Rainbow Families Foundation Newsletter - May 2002

May 2002

Just a short update to let you know the container was delivered yesterday.  Grimaldy and I worked this week to get all the paperwork ready at the port and Santo Domingo.  Everything was finally exonerated. Now working very hard. Yes, my work continues here.  The student desks were delivered Monday, I took half the computers to Compassion and asked them to bring a van or truck for the other two.  So far they haven't come.  Also asking the maternity hospital to provide a truck to transfer the medical supplies.  So far they haven't.  I feel they must take some responsibility in receiving the goods.  Gave a wheel chair to a 6-year old girl who was hit by a car and will never walk again.  Also to 4 elderly women and men who are stricken with something or another. Have spent a lot of time unpacking, sorting and laying out all the clothes.  Hope to start the distribution next week.  The port asked for a $5,000 peso deposit on the container.  Spent two days working to get the money refunded.  Today is election day here for Senator, Governor, Diputado and 1 more, don't remember. So, it was a holiday for everyone to vote.  Volunteers took the day off to vote. Most of the businesses were closed.  Thought I'd take the opportunity to catch up with things.  Don't remember if I told you this before but Jacobo sent the health department to the man's house with the skin disease.  The doctor said the man has leprosy and doesn't have a chance to live.  Jacobo now has fear to go there.  No, the man with the truck never emailed again, or perhaps he did and the message was deleted since I haven't read messages in a while. Tell everyone I said hello and I'm doing fine.  yes, I have been working a lot trying to finish this project so I can come home.  The life here is very easy and while my volunteers are making a great contribution to help, they have a diffiuclt time keeping up with my pace.  I love the DR but never anticipated being here this long and want to come home to civilization. I was able to deliver medicine (2 months +) to the man with the skin infection. My in-country volunteers were able to get the man to a clinic for blood tests and other care. I understand that he might lose some of his fingertips, but no more. The health dept also visited the man and claimed he was a leper (not true).