Dachau Concentration Camp

Wrought iron doors to the camp with the saying 'Arbein Macht Frei' (Work Will Make you Free).

Chilling as you know it never did.

Main building at the camp.

Crematorium. When the U.S soldiers liberated the camp in 1945 there was a heap of bodies in front of this door. They're fate was obvious.

Inside the crematorium we saw the incinerators. One surviving U.S army soldier said the smell was horrific and the crematorium doors were hot.

We saw the gas chamber as well which was located in the same building right next to the room with the incinerators.

'Brausebad' meaning shower. Completely equipped with fake shower heads. However, it was only a facade to get the prisoners to go in there. (seen in photo below).

A second crematorium was built called 'Barrak X'. This was to keep up with the amount of death in the camp and to destroy the 'evidence.'

The ashes of all the prisoners were buried in the back of the crematorium and today a grave sight marks the place.

The was the wall in the back of the camp where the firing squad executed people. About 5 feet in front of the wall is a ditch which they termed 'Blood ditch' for obvious reasons.

Our brothers were prisoners here and there is a wonderful display which testifies to their unwavering faith. I tried to take pictures of what it said and posted them below.

This monument was built from a Dachau camp survivor illustrating the solidarity of the prisoners.

This is photo the U.S. Army took when they liberated the camp on April 29, 1945. It's a photo of all the prisoners who were about to be freed.

It was told to us that in the few days after the camp was liberated, it was made mandatory that all the townspeople come into the camp to see what the Nazi's were doing in there. The townspeople for the most part claimed they didn't know what was happening inside the camp. But this is hard to believe due to the smell surrounding the camp.

Today, it's made mandatory for German school children to visit the camp. Etched in the wall at Dacha are the words 'Never Again.'

Fajardo, Puerto Rico

Our friends Sam and Leah (below) are pioneering in Fajardo and we were able to stay with them. They are currently serving in the English Congregation - where apparently the need is! (You may recognize Sam from our Costa Rica pics!)
























































This sister brought us one of the coolest adventures of my life! She lives right on the ocean next to a river that flows inland. The river is about a mile or so long and flows to whats called a Bioluminescent Bay. We took kayaks out at night and kayaked down the river. As we got closer to the lagoon the water started to glow and sparkle when we touched it - with our hands, the paddle, etc. It was like touching stars! I put my hand in the water and when i took it out it was covered with sparkles. There are microscopic creatures in the water called Plankton and when you move them they sparkle like a fire-fly. I had never seen anything like it in all my life.



































































A nest of some sort!















Aaron (a fellow Bethlite) going surfing with us!

Island of Culebra, Puerto Rico

Culebra is a small island a few miles off the East Coast of Puerto Rico.















You might think we rode the beautiful boat below to get there, however, it was broken. We instead road a cargo ship!











































Some great snorkeling in some reefs off the coast!















An old tank from World War II. It's sort of become part of the beach and a tourist attraction.















These pelicans were great to watch as the dive-bombed the shore eating small fish. One dive-bombed about 3 feet from me! Ha! I talked to it and we became friends.

Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

San Juan was the first place discovered by Columbus and became owned by the Spanish. So the old city is very reminiscent of Europe - which i love.















































































El Moro is a military fort established in the 1600's by the Spanish. It was to protect ownership of the Island and was placed strategically on a little peninsula. They were able to fight off many attacks - accept the last which was in 1898. By that time (after 300 years) half the cannons no longer worked and weren't sufficient. The United States came and with their big warship blew a huge hole out of the side of El Moro. They tried attacking with their little cannons but the range just didn't cut it. So basically, that is why Puerto Rico is a US Territory.

E Yunque Rain Forest, Puerto Rico

it was so humid in the rain forest - this fresh mountain water felt SO good. it was actually warmer than Lake Superior but still a little cool. too 'cold' for the Puerto Ricans so they just watched shaphan and i get in!















































these are tiny white mushrooms that grow on some of the trees.....cute.