NOTES FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC MISSION TRIP-April 18-25, 2009
Notes written and shared by Ruth Ann Mansell with apologies for not getting e-mails through to our families and friends while we were working in the Dominican Republic. This year the problems with electricity were the worst we have ever experienced. That is one thing which has NOT improved over the years! This is one person’s view of the week. Check with YOUR family member to hear their view!
April 18, 2009- Saturday
Left NWPC at 3:40 a.m. Jack Hanes, Jim McGuirk, & Gregg McMillan drove us in a 15 passenger van, a pickup truck for luggage, and an SUV
Arrived Pittsburgh International Airport at 4:45 a.m.
Delta checked us all in together—went smoothly
Great flight to Atlanta
Next gate was really close—watched our luggage being loaded onto plane.
Saw men looking at engine of plane we were to take. They took photos of it. Then we saw our luggage being UN-loaded from the plane.
We were sent to another gate to take another airplane
The flight to Puerto Plata was smooth, but it arrived 2 hrs. late.
(We were OK about that since it meant a safer plane-and we had no connections to make)
Ralph Hawkins’ backpack suitcase was NOT on the plane! It took awhile to straighten that out, and by the time we were ready to leave, the Customs Officials were just standing around. They wanted to see only our medical suitcases and they checked the expiration dates. They finally decided we had been careful about those, and let us go. We left the airport at 3:45 p.m. just missing the arrival of Jessica and Debbie who WERE to arrive at 4:30, but came in at 4:05! When we arrived in Sabaneta, Bob Parks and a Dominican driver went back to the airport, and Debbie and Jessica had to wait only 45 minutes after they cleared Customs.
Pharmacy set up smoothly and pills began to be counted. After supper more pills were counted. The group was in bed and quiet by 10:15 p.m. It had been a LONG day!
April 19, 2009 – Sunday
RAIN, RAIN, and MORE RAIN. Cancu was thankful for the rain. We got wet! The service began about 9:30 and ended about 11:40. Chris Weichman had a really good sermon on forgiveness. Cancu felt it really reached the members of his church. He was grateful to Chris for his words of Biblical wisdom.
As usual, there was lots of music. Communion was served.
After church, Carmen came to say that Miguelina was in Sabaneta recently (visiting from Germany) and sent her greetings to the group.
After lunch, Bob and Sonia took van loads on a tour of the area. It was a GREAT intro for new people and good for teens and construction workers to see the areas where the other groups work.
Others counted pills. Ralph and Samantha had a LONG donut discussion. Samantha challenged Ralph to a Dunkin Donuts and Krispie Kreme eat off at a date and place yet to be determined.
As bottles were being emptied, Ralph asked what happened to them. On learning that they are burned, he volunteered to recycle them. So, we had only two large bags of trash from the pharmacy for the ENTIRE week!!!
The bottles were put into the “empty” suitcases we would be carrying back, so some carried empty bottles back this year.
Don Miller killed a HUGE spider in the “honeymoon suite”.
After supper, more pills were counted. Caesar taught some of the group an “A Spanish Army Game”. They LOVED it, and the rest of us enjoyed watching it!
Bed time was a bit more difficult to enforce since they were having so much fun.
April 20, 2009 – Monday
Sharon and Peggy went to Boca de Yasica with Sandy, Debbie and Kristina in the pharmacy.
In the afternoon, John and Jessica went to Los Brazos with Debbie and Sandy in the pharmacy.
Construction threw 300+ cement blocks up to the 2nd floor, also carried 80 lb. bags of cement and sand up. They laid about 3 courses of blocks that day. Don Evans called Elizabeth to call Shari to explain why there way no e-mail. (No electricity!)
In the afternoon, parents and recipients of scholarships for the school came. Tina and Andrea explained the necessity of photos and bios for the sponsors. They took photos of each child and did a small craft with them.
Lizbet (Martha’s daughter) now a teacher in the school in Cabarete has a daughter, Adajelli who is in the school. I remember the day Adajelli was born—we were in the D.R.!
Saw our sponsored girl. She has grown into a beautiful young woman and is now in the high school!
It was a GREAT beach day. We discovered that the beach chairs at Jose O’Shay’s are FREE!! We ordered Cokes and fruit juices and relaxed!
As we walked from the collegio to dinner, we saw two horses free range grazing along the main street of the village! That was a first!
After dinner, Alex had devotions, using the Pool of Bethsaida and reminding us that no one knew that it was God who moved the water. This week WE are to show God at work!
I stayed at Cancu’s to try to send an e-mail, which failed, although at the time, I thought I had succeeded. I missed one of the most exciting events of the week: a 3 foot Spanish boa snake was found on the stairs on the way to the second floor! It was red, and Cancu held it in his hand. Eventually, it was taken to a zoo in Islabon. The group who go next year, may be able to go to see it on exhibit! (Imagine, Islabon has a zoo!!!!)
