Hospital visits with newborn kits

In March of 2012 the last of the newborn kits arrived in the DR via Jolona and Jim.  Grandma Toni had been busy since October of 2011 gathering supplies and sewing receiving blankets and little gowns to donate to new babies.  There were many willing helpers that donated pins, socks material, soap and diapers.

Counting the kits the Goodriches brought when they visited, there was a total of 176  kits  brought from Roosevelt! 



We visited the same hospital on both visits.  It is a maternity hospital in an older part of the city in the eastern part of Santo Domingo.  The cement was broken and patched and there wasn't a designated parking lot or place...we parked in whatever space we could find.

Elder Saint-Hilare(left), a temple worker, brought us to the hospital.  The floor tiles were broken and there were few lights.  All the corridors were dark and narrow.   We all left appreciating what we have a home.

As we went from room to room the head nurse would say don't leave her a kit, her baby died.  That happened in three different rooms.  We would go ahead and make sure the cccupants were presentable for the kids to visit.  If the patients wanted  a sheet for their bed they had to bring it with them, otherwise they laid on the plastic covered mattress.  They shared the bed with their baby.    We made our visit with the Goodriches on Christmas day. 

Everyone was happy to be photographed and were pleased to receive a bag of baby things.

To visit one wing of the hospital a gown needed to be worn.  Sister Saint-Hilare was the organizer of our trip and was very pleased to take us to the hospital.  She has started an organization in the DR to help new mothers and orphanages.          There were some rooms that she wouldn't let our grandkids go into because it was the area of high infection risk.

The mothers didnt stay long.  Many left on the same day. 
We were very grateful for the efforts of so many to touch a few lives and make just a little difference.

Beggers and Street Salesmen



Unless it is raining this fellow is in the same intersection every day on our way to work. He is very pleasent, looking for whatever anyone will give him.

Just down the street from our home we see this man most mornings. He has two prosthesis so he rolls up his pants in hope someone will feel sorry for him and give him a little something. We often give him a granola bar.

This fellow has lost his leg(s) and slides along at a busy intersection begging for whatever he can get.

This young man has a stub for one arm, so he has to show that off by taking it out of his shirt so people will feel sorry for him.   That is the MO of most beggars here.



She is on her way to try to sell these on the street to make a dime.

This fellow has a three wheeled bicycle loaded with sugarcane that he is selling in pieces ready to eat. These carts share the road with the traffic and drivers have learned to drive around them.

How about a pair of super sunglasses.  How do you like the "hair jewelry"? 

At busy intersections you can almost always buy a phone card to use as calling minutes for your phone or phone cords or phone cases.

Anyone for a little squash or avocado?

This gives a whole new meaning to 'sidewalk sale'.

Would you like a canteen made from the cows foot?

Save yourself a trip to the grociery store and buy bananas, platanos, batatas, yuca or 'fresh' eggs. Notice the scales to weigh your produce.  This is a common sight. If a man has a truck, he has a business on wheels.  

Elections in the Dominican Republic

There were two main candidates in the election of May 2012. One of the candidates was Hipolito Mejia, know as "Papa".  He had been president before a few years previous. 



The other main cnadidate was Danilo Medina.
Lots of the signs were huge but there were thousands of small ones everywhere!

In the weeks building up to the election there were campaign rallies with the streets loaded with people and cars painted  for each political party. The parties have colors so you know by the color of the cars and flags who they were supporting.

There wre literally hundreds if not thousands of cars painted in support of one candidate or another.
One afternoon coming home from church we passed a convoy of over 100 cars and trucks headed east on the freeway.

We happened to be in the street the day this political parade rally passed by.

The were all sorts of vehicles painted up...in this case for Papa. 

This one looks a lot like a police car painted  with a canadates colors.

This is a Papa rally with Danilo signs visible in the background.

More Papa supporters with  another Danilo sign visible.  We weren't sure that we were going to be able to get through. 

The election was close with Danilo finally winning. We were glad it was finally finished and we could travel  around town without running into someone's rally.

When it rains it often dumps. It is not uncommon to get an inch or two of water in a quick storm. The windows steam up on the outside. In addition to the large puddles, you just have trouble seeing where you are going.

There is often garbage along the curb that is washed down in the storm



Many curbs are deep. A lot of water moves down the curb in a storm.

Sometimes where the roads has a grade and when the water comes down the hill to the next intersection there is a water shute.

One day as we made our way to the office we passed through this lake in the road. The water was up to the bottom of the door. Notice the missionaries car following us.

Often the curbs are not enough to carry the water from the storm

This is an intersection on one of the several blocks between our house and the Temple. If you look close you can see the curb and sidewalk under several inches of water.

Christmas in the Dominican Republic



Christmas in the Dominican Republic begins the first part of October and runs for about three and one half months ending on January 6-Three Kings day.  That is when gifts are exchanged.

A large  tower in a park  on one of the main streets has been made into a Christmas tree

One business put this large bow on the side of their building turning it into a big gift!

All along main streets these Christmas decorations and trees are displayed and sold.

More decorations. They are made out of willows, vines and sticks, then some get a coat of paint and glitter.

And still more decorations

The Bill Goodrich family at the manger scene at the temple on Christmas day.

The Santo Domingo Temple

One of the most beautiful places in Santo Domingo is the temple grounds.  In contrast to the rest of the city, you can find peace and quiet in a clean and well cared for grounds.

            
                  
       As you drive through the gate you see plants larger than elephant ears on your left

      Then, on the right you get your first glimpse of the temple through the palm trees.

 Everywhere you look plants are shaped and trimmed into beautiful designs.  This shot is taken near the front entrance looking to the south west.....

 and then turning around and taking another shot toward the front door.  Elder Snow is in the picture.

 Walking around the corner and looking north along the west fence.

 looking back at the same shot from the other end of the hedges.

 West of the temple.  the pink and orange flowers are the national flower.

 All the trimming is done with hand trimmers...no electric tools!

 Looking at Angel Moroni from the west side of the temple.

 Everywhere you look, all around the temple are neatly trimmed bushes and shrubs.

 Following an earthquake in January scaffolding went up to check for any damage.  Everything seemed to be okay.

What an amazing place and what a blessing to the people here.