Mission Day 8: Saturday, June 16

The team awoke very early as we began our journey back home to Miami. At the hotel, Father Vicente and his wife, Nancy wished us “goodbye.” Davis Santana, a member of the church, came by to wish us “goodbye” and to bring me a gift, which I greatly appreciated. After packing our baggage in the coach, we left the hotel at 6:45 a.m for the 2 hour journey to Santo Domingo.

On the way, we stopped by a souvenir market where I bought a painting for my home.

At the airport, our check-in went smoothly but one of our missionaries was randomly chosen for a special search as we went through security. However, everything went well with the search and we were off to have lunch as a team. Dr. Pat reminded us what we could and could not eat although we were not in Bonao – we were still in the Dominican Republic.

Our flight was slightly delayed, but at 1:45 p.m. our AA aircraft ascended to the skies, as we left the Dominican Republic after having a great, hardworking, but truly rewarding and successful missionary trip and leaving behind some beautiful, wonderful friends and Dominican people.

We touched down at the Miami International Airport at 3:45 p.m. After clearing Immigration, and collecting our baggage, we held hands together in a circle and prayed, thanking God for blessing our missionary trip and bringing us back safely. Then it was through the Customs Department and out to our family and friends who were waiting to take us home. Scott Kinzel, my former Senior Warden, and Stafford Lue, greeted and took Sheila DePass and me home from the airport.

The Jamaica and Dominican Republic Teams thank Almighty God, the Parish Family of Holy Sacrament, all of our supporters, well wishers, family members and friends for making our missionary work and trips the success that they were.