December 20, 2008
I'm going to Haiti
In March I will be going to Haiti with Healing Hands for Haiti. Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and is suffering more now than ever before (see previous post). Each member of our team will be taking two checked bags full of supplies, but we need everyones help in getting these supplies. On the right hand side of my blog is a list of items we are looking for so if you have connections to any of them, please let me know. Thanks!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27826184/
Aid workers: Hungry kids dying in Haiti
At least 26 malnourished children have perished; scores others treated
Ramon Espinosa / AP
Venecia Lonis, 4, who suffers from malnutrition, is weighed at the Doctors Without Borders hospital in Port-au-Prince on Wednesday.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - The 5-year-old teetered on broomstick legs — he weighed less than 20 pounds, even after days of drinking enriched milk. Nearby, a 4-year-old girl hung from a strap attached to a scale, her wide eyes lifeless, her emaciated arms dangling weakly.
In pockets of Haiti accessible only by donkey or foot, children are dying of malnutrition — their already meager food supply cut by a series of devastating storms that destroyed crops, wiped out livestock and sent food prices spiraling.
At least 26 severely malnourished children have died in the past four weeks in the remote region of Baie d'Orange in Haiti's southeast, aid workers said Thursday, and there are fears the toll will rise much higher if help does not come quickly to the impoverished Caribbean nation.
Another 65 severely malnourished children are being treated in makeshift tent clinics in the mountainous area, or at hospitals where they were evacuated in Port-au-Prince and elsewhere, said Max Cosci, who heads the Belgian contingent of Doctors Without Borders in Haiti.
One evacuee, a 7-year-old girl, died while being treated, Cosci said, adding: "The situation is extremely, extremely fragile and dangerous."
Toll on bodiesAt a makeshift malnutrition ward at a Doctors Without Borders hospital in the capital, 10 emaciated children were under emergency care Thursday, their stomachs swollen and hair faded by pigmentation loss caused by malnutrition. Several had the puffy faces typical of kwashiorkor, a protein-deficiency disorder.
Five-year-old Mackenson Duclair, his ribs protruding and his legs little more than skin stretched over bones, weighed in at 19.8 pounds, even after days of drinking milk enriched with potassium and salt. Doctors said he needed to gain another five pounds before he could go home.
Dangling from a scale mounted from the ceiling, 4-year-old Venecia Lonis looked as limp as a rag doll as doctors weighed her, her huge brown eyes expressionless, her hair tied with bright yellow bows. Mackenson's grandmother, who has raised him since his mother died, said she barely has a can of corn grits to feed herself, the boy and her 8-year-old granddaughter each day. "These things did not happen when I was growing up," 72-year-old Ticouloute Fortune said. Rural families already struggling with soaring food prices in Haiti, the Western Hemisphere's poorest country, lost their safety nets when fields were destroyed and livestock wiped out by the storms, which killed nearly 800 people and caused $1 billion worth of damage in August and September. U.N. World Food Program country director Myrta Kaulard said she fears more deaths from malnutrition in other isolated parts of Haiti, and search and medical teams were fanning out in the northwest and along the southwestern peninsula to check. 'Always a bottleneck'The World Food Program has sent more than 30 tons of food aid — enough to feed 5,800 people for two weeks — into the remote southeastern region since September, and other groups funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development have sent food as well, she said. But the steep, narrow paths and poor visibility make it difficult to deliver the food to the mountain communities where hunger is worsening. In one case, a WFP truck flipped over while struggling up a hill and slid into a ravine, killing an aid worker. "There is always a bottleneck. The same situation that the people are facing is the same situation we're also facing," Kaulard told The Associated Press Thursday.
Battered by stormsThe mountain villages have long suffered from chronic hunger, growing only enough staples to feed themselves less than seven months out of the year, she said.
But families normally have enough to last through December. This year, Haiti's agriculture ministry estimates 60 percent of the harvest was lost in the storms nationwide. Land quality is already poor and farmers lost seeds for next year when the storms hit, Kaulard said.
