Day 12

Finally able to update!  Let’s see….

We learned that the green flash in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie is a real thing.  Don’t believe me? Click here.

I learned that right in front of the school, there is an actual coral reef, where there are sea turtles, octopi, and eels.  I’m going to try to put my camera in a zip-lock bag to get some pics! (keep an eye out for my plea for a new camera soon)

Jacelyn’s birthday is tomorrow!!!!!!! So, if you guys get a chance, email/facebook/call her.  Her Dominican cell is: 767.295.2848, if you have international calling.  If not, she still has her stateside Google Number, which works as a voicemail AND you can text her at that number, which is: 218.506.8763.  If you do text her, make sure you identify yourself IN the text, because her google address book doesn’t have a lot of numbers in it, yet.  I asked her what she’d like for her birthday and she said, “I’m in the Caribbean and it’s my last free day before school starts.  What more could I ask for.”  (Phew, because I had no clue where to buy a Bath and Body Works gift card ’round these parts)

My computer is still dead, which is worrying me a little bit, only in that I still have actual work to do for the youth group back in Duluth for the next few months.  I looked into alternate methods of communication, but, due to lack of pigeons on the island, I’d have to resort to carrier goats and they haven’t trained them to successfully make it through customs, yet.  They said they’re close, but you know how it is.  People just say what you wanna hear so that you’ll go with their business.

I realized the other day that I’d forgotten to mention our black sand beaches.  We have black sand beaches!

And a close-up…

It’s weird, because it looks like it’s muddy or would get you really dirty, but it behaves just like normal sand.  It actually brushes off your clothing a bit better than “normal” sand because it is heavier.  It’s essentially volcanic rock, hence the black.

So, yesterday morning, I was at the beach while Jacelyn was in orientation and I saw a guy with a wheelbarrow and a huge machete.  After I made sure my 9mm was locked and loaded, I walked up to him to see what he was doing.  I watched as he broke coconuts off the palm trees right there on the beach and put them in the wheelbarrow.  Without saying a word, he sliced the top off a coconut and gave it to me to drink.  I offered him money and he said what so many of them say in response to nearly everything: “No problem, mon.” (I gave him 2 dollars anyway)  Here’s the newly-picked, professionally-sliced coconut…

And, lastly, here’s a pic of one of Jacelyn’s last chances to watch the sunset for quite a while.  Apparently, there actually WAS a green flash last night, but we missed it.  We got to see this, though…

…which turned into this…

I cannot believe how blessed we’ve been.  Thank you all for your support and prayers and encouragements.  When Monday morning hits, things will change quite a bit for us, Jacelyn especially.  As I alway say, “If you pray, when you pray, pray for us.”  Be assured that I’m praying for you all and we miss you ALL very much.  Thanks for sharing all these adventures with us.

As usual, CLICK FOR PICS and we’re…

…on to the next thing…