing Day Organizers Tracey Hayes and Danielle Taylor for their calm, efficient leadership. We're ready to travel!

 

 After months of careful planning and preparation, the DR Projects trip to the Dominican Republic is just around the corner.  It all gets real this Saturday when the traveling crew (plus friends) gathers from 1:00 - 4:00 at the Norwich Congregational church for Packing Day. We have received many, many contributions of clothing, dental supplies, medical supplies and vitamins, and the revised Jet Blue guidelines that allow for two suitcases per person mean that we will be traveling fully laden.  Several of us have made this trip before, and will be able to lend packing expertise. We will split into packing teams, and are looking forward to receiving blessings from Norwich Pastor Jonathan Hauze and CCDC Pastor Mandy Lape-Freeberg, who has made this trip in the past.  There will be some nice edible surprises! Please stay tuned to this humble little blog for updates and photos leading up to and during the trip.  We will be having contributions fro several student blo...