Tell Me About LuHi’s Trip to the DR

Prior to hosting Lutheran High School from Parker, CO, in the DR, I could not have articulated exactly what ChatGPT is or how one might go about consulting it. One of the "LuHi" chaperones happily clued me in, consulting it multiple times throughout the week out of curiosity or to settle friendly debates. If he were to enter the title command, I imagine the first part of the response might be something like this:

Eight Spanish students and three teachers started their week in Santiago, arriving late on a Monday night. For their first three days, beginning right away on Tuesday morning, they'd spend 30 min. reading in small groups with the 52 students from Concordia Lutheran School in Palmar Arriba to reinforce the school's emphasis on literacy. 

They got to spend the rest of Tuesday recovering from their travel weariness on the beach, alongside the Good Shepherd Lutheran Homes group home crew. It was a hot one and most people were in the water a majority of the day, but the Coloradans especially heeded my repeated reminders to slather on the sunscreen. Perhaps more than any other group, they truly engaged with Ramona, Estefani, Junior, Francis, Moisés, and Randy, chatting with them on the bus ride, playing catch in the water, and sharing coco frío. 

Wednesday was a *snaps multiple times in rapid succession* kind of day. Noah (Mr. ChatGPT himself) gave everyone a crash course in bachata vs. merengue while waiting for the bus to pick them up and take them to an actual dance class (new team activity alert!). Seventy-five year old Marisol wowed everyone with her wit and energy. Everyone successfully ordered lunch in Spanish, then played along with Erin's silly but educational games, part I: a grocery store scavenger hunt. Back in Palmar, they accompanied Rev. Idjon Fritz to the local play (baseball field, colloq.) for a devotion with the players and a pick-up game in the overgrown outfield. They capped off their night worshipping with the Palmar congregation. 

 

Team member Colby (6' 7") and local teen Miguel are the same age!

The last reading session ended with a bubble party and each child getting to take home a book personalized with his or her name and an encouraging note or Bible verse from one of the LuHi students. A 10 am regional team Zoom meeting introduced them to the administrative side of missionary work; later that afternoon, they'd stretch outside their comfort zones to pass out flyers for an upcoming eyeglass campaign in Licey al Medio and Los Callejones. 

Friday allowed for the relaxed day everyone needed by that point. Some of the group trekked up the hill behind the seminary to the single students' house ("Golgotha"); others slept in. Between then and heading out around 3 pm, a pica pollo lunch was the only thing that interrupted multiple rounds of UNO with Estefani and basketball with the neighborhood kids. Deaconess Tirzah explained more about the role of a deaconess in general and her role specifically to the team, then hung out with them as they explored the botanical garden and learned how to make both fried and griddled Venezuelan arepas with two types of relleno, which they enjoyed on the regional's office's rooftop terrace. 

 

They left for Santo Domingo at 8 am Saturday morning...

Until next time, blessings in Christ!