Effects of the storms vary widely from village to village and even family to family. In some places, food supplies seem intact. In others, Doctors Without Borders has found rates of severe malnutrition as high as 5 percent.
Aid shortages may soon compound the problem. Donor countries have funded only a third of the U.N.'s $105 million aid appeal for Haiti following the storms, and resources could run out in January, Kaulard said. Shriveling framesAt the hospital Thursday, Enock Augustin sat beside the bed where his 5-year-old daughter Bertha was sleeping. The fragile-looking child was evacuated by helicopter Nov. 8 with vomiting and diarrhea. When she arrived, nearly a quarter of her body weight was due to fluid retention, a sign of severe protein deficiency. The swelling gradually receded as she was fed nutrient-enriched milk and treated with antibiotics and anti-worm medicine; she shrank to just 21 pounds. She has since gained about two pounds but can't go home until she reaches 26 pounds, doctors said. For months, the Augustin family had gotten by despite the soaring prices of corn grits and imported rice because they grew potatoes, which they could eat or barter for plantains, yams and breadfruit that did not fluctuate with the world market. But then, in August, Tropical Storm Fay hit, followed by Hurricane Gustav, Tropical Storm Hanna and Hurricane Ike. "Every time a hurricane came through, it killed our animals and plants," said Augustin, a father of six. The road was washed out, markets became unreachable and "the price of everything went sky high." The entire family subsisted on two cups of corn grits, and Bertha began shrinking — and then swelling — before his eyes. "She was really bad. We put her in the helicopter and they brought her here," Augustin said. "I hope the government will hear about us and bring more support."
At least 26 malnourished children have perished; scores others treated
updated 3:47 p.m. MT, Thurs., Nov. 20, 2008
Ramon Espinosa / APVenecia Lonis, 4, who suffers from malnutrition, is weighed at the Doctors Without Borders hospital in Port-au-Prince on Wednesday.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - The 5-year-old teetered on broomstick legs — he weighed less than 20 pounds, even after days of drinking enriched milk. Nearby, a 4-year-old girl hung from a strap attached to a scale, her wide eyes lifeless, her emaciated arms dangling weakly.
In pockets of Haiti accessible only by donkey or foot, children are dying of malnutrition — their already meager food supply cut by a series of devastating storms that destroyed crops, wiped out livestock and sent food prices spiraling.
At least 26 severely malnourished children have died in the past four weeks in the remote region of Baie d'Orange in Haiti's southeast, aid workers said Thursday, and there are fears the toll will rise much higher if help does not come quickly to the impoverished Caribbean nation.
Another 65 severely malnourished children are being treated in makeshift tent clinics in the mountainous area, or at hospitals where they were evacuated in Port-au-Prince and elsewhere, said Max Cosci, who heads the Belgian contingent of Doctors Without Borders in Haiti.
One evacuee, a 7-year-old girl, died while being treated, Cosci said, adding: "The situation is extremely, extremely fragile and dangerous."
Toll on bodiesAt a makeshift malnutrition ward at a Doctors Without Borders hospital in the capital, 10 emaciated children were under emergency care Thursday, their stomachs swollen and hair faded by pigmentation loss caused by malnutrition. Several had the puffy faces typical of kwashiorkor, a protein-deficiency disorder.
Five-year-old Mackenson Duclair, his ribs protruding and his legs little more than skin stretched over bones, weighed in at 19.8 pounds, even after days of drinking milk enriched with potassium and salt. Doctors said he needed to gain another five pounds before he could go home.
