Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Summer 2012 Issue | Page 14

BEGINNING THE WORK OF LEARNING
St. John’s, McLean and the Dominican Republic
THE REV. ED MILLER
A Dominican electrician reached from the top of scaffolding for wires in the
cathedral ceiling of the new meeting hall. He turned his head toward the floor,
looked at me, and said, “Agua.” Knowing virtually no Spanish, I nevertheless
understood. Agua … water. It was hot, and he was thirsty. We were all hot, and
we were all thirsty. Working side by side, seven mission team members from St.
John’s, McLean and seven Dominican tradespeople were focused on a deadline
for finishing a two story building before the dedication with the Rt. Rev. Julio
Holguin on Pentecost, May 27.

I found water and brought it back.
It was like the water Jesus asked for
from the Samaritan woman when he
said, “Give me a drink,” or from the
Cross, when he said, “I thirst.” The
common human need for water and
for life has time and again become
the basis for human connection just
as it was in that hot room at Iglesia
San Gabriel in Consuelo. The more
general quest for life prompted Bishop
Holguin’s request for the construction
of a trade school six years ago so that
young people in a town filled with
unemployed people could learn skills to
find jobs.

And now, after six years of annual
mission trips with weeks of volunteer
time, countless hours of work by
contractors and almost one quarter
of a million dollars in donations, a
building was finished so that the work
of learning could begin. t

(Above) Electricians at work on the
Trade School.
(Left) St. John’s, McLean mission
team members stand with longtime
missionaries in the Dominican Republic,
the Rev. Deacon Bob and Ellen Snow, who
are retiring this month to their home in
Nebraska. The school was named for the
Snows at the Pentecost dedication.

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VIRGINIA EPISCOPALIAN / Summer 2012