Dominican Republic

Jan 2006

 

Saturday Jan 14

 

The team trip to The Dominican Republic (DR) and to Haiti started out by staying in Dallas. This morning we were up and around 0430 and at the airport at 0530. We were told that you need the extra time. We arrived at the airport and our trip day started. All five of us (David Heath, David Dement, Ken Bolden, Mike Watkins and Robert Ables) were ready for a new experience. We left Dallas and flew to Miami and then to DR.       

 

Upon arrival at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic we went through customs without incident. When we approached the customs agent we were told we had to purchase an entrance visa for $10.00 at a booth that was located behind us. We went through and Ken and Mike departed to meet their ride. We stayed while I completed papers for a rental car. The three of us David, Robert and I obtained the rental car and headed to the hotel. Oh yes, the directions to the hotel were to “just go down this road and turn at the first left and then the first right and keep going until you get to a bridge and then go under the bridge and head toward the water” (remember we are on a island). Of course we got lost, wouldn’t you? However since we are on an island we just headed for the water and stayed along it until we reached the hotel. We arrived and it was perfect. We got a good night’s sleep.

 

Sunday Jan 15

 

David Guerrero met us at the hotel to escort us to the church. He and his wife took us straight there in plenty of time to meet the elders and see the building. The Ozama COC was a nice place with very friendly people. During the morning we meet many local people and we were greeted by everyone who saw us. At the beginning of services the men went around to a room off the side of the auditorium and met. There they were assigned their duties for service. The men appeared to eagerly await their assignments. Then we went back into the auditorium. We were introduced to the congregation and sat down. A few announcements were made and then two other American couples arrived and were treated to the front pew. We were on the second row. The service was all in Spanish. It was not long and there was plenty of good singing. After service we met with many other members and went back to the hotel.

 

After changing clothes and eating lunch we went to the beach which you could not swim in and walked along the sea wall. The water was very blue and the beaches were cluttered with ocean trash. I stopped to pick up some stones to bring back. We went back to the hotel where David and Robert watched a game while I worked online. Later in the evening Frederico Cuez and his daughter Leslie arrived and we talked. His niece showed him some of the drawings and the cost for an orphanage they are trying to finish. We talked and retired for the night.

 

Monday Jan 16

 

It is 0800 and we are having breakfast. It had been suggested that we leave at 0730 but I asked if it would be OK to have breakfast first and then leave. Well we should have left earlier; it took 4 hours to get to Neba where we met with the first orphanage. When we arrived it was a sight. The children eagerly awaited us. They were told that some people were coming to see them. The orphanage was small and dark in places but the temperature outside kept everything comfortable. There were chickens out front that were for sale. The children were excited. We walked around and talked to the live-in parents and to the kids. When we gave them balloons they played with them for the whole time we were there. I believe the best entertainment for orphans must be balloons. Children love the balloons! The following pictures are of the school, orphanage, and pharmacy that they are trying to build in place of the other ones. They have half of the building done and need to finish the other half. They have run out of money from the sponsors that were sending them the money to build. Then we departed and headed for the next location.

 

Our next location was Jimani (pronounced emmany). It is located on the border of Haiti and DR. Two years prior there was a flood that killed several hundred parents leaving over 100 children without parents. The church was a little blue building that accommodated 10 or 15. They are asking for help with these children. As you can see the building needs work. The general population was devastated with the flood. The church was devastated and the preacher has departed. So Frederico Cuveas  travels from Neba to Jimani 1 hour there and 1 hour back each Sunday to preach.

     

The people of Neba have had a very hard time with all of their problems. They could use so much help but their location is problematic in that a flood would be likely to occur again. Perhaps there can be another way to help them other than building a new orphanage. After visiting the area and meeting several of the people that were in need we departed and returned back to Neba then back to the hotel in Santa Domingo.

 

Tuesday Jan 17

 

The met with the elders and some of the World Radio speakers at the Ozama Church of Christ. The interpreter was Niomi Soto. She did a wonderful job of keeping up with all of the translation and speaking two languages.

Her father is Prudencio Rodriguez who was present during the meeting. We went to a restaurant and had more time together to talk and to get to know each other better. We then did some shopping in the local region .

 

The colonial area: We went to look at the fort that was dated back to Columbus days and the area was referred to as the Columbus Plaza. There was plenty to see and we had a wonderful time.

 

We went shopping and saw so many things to buy and bring back home, however the cost was prohibitive. Our day turned out very well with our friends and we saw so much. The bond that we started will continue with each trip.