B - I - N - G - 0

There is a phenomenon sweeping through the palm slats of the outreach center:

"And Bingo is it's name-OH"

Seriously. Our kids can't get enough. Big kids, little kids, teens, and adults.

They are addicts.

Caroline got the idea to bring BINGO because the residents at her nursing home LOVE to play. Apparently this game has universal appeal. The kids can hardly stand it when TJ rolls the cage and a numbered ball pops out. They come unglued. It is a sight to behold.

So, behold:

Twin tattoos

No, TJ did not finally get that tattoo he occasionally threatens to get.

They're Holly's. And they're not so much tattoos. More like battle scars.

Burns on the inside of her left forearm - hazards of baking a gajillion birthday cakes in an actual flame/fire burning oven.

The forearm is starting to look a ridiculous, which is unfortunate, as we're about to head into birthday-heavy season...

Get lost, LOST!

The unimaginable has happened.

After months off-air, our long-standing favorite TV shows (LOST & Grey's Anatomy) return tonight.

Hallelujah! Let's celebrate with pizza & Cokes!

Except... I find myself overwhelmingly... Disappointed.

Disappointed? How can that be?! These are my two favorite shows?! More than that: a way to connect to A - Merr - eee - KAH!

I am disappointed because: for the first time in many months, Eli Stone will not be on.

Have you SEEN this show? It's incredible. Best thing on TV. I was skeptical at first. Probably NEVER would have watched it had I not been desperate-in-the-Dominican.

"Eli Stone is a well-written show, stuffed with great actors, that is based on a quirky but fascinating premise. A modern day lawyer who worshipped the holy trinity of Armani, Accesories & Ambition; turned potential prophet with visions from God. Or George Michael. Is it all because of a brain aneurysm? Or is God really calling this lawyer to change the world? I don't know, but I love the compelling, honest, non-cliche way this show treats faith and God. Here's hoping Eli Stone comes back for a second season - TV needs smart, offbeat shows with heart."

And, of course, there's Victor Garber. Victor Garber. I could watch Victor Garber read from a phone book and find it entertaining.

You can watch all of the episodes here, if you don't mind the small picture.

Say it with me now:

A - Merrr - eee - KAH.

That's right. America.

TJ and I went to America this weekend.

Or Santiago. Whatever. We had a blast.


We took hot showers. We cranked up (down?) the AC. We ate at TGI Fridays and Dominoes. And McDonald's. And KFC.

We went to the movies - Fool's Gold (or "Foo's Gold," according to our tickets) with Matthew McConauhey and Kate Hudson. Cute as can be, and ironically, set in the Caribbean, where we are lucky enough to live. So in escaping to "America" for the weekend, we actually ended up loving where we live even more...

But I digress.

We went shopping. We sat at a cafe for hours, talking and laughing with our dear friends from SCS. I spent $15 on handfuls of jewelry from Inka.

Ahhhhhh, America. Marvelous.





A special thanks to you-know-who-you-are for treating us to this weekend. It was delightful.

Thank you, Jake!

A few months ago, a kid at Otter Creek had a birthday. And a party. Happens all the time, I'm sure.

But this party was extraordinary. Instead of presents for himself, Jake asked for presents for other kids. With the money from his party, he bought all sorts of books, DVD's and sports equipment from the outreach center wish list.

Did his parents force him to do this? Nooooooooo... It was all his idea. Who does that?!!!! One of the coolest kids around, that's who.

Jake, you have no idea how you happy you've made these kids. They treasure the treasures you've sent. Thank you for sharing with them.

And thank you for reminding Holly and I to think of others before ourselves. Sometimes we forget that, even though we live here!

(Club Chiquito drawing pictures for Jake.)

Culture Safari

Where else will you find a white teenager from Dallas in a Haitian barrio talking with a Dominican man (preening his fighting rooster, of course) in broken Spanish about the colors of Dominican politics?

