So it has been a long time since I have posted anything...I am really sorry about that but had very little control over it! Sometime in the first week of February my computer started having issues. First Windows 7 was corrupted and my computer wouldn't load anything. I sent it to the states to get fixed and 6 weeks later I got it back. Then, within a week, my hard drive crashed and I had to completely replace that...aaargh. Thankfully, I had most everything backed up when I started having problems with Windows. It was just a matter of reloading all of the programs and getting things back to the way they were before all of the problems. Well, I thought it was over, but since the hard drive was installed, I randomly get the "blue screen of death" or the "black screen of death!" It seems that maybe the processor is also damaged although if I wait a bit or restart the computer with the repair disc, things will again run for awhile. So much has happened during the last few weeks (months!) that I wanted to make sure to note some of it here before my computer crashes again!! :)
At the beginning of February, I went to Mexico to share in the beautiful wedding of a good friend. I had the opportunity to climb to the top of a mountain where there was an ancient Aztec (I believe) pyramid. It was a hike I was not at all prepared for but shared the journey with two other wedding guests and we had a wonderful day laughing and telling stories. I have learned to never believe someone when they tell you "you are almost there." I guess it's all from individual perspectives, though, so probably in the whole scheme of things, I was almost there for over an hour! The wedding was beautifully set with a backdrop of mountains and flowers blooming at the home of a friend. We enjoyed a mariachi band, wonderful Mexican cuisine and even learned some Greek dancing in the evening (the bride's father is Greek!). Although it was a quick trip and much colder than I expected, it was beautiful and I would love to return for a longer period of time one day.
Since January 1st, we have had 33 teams visit us (as of today) and many individual volunteers. We are set to make a record of around 70 teams this year so if you are praying for us...keep the prayers coming! It seems that the work just keeps growing as people seek a ministry with integrity and great need...both of which I believe we have. Our teams have been medical, surgical, construction, evangelism and food distribution. We have hosted or will host teams from UMass, Yale, Quinnepiac University, LIJ Cohen Children's Hospital, Gwynedd-Mercy College, University of Southern Florida, Northeastern, Hampton-Sydney College, Azusa Pacific, Watkinson School, Villanova University, University of Chicago, UNH, Moises Brown school, Lovett School, several foundations plus churches of just about every denomination. We have new groups coming from the southern states of the US, Colorado and north into Canada. We will be hosting several Rotary Clubs who want to come and see what we are doing and find out how they can become involved. It's exciting and exhausting at the same time. We are even still working with a team that goes over to Haiti to help rebuild a school and work on an orphanage. Many, many new projects in the future!
One of the most exciting new projects is our After-School Project (Esperanza), that will be starting in the middle of June. Several local staff are involved in coordinating the program that will bring outreach to children between the ages of 5-8 years old. I recently discovered that most kids don't go to school beyond the 4th grade if they live in the bateyes! Some of it is transportation, some is lack of schools, some is due to no encouragement to stay in school and some is due to lack of supplies for an appropriate education. All of these things and more we will try to address. We desperately need funding for this new program and I would ask that if you are interested in making a donation to help out, to please contact Crystal Diaz de Benitez at crystal.diaz@yahoo.com to find out how you can help. Maybe you have a Sunday school class or a class at your school that would be willing to collect and donate supplies; maybe you could send a small monthly donation to make sure the folks running the program can continue to work with us or maybe you'd like to be a resource person for those who are coordinating the work. Whatever you may be able to do would be greatly appreciated. We will also offer sports, music and art so if you can help, contact Crystal. You can also find out more information at: http://www.internationalministries.org/projects/51
In March we had the pleasure of hosting two physical therapy missionaries from Santiago. They encouraged to continue to build our physical therapy program and opened our eyes to the opportunities within the DR for education for our therapists. We are hoping to really grow the program and encourage our therapists in their education.
Finally, this week we visited three prisons to offer medical and dental care to the inmates. I plan on sending out a newsletter very soon about our experience but wanted to let you know that we saw almost 1200 people in two days! We visited the prison in El Seibo which houses only men and is severely overcrowded as well as the men's and women's prisons in Higuey. I am hoping that this ministry to a very needy population will continue with other teams but at this time we are only seeing this population once a year. Next week we will be visiting the La Romana prison where there was recently a fire and some killings after a riot inside so we will definitely need your prayers on Tuesday!
Well, friends, I think that catches you up on what's been happening here in La Romana over the last two months. I continue to try and care for myself with rest and personal development but always would appreciate more prayers for strength to stick to my boundaries! I'm part of a wonderful book study on Friday evenings with a group of women who have become very close friends. We are reading Captivating by John and Stasi Eldridge and finding such comfort and healing in what we read. Please keep our group in your prayers as well.
This fall I will be traveling in the Midwest and Northeast to speak to churches, schools, rotary clubs, etc about the work we do here so if I haven't seen you here in La Romana, hopefully I will see you in the fall. When I have a schedule of my speaking, I will post it so you will know.
Many blessings!
Kristy