Dangling from a scale mounted from the ceiling, 4-year-old Venecia Lonis looked as limp as a rag doll as doctors weighed her, her huge brown eyes expressionless, her hair tied with bright yellow bows. Mackenson's grandmother, who has raised him since his mother died, said she barely has a can of corn grits to feed herself, the boy and her 8-year-old granddaughter each day. "These things did not happen when I was growing up," 72-year-old Ticouloute Fortune said. Rural families already struggling with soaring food prices in Haiti, the Western Hemisphere's poorest country, lost their safety nets when fields were destroyed and livestock wiped out by the storms, which killed nearly 800 people and caused $1 billion worth of damage in August and September. U.N. World Food Program country director Myrta Kaulard said she fears more deaths from malnutrition in other isolated parts of Haiti, and search and medical teams were fanning out in the northwest and along the southwestern peninsula to check. 'Always a bottleneck'The World Food Program has sent more than 30 tons of food aid — enough to feed 5,800 people for two weeks — into the remote southeastern region since September, and other groups funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development have sent food as well, she said. But the steep, narrow paths and poor visibility make it difficult to deliver the food to the mountain communities where hunger is worsening. In one case, a WFP truck flipped over while struggling up a hill and slid into a ravine, killing an aid worker. "There is always a bottleneck. The same situation that the people are facing is the same situation we're also facing," Kaulard told The Associated Press Thursday.
Battered by stormsThe mountain villages have long suffered from chronic hunger, growing only enough staples to feed themselves less than seven months out of the year, she said.
But families normally have enough to last through December. This year, Haiti's agriculture ministry estimates 60 percent of the harvest was lost in the storms nationwide. Land quality is already poor and farmers lost seeds for next year when the storms hit, Kaulard said.
Effects of the storms vary widely from village to village and even family to family. In some places, food supplies seem intact. In others, Doctors Without Borders has found rates of severe malnutrition as high as 5 percent.
Aid shortages may soon compound the problem. Donor countries have funded only a third of the U.N.'s $105 million aid appeal for Haiti following the storms, and resources could run out in January, Kaulard said. Shriveling framesAt the hospital Thursday, Enock Augustin sat beside the bed where his 5-year-old daughter Bertha was sleeping. The fragile-looking child was evacuated by helicopter Nov. 8 with vomiting and diarrhea. When she arrived, nearly a quarter of her body weight was due to fluid retention, a sign of severe protein deficiency. The swelling gradually receded as she was fed nutrient-enriched milk and treated with antibiotics and anti-worm medicine; she shrank to just 21 pounds. She has since gained about two pounds but can't go home until she reaches 26 pounds, doctors said. For months, the Augustin family had gotten by despite the soaring prices of corn grits and imported rice because they grew potatoes, which they could eat or barter for plantains, yams and breadfruit that did not fluctuate with the world market. But then, in August, Tropical Storm Fay hit, followed by Hurricane Gustav, Tropical Storm Hanna and Hurricane Ike. "Every time a hurricane came through, it killed our animals and plants," said Augustin, a father of six. The road was washed out, markets became unreachable and "the price of everything went sky high." The entire family subsisted on two cups of corn grits, and Bertha began shrinking — and then swelling — before his eyes. "She was really bad. We put her in the helicopter and they brought her here," Augustin said. "I hope the government will hear about us and bring more support."
December 17, 2008
Thank You NuSkin
My roommate works at NuSkin which means lots of perks for her and even for us a lot of the time. Her boss offered her 4 cougar club tickets to the BYU vs Portland game. Let me tell you, we got posh treatment. We knew we be getting dinner before the game, but it didn't end there.
Here's a shot from our seats-3 row court side.
Not only did we have sweet seats, but they each had a cooler under them with water bottles and gummy candies. 
We were pretty full by this point, but at half time everyone in the cougar club section left, so we followed them. Turns out we got even more half-time treats. Popcorn, brownies, soda, candy bars, fruit. It was out of control. Thanks again NuSkin! December 3, 2008
The Other Story of the Dominican Republic- This one's for you Shane
Every good story has some side-stories going on and my trip to the Dominican Republic was no different. Due to some, well, let's just say "interesting" circumstances, there were many, many awkward situations. Not bad awkward, but the funny awkwardness that I just love. Hopefully this post will let you all enjoy the awkwardness with me.
