Ryan caught his first fish.  

Regina's first time to catch a fish.  

Regina with teacher and principal.

A proud graduate 

graduate with family  

Kindergarten graduation

On Memorial Day, Regina graduated from Kindergarten. Since she is homeschooled, we made a gown out of a sheet and a hat from a cardboard box. The tassle was made from thread. Grandpa and Grandma Hoffman and Aunt got to participate in the outdoor ceremony. She walked up the sidewalk to the principal where he made flowery comments and gave her an invisible diploma. Cake and ice cream followed the ceremony.

We had fun in spite of a very hot and humid day. Congratulations Regina!

Trip to DR

We just got back from a 10-day trip in D.R. The Lord opened a lot of doors fast and we made plans to travel one week before our departure date.

It was a great trip. We were able to get our residency cards which are valid for 2 years. After this we just have to pay to renew them. Thank the Lord!

The Dominican church is alive and well. The people are on fire and the Lord poured out His presence on us both services last Sunday. One man prayed to get saved in the morning service. It was very encouraging to see new faces and see old ones now glowing with the presence of the Lord.

There is a lot to blog about and pictures to share, but we just got back today and Monday we leave for 2 weeks at SIMO (Summer Institute Missionary Orientation). Maybe we'll get a chance to catch up the blog somewhere in between.

God Size Miracle

Our missionary friends, the Kiser's, need a "God size miracle." Visit their website to find out more about this need and how you can get involved.

www.godsizemiracle.com

The audio and video clips found at the bottom of the page just above the blue box are very interesting.

Miracle van

God has looked on our low estate with great mercy and miraculously supplied a van for us! Details and pictures will follow as soon as the paperwork is finalized - which may take a few more weeks.

President Bush leaves message!!

We returned home Friday evening and checked the messages on our answering machine. I missed the part of the first message, but the voice sounded like President George Bush. I said, "Doug, that's President Bush." He said, "No, it's not." I listened to it again and sure enough, he said, "Hello, this is President George W. Bush." His message was to encourage voters to elect Don Sherwood in the upcoming primaries. Of course the message was pre-recorded. But hey, it's not everyday you get a call from the President of the United States!

Schoolmate killed in motorcycle accident

This man attended the same school as Kim and Kim graduated with his sister, Laura.

http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=138061&format=html

Van accident

Sorry for the mixup in the pictures. They are below. I lost my post and couldn't figure out how to get it in above the van pictures. So here's the scoop. On April 6, Kim was involved in a van accident leaving the van totalled! All 3 children were with her and everyone walked out with only cuts and bruises. We thank the Lord for His protection!

This was Brandon's second year to go fishing and he loved it! Last year he got an 11 inch fish. He was hoping to get a bigger one this year. He succeeded when he reeled in a 17 inch fish! He was so proud to see his prize fish on the supper table last night and know he had part in providing meat for us.  

Total fish caught between Daddy and Brandon.  

Regina got in on the fun, too.  

Ryan enjoyed his first fishing trip.  

Being towed away.  

The side door was pushed in to just inches away from Ryan's car seat on the front bench.  

Still adjusting to culture

You would think that since we are Americans by nature and lived in the States for 23 years that we would always keep our American thoughts and ways. Although we have been in the States for over a year, some things still seem "different" to us.

In the D.R., the seasons change very little and you can wear whatever you want in your whole wardrobe for the whole year - which does not include sweaters or any form of heavy clothing. I have had to adjust back to wearing only dark colors for winter. It was more than I could handle to have to pass over my spring clothes over the winter. I guess I've gotten so accustomed to wearing spring clothes that it's hard for me to wear sweaters and dark, dreary colors all winter long.

Another adjustment has been hanging laundry out. Of course the weather in D.R. is great for hanging out clothes. The only problem is that it is so hot and there is very little air that the clothes end up drying very wrinkled. They don't blow out as they do here. Until we got a dryer a few years ago in the D.R., I was having to do A LOT of ironing. Last spring I couldn't get it through my head that I could hang clothes out here without them being wrinkled. This year it is finally sinking in and I've been hanging out more wash.

Probably by the time we've fully adjusted to the changes here in the States, it will be time to go back to the D.R. and relearn the ways there.

One week and one root canal later

Last week Doug was able to get in for a root canal. Poor guy had waited almost a week to get rid of his pain. Thankfully he had a pain free root canal and has had little problem since then. How wonderful it is to have him back to normal and not walking around the house holding the side of his mouth with a look of agony in his eyes.