There had also been seen another HUGE spider (I was told it was a young tarantula). People had looked at it, but hadn’t killed it. It MAY have been a mate to the one Don Miller killed yesterday. I wanted it to be killed, so that it didn’t land in my suitcase. Don Evans got a broom and killed it (it jumped out at him when he poked it out of the corner. WHEW! My hero!!!!
Caesar came at 10 p.m. so let the group play the army game until 10:45. Must ask Caesar to come earlier, so the old people can get to sleep earlierJ
Since we are limiting the number of patients seen each morning and afternoon to 50, we are working at a slower pace, and we’ve moved breakfast from 7 a.m. to 7:30. It is a bit easier on everyone.
Each patient receives vitamins and a Scripture tract. Children are also given toothbrushes.
FINALLY got to bed at 11 p.m.
Around 12:30 a.m. there was a loud bang followed by a flash of light. Then a second boom and flash of light a couple of minutes later. In the women’s room upstairs, they said the ceiling glowed red between their two lights. They evacuated! The women never again turned on the lights in their room.
Cancu was awakened (sleeping in the chapel next door to us-it was the first time in the 13 years people in our group have been going that Cancu has had to be awakened!) He said the event was a “common occurrence” and we were “not to worry”. A repeat occurred at 2:30. The first time, Bruce Curfman came out along with the women. The second time Bob Parks came out. Ralph and Chris, our “fearless leaders” slept on (at Alma’s house next door to Cancu’s home, and two blocks down the street).
April 21, 2009 – Tuesday
Slow to get up this morning. Everyone was tired after last night.
In the morning John & Peggy went to Islabon. Sandy & Debbie continued manning the traveling pharmacy while our pharmacist, Jeremy, and his wife Samantha kept the main pharmacy running smoothly.
Our teens worked with Robin who conducted a “Journey with Jesus” DVBS for the Dominican teens on the 3rd floor of the school (it was HOT up there).
We took the team photo after lunch. (Cancu & Altagracias are holding hands in the photo J
In the afternoon, John and Peggy stayed in Saboneta while Sharon & Jessica went to La Katalina.
Only one van went to the beach. The group from La Katalina didn’t get back to Sabaneta until 5:15 p.m.
John and Lois enjoyed the water for quite awhile. The rest of the group got wet then dried off.
After dinner, we FINALLY got an e-mail through! PTL.
Someone found a millipede (poisonous). Willy killed it. It was about 1 ft. long.
The flora and fauna this year are unique and numerous J
Folks relaxed after dinner, and many went to bed early hoping for a good night’s sleep. The teens and Robin played a game but all was quiet by 10:30 pm
April 22, 2009-Wednesday
Morning arrived after a quiet night -- PTL
Construction crew moved more blocks to the 2nd floor
Sharon and Jessica went to Rincon this morning. Ralph, Bob, and I toured there, then La Pina, Via Progresso, the Vo-Tech school, and Cuesta Barosa chapels.
Following lunch, we all went to Carmen’s for fresh ice cold pineapple juice J YUM!!!!
John & Jessica went to Cuesta Barosa this afternoon.
Richard Taylor took Tina, Krissy and me to see Jessica. She is a lovely young lady, who is bedridden following a suspected attack of Gilliam Barre syndrome when she was 10 yrs. old. A set of braces were made for her after our visit last year. She asked about my faith, then spent ten minutes telling us about hers. She said she agrees with her father who told her: “It is better to know God and not walk than to not know God and walk!” It was quite an experience meeting her.
Nice day at the beach. Some did shopping.
After dinner, during devotions, Sonia shared her experience visiting Pakistan a year or so after the great earthquake, representing World Vision where she works in finance. It was quite an experience, and we all were amazed at God’s work.
No electricity, so no e-mail
The Olympic theme and parade preceded the Great Pill Counting Contest. Contestants were: Chris Weichman, Lois Henneman, Bruce Curfman/Mike Plyler team, and Jeremy Fredell. Once again, after really tough competition, and some corner cutting by the “team”, Jeremy remains the Champion Pill Counter.
This evening the pastors, Ruth Ann & Sonia met with Cancu to discuss the future plans for the mission co-operative. It was a very encouraging meeting as plans were made for the next few years.
April 23, 2009 – Thursday
After breakfast, Andrea and Tina went to Santiago with Richard Taylor and a Dominican driver (all four in the front-only-seat of the Rotary Van) They returned at lunch time with a newly reconditioned wheelchair for Jessica, the girl for whom the braces were made last year J
In the morning, John & Peggy went to La Pina while Sharon and Jessica stayed in Sabaneta for the clinic.
