This morning we walked to the Yamasa hospital for a quick tour of the facilities to get a general sense of what the conditions are like there. There are specialists who come from the bigger cities on certain days and today was one of them - lots of people in the waiting area and, in general, a very busy place. I snapped a picture of the laundry facilities (you can see sheets hanging outside on the clothesline) because I know some people who would find this interesting!
We all had an opportunity to do a little shopping in my host family grocery store. Popular items to bring to Canada are vanilla and coffee. We like to give some business to the stores in Yamasa whenever possible.
There is a provincial election campaign happening right now in the province of Monte Plata. The election is this Sunday. It is very interesting to be here and see the campaigns in action. There was a large parade today. Words could not do it justice to describe the music, motorcycles, flags, etc. Here is a picture of a typical campaign vehicle that drives up and down the street blasting music at decibels that would make you cringe. Their federal election is happening on May 16.
After lunch with our host families, we boarded a bus and drove a few kilometres out of Yamasa (about 5 min away from San Martin de Porres high school) to a little community called La Cuesta del Jobo. Sister Noelia Hernández had requested us to visit here because she is unsure of what to begin helping them with. We thought this might be a building project to help with in the future. We were NOT prepared for what we were about to discover. I was in absolute disbelief of the poverty here. I am only sharing a few photos because I find in reviewing the pictures, they are quite upsetting to me. The conditions were horrendous! No human being on this earth should have to live like this (hear my anger now as I am making my way through the stages of grief)! At one point Sister Noelia put her arm around me and said that now I know why she didn’t know where to start.
We are going to get things in motion immediately to prevent diseases and sickness by getting a concrete outhouse built. Our future work will be fundraising to repair some of these houses (all relatives in these homes) and possibly tearing one down and starting again. It is the people that I want to focus on rather than the conditions. They welcomed complete strangers onto their land. They knew we were there to help. This was the turning point of the trip for me. I saw God today in the faces of these people. One 12 year old girl especially looked hauntingly at me, expressionless, holding her one year old sister. Her eyes begging for me to do something, anything.
There was a man who was mute who gave out pre-packaged cookies to us all that he purchased himself from selling fruit. We accepted them. You have to even though no one wanted to. Christ is present in the poor.
My wish is that I can continue the sharing when I return home at CWL meetings and school presentations by sharing more pictures and stories of the Dominican people of Yamasa. This was a very emotional afternoon for everyone. I choose to see the light of God in these people. We had a deeply reflective prayer session at the health clinic where Sister Noelia gifted us all with pottery candles. We lit them and had an Easter vigil of sorts. Our day ended with dinner, music and dancing. Before retiring for the evening, Sister Noelia Hernández and Sister Mercedes Ramirez toured the teachers around their brand new house. It is gorgeous! They work incredibly hard for the community of Yamasa! They told us that we always have a place there. Mi casa es su casa (my house is your house). This sentiment is shared by all Dominicans. My Opa used to say that this was the most beautiful phrase in the world. It truly has a new meaning for me.
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