Dominican Republic Trip: Day 15

We got up at 4:30 in the morning and Pina was already up preparing breakfast for us. We had a delicious last meal of bread that we dipped in hot chocolate, had a time of prayer for our safe traveling, said goodbye to Pina with a hug, and headed off to the airport. Mr. Pantaleón drove us. We checked our bags and then had to say our final goodbyes to Pastor José. He had blessed us tremendously, and given us an unforgettable trip! It made us want to do the same thing for them if/when they come back to the United States. Tour them around, take them to the landmarks, take them out to eat, you know, things like that. Things like they did for us.

Our flight was easy and I took a camera full of shots from the air, since it was clear most of the way. We arrived in O’Hare airport and found mom, and we were bursting with things to tell her! She was bursting with news for us, too, about selling our house and Dad sending out his resume and getting our chimney fixed and all the other things that had happened while we were gone.

We got home, showed the slide show, and gave everyone their presents. That was fun. It’s always cool to get gifts from people who travel, but it’s fun to give them, too!

The last thing I’ll mention as part of this journal is the Dominican dinner we gave the family the next day. Our menu consisted of Arroz con Gandules (rice with beans called gandules), Bíberes (boiled root vegetables: potato, yucca root, batata – a purplish-white sweet potato, and plantains), Tostones (fried plantain slices), Salami (fried in slices), Chayote squash, carrots, and potatoes (cooked in water), Cucumber and tomato slices with oil, vinegar & salt dressing, and Batida de Lechosa (papaya smoothie). Everyone loved it!

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