Darlington School: Private Boarding School in Georgia Dominican Republic Trip Update Day 4: Trenches, Shovels, and Pick Axes
Darlington School: Private Boarding School in Rome, GA
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Dominican Republic Trip Update Day 4: Trenches, Shovels, and Pick Axes

Jennifer Rundles | November 21, 2018 | 343 views

The day was full of service. The group tirelessly dug trenches for an aqueduct system in a community near Jarabacoa. Everyone in the group would like to wish all a Happy Thanksgiving and say thank you for following along with us on our adventure.  

We wake up each morning with water to drink, shoes to wear, and a floor to walk on. We walk out of our houses, go to school, and come home to a meal set fresh on the table. Before this service project these were all aspects of our daily lives that we took for granted. After working in conditions where most of the standard necessities are missing, we as a group have become more appreciative of the lives we are given. 

Today we used pick axes and shovels to dig trenches along the rocky streets of Sabaneta De La Joya, a community within the northern mountains of the Dominican Republic. Unfortunately, this beautiful community is without running water. In efforts to assist the citizens of Sabaneta De La Joya, we are putting all our efforts into building an aqueduct. By building this aqueduct we will be bringing water to the area and the families that live there. 

There were moments while working that were exhausting and even heartbreaking, but we found motivation from the company of our comrades and the uplifting spirits of the locals. Each day we spend in the Dominican we learn more about selflessness and what it truly means to act with integrity. Helping others has made us all grow closer and encouraged us to reach out not only within the walls of our own community but also to take bigger steps in order to affect the lives of people all around the world. 

Not only has this trip taught us gratitude, but it has helped us to appreciate the things that surround us. On the way to our worksite this morning, we rode in the back of an open-air truck and for one moment we were all quiet, just watching the silent beauty that laid in the verdant mountains of the Dominican Republic.

It was a day filled with worms and dirt and sweat and blisters, but we all found joy and satisfaction in knowing that these few days of our help will change an entire community’s way of life for many years to come.

We ended our day with a splash in the pool, a great dinner, and a really freaky tarantula that we found which makes me a little scared to fall asleep. Other than the spider, today was an extraordinary day and we are all excited for the days to come.