Background:
Flash back: 3 yeas ago I taught a missionary named Shane from Orem. Back to the present: One of my teachers served with Shane in Spain and updated me a little on his life. I found out Shane was thinking about going to the DR with a humanitarian group started by his home-ward bishop. I wanted in. Shane got me the information about IASK, I found an amazing price on airfare and long story short, Shane and I are on our way to the DR. Other important information before you start getting any ideas: Shane has a girlfriend.
Packing Day:
Two weeks before the trip, we had a packing day where we got to meet the team and fill two big check-on bags full of vitamins, hygiene kits, and medical/dental supplies. This is the first time Shane and I have seen each other in 3 years and the first time that we've seen almost everyone else coming on the trip. Shane decides it will be funny to tell people we are engaged. Real funny Shane. So we meet Lori and Clarence and their son. She asks how we know each other and Shane quickly replies, "She was my MTC teacher. We're engaged." I just started laughing, thinking Lori would realize he was kidding. But then five minutes later she turns to me and says, "Are you guys really engaged?" Again I laughed and told her no; this was actually the first time we'd seen each other in 3 years, and he has a girl friend. Then Lori says, "Good, 'cause that's just wrong."
Day 1:
On our first flight we sat next to a super nice man. When he found out we were on our way to the Dominican Republic the first thing he asked was, "Oh, are you on your honeymoon?" At that moment I realized that it was going to be a long trip of explanations.
Day 2:
Our taxi driver from the airport to Punta Cana was great. After talking for a bit he asks us if we are a couple. I say no and Shane says, "I wish." Our driver asks what the problem is. Shane says, "Well, she's older." The driver responds, "That's not a problem! My wife is older than me. All you need is I love, and I can tell that you have love."
Day 4:
We finally met up with the rest of the team in Higuey. After church we took some pictures and then headed back to the hotel. Shane and I were going to grab some lunch with four of the other team members. I walked in mid-conversation when Alec said, "so you guys are married." I'm not sure what Shane had been telling them and I thought they were just joking around, so I chimed in with, "well, he'll have to let his girlfriend know." Then the following conversation ensued:
Back at the hotel I'm trying to call resorts in La Romana since we still don't have anywhere to stay for the last night. Eric is standing next to me with Shane on my other side and just keeps saying, "Two months. I give you two months 'till you're engaged." Shane again keeps trying to perpetuate the joke by saying, "you'll have to convince her."
Day 9:
Our last full day at the resort Shane, in spirit of the jokes of the week, says, "Since we're pretty much married, I'm going to take you on our first date tonight for dinner." I say, "Shane, this is an all-inclusive resort. Dinner is included. It can't be a date because I already paid for myself. And I don't think your girlfriend wants you dating." So this is a picture of our non-date dinner.
Day 10:
Last day in the DR so we have to take one last picture for "the wedding video." :)
And just to finish the trip the way it began, when we flew into Puerto Rico the guy at costums said, "Hope you had a great honeymoon!"
Background:
Flash back: 3 yeas ago I taught a missionary named Shane from Orem. Back to the present: One of my teachers served with Shane in Spain and updated me a little on his life. I found out Shane was thinking about going to the DR with a humanitarian group started by his home-ward bishop. I wanted in. Shane got me the information about IASK, I found an amazing price on airfare and long story short, Shane and I are on our way to the DR. Other important information before you start getting any ideas: Shane has a girlfriend.
Packing Day:
Two weeks before the trip, we had a packing day where we got to meet the team and fill two big check-on bags full of vitamins, hygiene kits, and medical/dental supplies. This is the first time Shane and I have seen each other in 3 years and the first time that we've seen almost everyone else coming on the trip. Shane decides it will be funny to tell people we are engaged. Real funny Shane. So we meet Lori and Clarence and their son. She asks how we know each other and Shane quickly replies, "She was my MTC teacher. We're engaged." I just started laughing, thinking Lori would realize he was kidding. But then five minutes later she turns to me and says, "Are you guys really engaged?" Again I laughed and told her no; this was actually the first time we'd seen each other in 3 years, and he has a girl friend. Then Lori says, "Good, 'cause that's just wrong."
