Elections

Last week Sunday was the long awaited election day. Leading up to this day, several weeks before, predictions among Dominicans were that Hipolito, also known as Papa, stood a very good chance of beating his oponent Danilo. Dominicans were talking excitedly just about everywhere you'd go. Signs were popping up even more than before, with power poles being simply too short to support all of them. Great banners were displayed over the highway and main roads. Special party trucks, and even rickety old trucks, the box loaded full with speakers would blast through the barrios belting out campaign slogans. Dominicans like it loud and exciting, but this time it was LOUD and EXCITING.

As the election day got closer, people really got caught up in it all; some of the vehicles dropping off students at school were completely wrapped with Danilo's or Hipolito's face and support slogans. It was quite a sight to behold. Even the little second graders would have these political discussions coming into class. We learned a lot about Dominican politics, and Mattais even started drawing his own campaign posters of Danilo, while Kaelie would walk around the school campus chanting Danilo! and asking others who they would vote for.

 Signs are everywhere!

In the midst of all the political hype,  our Canadian friends Jonathan and Jennifer Gelderman decided to have a quiet get-away in Puerto Plata. Since I had a few personal days left, which I could use up before the end of the school year, we decided to accept Jonathan and Jennifer's invitation to join them for the weekend with our kids. So much for their quiet kid-free get-away! They got to meet James of course, and we had a wonderful and relaxing weekend together.

 Jonathan and baby James

 Ready to go out for dinner

 Sherilyn and Jennifer

 Que lindo!

Election day! On Sunday morning, May 20, we somewhat nervously drove out of the gate of our apartment parking lot. The night before we had received an email from the US embassy, recommending all North Americans to stay home and that the police troops would be out full-force. Things seemed pretty calm around our neighborhood, however. Traffic got pretty jammed as we neared one of the voting stations along the way. People lined the sidewalks, talking excitedly, street vendors were running around with coconut drinks and empanadas, glad to make a few extra pesos that day, and police and army personnel were keeping a vigilant eye on all proceedings.

Close to church, one of the voting stations was right across the road from one of the campaign commando posts of Danilo, so the street was filled with people, iddling vehicles, and mopeds.

By Monday morning, the results had been counted, and hearsay was that Danilo had won. Numbers were not publicly announced yet since the Hipolito was crying foul play. By Tuesday it was evident, however, that Danilo had been elected for president, and Ganamos Contigo posters were showing up in places, acknowledging the people for their support.

We thank the Lord for a peaceful election time in and around Santiago, and we hope and pray that this country will enjoy a more stable and honest government as time goes on.

 Our little James loves being with Mattais and Kaelie. Especially in the morning, when he hears their voices at the breakfast table, he loves sitting next to them in his bouncy seat. Kaelie enjoys giving him water in a little bottle, since the weather is really hot the last few days. Mattais is a great babysitter, bouncing his little brother up and down a little, and even changing diapers when necessary. So wonderful to see them loving each other.

Glimpses of April and into May

Wow, time flies.....In just over two weeks we will be flying back to Canada. The school year is rapidly nearing the end at Santiago Christian School, and when we look back at the past two months there are many fond memories and reasons for being thankful.

School has been going well. This past week we had our spring concert with the themes of Exodus, for the primary grades, and Heroes of Faith for the intermediate grades. The students were all very excited to sing their songs and speak their parts, and both programs were attended by many parents. Both programs focussed on the wonderful ways in which the LORD cares for His children, and so a great way to share the gospel with parents that may otherwise not hear it regularly in church.

Music classes for secondary end next week, and it is sure nice to hear from students that they are already looking forward to next year and 'what are we going to do then, mister?' I've already been looking into catalogs for what we can do, starting in the fall. At SCS we want to streamline our arts program a little more efficient next year by trying to work thematically across the arts program. We hope to have themed art evenings at the end of each quarter during which both music and fine arts students can show what they have learned. Exciting.

Well, let's get to some pictures and other memories.....

The weather is getting hotter and more humid again at this time. We had some incredible thunderstorms and much rainfall these past months. This is looking west from our roof.

Kaelie and her friend Drew Houck loved their fieldtrip to the farm in April.

Mattais playing soccer with highschool students from Plumstead Christian High from Philadelphia who came to visit during our spiritual emphasis week. We had a very nice time with those students and their team leaders.

 

The music room. I love the Wenger roll-and-flip stages for choir; easy to move around, and very sturdy. The music room is also used for ballet and chapel. It's really a beautiful room with lots of space and light. The only big need at this time is air-conditioning. Hopefully we'll have some soon. Temperatures easily hit 40 Celsius here in September. Yup, that's when you feel like having a shower several times a day.

 

With Seth Cohen, the director of SCS.

 

With Paul Gibbs (curriculum coordinator) and Jacob Bader (HS Bible) at

the pro-d day on Love and Logic in the Classroom.

 

With Reina, Erica, and Bruce off to Cayo Paraiso (Little Paradise Island) near Punta Rusia. Reina, Erica, and Bruce came during the first week of April, and we had a wonderful time with them. Cayo Paraiso is an incredible place. Just a teeny sandy island with six huts. Snorkelling there is phenomenal. The island is pretty much the top of a massive corral reef around which is home to the most stunning ocean life.

Quiero geneo maduro. Cuanto? Buying sweet bananas from the locals,

just outside Puerto Plata.

 

Danilo vs Hippolito. The signs are everywhere. One must wonder how much these two rivals have in their campaign budgets. It must be millions of pesos. Danilo's face is on just about every other power pole, and that's not exaggerated. Downtown Santiago is so bad that the power poles are too short to carry all the signs that the PLD and PRD want to put up for the elections. LOL. Downtown businesses actually have been complaining about the overwhelming amount of political faces that are just about everywhere you turn. 

Frutas y gomas. Oh yes, and there happens to be the smiling Danilo also.

 

Kaelie and Debrah Cohen. Those two are always up to something funny.

 

Sherilyn exploring old town Santiago with Mom Krul. James loves the Snuggli.

We had a really nice time with mom Krul, and we can't wait for all of our parents to visit us this next Christmas, the Lord willing.

 

Dairyland fresh. We use only the strongest of mules, and the finest of men to carry the rich and creamy milk from northern hillsides of the Cibao Valley to the local barrios. Quality you can trust!



At Playa Ensenada.

Mattais and Kaelie are very proud of their little brother James.

 

Grandma loves you!