New Every Morning

I'm Home! My body thought it was 3 am by the time I hit the pillow, but God was faithful. A broken plane, constant flight info. changes, a missed flight, and by 15 min. the last flight out of L.A. to Fresno couldn't keep me from worshipping at RMBC at 8:15 this morning! Whoop Whoop! Yeah God!

I loved the sermon this morning form the book of Acts. Wow! God was good then and He still is good today. He always has our best in mind. He is always ready to bless and teach us by His Holy Spirit, and like the early church we must be obedient and follow Him no matter what. Especially when the realities of life get difficult. So today be intentional as you, this is for me :), live life in a broken world that seeks to pull me away from Jesus. Like every other day, thank God that His blessings are new every morning. He left us His Holy Spirit to guide us and help us. Learn to depend on the Holy Spirit to direct me and not on my broken flesh.

To God be the Glory!
In God's Grace,
Randy Braun

Just The Beginning

Well here I am sitting in my little office the night before leaving back to the states. We just had our last banquet night and I am tired. I am waiting for some people to bring me a few more pictures for their bio page on the web site. After that, I will pack up my portable studio and head up to the house for some long goodbyes and tears. I did all my laundry first thing this morning before breakfast and my change of clothes are sitting out ready for 5am.

It seems like yesterday that Lowell said, "So, there is one thing I would really like but I don't know if you could. Can you build me a web page? I could really use a web page." So a big learning curve later I still have a lot to learn but am stoked to have produced a 75 page site. I have so many to thank for their help. I could not have done it alone. It still needs some work but has to wait for the end of August when Johnathan is back from Fiji for those items. Of course I don't know exactly what God has in store for me, but I feel strongly that this is just the beginning!

So I take this risk to give you the web address with the understanding that some things will change. The donation process is the biggest outstanding item. Outside of that just some things that bother my eye which I will fix later. So...check it out and let me know what you think :}

The address is: www.sidominicanrepublic.com

When it is officially open it will drop the /dr from the end.
This is my little office where I spent MUCHO hours.

Kids Night in El Callejon

During each two week outreach, we take groups from the American teams and go out to communities to share the Good News of the Gospel on a week night. There is a kids outreach, volleyball outreach, and music outreach. The purpose of the events is to rub elbows with people and enjoy their company while sharing the gospel.

Last night, I went out with the kids outreach to get video for an SI DVD. I took my camera of course and was able to get some pictures before the sun went down. We first walked around inviting the whole neighborhood. Then we sang songs, did two dramas, sang more songs, gave a Bible story followed by an opportunity to receive Jesus, and then played several small carnival type games. We have not yet edited the video footage, but here are some kid pics.

I purposefully did not touch these pictures digitally. Not even to just lighten them up a bit. I want you to know that these are genuine in every way. I want you to really identify with the expressions, colors, and surroundings as experienced. But really, you just gotta be here! Enjoy these beautiful children :)
The beautiful thing about this picture is also what you don't see. All along the left side by a little colmado(store), are many community members that came out to see the entertainment.
The girl on the right is a team member here for two weeks helping in the Microfinance ministry. She is 15 and very mature for her age. Obviously, the little girl she is holding is glad this young lady came to her home to spend time with her and play.
I just missed a big laughing smile on the girls face. The boy on her back still wasn't sure about the crazy Americans running around being loud. Or, maybe it was THE CLOWN!
Besides the adorable girl in this picture, I noticed something else you wouldn't. El Callejon has LOTS of biting flies. She has a fresh bite in the middle left side of her forehead. It is a small raised lighter area with a tiny red dot in the middle. You can tell she has already been scratching at it because the skin is a bit reddish around the bite.
I had a hard time getting a shot of this girls face because her hair is so big. Adorable!
This little boy has such a cute face with his big dark eyes! He does look concerned though. Maybe it has something to do with the recent mishap evidenced by the scab down the bridge of his nose.
Aren't you jealous that you don't get to pinch this little boys cheeks too? I would just settle for his beautiful head of thick hair!

Well I hope you enjoyed the pics of some children from El Callejon. There is one little fella I could not get a picture of for several reasons. People just generally call him, "Naked Frankie". His name speaks for the lack of a picture. I for one have never seen him clothed. I hear he was one day because it was required to attend a class we offered. Then he went back to naked.

There are truly many beautiful people living in El Callejon. Life is hard for those living there, but I have seen hope sprouting through the ministries going on through Students International.

Isn't God Amazing!