Day 1:
On our first flight we sat next to a super nice man. When he found out we were on our way to the Dominican Republic the first thing he asked was, "Oh, are you on your honeymoon?" At that moment I realized that it was going to be a long trip of explanations.
Day 2:
Our taxi driver from the airport to Punta Cana was great. After talking for a bit he asks us if we are a couple. I say no and Shane says, "I wish." Our driver asks what the problem is. Shane says, "Well, she's older." The driver responds, "That's not a problem! My wife is older than me. All you need is I love, and I can tell that you have love."
Day 4:
We finally met up with the rest of the team in Higuey. After church we took some pictures and then headed back to the hotel. Shane and I were going to grab some lunch with four of the other team members. I walked in mid-conversation when Alec said, "so you guys are married." I'm not sure what Shane had been telling them and I thought they were just joking around, so I chimed in with, "well, he'll have to let his girlfriend know." Then the following conversation ensued:
Alec: Wait, his girlfriend right now? You have a girlfriend? Are you serious? I'm so confused. Aren't you guys married?
Me: (with a laugh) No
Shane: She was my MTC teacher.
Eric: She was your MTC teacher? Didn't she teach you about locking your heart?!
Alec: I thought you guys were married this whole time. I was wondering why you had me take a picture after church with two cameras. 
Eric: Wait, I'm confused. Tell me again your guys' story.
For the rest of the afternoon they were joking about us getting married one day. They even made us take a picture at the Basilica to use in our wedding video.
Later that evening we were watching the office on Shane's iPod waiting for the team meeting to start. In walks Rich, the pharmacist. He was hilarious. He started telling us how last year he was running all over the place out at the Bateys sweating to death. He claimed he was too old for this. Then he said, "but you guys are what, 23?" I started laughing and told him I was 28. Then he looked at Shane and he said, "almost 22!" Here's Rich's reaction, "What?!" looking at me, "You're robbing the cradle! What were you doing, scoping him out when he was in junior high?" We just laughed. Then it was time to leave for the meeting. We never did set Rich straight. Pretty sure he still thinks we're married.
Days 5-7:
The next four days we were working so much that nothing too awkward happened. And I think people were just too embarrassed to ask. But here were a few of the conversations that did happen:
Some of the high school girls from Shane's homeward to Shane, "Shane, let's be serious. What's up with you and that girl? Are you really engaged? Dating? Do you like her?" Shane just smiled and walked away.
At dinner one night someone says to me, "Do you have kids?" I say, "I'm not married." "Wait," looking down the table to where Shane is, "you guys aren't a couple?" Lori jumps in and responds, "I know. Don't they just seem so natural together?!"
Day 8:
Our last night in Higuey we all went to dinner. We hadn't talked much with Andrew and Haley because they'd been so busy with dental. They never asked, but I'm pretty sure they thought we were together.
Back at the hotel I'm trying to call resorts in La Romana since we still don't have anywhere to stay for the last night. Eric is standing next to me with Shane on my other side and just keeps saying, "Two months. I give you two months 'till you're engaged." Shane again keeps trying to perpetuate the joke by saying, "you'll have to convince her."
Day 9:
Our last full day at the resort Shane, in spirit of the jokes of the week, says, "Since we're pretty much married, I'm going to take you on our first date tonight for dinner." I say, "Shane, this is an all-inclusive resort. Dinner is included. It can't be a date because I already paid for myself. And I don't think your girlfriend wants you dating." So this is a picture of our non-date dinner.
