Rainbow Families Foundation Newsletter - January 2002

January 2002

Went to a village outside of Puerto Plata to take names.  The form I prepared and the shoe gadgets are working out very well.  The container is at the shipyard. Antillean in Santiago has to prepare paperwork and it will be ready Tuesday for processing. Tomorrow is a holiday, Saint Altagracia, so Government offices will be closed and many people spend time with family or go to a resort for weekend pass. Ganny is getting better. She was in a lot of pain. Everybody else in the family is fine.  Corrina (Grimaldy's mother) has been having a lot of pain in her leg. She went to two doctors an they told her two different things. She went to Santiago to her regular doctor and he said she has vericose veins.  She is taking medicine and feeling better. I've been picking up donations from people I communicated with before coming.  One from England, 2 from Canada and 1 from Florida. Took one of the Canadian couples into the countryside to a village I gave donations to last time.  They were saddened by what they saw and plan to collect additional things and send them.  They are retired and plan to travel alot. We've had a lot of rain here everyday it seems. The girl here at the internet cafe keeps sneezing and blowing her nose. Trying to keep my fluids up and hands clean. I've been invited to go to a family picnic on the Yasica River tomorrow. It's the great uncle of Jose's wife. He is a very respected member of the community.  I met him before and he invited me back and he'd cook a goose but this will be a big family gathering and he'll kill a cow and cook it for family and community.  He was a farmer in his working day.  I took names in the community yesterday and met a lady who is 105 years old. A newspaper article was hanging on the well from five years ago when she celebrated her 100th birthday.  They say she is 117 but can only prove she's 105.  She is spry and alert and is still a seamstress. I'm waiting to hear from Antillean in Miami to ensure everything is set before going to the port and waiting in the hot sun. The Santiago office said I have to pay in cash but before I left the Miami office said I can pay by credit card. So . . . I'm waiting to hear back from Miami in hopes I can pay with my Mastercard and then pay the bill with a RFF check when the bill comes in. Apparently because things are so bad here many merchants are not accepting credit cards anymore.  We had a horrific rain storm all night long but today is clear so far. The weather has been very rainy everyday. Jacobo and family are all ok. No, I haven't taken any pictures yet. When I'm there it is in the evening when Jacobo is off work and usually the power in Monte Llano is blackout and Ganny has not been out of bed much. Margaret was sick with a cold but Penelope and Jacobo are fine.  Just checking messages to learn if Antillean in Miami was able to charge the expenses by credit card. They did and the container is available for processing this morning.  So, I'll call Grimaldy and we'll go to the port. It is pouring rain here all through the night and now as we speak. Yesterday it was raining too and I kept getting knocked off line so after 45 minutes of trying to respond to your other message. I'll try to be brief since the internet costs money. I've not had access to Grimaldy's brother's computer because he's spending so much time on his website. No I have not received exoneration yet. The container must be inspected and cleared. Then the paperwork gets sent to the Director in Santo Domingo. The Governor is waiting for the paperwork as soon as we can process. The hold up was with Antillean in getting the PL form completed and payment situated. I mentioned Antillean's Santiago office wanted me to pay cash at the port, however, I made arrangements before I left with Antillean Miami to pay with a credit card. I received Antillean Miami's e-mail this morning that they charged the credit card this morning so I'm set for the processing.  So . . . gotta go to the port now.