Spring sensations

Well, today it feels like spring here in this "neck of the woods." Spring is my favorite season here. In the D.R., my favorite is winter simply because it's the only time of the year that is "bearable."

We spent the first day of spring enjoying a free Italian Ice from Rita's. It was 37 degrees. We weren't the only crazy ones. There was a lot of other people joining us. We ate our Italian Ice in the van with the heater on.

I think I finally figured out this spring thing. Last year I was totally surprised and taken back that spring had changed from the 21st of March to the 20th. Or was I just mistaken? As I recall when we left 7 years ago, the first day of spring was the 21st. Well, I even heard the weatherman say that the first full day of spring was the 21st. So....it just might be that the 20th is when "Spring begins" and that the "First day of spring" is on the 21st. I don't really know, but I am glad that spring is here!

Toothache!

The biggest news for this week is that Doug has an incredible toothache. He attempted to have a tooth which had been bothering him "fixed" in the D.R. when we were there in September. He had a root canal done on this same tooth 6 years ago in the D.R. Just in the past few months, it has increased in pain and this week the pain has increased to where he is taking Ibuprofen several times a day and now the pain is getting unbearable even with Ibuprofen. The whole side of his face is now in pain due to that wretched tooth. The soonest he can get in at the dentist is Tuesday morning. That's a long time when you're in pain!

Euddy & Dionelly's baby girl

This is a picture of Sara - daughter of Pastor Euddy in Santo Domingo. This was sent a few months ago and I didn't realize we had a copy of it on our computer. She already has alot more hair by now.

Pictures from the Holy Land Experience in Orlando, FL

A Jerusalem market.

There was "rock climbing" for the children to try. Adults could try it, too. It was harder than it looks!  

Jesus talking to the multitude.  

Blind Bartimaus sitting among the crowd (which were the tourists watching the "show") whom Jesus healed.  

As Jesus said, "Let the little children come unto me", he motioned for them to come up and sit with him.  

The temple at Jerusalem 

 

The empty tomb. 

Viewing the empty tomb.  

Jesus carrying his cross.  

Jesus on the cross.  

Jesus after the resurrection.  

The children weren't real comfortable posing beside this soldier who kept an unflinching stare.  

A Memorable Valentine's Dinner

This Valentine's Day was not the way you would think of spending it, but was very special. We arrived in Summerfield, FL the evening before Valentine's day and were invited for supper at our Mission President's home. His wife prepared a lovely meal of turkey, rice, salad, corn, lima beans, rolls, and ice cream. It was neat to also have another visiting missionary family join us. Their 4 children and our 3 children ate in a separate area off of the kitchen while just the adults ate in the formal dining room. It was relaxing and enjoyable to dine and fellowship without the noise of the children, with soft music in the background, and candles lit on the table. They told us it was our Valentine's dinner. It was much better than the usual way we spend Valentine's day - usually on the field and not able to get out for a nice meal or evening together.

Last year we were in the process of packing to come back to the States and I don't even remember how we spent Valentine's Day!

Part of the reason we haven't been keeping up with this blog is because it is hard to determine what to post. The reason it was created was to give information on the mission work in D.R. Since we are now on furlough in the States, we are not sure what to post. Our life is pretty much the same right now. Not too much new happening.

Also, we haven't received many comments so it is hard to know who is viewing our blog (or if anyone is).

We will try to do a little better and make time to keep you up to date on the main events in our lives.

If you are visiting our blog, please let us know by dropping a comment. Constructive criticism is accepted. This may help us to determine what to write about in the future.

January & February happenings

Well, this blog has been left go. We have been on the move. In January, we drove 6 hours to attend our sister-in-law's father's funeral. A few weeks after that we left for Florida to participate in the Spanish camp at Hobe Sound. We were gone for 3 weeks in February. We just got back last week and are all settled in again and it is March already!

We had a great time in Florida participating in Spanish camp and soaking in some of the main campmeeting. What a wonderful time of God's moving.

While in Florida, we saw a brochure about "The Holy Land Experience" in Orlando. We asked someone about it and later received an offer to pay our way if we went. We took the offer and spent a delightful, sunny day there where stories of the Bible are brought to life. It was a neat experience and we were so glad to be able to do it.

If you're ever in Orlando, this is a recommended sight to see. Find more info at www.holylandexperience.com

I hope to get to post pictures soon.