Ahhh... RioSanJuan. And the adventure that is our life!

We send American youth groups on a Culture Safari to help them dive into the depths of Dominican culture. Or, at least, stick a toe in and get a flavor of life in a developing country. (Where you don't speak the language. And don't have any money.)

Of course, the groups do splendidly, charming and involving the residents of RioSanJuan in their quest. Perhaps they're strongly motivated by the incredible prizes that go to the winning team...

Sample questions include:

• What do Dominicans mean when they talk about "la bandera Dominicana"?
• Put 100 pesos of minutes on TJ's phone.
• What city is "la segunda capital"?
  
• What Dominican baseball team is (far and away) the most popular in RSJ?

If you guys can answer those questions, you really should get a prize, too...

Any takers?

Don't forget to be that guy.

The MannaDR team visited the church-next-door today. They have been a great help in the past few weeks, and we wanted to say "thank you." Tim even had a plaque made for the occasion.

What joy to commune with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

We were both reminded of the small churches we grew up in, of our parents making it a point to greet and honor new faces around them.

You see, today, for the first time in a long time, we were guests. We didn't have the song books, we weren't quite sure where to sit, or where the bathroom was...

But "that guy" was there. You know, the one who welcomes you, shows you to your seat, finds songbooks for you, tries to repeat the song numbers in broken English... He even produced a cough drop when Laura Beth started to cough!

Afterwards, nearly every member came over to welcome, to embrace, to speak words of encouragement and blessing over us. They invited us to lunch and welcomed us into their family.

And that is what we were and are: family. It's strange to say, but today felt like we had stepped back to a time when outsiders were immediately seen, attended to, and were smacked with a red rose on thier lapel. It made us wonder... have we lost that in our big, modern churches in the States?

I don't know. I don't think so...

But today, we left the church-next-door feeling a new commitment to what true family is, and hoping we never get so comfortable in ours that we forget to be "that guy" (or gal).

Julieta + Juanes

I think TJ has a crush. On Julieta Venegas.

I have no idea if she's pretty or not, but he digs her music. She's putting out phenomenal music out there, Spanish or not. Julieta is DEFINITELY worth an iTunes purchase.

That's okay - if TJ is going to have a crush on Julieta, I shall have a crush on Juanes. He is ALSO putting amazing Spanish music out there. No Creo en el Jamas is an awesome anthem for our Pescadores: "I Don't Believe in Never."

Seriously. Julieta & Juanes. Check them out.

Of course, neither can compare with my personal favorite artist: Thomas Carlton McCloud, Jr. (Also known as TJ McCloud.)

From your closets

to their arms...

Thank you, Dallas Christian, for bringing these furry pals for our Club Chiquito kiddos to hug on.

Our kiddos are officially in love with their new friends, and want to make sure they can "sleep" at the Outreach Center so they won't get "hurt" at home.

I'm Lovin' It

I woke up this morning to the smell of bacon. Don't get me wrong, no one was actually cooking bacon, but as I made the slow transition between dreaming and waking, I could just taste the greasy goodness of a Bacon, Egg and Cheese biscuit from McDonald's.

The torture of having American TV channels is the deluge of delicious advertising for Olive Garden, Chili's, Papa John's, etc. In Rio San Juan, we have two restaurants - and they both serve rice, beans, and chicken.

There is a place that makes pizza. They don't use tomato sauce. I tried to teach the cook how to put the sauce on the crust under the cheese... but in the end, she smiled, agreed and then gave me exactly what I didn't want.

C'est la vie, no?

Hannah: Abroad.

We much enjoyed having our friends Shawn, Rebekah & baby Hannah here a few weeks ago. Of course, when there's a cute baby around, you end up taking TONS of pictures. Here are a few of our favorites.

And, as a special blog bonus, video of Hannah taking her FIRST steps. On foreign soil, no less! Surely she's destined for a life of international adventure & intrigue.