Monday March 15th, 2010

7:15 Lunch with the Team

8:30 We departed by bus and big truck with the youth group from Kitchner On, going to Los Algodones to paint the clinic of Dr. Lambert. Tina, Rob’s wife, is the administrator of the clinic. Tina gives us the health situation of the residents, also a question and answer period.

9:30 Painting of the clinic. Conditions are very hot and humid, especially in the sun. Everything goes very well. We got all the outside painted by 12 noon. Mostly everybody helped without stopping to get the job done before lunch. Camaraderie, hugs and hand-shakes and high-fives for fifteen minutes with the children and people from the village.
It is such and experience every time we have the opportunity to talk and physically be in contact with the people. We get so uplifted by these children of God. We can’t seem to get enough of these special moments, and we now realize that our lives will never be the same. Among the tears we shed here in the community, we realize how great is our God, and how present he is among these people living in extreme poverty. Lorette and I called this a ‘cess pool where humans loved by God have to exist’, partially because the world chooses to close their eyes and hearts and refuses to acknowledge them and give them help as God intended. We sure hope we are being light to them, especially when we show that we care for them and we love them. It is just impossible for any of us not to fall in love with these beautiful people who have nothing, and yet are so happy with the little they have.

2:30 We went to the hospital ministry in Puerto Plata. We have to admit we were driven to tears by what we saw. Our animal hospitals in Manitoba are better than the conditions we see here. Patients are on old spring beds, thin mattresses, and sometimes without any bed sheets or blankets. They had to supply their own bed linens. Patient has to pay for their meds if they can afford it. Food has to be brought in by family or friends, when and if they have any. (Lunch of rice and beans is served every day). There are no buzzers to summon the nurses, patients are on their own. The nurses tend to them for the meds they need two or three times a day.

We ministered to the patients with touch and prayer. Tears came much easier than smiles. “Desperation”, dear God. We just don’t seem to understand how oblivious we can be to this kind of humanity. We are people with one God, one God for all. We’ve seen people from new born, even ‘premies’ to old age. Some of the patients we ministered to will not come out alive. Some of the patients help each other, the sick taking care of the sick, and in some cases no one else will. At this time Lorette and I find it impossible to write more of what we have seen our hearts are heavy and broken as we ask God to intervene on our behalf, so that the emotions and feelings that have overtaken us can be changed and we can become greater “towel bearers” we are called to be. We realise that when we leave here, a good part of our hearts will remain here forever, may the tender love of God continue to be with these people, and with us. There are no words in any vocabulary that can truly describe what we have seen. Amen. Adios to all our amigos back home.

Love Henry and Lorrette

This Open Door team is a pleasure to be with, they are a powerful team!

March 11th, 2010

So the flight was seamless, everyone and everything arrived safely. We moved very quickly through airport security; only today did I find out Juan had made some calls to ensure this would be so (go figure, he has connections everywhere in the DR). As we had 215kg of humanitarian supplies with us, these had to accompany us everywhere which meant the bus was packed full, and it made for an interesting job dragging them up the three flights of stairs to our rooms.

Wednesday night we hosted Larry & Pearl here at the hotel, and it was great for the team to get to know them and learn more about the DR and their involvement here.

This morning we left at 8... well that was the plan at least, our transport truck sort of broke down and we had to wait for the mechanic. But we left at 8... Dominican time - 9 for the rest of us - to 'go see the waterfalls' which was all we were told. It's called '27 Waterfalls' or 'Damajagua'. Were we ever in for a surprise! This was a guided tour UP as is IN the waterfalls, fighting against rushing water, jumping off cliffs, swimming through deep pools ... absolute adventure. We had to laugh because we had talked so much about expecting the unexpected, but none of us expected THIS! Each team member was pushed to the edge of thier stamina. While not all made it to the top (the 12th waterfall), everyone did great and kept a possitive attitude throughout. I was proud of them!

In the afternoon some rested while others went down to the beach. In the evening we hosted Juan & Jocelyn and their kids. Again after the meal we sat outside and the team could get to know Juan and hear his heart and passion for Jesus & the people of Los Algodones. We sat and listened and asked questions and then prayed together until 11PM, even though Juan and his wife have to get up at 4AM tomorrow to prepare lunch for the 140 students of the Los Algodones school. Needless to say they really impacted each team member with their lives.