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The medical mission arrived on Thursday, 25 Jan. for
one week. There are two groups that come here. The “Pioneers” from quad
cities of Iowa, and another group comes from New Town, (Philadelphia) PA.
The Minnesota sponsors arrived on Friday, 19 Jan. for one week. I had been
busy coordinating things for their visit. There were 25 of them, including 2
children.
One of my tasks when the Minnesota group arrives is to buy food as a donation
to the sponsored families. The group in Minnesota will pay me back so I will
use the charge card. Haven't used it yet this year. I will be going to
Santiago this weekend, maybe, to buy rice, dry beans, spaghetti, cooking oil,
cans of tuna, sugar, spices, fruit and a few vegetables. I will have to
prepare the individual bags before our tour on Monday, 22 Jan.
I have been busy preparing for the Minnesota sponsors. They are bringing
donations for 8 families, school supplies for the kids at the school in
Mozovi and other donations.
We are giving the supplies directly to the kids, including toothbrushes. I am
arranging to rent a 27-passenger bus for the day and we will make a day of
it, distributing the donations to the families and also visiting the Garcia
home.
I am trying to get the city to donate their bus for the day we deliver
donations in the countryside. Also trying to find a pickup truck to get the
luggage of donations from the airport. Wish me luck.
School was supposed to begin on 8 January. If the teachers don't show up for
school then the kids must go home. Finally the kids started back in full
session yesterday, one week later than scheduled.
I read where "El Nino" is having quite an affect on the weather
across the entire U.S., causing the milder temperatures. I guess the little
boy isn't so bad after all. (El Nino means, the boy).
My little girl Maria Isabel and her family have gone away for a while. Her
father found work in Barbaro and ordered his wife and kids to come there near
him. I was concerned about her health but I have no control over the father.
I need to see a friend today who is a neighbor of where they lived to learn
if she has heard from the mother and how is Maria Isabel. I have received all
her analysis that we had done. Just need her to continue with the specialist.
The other little girl, too much noise to remember her name, is doing ok. As I
mentioned, the pediatric cardiologist in Santo Domingo said she needs to go
to the U.S. for surgery. I emailed the doctor for more information to prepare
a letter but she hasn't responded yet.
Jose Antonio and his family have moved into a community constructed for
Haitians, still deep in the countryside. They seem happy to live close to
other people rather than deep into the countryside where the closest neighbor
is so far away. They were having problems with him in school but now he is
more easy going. His teeth have rotted and I suspect because he didn't get
proper nutrition when he was on the feeding tube. His siblings have beautiful
white teeth. I am told that his second (permanent) teeth will come in ok.
Antonia continues to do well. She has gotten so big. Each year the medical
mission brings medicine for her that she must take every day for the rest of
her life. I need to get word to her family that the mission will be coming
soon plus send an email to my contact to remember Antonia's monthly
injection.
Anny and her grandmother left for Boston last Tuesday. They arrived after
midnight and their luggage was lost. Wednesday they were transferred to
Shriner's and scheduled for surgery on Thursday. She is scheduled for more
surgeries on her face, scalp where she lost the hair follicles in front and
her hand. Shriner's has put them up at the hotel once again. Shriner's was
able to get the airfare donated by American Airlines. However, the
grandmother was searching for borrowed money to pay the tax.
My friend Mary from Albany sent a check to my friend in Minnesota to bring to
me. I was able to borrow some money in advance of the money arriving to give
Anny and grandmother $150 to help with expenses. She had to pay $30 for taxi
to get them from the airport to the hotel since the Shriner's senior volunteers
finish their day promptly at 4PM and would not be able to pick them up.
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