Dominican Cuties

I just got back from my second mission trip to the Dominican Republic...today!

While there we did a ton of stuff: medical clinics, "VBS", visited an orphanage, and installed water purification systems....but here I have pictures of some of the most joyful reasons I go, the kids. The kids in the D.R. are beautiful, kind, and generous. Each kid is amazing.

But don't take my word for it, see for yourself.

Kylie and Lila

Third year in a row I got a call to take pictures of cutie Kylie, but this time there was a surprise...Lila! Both of these little girls brought a whole bunch of cute! Take a peak.

and the infamous Kylie "serious face"

Lila coming soon! ;)

a day at the zoo

today we had a family outing to the zoo. it was a bit chilly, we had a few

breakdowns, but over all we had some fun! here are some pictures from our lovely day.

(even though they look serious/mad in some of the pics they were really happy)

first is my little sis anna.

cutie allie

blue-eyed karson

my mamaw had never seen a real giraffe before.

actual excitement from watching the seals...I can't lie, I was excited too.

Kathy & Nick

this is what comes from being bored

nana gary cat portrait session

this was his "blue steel"
"I'm too sexy for my collar"

babies!!

Here we have the Spencer/Schubert family.

There are three baby cousins; the twins (Abby & Emma) and Emma Leigh.

This sweet baby is Emma Leigh

This cutie is Emma

And this is Abby (I think)

yay rayray!

this is my friend rachel. she is finished with school. she wanted

pictures to document the happy occasion. here's a peek.

a little thanksgiving love

the DL on the DR

So, I went on a missions trip with my church Triad Community Church to the Dominican Republic and it was awesome! We left November 8th and stayed until the 15th.

Our mission was to install water purifiers and to hold clinics in the local communities. One child dies every eight seconds from a water born illness, that’s 6,000 children every day. Our goal was to save as many of those lives possible.

We had several groups go out into the communities and install the purifiers while the rest of our group set up medical clinics. These clinics gave people the chance to see a doctor which they otherwise may have never been able to. We handed out various medications including medicine to rid them of the parasites they contracted from unclean water, cold medicine, and vitamins.

After they had gone through the “pharmacy” we would hand out shoes to those who had none or had some that were in poor shape. The shoes were needed because people could be re-infected with parasites from walking barefoot in untreated water.

Now, here's the skinny...in picture form.

Saturday

in the airport getting ready to leave home

here we have mary, me, and rachelme and alyssame-n-tracie

my first airplane ride ever! I cried I was so happy!

it was like I was swimming in the clouds!;)

this is part of where we stayed. it was nicer than we expected
Sunday
me and rachel

we went for a walk close to where we were staying and visited

a church we were going to attend that evening

and then there were kids.

When we got back from our adventure we got down to business and started sorting out the medication so it would be ready for the next day.
Later that evening we went back down the street to visit during their church service. Thank the Lord it was at night! It was quite toasty in that tiny little building, I can only imagine how hot it would be if the service was during the day!
after church, we handed out glow sticks and played with the kids

Monday

we piled in two cars and headed off to do our first clinic

by the time we got there, there were tons of people crowding

the church waiting to get medication

they wanted help so bad

Tuesday

Wednesday

the town of "war" I can't remember what they called it

I can just remember it ment war.

this is the town we saw the possessed woman.

you know the phrase "no way jose"?

we found jose! and he's a trip!

clari helped us out during our clinic

me and jasmine

Thursday

we went to visit the orphanage some of the team

members put a water filter in the day before.

these kids were so much fun. I don't think a single team member

didn't want to take at least one kid home with them.

that night we went to the church of one of our drivers.

we were asked to sing during the services and we were not prepared

Friday

we had a wind-down day and took a trip to the beach.

Saturday
this homeless woman was on our street everyday. and each day we gave her something, either food or water. the last day we tried to give her clothes but she wouldn't
take them.