Day 10:Last day in the DR so we have to take one last picture for "the wedding video." :)
And just to finish the trip the way it began, when we flew into Puerto Rico the guy at costums said, "Hope you had a great honeymoon!"December 1, 2008
I'm Fabulous . . .at least Summer thinks so :)
My old roommate Summer granted me the fabulous blog award. The rules of this award are:
1. You have to pass it on to 5 other fabulous blogs in a post.
2. You have to list 5 of your fabulous addictions in the post.
3. You must copy and paste the rules and the instructions below in the post.
Instructions: On your post of receiving this award, make sure you include the person that gave you the award and link it back to them. When you post your five winners, make sure you link them as well. To add the award to your post, simply right-click, save image, then "add image" it in your post as a picture so your winners can save it as well. To add it to your sidebar, add the "picture" gadget. Also, don't forget to let your winners know they won an award from you by emailing them or leaving a comment on their blog.
My 5 addictions:
1. Traveling
2. Waterskiing
3. Cereal
4. Spanish
5. Zupas tomato basil soup
I now grant the fabulous awards to:
1. Sarah- She is one of my best friends. We share an addiction to traveling and Spanish. She recently got married and moved away to Baltimore :(.
2. Emi- She has the most adorable little girl and she makes the most amazing cupcakes I've ever seen. We spent 6 weeks in Guatemala together and she's AMAZING!
3. Nicole- She was one of my mission companions in Argentina and one of the most talented and fun people I know. Best 3 transfers of the mission!
4. Cindy- She was my roommate and we also taught together at the MTC. She is so much fun to spend time with and has an adorable little boy. She's a great mom!
5. Maurine- We were roommates before our missions and had some fun, crazy times. I loved every minute of it! She is so great with her little girl!
November 30, 2008
Day #10 Good Bye DR and Day #11 We Survived Another Night in the Tampa Airport
We got to spend one last day at the beach, well a half day anyone. Again it was beautiful. Today there were hardly any clouds at all which meant it was hot! We drank our last pina coladas, took one more swim in the ocean, and soaked up some last rays. Then it was off to the airport. We decided to be cheap and make it an adventure to get to the airport. We hopped in a gua-gua (like a little van-bus) and headed to Bayahibe. We picked up people on the way, then transferred to a different gua-gua. They packed so many people in! It was hilarious. We finally made it to the airport to start another 20 hour journey. Luckily we still had the office to entertain us :). We made it to Puerto Rico and then to Tampa and geared up for another long night in the airport. This time we hid from the security so that we wouldn't have to go to the main terminal. It was a little quieter in our terminal and halfway through the night we even found some padded benches! Still not the best night of sleep, but better than the first time around. We made it back to cold Salt Lake and back to reality. I am so grateful for the chance I had to work in the DR. I met some amazing people and had an incredible time.
November 26, 2008
Day #9 Catalonia Dominicus
We spent one last night at the Don Carlos and this morning we all got up early to head to our various resorts. The only problem for us? We hadn't booked anywhere yet because we weren't sure what we wanted to do. We were flying out of La Romana down on the south-east while everyone else was heading back up to Punta Cana. So we decided to wing it. Thomas, our taxi van driver said he'd take us down to the resorts and help us find the best deal. So we went to a couple that were super expensive, but they would always recommend somewhere cheaper. The second place we went to even called the resort next door, hooked us up with a great price, and sent us on our way. Maybe not the best business skills, but definitely great people skills. So we ended up at the Catalonia Dominicus just in time for the end of breakfast, then we were off to the beach. We were blessed with great weather again. The strange thing is that there was a least some rain every day we were working. But our two beach days so far have been nothing but sunshine. 
This resort was super European. There were a ton of French and Italian speakers. Up at Punta Cana there was a lot more Spanish speakers and Americans. November 22, 2008
Day #8 Campo Nuevo
Campo Nuevo was great! The church we used was huge and had a concrete fence which was great! At other churches we had been using the fence was just sticks and barbed wire. Yesterday the fence came crashing down because the people were pressing up so hard against it. 
There was plenty of room to set everyone up inside. It was really hot today though. I'm not sure if it was just bad ventilation or if it just was hotter.
