Well this recital and goodbye was as painful as I thought it would be! This Dominican time thing will always be a mystery to us. At 7:15 - the program -
should have started at 7:00 - three of our students were not even there. The Bishop called them and they said they were on their way, except for Carolina whose mother said she was still making her "pretty". It was raining very hard and that always keeps people away. They say they get sick from the rain. Don't know how that happens because you would think the rain would clear away some of this polluted air. Finally at 7:50 everyone was there and we started the recital. It is always amazing to hear them play and see how much they have learned in the short time they have had lessons. I know they have been very blessed for their efforts. They presented us with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. I was doing just fine until the Bishop started crying. To say that I was a sad, sorry cry baby is not an exaggeration. I am going to have to do better but I'm not sure how to do that. The kids were so sweet. This was the hardest group to leave because we have been teaching them for so long and they have been just like family to us. Bishop Polanco is awesome!
Pre-recital practice with Cesar and Katherina
This is the Bishop and his family. I hope some time in the eternities we see them again!
SATURDAY Got to get busy on the recital for Sunday with Santo Domingo stake. We put the program together and take it across the street to a printer to get copied off but you never know until the last minute - and sometimes not even then - what they are actually going to play. They have their last practice tonight.
We actually have some time today now that we have two fewer classes. I need to start going through paperwork and getting the music resources together plus I haven't really studied Spanish for a long time.
So this afternoon we went out to Hainamosa for our final lesson. Felix, Anderson, and the twins came and spent the whole time taking photos. I think they are going to try to continue a class there. That would be wonderful for the stake and for them personally. We appreciated them coming to tell us goodbye. I know the love Scott has for these four is reciprocated. One of the women had made me some jewelry she had made - was really pretty. They gave us a bag of avocados. I won't miss that steaming hot room we taught in there or waiting at the gate for someone to let us in for forever but I will miss the little non-member girl with a big smile and sparkly eyes. The woman who was baptized during our lessons is in the same ward as Felix so he will watch out for her. We were so blessed to form so many relationships here with our students. They have been wonderful. I am still sad that I haven't been able to communicate better with them.
The Ruckers had invited us to stop by after our lesson. So on our way home around 7:00 we stopped and shopped for a few things we needed then stopped at KFC for the last time in the DR. We would occasionally stop on our way home so decided we should do that one last time. The Dunfords were at the Ruckers when we got there so we had a chance to visit with them too. No one ever mentioned how difficult it is leaving the mission field! We will surely miss our senior missionary friends. They have been such a blessing in our lives.
SATURDAY Got to get busy on the recital for Sunday with Santo Domingo stake. We put the program together and take it across the street to a printer to get copied off but you never know until the last minute - and sometimes not even then - what they are actually going to play. They have their last practice tonight.
We actually have some time today now that we have two fewer classes. I need to start going through paperwork and getting the music resources together plus I haven't really studied Spanish for a long time.
So this afternoon we went out to Hainamosa for our final lesson. Felix, Anderson, and the twins came and spent the whole time taking photos. I think they are going to try to continue a class there. That would be wonderful for the stake and for them personally. We appreciated them coming to tell us goodbye. I know the love Scott has for these four is reciprocated. One of the women had made me some jewelry she had made - was really pretty. They gave us a bag of avocados. I won't miss that steaming hot room we taught in there or waiting at the gate for someone to let us in for forever but I will miss the little non-member girl with a big smile and sparkly eyes. The woman who was baptized during our lessons is in the same ward as Felix so he will watch out for her. We were so blessed to form so many relationships here with our students. They have been wonderful. I am still sad that I haven't been able to communicate better with them.
The Ruckers had invited us to stop by after our lesson. So on our way home around 7:00 we stopped and shopped for a few things we needed then stopped at KFC for the last time in the DR. We would occasionally stop on our way home so decided we should do that one last time. The Dunfords were at the Ruckers when we got there so we had a chance to visit with them too. No one ever mentioned how difficult it is leaving the mission field! We will surely miss our senior missionary friends. They have been such a blessing in our lives.
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