I apologize for the long spell since posting here. I am feeling the pressure of time and am using that as my weak excuse for not posting. But, last night right before dinner I went around the base and took more pictures of things I love to look at while I'm here. I received at least three new bug bites on my legs as a result, but it was well worth it. I hope you enjoy them. I know I will seer them into my memory for those long busy days this year teaching 7th grade. I am not ready to leave this place, but am so looking forward to coming home and seeing all of you. I am also looking forward to Sunday morning worship with my church family at RMBC : D I can't wait to share!

As you look at these pictures PLEASE click on them to see the fine details of each one. You won't regret it. I promise :)
I love how a palm tree looks as the trunk transitions to the new growth. It's like a giant reed that grows by the water. Isn't God amazing!
These next three pictures are of the same flowers. I just love looking at them everyday. They are so intricate in detail. They are so beautiful! Different aspects catch my eye at every angle. Isn't God Amazing!




This flower is like a rose on steroids! I love the contrast of beauty and elegance, yet aggressive thorns abound! This flower deserves recognition and respect in equal portions. Isn't God amazing!
I noticed this little guy on the face of a step. He looks like someone flattened him. That would be God. He was made this way. They don't stir very easily, but when they do they move fast! This one is about the diameter of a quarter. I saw one once about twice that size but didn't have my camera. Here he is again but close up. Notice the detail that went into this creature. In this one spider is more intricacy than man could ever duplicate. Look at everything right down to the little cilia on the trailing edge of his little legs! Isn't God amazing!
Studying the side of a tree reveals loads of beauty. This is a tiny fern sprouting among lichen and moss clinging to the bark of a tree. This is only a couple inches of an large tree covered with multiple types of fauna. In my opinion, no artificial flower arrangement can hold a candle to this one. Isn't God amazing!
I'm ending with this little fella. They are everywhere and I never tire of noticing them. I also love their close relative the green anole, which can be brown too. I wonder what this little guy would say if he could talk to me? He kept a watchful eye on me and scurried around the tree when I came closer than his comfort level. Isn't God amazing!

Well that's it for now. I will try and post at least one more time before I leave for the airport at 6am Saturday, August 7. Isn't God Amazing!

Odds n Ends

Once again today I am here in the office, icing my knee, and working on what? The Web Page! It is currently up to 75 pages. I never could have imagined that this would be the job I would spend most of my time doing. I see so much potential for this web page and am determined to see it through and make it successful. But, the reality is all Glory and Honor belong to God. I have prayed sooooooo much for wisdom in this work and God has been faithful. Also, my buddy Scott has been such a resource for me. He uses this software and designs some amazing sites. I'm not a designer, but he sure is gifted by the True designer, God Himself.
So here are some odds n ends pictures since I don't have any fresh ones at the moment. Hope you enjoy them :)

I saw these two guys posturing to each other displaying dominance. I shot this quickly on the fly and my setting was way to bright. So I just tricked out the picture which brought out some cool looking patterns that are naturally in the skin. Just not a natural intensity. As I walked away they locked jaws. I already had to go catch up with the group a block ahead of me or I would have loved to take more shots of these two.
This ladies and gentleman is Lucy! She lives in Visalia, California, but I met her here in the DR. I don't know that I have ever met such a genuinely joyful person. She was soooooooo much fun to be around. Here we are riding in the back of Blue Thunder on our way to some waterfalls. Of course, this was a few weeks before my knee injury. I know that if she were here right now, injury or not, she would inspire me to get out if this office and onto a trail going somewhere fun and exciting! Her husband would agree with all this. He told me of some adventures he never would have taken without her inspiration.
Click on this picture to make it full size. You can then see me at the top left where I'm peering over the edge taking a picture. My friend Richard took this of me. This is above the "lower falls". Pretty Cool Huh!?
This is a cane toad that Laurel, an intern, found and knew I would love to see it. So see it I did! It was the first one I've ever really seen or held. I think we have the same smile!
This little dog looked so cute curled up sleeping. In the Dominican Republic there is a work day siesta taken noon until 2pm. Most all business stops for a nap just like this little dog.
I caught a shot of this guy with my big lens one afternoon here at the base. He moved ever so slowly one step at a time. I moved closer and he suddenly shot across the ledge in a fast green blur and just like that was gone!

Preschool Flag Raising

Every morning at the preschool in Mata Gorda they sing the national anthem while raising the flag. It is really cute to see the children stand in a line and sing their hearts out. Some loud, some quiet, and some not quite. Here is a video of one of the SI teachers leading them.

Bull

I had an interesting morning. First of all I drove for the first time since injuring my knee. It hurt to get into the truck, but once in I could drive fine. I was coming back from getting video footage out at Mata Gorda for a Micro Finance video I'm working on. While driving I suddenly came upon...well...I'll let the video tell the rest. Although it is a little pixelated, I would recommend watching it in full screen mode.