Allow me to introduce the city of San Juan de la Maguana...
Edificio (Building) 98: My residence for the 6 weeks
He who doesn't live to serve, isn't fit to live
My hostparents' garden
The road I lived on
My bedroom. Pretty nice, right?
El Habanico- a major part of your life in the DR
Ramon (left)- my most dedicated student and a good friend. He works construction and gives the missions teams a lot to do.
Ricardo- amazing testimony. He traveled from Spain 4 years ago after taking quitting his job and taking all his money out of the bank. He came to the DR to splurge and live it up. Fortunately (no- that's not a typo), his money ran out and he "somehow" ended up in San Juan. He decided he needed to find a job so he could get money to travel back to Spain. He thought perhaps he could teach in a school, since he graduated from a 4-year University in Spain. So he "randomly" came to CCED and asked the principal if there was a teaching job available. Sure enough, they gave him a teaching position. Not long after, the other teachers witnessed to him and invited him to church (the Mennonite church that I went to). One day, he stood up during the service and put his trust in Christ. He says God has completely transformed Him and he would love to live the rest of his life in San Juan. "Why do I need to go back to Spain?" he asks. "I'm happy here."
CCED (the school where I taught) and Benito (gym teacher)
the Guesthouse that housed the missions teams and short term missionaries
inside the Guesthouse
inside the medical clinic (right next to the guesthouse)
Presidente- the main beer of the Dominican
Concerts are held here
the Judicial Courts- where Ernesto (a judge) works
Town Hall
this intersection had 6 "murals" like this in tribute to the native Taino people
Lots of statues, heads, and monuments in the city: usually in tribute to one of the 3 Liberators of the DR
The public pool I went to with Lissette's family
I plan to start flag-collecting
Anacaona (background)- the Taino guardian of the DR when the Spaniards arrived (or something like that)
they turn these fountains on like once a week
Sunday morning at the Central Mennonite church
outside the Medical Clinic
the barrio (neighborhood) behind the guesthouse
lots of lizards
where I made all my copies for my ESL class
The Dominicans are crazy into politics. These vehicles roam around the city all day blasting music and recordings trying to get you to vote for a certain candidate.
the Cathedral
overlooking the farm of Juan's dad
the market
the things Dominicans can do with motorcycles- I never ceased to be amazed
does this not remind you of Lord of the Rings?
the guardian of the city- I forget his name, but I didn't forget that he's an absolute boss
The Compass
The gorgeous, new University in town (a branch of the University in Santo Domingo- the first University of the Americas; found in 1538
basketball/volleyball court
Santo Domingo:
Christopher Columbus' brother
Good ol' Chris Columbus and a very old cathedral
The Historical District of Santo Domingo
