Rev. Dan McMiller is in the Domican Republic (DR) March 2-9, 2010, to assist in theological education, confirmation classes and preaching for relief to missionary Rev. Ted Krey. The mission team is helping with Haiti relief.

Saturday and Sunday, March 6-7, 2010

Saturday morning we arrived at the mission center in Santiago by 8:30 a.m. Pastors Ted Krey and Walter Ries went to pick some people up. 24 attended. We had nearly 3 hours of lectures by Dr. Lange in the morning and then a two-hour siesta at the office. The members simply sat and enjoyed the time together while some of us went on a walk. Eduardo washed the missionaries’ cars.

I translated half the morning and Pastor Krey translated the other. All three missionaries helped find the right synonyms for a rich use of the English language by Pastor Lange. In the afternoon from 2 to 5, I translated. It was a lot of work for everyone, but all were looking forward to the next day.

Pastor Krey was not feeling well. He and Walter drove some people home. In the evening I went for a run and then worked on my sermon for the next day.

Pastors McMiller and Lange, with his wife Carol, enjoy teaching a class in the DR. Pastor Ted Krey is seated with his baby daughter.

Sunday we were at the mission center by 9 a.m. - everyone except two returned. Pastor Lange taught for two hours and I translated. Walter informed me that Ted was more ill with pain and fever, but he was there helping clarify the lectures with questions and some short summary. Walter told me he would be taking Ted to the doctor after church and I should take the people home.

Walter did the liturgy for the service after the lectures. I tied the sermon to the major themes of Dr. Lange's lecture using lots of baseball examples. They are crazy for baseball.

After the service Walter asked everyone in attendance to say what the two days meant to them. They had learned much. We had rice and chicken all together for lunch and then Walter took Ted to the doctor. I took people home to Palmar Arriba and one young man to another part of the city. Thankfully I had the help of Kisayris, the secretary of the mission.

We returned to the Kreys by 2:30. Ted and Walter returned from the doctor by 4:30. Ted has parasites and he was given an assortment of medicines.

Walter and I then took the Langes to the coast for their well-deserved vacation. The classes were wonderful and the Langes amazed everyone with their strong and yet gentle spirit. When Walter and I left them at the hotel we were so grateful for our time together and promised to keep each other in prayer. We returned to Santiago by 9:30 p.m. and enjoyed some empanadas we bought from a street vendor. Monday we all slept in.

Wrap up coming later.