Arriving in the Caribbean!!

2 long flights: From Salt Lake City, to New York City, to Santo Domingo! The anticipated view of the green fields and tiny huts was breathtaking and the passengers cheered as we touched island!

When we stepped off the plain, I felt the hair folocles of my head sprung up from the humidity and haven't gone down since! I forget how much I adore the sunshine and being near the ocean!!

A kind-hearted man from the Perpetual Education Fund office, named hermano Lugo, was there to pick us up after we made it through cash exchange, immigration, baggage claim, and customs. He drove us alongside the shore and let us use his cell phone to call home. It was hard for me to express to my mom and dad how astounded and excited I was to be there right by the beach in this paradise that I get to call home for the next 3 months!!

Hermano Lugo took us to a special restaurant he used to manage, right by the edge of the water! He let us sample several types of new Dominican foods, including mofongo  and a smoothie made with passion fruit!

Hermano Lugo drove us right up to the Santo Domingo temple. It's enormous and just stands there as a beacon of peace in the middle of the city! We walked around the grounds and met lots of Mormons, including a pair of senior couple missionaries who we'll be working with, the Wilsons, at the MTC and church housing center for temple attendants right next to the temple grounds! We'll be moving into an apartment in the next few days that's within walking distance to this block of LDS sanctuary!

It really topped off our arrival in the Dominican Republic to see the Santo Domingo Temple. The Spirit there was tangible and it made me even more excited to be here while we'll be involved with the inspired cause of self-reliance!