Settling in.

​We had a great group from Aquinas College at the end of October.  They were a smaller group (5 people total) which allowed us to get to know each of them well.  Eric Bridge, a Board Member of BBOH and the Director of Service-Learning for Aquinas College, was their fearless leader.  It was SO GREAT to have him here!  This was the first time that one of our Board Members has come down to visit us on the ground and we were incredibly grateful for the laughs, quality conversations and the chance to show him the newer projects (like the preschool) firsthand. 

BBOH Board Member, Eric Bridge, at a clinic with the AQ group.

Aquinas College Service-Learning Group, October 2016

Sara taking a patient's blood pressure at a mobile medical clinic.

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Benjamin on his first day of school.

Since the Aquinas group left we have been settling into our life here in San Juan.  Everything is beginning to feel more comfortable.  Ben has started school at the Diocesan preschool called Padre Guido Gildea.  Although Ben still cries when we drop him off in the mornings, he is really adjusting well to preschool, new friends and Spanish immersion for 4 hours a day.

Fun Fact of the Day -- Ben's school was founded by Fr. Guido, a Dominican Order priest from MICHIGAN who lived in the DR for many years and started the first Diocesan school in the mid 1900s.  


 
For a while now I have been asking the Lord for the opportunity to meet friends outside of our ministry here in the DR.   And boy has He answered that prayer!  Over the last week or so we have met many wonderful, fun and inspiring people.  Some of them are parents from Ben’s school, local Sanjuaneros and others are fellow missionaries.  I am really looking forward to getting to know them better and building a community of friends.   
 
Thank you God for being with us in every step of our transition and providing fellowship opportunities!
 
For the next several weeks we have a former volunteer and good friend here helping us with the kids.  The MVP Award goes out to you Roni.  It has seriously been a game changer to have an extra set of hands willing to help with anything and everything.  Your service to our family has been a HUGE blessing.  Thank you!
 
This week we are preparing to return 8 children to Rosa la Piedra (and surrounding Haitian villages) and 1 child to Manyaya.  Please keep these little ones in your prayers as they transition back to life with their biological families, may they feel God's peace deep within themselves. 

More updates soon! <3 
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Prayer intentions: 
For the repose of the soul of Juancito, a man that we came to know back in July and whom died unexpectedly last week. 
For continued guidance as we discern additional affiliations with a local Diocesan school and/or an orphanage. 
For the United States as they embark on Election Day, may there be peace -- true, lasting, profound peace -- no matter the outcome. 

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