Reflections on Bibles & Bricks 2007

Nancy Morris

What do the numbers 2, 5, 8, and 31 have in common? They all have a significant relationship to the Bibles & Bricks 2007 experience. Start with 2: the number of new classrooms that will be used by the children of the Jim Smith School in El Rosario when school resumes this fall, thanks to the generosity and sweat labor of Second Pres. I was privileged to witness the initial work on these classrooms in February, 2006. It was exciting to watch that progress, and to see it continue in July, 2006, the first Bibles & Bricks trip. But nothing can compare to standing in those completed classrooms and to hear Angela Acosta, the school’s principal, talk about one of her dreams coming true. They will be used to house classes for the youngest students of the school. “It will separate them from the older students,” Angela says, with the confidence and wisdom that she displays in so many ways.

After Jerry Lusk christened them with a large “VT” over the doorway, an insignia that was thankfully painted over as the project progressed, it became apparent to all of us that these rooms needed to be christened in a truly holy manner. So on Thursday afternoon, after all the children had left, we gathered up some left over paint and started wondering what to do. Whit Ellerman offered to be our artist. “Can you paint Second from memory?” we asked. “Well, not exactly,” was his reply. Oh, of course. What about the picture of Second that we brought last year as a gift to Angela? It’s in her office. But what should we say? Phillip Markley offered just the right words: “May God bless the children who enter here.” After a quick Spanish translation from Daisy, the assignment was complete and Whit got to work. With the precision and care of a master artist, he created the welcome you see pictured here. As we handed the picture of Second back to Angela, she caressed and kissed it, expressing across the language barrier what Second means to her.

What about 5? Two stories come to mind. Five families of sponsored children returned to the school one afternoon to receive gifts from their sponsors. I’m used to this meeting when it happens at the fiesta at the CCED school in San Juan, but this was our first time to meet with sponsored children in El Rosario. It’s always a wonderful moment. It was especially meaningful as I watched the child sponsored by Gene and Treva Richter open his present. He had been involved in Bible School, interacting with our youth and adults all week long. But in that moment it seemed to dawn on him that those Americans who had been with him and his classmates that week represented his sponsors. He simply beamed, even before he opened the gift. I realize I’m speculating here, but I think his eyes reveal his heart. Don’t you?

Second “five” story: the five loaves and two fish. That was the Bible story for the final day of Bible School. Our youth dressed as disciples and Drew Howell served as Jesus. Paul Anderson had been pondering for months how we could re-create the story. Could we “miraculously” multiply one loaf and then have enough bread to pass out to all the children? As our disciples huddled around Jesus, one loaf became many. Then these disciples starting passing out the bread. For me, with every trip to the DR, there is one moment that sticks with me, one moment when the Spirit’s presence is so powerful that I feel as if I’m “stepping into the kingdom.” As our youth passed out that bread, every Dominican child sat quietly, patiently reaching out a hand to receive a piece. No grabbing. No shouting. In the mercy, grace, and peace of God, there was more than enough for all.

8? The number of days spent together from the moment we left Roanoke to the moment we arrived home. To be exact, 183 hours, just 9 hours short of 8 complete days. Those days were filled with joy, exhaustion, wonder, discomfort (the revenge hit many), and perhaps a little loneliness a long way from home. George said it well, reflecting upon our return. This trip is a “calling.” There has to be something more in one’s heart and spirit. Something more that takes you through shots and pills and months of planning, the rigors of travel, and the heat of a Dominican July. It’s a sense from beyond yourself that says,”This is what I want you to do, and I’ll give you the strength to do it.”

Finally: 31 talented, gifted, and wonderful saints comprised our Bibles & Bricks 2007 team. Those numbers break down as 16 youth, either just graduated or rising High School seniors, 2 college students, and 13 adults. All the youth and 8 adults worked directly with Bible School. 5 adults worked dedicated and hot hours on the construction site, with many additional volunteers from the VBS team in the afternoons. Thanks to the vision and persistence of John Starr, one afternoon about 7 members of the team delivered 20 water filtration systems that had been donated by the Rotary but left sitting unused. It was no simple task; each one weighed about 250 pounds. They are now supplying 20 families with clean, healthy water.

What else that can’t be quantified? I simply cannot say enough good things about everyone on this team, but especially our kids. On our way from San Juan to Santo Domingo on Friday, we stopped at the orphanage for boys in El Rosario. While some adults listened to the story of the orphanage as told by one of its administrators (an American who had devoted 20 years of his life to that ministry), our kids started playing with the boys: basketball, volleyball, frisbee, and even catch with a deflated soccer ball. In the heat, after working all week long. They didn’t want to leave. They were already talking about what they could do with those boys on the next B&B trip.

Those are just my impressions. And they just scratch the surface. We started this trip with 12 veterans and 19 rookies. We came back with 31 proven veterans. Ask them about their memories and impressions. Everyone would have his or her own stories to share. With gratitude in my heart to God for each of them, they are:

Paul and Drew Anderson, Paige and Rachel Anderson, William Barrows, Leslie Cleveland, Laura Conte, Coleman Davis, Martha Delaney, Whit and Lauren Ellerman, Daisy Edwards Frabell, Vic and Gray Gilchrist, Drew Howell, Kelly Jacobs, Kathryn Lewis, Jerry Lusk, Meghan McClure, Maggie McDowell, Phillip Markley, Mandy Moomaw, Ben Morris, Bobby and Rosanna Myers, Emily Robertson, Drew Sheehan, Lee Stanley, John Starr, and Lisa Westmoreland.

The team is standing in the portico of the Bob and Jeanette Williams classrooms. Standing with the team, between Paige Anderson and Rosanna Myers, is Angela Acosta,

principal of the Jim Smith School in El Rosario.