Bosque Arriba & Good News Update

Work continues on the project in Bosque Arriba.

We hope to have it ready to be painted when the group from Sacred Heart arrives near the end of July.

GREAT NEWS!

Our visit with the president of the republic has paid off! On Monday July 9^th I will receive the papers that will give us control of the property we have been seeking. We will build a softball diamond on the new property which we hope to then trade for the property we want in front of our complex here in Don Juan, which is the present softball field.Anyone want to help us build a softball diamond?

Children's Global Health Alliance

On June 23^rd Jeff Anderson arrived in the DR. Now a medical student at the University of Pennsylvania, Jeff first came to Don Juan on a project three years ago sponsored by his fraternity, Sigma Chi, while he was a student at the University of Rochester, NY. 

His heart was deeply touched by the obvious health needs of the children here in the DR. Since then Jeff and his friends have started their own foundation, Children's Global Health Alliance, to service the health needs of children, pregnant women, and mothers in the Third World. They are in the process of partnering with us in the municipal district of Don Juan.

Jeff spent his week here interviewing mothers, doctors, nurses, visiting homes, area bateyes, local clinics, and health services. Most clinics were very cooperative but not all,  the clinic that deals with AIDS patients was not.

His findings were a mixed bag as a few health services function quite well, and while look great on paper, the actual services provided do not match the description. Children's Global Health Alliance.

Eighth grade graduation

Last month we celebrated the eighth grade graduation at the school in Don Juan.

This was the second graduating class since the school opened.

The ceremony was very elegent.

A container packed with blessings

For some months now three parishes in Auburn, Sacred Heart, St. Alphonsos, Holy Family; and St. Catherine of Siena in Ithaca, as well as many friends of the foundation, have been collecting items to send to support the foundation in the DR. The parishes have collected school supplies, furniture, medicines, school desks, clothing, and medical equipment, as well as many other useful things. A generator was sent for me to use when there is no electric for two to four days. 

 Enough materials were gathered to fill a forty-foot container.

 Originally the container was supposed to arrive on the 18th of June, but it did not arrive until the 20^th. Luckily the driver arrived early and tired on the 20^th. The driver napped, but left the doors open, so five firemen and other volunteers, under the leadership of Ed Galka could begin to pack it.

 You have only two hours to pack a container; it is $95 for each additional hour.

 The container is now on board a ship that has sailed and is due to arrive this coming Saturday. Then the work begins of getting it through customs, unloaded, and its many blessings distributed to many, many welcoming hands.