Dr. Tidwell and Bruce (the dentists) were on fire again. There were over 300 kids in Campo Nuevo so we told everyone that we only brought medicines for kids. There just wasn't enough time to see adults. But some of the adults were coming up to the window next to Bruce and telling him they needed teeth pulled. He'd take a quick look, give them a numbing shot, and a couple minutes later pull the tooth out. This was all through the window. It was hilarious! I'll try to get a picture of it from someone.
Today is probably the most Creole we had. The first 5 or so people we saw didn't speak any Spanish at all. So Vincent (the guy in the light blue pants) was there to interpret for us. He is from Haiti and works at a resort in Punta Cana, but had come today to help us out. He speaks English, Spanish, Creole, and French. He was a huge help! He also decided to give me some great dating advice :)
The living places out here were more apartment style. I'm not sure if this Batey is older or newer than the other ones we went to.
This is our taxi van driver Christian. He was HILARIOUS!!!! Here we are in front of the sugar can fields. Below is a video of Christian and Bruce singing happy birthday. November 21, 2008
Day #7 Tocones
This is probably my favorite picture that I took.
On the way out to Batey Tocones.
We had 2 dentists with us today and they were on fire! They seriously must have pulled out a ton a teeth between the two of them. The kids weren't as sick today so it was a lot more Tylenol, fungal cream, and tums prescribed. But that's good.
Sara and I in action
Future Abercrombie model?
She was so cute..........and hungry
Emily, me, Silvestre, ShaneSilvestre was a huge help to us. He lives in Tocones and helped to translate into Creole when we needed. He has a big family, but like most has lost 3 sisters.
November 20, 2008
Day #6 Guajabo
Today was a better day. People were more grateful and we saw a lot more kids that were actually sick. The pastor and his family were a huge help with crowd control and keeping everyone at a distance. We got to be outside in the back because they had a nice patio thing out there. It was really nice to have the fresh air. Our team is so fantastic! Seriously. Everyone is so great. They are easy going but work hard and have fun while doing it. 
A lot more people spoke Creole today than yesterday. A majority of the people that live in the Bateys are from Haiti. They flee from there for a "better life" here, and the sugar cane companies are convinced that they are giving them a better life. Sure, it's better than what they had, but it is by no means a "good life."
This boy is 8 years old. That's right. 8. He has some type of genetic disease so he doesn't really age.
The cool kids
So cute
The houses they live in. Two families per house, no running water..
Have you ever seen someone so happy about a bag of vitamins? :).
November 19, 2008
Day #5 Palo Bonito
Today was a wonderful/rewarding/frustrating/hard/fun/exciting day. Really. There were so many emotions to it. We left early and loaded up in our taxi vans and head for our first Batey of the week-Palo Bonito (pretty stick). We just shouted out the windows that there would be medicine and doctors for the kids at the church. We pulled up to I think an evangelist church and went to find the pastor. He let us in and we went to work setting up. The kids were so excited to see us and they were so stinkin cute! They loved getting their pictures taken so we did that for a little while. Then we began the line up. 
I was assigned to work as the interpreter with Dr. Sara Daly. She was great to work with. Pretty much everyone would say "Tengo gripe, fiebre, dolor de cabeza, dolor de variga, y no puedo comer." Most of the kids weren't too sick, and we could just give them over the counter medicines if anything at all. We did see one little baby girl who was super lethargic. Her mom said she had been like that for a month. Sara prescribed her something and then after the mom took her way, Sara told me she didn't think the baby would make it much longer. It was so sad. In the states we would take a baby in that condition to the hospital and get IVs started, etc. But they don't have the same luxury here. We were surveying a lot of the families to get a feel for living conditions. Most people talked to had lost 1-3 children. That's a super high death rate. It hasn't been that bad in the states since the 1800's. But that's part of life for them. It shouldn't be though. 
People started hopping the fence and trying to glimpses of what was going on inside. At one point we got pretty claustrophobic because so many people were trying to get in.
