This morning we woke to a steady downpour — something we don’t often experience here in the DR. With the weather less than ideal for a boat trip to Catalina Island, we pivoted our plans and headed into the capital and the straw market instead. The students had a blast practicing their bartering skills, and many (many, many) of our young men walked away proudly carrying full-sized machetes and other unique treasures to bring home.
From there, we made our way to the capitol square, split into small groups, and enjoyed lunch at a variety of local spots. By that time, the sun had begun to peek through, warming the afternoon just enough for some sightseeing. A few brave students tested their nerves by standing perfectly still while pigeons landed on them, while others couldn’t resist dancing along to the lively music of a nearby local band.
Once we returned to SCORE, everyone spread out to enjoy some well-earned free time. Some headed to the beach, a few explored a local coffee shop, others relaxed by the pool, and several took much-needed naps after a full and flexible day. It was a sweet mix of adventure, laughter, and rest — a good reminder that even unexpected changes can turn into memorable moments.
Tonight, Mr. Walton challenged the students to live the abundant life, to step out of the “boat”(the thing most trusted for satisfaction apart from God), in faith, propelling towards Jesus–not waiting for the perfect moment or a pain free experience–“God wants to give you something greater than your boat can give you!” Once again, many students opted to stick around for some sweet, spontaneous worship while others enjoyed games, chats, swimming, snacks and laughter. It has been rewarding to watch the Seniors ”blossom”, deepening old relationships with long time friends and taking steps towards new opportunities with classmates they may be “seeing” for the first time. They are a lively, relational, enthusiastic group!