Leaving Licey

​Another last: Sunday (March 22) at my church, Cordero de Dios in Licey al Medio. 

I've been a faithful member since early in my tenure here and even served one extremely elongated term as treasurer...whenever I was in the country, that is. My frequent travels meant I missed many a council meeting and often needed a backup to count & record the offering. 

Why so early, you ask, with three Sundays remaining? I wanted Josh to be with me because a) I knew it'd be an emotional day; and b) he's the reason I'm leaving. He needed to be at his church for Palm Sunday, Easter, and his own despedida, so we worked backwards. 

The congregation gifted me a beautiful necklace with Dominican amber and a cross pendant. 

Josh & I with...

Seminarian Francisco (Chile) & his wife Macarena. 

The Rev. Sergio Fritzler. 

The Davis family, of Chopped fame - some of my closest non-missionary expat friends. They joined Cordero de Dios mere months after my arrival. 

The members of Pueblo Nuevo have been more than happy to see more of me the past couple of weeks, starting with the final Wednesday Lenten service. Josh's sermon included audience participation! He reminded us that although we don't know the thief on the cross's name, Jesus did. Jesus knows us by name, too, and calls us by name in Baptism, at the Lord's table, and at life's end when we, too, hear that "today you will be with me in paradise," (Luke 23:43). 

Palm Sunday in the tropics is BYOP. Josh, his supervisor Ross, and fellow Vicar Gavin cut enough for the whole congregation plus more to adorn the sanctuary. 

Hey! I know the crucifer!

He also got to hold the "Bible" (binder) during the Gospel processional. 

After the service, member - and online seminary student - Victor Reyes presented us with a gift on behalf of his NGO, the "Chamos" volleyball league. Josh has been supporting Victor's efforts by leading devotions for a team of middle school girls every Thursday for the past several months. 

Proudly repping Chamos with...

Victor and his family (minus daughter Victoria, who took the photo). 

Seminarian Oscar & his family. 

I kept mine on during a post-church grocery run so I didn't freeze in Sirena's full-blast AC!

Until next time, blessings in Christ!