La Romana

Blog written by Bethany Dowling :)

" I don’t really know who the guy is, but I’m thankful for the long weekend for a founding father’s birthday. The hour and a half car ride was worth the wait to La Romana! We met a pastor and his family (see pictures below) in a beautiful little apartment and headed out with them for the beach. Fernando then told us how the pastor had been in NJ for 20 years but was unable to show his papers to immigration when they came through to check. I’m not quite sure what happened, but the paperwork was all wrong even with a lawyer so this misunderstanding resulted in a 9 month hunt for the correct legal documentation all the while being separated by prison walls from his own family. His young daughters were not allowed to hug him for more than 5 seconds before they were told to leave. What are we doing with immigration in the US? Are we actually a country that welcomes diversity or are we closing the doors? It seems like the beliefs that we were founded up (personal freedoms) are what’s biting us in the tail now. Of course I want to fight terrorism, but at the expense of imprisoning a pastor? [off my soapbox now]

"We arrived at La Marina where $800K weekend apartments lined the cute shopping area in Casa de Campo. A lady from the church, Klaudia is a shoe and clothing designer that owns 2 shops down there so we had access to this private community because of her generosity. She sells Christian books and CDs in her high class fashion shop. What a testimony! I can’t imagine that the majority of the people on those yachts lining the shore are as happy as she is. Money can be such a curse. It was nice to see one using her blessings and gifts to benefit others. I have never actually seen paradise until today. The palms swayed in the perfect breeze in the perfect temperature on soft sand next to clear blue water. The restaurant was open with fabric panels blowing in the gentle breeze setting a calming mood to our lunch. Beyond our table laid a dreamscape of the beach that welcomed relaxation and our little siesta before we left. Just before the pink sunset, we went to Altos de Chavon where the third best art school in the world has a Busch Gardens appeal with different ancient civilization styles for the buildings (Greece, Rome, Mexico). The view is breathtaking over the Chavon River. We walked through all the little shops were the students sold their amazing work. After dinner, the pastor’s daughter (8 yrs?) turned to Fernando and asked him to remember to pray for all the people who aren’t saved to come to church. “Out of the mouths of babes…” We are so blessed to be experiencing all this luxury!"