A Latin Experience

                                                         
Note: This is first in a series about my trip to the Dominican Republic in late May 2011.

In late May of this year, I went to the Dominican Republic for 10 days to participate in “Latin Experience,” an educational opportunity organized by the Association for Episcopal Deacons (AED).

Port cranes framed by the balcony of Alcazar de Colon in Santo Domingo.

                      
Although Latin Experience was designed by deacons for deacons, the group of ten that gathered at the Bishop Kellogg Conference Center in San Pedro de Macoris included one bishop and three people still in training for the diaconate. We were from all over the country, California to Maine, plus one was from Canada. Nevertheless, we all had a most amazing experience in the Dominican Republic and came home changed by it. 
                                  

Orchids on the streets of Santo Domingo.

The Latin Experience consisted of three distinct parts. We spent the first several days at the Bishop Kellogg Conference Center in San Pedro de Macoris on the southern shore of the Dominican Republic. There we worshiped and ate together and learned a great deal about the people, culture and history of our church in the DR from various presenters, ranging from Bishop Julio Holguin to Dominican deacons and several U.S. missionaries to the DR.

At the conclusion of our “classroom time,” we spent several days traveling by van to visit Episcopal ministries in San Pedro and the surrounding villages and rural areas. Our eyes were opened to both the poverty of many people and their incredible spirit and spirituality. As Bishop Holguin had told us, the Dominican people see from the heart.

Our third day of travel began in the countryside and ended at Diocesan headquarters in capital city Santo Domingo. The next day, we were picked up by Dominican deacons to spend two days living with them and their families and participating in their ministries. I went to Barrio Las Minas on the east side of Santo Domingo to stay with the family of deacon-in-training Elsa Lopez and serve at her home parish, La Sagrada Familia.

Of course, I quickly turned into the official photographer of the trip. Many of my photos are already posted on the AED Website, but stay tuned. I’ll include some right here with each edition of this series.