The Sixth Team Member

After a 2022 hurricane season that had thus far been silent, of course the first major storm coincided with #1 of 4 back-to-back-to-back-to-back short-term teams as Fiona joined five individuals from Trinity Lutheran Church in Garden City, KS. 

I got up to pee at 4:30 am on Saturday, arrival day. It was pouring rain, and I steeled myself for a harrowing drive to Santo Domingo, where my meticulous schedule had us until Monday, and a miserably soggy early part of the week. The day dawned bright and sunny, though, and despite one misplaced passport en route, I picked up all five team members right on schedule at 6:04 pm.  

L to R: Kyle, Melanie, Kallie, me, Shanna, and Rev. Michael. 

The rain started Sunday in spurts that were sometimes strong, sometimes drizzly. It was enough to keep church attendance to a minimum but didn't dampen the familial spirit I love about Iglesia Luterana Pan de Vida. 

Introductions while we waited to see if anyone else would show up... 

After worship, Pastor Hageman led Bible class, in English, with seminarian Martín interpreting for the first time!

I left in the middle of the study to pick up rotisserie chickens from a nearby grocery store. As at the March FORO, the congregation supplemented with sides, paper products, and drinks. Two of these ladies even spent most of Saturday making bakery-worthy desserts in honor of September birthdays.

Regional Director Rev. Ted Krey, on hand to preach since Pan de Vida's pastor, Rev. Sergio Maita, was traveling back from the International Lutheran Council's annual gathering in Kenya, talked with the team about the distinctiveness of Lutheran mission before he & family drove back to Santiago.

One of my favorite moments was when he compared Mission Education to those times when Jesus would beckon the disciples to come away with Him for prayer & reflection.

I was dubious about my afternoon plans, but we decided to chance it, umbrellas in hand, and were rewarded with a cool stroll through the Colonial Zone devoid of mobs of tourists. 

Sibling pic!

Unfortunately, Kallie (above, left) was called home for an urgent work matter and flew out Sunday evening. The entire team elected to cut our wanderings short to see her off, and afterward, our driver took us to a beach town just past the airport. Kyle had never been to the beach before and dove in headfirst, literally. Strolling along the water's edge not 10 minutes later, the tourist police shooed us off the beach because of the impending storm. Their insistence didn't compute in my brain: the water was tranquil as could be. We returned to the Colonial Zone for a lovely al fresco dinner; even when we had to move inside because we were getting wet, you'd never know a hurricane was brewing. 

Sometime Sunday afternoon, a friend clued me in to that the president had declared Monday a día no laborable. I accepted that our psychosocial rehab hospital visit and coffee factory tour probably weren't going to happen but went to bed fully believing that after a lazy morning, we'd make our way to Santiago in time for lasagna at the Fritsches'. Finishing breakfast, though, I received an impossible-to-ignore text: "Stay put in the capital please." I put the sheets back on my bed, texted a friend to go feed Freddy, and set my mind to creating a day of unplanned yet memorable, meaningful experiences for the remaining four team members. 

Pastor Maita was rested enough to join us for breakfast with his family, so out came the crafts to entertain his kids. 

Jetlagged though he was, he graciously invited us over for a cookout. That meant a trip to La Sirena for meat - and the chance to test out a grocery store scavenger hunt I had written for another occasion and wound up not using. 

It was a hit! Kyle and Melanie might have pulled out a victory had they seen that there were more questions on the back of the page ;)

Later that afternoon, we ventured out again to the store where I'd gotten the chicken, this time for side dish ingredients. The hours passed quickly between shopping, napping, and, making salad and mashed potatoes, and before we knew it it was time to head to the Maitas' for an evening of spontaneous fellowship. 

As I had the night before, I joined the team for devotions when we got home. The reading was, appropriately, from Psalm 29 (vv. 3, 10): 

The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over many waters...The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.

I'm always frustrated when things don't go according to plan, but God is still on the throne. Despite having their trip thrown out of whack from the get-go, the team remained positive and focused on being a blessing to others, me included. 

Shoutout to our stellar hosts, Gustavo and Mariela!

The power went out late, and it lightninged and thundered most of the night, but after scouring every news source I could find and checking in with colleagues back home Tuesday morning, we loaded up and hit the road at 9:30. Gray skies gave way to mostly sunny ones about halfway to Palmar, where we arrived safe and sound in time for lunch with the seminarians. 

Fiona's wrath wasn't through, though...

Until next time, blessings in Christ!