Esperanza (Hope) Day

Today was Day 4—Community Day—and what a day it was! The LDDs (Leaders of the Day), Mateo, Akayla, and Amelia, set the bar sky-high with their leadership, and the whole group applauded them for their outstanding guidance and energy throughout the day.

We kicked things off with an early rise at 7:00 a.m. (Amelia was up at 6:00 am(3:00 am PST, para que sepas, mami), to prepare for our community immersion experience. This morning, we also had a Bible study, where we connected with Martha and Mary within ourselves. We had the honor of meeting an incredible woman named Esperanza (which, fittingly, means “hope” in Spanish!). Her story of advocacy for her children, despite countless challenges, deeply inspired many of us.

We split into smaller groups and spent time with families living by the Yaque River. Whether we were sweeping porches, cooking lunch for the whole community, or sipping strong Dominican coffee, the hospitality we received was unforgettable. We met wonderful elders full of wisdom and children with the most hilarious imaginations and the biggest smiles. It was also Carmen’s (community member) birthday!! Huge congratulations to her, and she was such an amazing host!

One of the most powerful takeaways was recognizing the abundance in their lives that we sometimes overlook in our own. For example, the kids were overjoyed to receive something as simple as a backpack for school, something that reminded us of the importance of gratitude. These kids made such a huge impact on our lives, and we can’t wait to put these lessons to use in our day-to-day lives.

After a delicious lunch, we took a walk down to the river, where we were treated to breathtaking views and the rhythmic chorus of cicadas echoing through the trees. We skipped rocks, laughed, and soaked in the magic of the moment.

Huge shoutout to Daylin (a.k.a. D-Money), Felix, Solendi, and Keylani (community children) who were the most energetic kids at Sonido, keeping us in stitches all day with their jokes. Special thanks to D-Money for roasting Roberto like a pro!

We also previewed our upcoming community project and are gearing up for a well-deserved beach day before we dive into the hard work.

It’s been incredible to see all 21 of us growing closer, supporting each other, and becoming like a family.

ALSO, Room #7, JUST (as while writing this blog. After THREE DAYS HERE) found out they had another BATHROOM!!! It was 5 girls sharing 1 tiny restroom… (we complained about it so much).

Sincerely,

Mateo, Amelia, Akayla (a.k.a. best leaders of the day so far [there have just been two of us] and Pedro’s biggest haters [he says we’re fans]).

P.S. Hi Mom! This is Teo—I love you and miss the whole family!

P.S.S. Hola mami, papi, junior y Alexia! Los quiero mucho y los extraño muchísimo. Estoy disfrutando muchísimo. Gracias por darme la oportunidad de venir a este viaje!! – Amelia!!!

P.S.S.S. Hi Mom! This is Akayla. I miss you and love you. Also, you didn’t pick up the phone on Friday. We have a 10-minute call tomorrow, Monday. I love you.

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