santo domingo

The Dominican RepublicMostly old cars gushing choking smoking weaving honking not stopping screaming through lights and signs and crowds of cool people sauntering sipping smiling selling chilling crossing calling chatting laid out in the big tree shade or passing through sixteenth-century Caribbean-colored colonial concrete trembling in the bright blistering sun bathing this beautiful sociable tropical historical hospitable inviting capital city called Santo Domingo de Guzmán, República Dominicana – population 2.2 million.

Leah with Elizabeth and FlorAnd somewhere in the middle of all that is where Leah used to live.  And where she made some lifelong friends whom we love to visit when we can. In fact, the primary goal of our most recent trip (April 6^th through 15^th) was to spend a little time with friends.

Tom and Dee and the family and a treeThe Dominican evenings are stellar – balmy and breezy and cool. Perfect for a glass of wine on the rooftop terrace with Tom and Dee, whom we stayed with in Santo Domingo. But along with Tom and Dee, we got to hang out with their awesome family: Aisha (who cross-stitched a really great gift for us), Alina (who let us use her room and showed us the most incredible hospitality), Alize (who made us laugh and gave us some acting lessons), and Aaron (who melted something in us the way only babies can).

Easter eggs & everyoneFrom there we visited many other great friends and great places. Dominican food is a unique blend of African, Spanish and indigenous flavors. It's not too spicy, but very fresh and balanced. My favorite meal there was chicken and rice with plantains.

Leah and LidissetEveryone I met in the Dominican Republic was so easy to talk to – despite the fact that I didn't talk to most of them. Leah translated a lot since I can't speak Spanish yet (yet!). But everyone was really patient with me and went out of their way to include me in conversations. Now I’m registering for a Spanish class so I can learn to talk with my friends (who speak more English than I do Spanish).

Our next entry will be about the Dominican ministries and organizations we encountered. I’ve got a busy week, so give me a few days to get the next entry together.

A small-business owner selling plantainsBut don’t forget to check back soon to read about the loving, thoughtful, powerful, genuine, humble, life-changing, earth-shaking work people are doing in and through and for Christ.