Caribbean Area Seminar 2012

      We began planning for the Caribbean Public Affairs Seminar (that was held the last day of November and the first day of December) in September.  Rafael Gutierrez, the Area Director of Public Affairs had a seven-page, single-spaced, list of responsibilities to delegate among the three of us.  Jill handled largely the venue, lodging and binder assignments, I handled largely the transportation, technical and printing arrangements, and Rafael handled the instruction, outside speakers and overall supervision assignments. It turned out, however, that more than 40 other individuals had put their shoulder to the wheel to help us with the details from invitations and gifts to photography and meals.

     At one of our (National Public Affairs Council) planning meetings, Elder Martinez, the Area Seventy assigned to Public Affairs in the DR, attended the meeting and said something at the meeting’s closing melted our hearts.  After thanking everyone in the Council for their excellent work and dedication, he said something like, “.. and especially the Dunfords.  They are like the three of the twelve disciples of Christ in the Americas who wanted to stay behind to do a greater work.  There are wonderful grandparents who are dedicatedly watching over their children and grandchildren, but the Dunfords have left their grandchildren and have chosen the better part like the three Nephites.” In the midst of a very difficult set of challenges that we won't go into here, this was like a balm to our hearts.

Victor Bisono, a member of the Dominican
 Congress, spoke at one luncheon.

                                                   

                                    Some of the participants

                    

           Edwin was our IT guy

                                       

                   Everything is setup and ready to go!

Instruction by guest speakers.

  

 Elvis Medina, the Bishop of the Evangelical
 Churches in the Dominican Republic, also spoke

(Please excuse all of the photos with people that you don't know - we wanted to have a record of them for us as well as share with you).

On Friday night, we took all of the participants to the Colonial Zone, where we ate at the Pat'e Palo Restaurant, an old pirate hangout built in 1505.  Great food and atmosphere.  Then out on the plaza outside there was Dominican music and dancing which we joined for a bit of fun!  Here are a lot of pictures of the attendees - they are such great people and we are so grateful to have had the opportunity to get to know them~

The Plaza at night 

Pat'e Palo - a fun restaurant in the Colonial Zone

Evangelista and Rocio from Santiago

                           

                                     Ruth(Azua), Lidia (Sto Dgo), Madelyn
                                     (Puerto Plata),  and Yahaira (Sto. Dgo).

                             

                                       Lacey, Miguelina, Rugh (Sto. Dgo), and
Arcadio (Santiago)

Emilo (La Vega), Antar (Sto. Dgo), and
Vicente (Santiago

                                   

                                                   Jose, Sandra, and Rosa from Sto. Dgo.

Fausto (Sto. Dgo.), Pres. Santana
(La Romana),  and Irene (Sto. Dgo)

                          

                     Ingrid (Sto. Dgo.), Cheryl (Barbados),
                               and Karen (Jamaica)

Luis, Anita, Evelyn, and Evelyn from
Puerto Rico

    

      Kearn and Donika Samuel
                        from Trinidad

Elizabeth, Jonnathan, Yadira (Area Office) 

Rocio (Santiago), Lacey (again), and
Katherine (our translator)

Kesner Kella from Haiti - a wonderful
French speaker!

Rafael (our boss), Clark (SLC), Rosa
(again Sto. Dgo.), and Emilio (again La Vega)

Angel, Elder Martinez, and Nancy
(Puerto Rico), Clark (again SLC)