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Imagine yourself traveling with eight high school students to a third world country to serve in poverty stricken villages for a week. Now add on the fact that it's the Caribbean in the heat of July. Sound fun? Well it was! We took Summit Student Ministries back to the Dominican for a second time. I will admit, it was a bit taxing leading high school students. However, all of the exhaustion goes away when you step off the bus and see dozens of adorable children reaching out for someone to hold their hand and play with them. Now I'm about to show you a picture of the cutest girl you've ever seen, but first lets talk about the trip.

We returned for our second year of beautification projects at the schools. We spent time cleaning and doing yard work so the students could have a safe, welcoming environment to return to in the fall. We also were given the opportunity to walk through the villages and visit the homes of some families. The families visited all have children in COTN's program, but have a difficult time getting to school because their parents work during the day and they need to stay home and care for their younger siblings. They welcomed us in and told us about their lives. The team really enjoyed themselves, and the kids enjoyed having someone take interest in them

All in all, it was a good trip. How can it not be when smiling kids run in complete excitement to see you each day. I made a friend on this trip. Her name is Emily. She's the cutest girl I mentioned above. We spent time playing together every day. Emily lives in Pueblo Nuevo. Our last day there, the team entered with a bitter sweet feeling. Sweet, because we had another morning to be with our new friends. Bitter, because it was our last. As I walked off the bus, I scanned the crowd for her. Just when I walked out the door I saw her head poke through the other kids. She squeezed her way in front of everyone and her eyes widen with joy as she looked up at me. In her hands she held a gift. She had cut the bottom off of a coke bottle, filled it with rocks and put fresh flowers inside. When I took my final step off she extended her arms as far as she could, grinning ear to ear with excitement to give me my present.

Now you tell me she's not the cutest ever...

Prayer Requests

Please join me in prayer for

• COTN as our Sr. level management team is praying and working through lots of new and potentially exciting changes for the organization

• A couple who works with Hospitality technology and is interested in partnering with us! They hope to travel to the DR this fall to see Casa Bethesda. My prayer is they would be able to set us up with an electronic reservation system and help us network with others in the industry

• The tourism classes at our skills center in the DR. Pray specifically that teens and young adults would learn tourism and find opportunities for careers. Upon completion of their courses they will have a well known certification in tourism

COTN Dominican wish list. Do you have items to donate?

One man's trash is another man's treasure. Alright, well not in this case. We are not actually looking for trash but we are looking for donations! If you've been thinking to yourself lately "Wow, we have all this extra stuff and really need to get rid of it," you're in the right place! As we continue to make improvement to our mission house in the Dominican, our search goes on for needed supplies. Below is our wish list. If you have, or know anyone who has anything below please contact me! jennabishop@cotni.org

- Shelves/Dressers ***
- China cabinet***
- Shower curtains and rods***
- Desk ***
- Filing cabinet**
- Twin size mattresses **
- Phone (land line) **
- Toilet paper holders **
- Push trays for cleaners **
- New small trash cans **
- Little sewing machine **
- Chaffing dishes with sternos *
- Flashlights *
- Large deep ceramic casserole dish *
- End table
- Punch bowl *
- Large electric frying pan *
- Decorations for our bakery at the skills center *