Heading Home!

Well, it's our last night and I only posted 2 blogs!(sorry) Greg and I are packing and the kids are sleeping! I think I have everything ready for our 6:30am depature to the airport! When we get home I will have plenty of time....hahaha....to fill everyone in on our blessed trip! As always, the Hughes have many fun stories to share! We had a WONDERFUL time and we aren't ready to come home! Taci and her new buddies cried because they didn't want her to leave! Anyway....we are off to bed for a quick night of sleep and a long journey home to our much missed puppy Casey!! Please continue to pray for us! ~Love~ From the Beautiful Dominican Republic!!

Day Numero Uno!

We have arrived safe and sound! The plane ride went very well, but as we are on our last leg of the flight, one of the kids (HE will remain nameless) decided to lay down and a foot hit my tray and my Dr. Pepper went in my lap! Greg and I both agreed that a little pop in the lap is a good trade for well behaved children! Gary was awaiting our arrival and we soon began our adventure. It was dark, so the kids couldn't see very much, but Tanner let us know that he was having fun already! After a few hours of visiting with Gary and Alli, we hit the sack!!!

We started our day this morning with a trip into the Capital, Santo Domingo. On Columbus Day Tanner's kindergarden class studied about Christopher Columbus. He was very excited about going to see his home. We told Mrs. Selmeyer that we would have a full report when we got home, so Tanner made sure that I was "Taken some good shots" for his report! Taci was excited because there was a "boy castle" (Christopher's fort) and a "girl castle" (Queen Isabella's daughter who married Christopher's son)! As we were waiting to go into Isabella's castle, one of the school girls came over to talk with Taci! Soon the entire class was talking with Tanner and Taci! It was really cool! We hit the market for a little shopping and then headed for baseball practice!

We were a little late for practice, but Greg and Tanner jumped right in! Tanner took a break to enjoy a strawberry popcicle with Taci and I! (By the way...BEST popsicle I have EVER had!) While we were sitting there watching the action a little boy Tanner's age walked by with his older brother! Tanner waved and he continued on to play with his brother. After Tanner was done, he hops up and runs over to the little boy and hands him something. He comes running back to me and tells me that he has just given him 5 pesos! I said,"For what?" and Tanner says,"So he can get a popcicle too!" The little boy was looking at me for "approval" then comes running over to us and try's to give the money back! I tell him that he can keep it and he jumps up, with the biggest smile on his face, and runs to get himself a treat! It was the sweetest thing that I have ever seen!

We enjoyed a nice dinner with the college aged kids from church! What a great bunch of young adults! Gary had them share what they were doing in life and how Christ has influenced their lives. They each spent 2 minutes on telling us their age and major and the next 15 minutes telling us their testamonies! As I'm listening to these bright young kids I'm thinking to myself "Wow! These kids are just like everyone else"! They have the same struggles, same temptations, same ups, same downs! I don't know why I thought they wouldn't!! It dosen't matter where you live, who you are, how much or how little you have. We are all in the same family. The family of Christ. These kids had wonderful stories and I can't wait to share them with you!

We ended the day at the Licey vs Estrelles baseball game! That is always an experience in itself! So now, after a full day, the kids are watching "Cars" and I'm going to get ready for bed! We have another full day planned for tomorrow! ~Good Night from the Hughes Family~

Dominican Bound!

2003 was the Hughes introduction to the Dominican Republic. Greg took the Cedarville baseball team down on his first missions trip. Tanner and I stayed behind because he was still an infant. In 2005 the Cedarville team returned to the DR around the same time princess Taci joined the family, so once again, I stayed behind. Finally, in 2006, I was able to join Greg for a trip. My trip was not very enjoyable! I was SICK SICK SICK!! We found out later that I had to have my gallbladder removed! Even with the illness I finally understood the LOVE that Greg had for this beauiful country, it's people and their love for baseball! What an incredible place! Greg has always felt the Lord calling us to join the team of Day Star Baptist Missions, and we continue to make EVERY excuse in the book not to jump on a plane and join the team! So, with that in mind we are about to experience family missions with our first family trip to the Dominican Republic! We don't know what to exspect! We don't know what will happen! We are going with our hearts open and the Lord at our feet guiding us to where He wants us to serve! I'll be the first to admit that I am scared to death, but I know that the safest place to be in this world is in the Lord's will! He will protect us and He will guide us!

I will try and update this daily, but we do have a full schedule! Please keep us in you prayers! ~Love You All~