At the end of the day we went outside and the kids just wanted to play some more. They were so loving. Children are so loving and innocent. 
Day #4 Higuey
At 5:30 am we got up and checked out of our sweet resort so we could go catch the bus into Higuey and meet up with the team. The $3 dollar bus ride sounded super appealing compared to a $70 taxi. So we threw all our bags on (at this point we still have our carry-on bags and two check in bags each with 50 pounds of medicines and supplies). This wasn't a nice traveling bus so we just had to throw all the bags in the aisle and watch as more and more people crammed on. It definitely brought back memories of the buses in Guatemala. Just as we pulled into Higuey it started to pour and pretty much rained the rest of the day. But we made it to Don Carlos, our slightly ghetto hotel, with plenty of time to walk to church with the others.
Church was fantastic!!! I loved every minute of it. I made a new friend named Jacquelin. She was so sweet. She has a little 8 year old son. The members were so welcoming and appreciative to us for being there. 
It's the only ward in the whole city with only 2 missionaries, so they have their hands full. There was a confirmation of a man who had been baptized the day before. What an incredible experience to see that ordinance take place. I went up to congratulate him after the meeting and asked how long he had been meeting with the missionaries. He said he was actually from a different city and had met the missionaries there. He believed and wanted to be baptised but his wife didn't want anything to do with it. So he decided to leave and move to Higuey. He got all choked up and began crying about how he had moved here three weeks ago and was all alone, but now he has a family in the church. It was so touching to see the sacrifices he had made to come unto Christ. What a great example.
After church we grabbed some food then went to see the Basilica. It's a cathedral that holds a painting of the Virgin de la Altagracia which the Spaniards brought over in the 1500's. I guess in January tens of thousands of Pilgrims visit the cathedral.
That evening Emily and her group showed up. It was fun to have a familiar face there.
This is the A team. There were over 50 of us so we were split into 2 teams to go out to different Bateys each day. 
These are the interpreters. We met Sunday night at the church to get organized and understand a little better what was going to be happening that week. Basically every day we would be going out to a different Batey. Bateys are housing communities that the sugar cane companies have their workers live it. They pay them about $3 a day depending on how much work they get done. There's not running water and only some houses have electricity. It's pretty much slavery and was heartbreaking to see.
That night we sorted suitcases full of medicine to get ready to take out the next day. This is just one of the bags full of Tylenol.
Church was fantastic!!! I loved every minute of it. I made a new friend named Jacquelin. She was so sweet. She has a little 8 year old son. The members were so welcoming and appreciative to us for being there. It's the only ward in the whole city with only 2 missionaries, so they have their hands full. There was a confirmation of a man who had been baptized the day before. What an incredible experience to see that ordinance take place. I went up to congratulate him after the meeting and asked how long he had been meeting with the missionaries. He said he was actually from a different city and had met the missionaries there. He believed and wanted to be baptised but his wife didn't want anything to do with it. So he decided to leave and move to Higuey. He got all choked up and began crying about how he had moved here three weeks ago and was all alone, but now he has a family in the church. It was so touching to see the sacrifices he had made to come unto Christ. What a great example.
After church we grabbed some food then went to see the Basilica. It's a cathedral that holds a painting of the Virgin de la Altagracia which the Spaniards brought over in the 1500's. I guess in January tens of thousands of Pilgrims visit the cathedral.That evening Emily and her group showed up. It was fun to have a familiar face there.This is the A team. There were over 50 of us so we were split into 2 teams to go out to different Bateys each day. These are the interpreters. We met Sunday night at the church to get organized and understand a little better what was going to be happening that week. Basically every day we would be going out to a different Batey. Bateys are housing communities that the sugar cane companies have their workers live it. They pay them about $3 a day depending on how much work they get done. There's not running water and only some houses have electricity. It's pretty much slavery and was heartbreaking to see.That night we sorted suitcases full of medicine to get ready to take out the next day. This is just one of the bags full of Tylenol.
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