Jeremy left us at noon to go to Disney World after winning the Great Pill Counting Contest (actually, he went to Orlando for a pharmaceutical conference, but we thought it more appropriate that he go to DWJ
In the afternoon, some patients were seen by home visits, while others were seen in the clinic.
Chris Weichman had devotions for us after dinner.
Ruth Ann could not get the computer to go “on-line”, so no e-mail.
Robin led the teens in a True Love Waits seminar. Debbie and Jessica did the HIV/AIDS talk with them.
Andrea and Tina met with Cancu to discuss the scholarship program.
April 24, 2009 – Friday
It rained during the night, so it was nice and cool in the morning.
Sharon and Peggy went to Via Progress in the morning, while John and Jessica saw lots of patients in the clinic.
The pharmacy folks (specifically Debbie and Samantha) boxed up the unused medicines as per Jeremy’s directions J
Jeremy estimated (before he left) that this year we are leaving behind more meds than we’ve left in the past two years combined. Cancu is delighted! They will have more meds to dispense when they are really needed throughout the year.
The remaining counting trays were cleaned and boxed up to be used by the group next year J
When he had finished seeing patients in the clinic, John went with Richard, Ruth Ann and Lois to see Jessica. He checked her, prescribed some meds which Richard will bring back to her. Her mother was preparing lunch to serve to 40 Haitian children. They do this 5 days a week as a ministry. Jessica teaches reading to about 20 children three days a week. When her exam was finished, she told us to stay where we were, she had something to give to us. After much shuffling in the house, a microphone was handed through the window, and Jessica sat in her wheelchair and sang to us, with the aid of a boom box background music. It was SO sweet. It brought tears to our eyes.
After lunch, one van went to Cabarete to the beach. Another took three physicians to Islabon to make three house calls. The final van to the beach took the teens and some adults who had taken a walking tour with Sandy. They visited the former brothel which is now a homeless shelter, the soup kitchen, and the 5 @ 10 on the square across the street from Altagracias’ shop.
The vans came back at a staggered time, so that we all could get dressed up before supper.
Supper was a banquet. We had roast pork loin, baked chicken, rice with green pepper and onions, potato salad, ripe plantain casserole, and “garlic bread” which was actually a root with butter and garlic spread on it. All served under an arch of braided palm branches.
Following our supper, we had a beautiful cake which we presented to Cancu and Altagracia who are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary today. Their official family celebration will be in September when they can also celebrate their daughter Angela’s graduation from medical school J
We had to hurry to get to the farewell party at 8 p.m., so our devotions will be tomorrow morning.
The farewell celebration was, as usual, fun and serious. There was lots of singing, the Dominicans did a hysterical skit mocking our construction workers. Ralph had a few remarks about the week, as did Cancu. The True Love Waits teens were honored for their commitment. Farewells were said and sung.
Following the meeting there were many tearful farewells. Bedtime was late as everyone finished packing.
April 25, 2009 – Saturday
Final breakfast together at the usual hour of 7:30 a.m.
We gave gifts to the cooks (plastic flannel lined tablecloths and plastic round trays)
Our hostess gift to Altagracia this year was money which she can spend as she wishes. She was delighted J
Caesar presented each member of our group with small items given from the heart in thanksgiving for our visit and hard work.
Ralph had some final devotional words for us, about transitioning back into life in the US, worshipping the Lord tomorrow in church, and how to share our experience with others. We said our final goodbyes to our Dominican friends, and left Sabaneta at 9 a.m. Already Cancu was picking up sheets and mosquito netting as they prepared to return our rooms into classrooms for the school which meets again on Monday. We traveled another half hour past the airport to Playa Dorado, a resort community, where we spent an hour shopping in their mall. At 11 a.m. we met to go to the airport. Checking in went smoothly (until they messed up the tickets for three person’s luggage, but once they realized we were all traveling together, they let us go through security and checked our bags through.) We ate lunch in the Puerto Plata Airport, since we no longer have meals served on our 3 hour international flight. We arrived on time, after a smooth flight, in Atlanta. Our four hour lay-over gave us plenty of time to eat a good American meal and we ALL enjoyed and appreciated the restrooms when we first arrived!
Our flight on to Pittsburgh was a bit early, although it took a long time to get our luggage, but most of the folks, at least those from New Wilmington, were home and in bed by 2 a.m. I’m happy to report that ALL of the NW folks were in church on Sunday. After Ralph’s admonition at breakfast on Saturday, we figured it was a “command performance”. We weren’t disappointed, since Ralph began our worship experience by saying: “Buenos Dias”. We all felt right at home J