Dominican Republic

Well, we did make it to the DR, but it has certainly taken a while to update the blog. We didn't have internet for the first month, and still wouldn't have it now if our neighbor didn't let us use hers. Apparently, the box is full and noone else can have internet or phone until someone in the neighborhood moves out. We're getting more settled in, now, and are living in a town outside the capital called San Cristobal. There are more motorcycles than cars here and still plenty of noise, but the traffic is better than in the capital.
It's a little different than Costa Rica for several reasons: The Spanish is really different- The accents as well as the vocabulary; Dominicans LOVE to listen to music and love to listen to it loudly and late into the night, so it's taking some getting used to; The heat, though it hasn't been as bad with all the rain; Driving is more than a little crazy- there seem to be no traffic rules; Motorcyles perform the tasks of pickups here- We've seen many things carried on the back of a motorcycle, like washing machines, 5 people, 100 lb propane tanks, 20' pieces of rebar, etc. It's fun to see what new things you may see on the back of a motorcycle each day.
We are enjoying our ministry so far, though it is in the beginning stages, and enjoying the DR and the people here. We all seem to be adjusting well. After trying to go without help for the first several weeks, and after seeing how much time it takes to clean house and get meals cooked and all, we found a great Christian lady who is the wife of one of the pastors at our church to help us out a couple of days a week around the house. She helps cook, clean, watch the girls, and has helped a few times to cook meals for teams that we have over. We've had over 40 people in our home at one time! We praise the lord for her everyday!
We've been busy working with several mission teams and trying to get settled in as well as shopping for furniture and appliances. I (Ted) just finished working with a team and have another coming in today for a week. The first part of August we will be blessed to have Southcliff Baptist Church from Ft. Worth, Texas doing a retreat with all of our DR missionaries for a few days. We are looking forward to it as well as some much needed family time and rest after a really busy summer.
We've made some contacts and are planning to start a Bible Study in our neighborhood in August after the retreat and also begin mapping out the city to see where the most need is for new work, and try to begin some work in those areas as well.
Please pray for the following: 1)God to open up doors for new work in areas of need, 2)Our language understanding and development, 3)protection from dengue and other sicknesses, 4)Kerri and the girls during times that I'm away.

On another note, please lift up the sale of our house back in Mississippi. We had a lady that lived in it the past two years and has moved out and left us with her thousands of dollars of unpaid rent and some repairs to the house. We are praying for God to sell this house fast. Please pray with us.

We are so thankful for all the support and prayers that were lifted up in our behalf while we learn new things here, get settled, and begin ministry. God is faithful!