Angela, Maddie and Nicholas Visit

Our daughter Angela and two of our grandchildren, Maddie and Nicholas, came to the Dominican Republic for a five day visit from November 10-15, 2017.

Pathway Class

It was so good to see them.  In a short five-day period, we packed in a whirlwind adventure of the island and all the things we do on our mission.  It started with a late arrival and pick up from the Las Americas International airport.  Randy was getting nervous that maybe they had gotten lost.  Almost 45 minutes after their expected entrance at the arriving passenger corridor, they appeared.  Yes, they made it! We greeted, hugged and said "Bievenidos a la Republica Dominicana."

It was Thursday so their first activity was joining us for our Pathway class at the Institute building and meeting our fun students.  Nicholas immediately made a new friend--a very congenial and absolutely fun guy--Jose Ortiz.

Jose Ortiz and Jenny Merejo

After a good night sleep, we were all ready for the full Dominican experience.  We were so excited!

The next day and a half was spent checking out some historical sites and hanging out at a gorgeous condo and beach in Juan Dolio, DR.

Prior to leaving to see "our friend Juan," we stopped off at the old Colonial Zone to get a flavor of Chrisopher Columbus, the explorer and discoverer of the Dominican Republic and the Americas in 1492.  As you enter the old city, there is a charm and feeling of stepping back in time to Spain and Spanish America.  The extremely narrow streets and Spanish-type architecture make this experience fun and unique.

Colonial City

The Colonial Zone has the oldest Catholic cathedral in the Western Hemisphere "on the plaza." First though, it was spending money at Fredy's at the "yellow stairs."  Lots of souvenirs!  We love Fredy. It was good to see him again.  He loves our money!  Next, it was walking the plaza, the Christopher Columbus monument, hundreds of pigeons cleaning up the visitors food offerings and taking a leisurely stroll along the pedestrian shopping street, Calle Condie.

Nicholas Calle Condie

We finished the Colonial Zone with a welcomed slice-of-pizza lunch at the Pizzarelli Pizza on the corner of the plaza.  Tasted so good.  As we leisurely strolled Calle Condie we commented, "Wow, it is comfortably warm!  It's the caribbean and someone has to serve here, right?  The kids loved the warm weather.

Window Shopping Calle Condie - Colonial City

We concluded our time in the old city.  Juan Dolio beach, our next stop, is so relaxing and amazingly beautiful.  We couldn't wait! From the city, we drove 45 minutes east to this quaint, small Dominican town.  We couldn't believe it--there were only two other couples near the pool and the entire massive resort complex besides us and no  one on the beach.  Wow! "we owned the place."   Angela, Maddie and Nicholas had so much fun swimming in the gigantic pool just outside our condo door, snorkeling and swimming in the warm Caribbean ocean, building a sand castle, and collecting a huge assortment of sea shells.

Our beach-all by ourselves.  

A moment of surprise happened when one of the sea shells began to move.  The little crab, still living in the shell, decided to quit playing dead and make his get-a-way to safety.  We were all mesmerized watching this one inch shell slowly move along the sand leaving his exit trail.  Fascinating!

After a very fun afternoon on the beach, we drove into downtown Juan Dolio to see the night life, hang out on the street with the locals--introducing Angela, Maddie and  Nicko to Dominican night life--and go to our favorite Juan Dolio pasta restaurant.  The Pizza/Pasta Restaurant had closed early so we found an alternative Italian restaurant close by.  We enjoyed a delicious fettuccine and shrimp dinner sitting outside on the patio.  You can't come to the DR without experiencing the joy of a tall glass of Randy's favorite Dominican drink--Chinola (passion fruit).  Sooo good!  Maddie and Nicko loved it, especially after Randy bought a bag of Chinola in the store and showed them how to make the drink at home.  Dinner was another cultural experience.

Let's see...Juan Dolio or...?

We got up early on Sunday morning, checked out of the condo and drove back into Santo Domingo to attend our ward--Piantini Barrio.  We wanted the kids to meet our Sunday friends.  Next, we drove to one of our special places in the DR--Valiente Branch.  Meeting Julio Ogando, the branch president and his little flock of saints, was special for Angela, Maddie and Nicko.  Valiente was praccticing for their upcoming Primary program so it was fun to see how the church program is the same through out the world.  The three seemed to be very comfortable talking (or trying to talk) with members and missionaries in both English and a little "Spanglish."

On the return trip to the city, we stopped at our friend Ines Rosario's second floor apartment and enjoyed barbecued ribs and pasta lunch. Ines had visited the U.S. just a month earlier, stayed in our house and met Angela and her family.  It was so much fun for Angela, Maddie and Nicko to visit Ines in her home with her two children.  It was a memorable afternoon with our special Dominican amiga.

Ines Rosario and  kids

On Monday, we drove to San Cristobal to visit Mary Linaqua at her doll factory to let everyone see how the Dominican "faceless" dolls are made.  This trip was very educational!

Pick up a little fast food for dinner?

Along the way we enjoyed the sites and sounds "on the street."  Speeding motos, chaotic auto and bus traffic, street vendors selling about everything you could need in life right at your window, delivery motos carrying freshly baked bread, an eclectic assortment of fruit stands,
hanging goat carcasses for sale and plenty of people.  This is life in the Republica Dominicana  Amazing what goes on at the street level--and it doesn't cost anything for this entertainment--it's free!

Returning to the city, we stopped for lunch at a real Dominican restaurant--the Provocon.  We ordered grilled pollo, arroz con guandules, habichuelas, y chinola.  At this outdooor, neighborhood, restuarant, we got to enjoy some real Dominican food to the background noise of the street along with a couple of friendly pigeons landing near the table expecting to lap up any leftover offerings--another cultural moment.  It was fun for Maddie, who is studying Spanish, to be able to read the menu and at least think about talking a little Spanish. She is still a little shy to converse with the natives though.

Mobile produce delivery service

Fruit stand on every corner.  Very convenient.

Santo Domigo Temple

Angela wanted to have a Dominican shopping experience so we picked up a few items at the local National grocery store before attending Family Home Evening at the Missionary Training Center next to the Santo Domingo Temple.  Meet all the senior missionaries that we work with and watching Randy sing a Winter Wonderland parody to Elder and Sister McGuire who were completing their mission provided more opportunity to see what goes on with Nana and Papa's mission.

Tuesday morning, the departure date, was an extra- special moment on the trip.  We all attended the Santo Domingo Temple and Randy, Maddie and Nicolas did baptism and confirmation ordinances for Randy's grandmother's family Dora Ella Duncan.  Angela brought these family names with her from her Family History research and we were able to have this amazing temple experience as our final Dominican finale.  We took a few minutes to walk the temple grounds just enjoying the beauty--the assortment of palm trees, well manicured grounds, and the single-spire, tan and marble Santo Domingo Temple.  It felt good to be with our family.  We feel deep love and thankfulness all of our children and grand children.  We also know that because of the gospel and our Savior, our family is really what provides true happiness.

The kids finished their final packing and it was off to Las Americas International Airport to say goodbye.  After a quick lunch, we hugged, said, "te amamos" and watched them get into the security line knowing that we would again see them in about four months when we complete our mission.

Saying goodbye Las Americas International Airport

We had a special time together, one that we will always remember.  Nicholas summed up his feelings as he whispered to us in English, "Nana and Papa...

,,,Can't I stay just a little longer?"