The Diocese of the Dominican Republic is a sister diocese to the Diocese of Southwest Florida. We send a Vacation Bible School Mission Team down every summer.
Here's the latest update from our Missioner in the D.R., Karen Carroll:
October 2007
HOGAR UPDATE
As our companion Diocese, the Dominican Republic is closely linked to us. One area that Bishop Holquin, of the D. R., has regarded as a priority is elderly care. It is for that reason that Hogar Obispo Isaac was created. Opening day came after 2 years of construction and preparation, and we are now 5 months old. What a challenge! At this time there are 4 residents who are being given care by a very compassionate staff. They are an interesting group of residents – 2 women and 2 men. All are paying a small amount or what their families can afford. Could you imagine paying $200 a month for elderly care here in the States!
Albania is blind and stays in bed or a chair most of the day. Teresa has been known to shed her clothes and dance on the upstairs balcony. Bernardo is into voodoo, and Titi is a kindly wonderful man. All their families are appreciative for what we are doing for their relatives.
We are blessed with 2 doctors who run medical clinics in the hogar and look after the residents medical problems. They also offer care to the community at a cost of $4.00 ($2.00 of that goes to the hogar.) We have an active campaign to find more residents in a country that is used to taking care of the elderly in their family in their home. The issue is allowing for the families to work outside their homes to provide for all.
TITI'S BIRTHDAY
What a joyous celebration the Hogar was a part of in early October. Titi is the first resident of the Hogar and is a kindly, gentle man. In his youth he worked in the sugar cane fields. His family is spread out over the country and they came to us 5 months ago for help in caring for him. Because of family circumstances they were only able to pay $2000 pesos a month (about $60 US), but they also provide his high blood pressure medication. He is in fairly good health, uses a cane, can climb the stairs, and even helps with some of the other residents.
We had a promise from the local bakery to provide a cake for the resident's birthdays, and Titi's was the first. An announcement was made in church the week before inviting the church community to the hogar for the celebration the next week. What a surprise for Titi! He had never in his 77 years had a birthday cake or party! All week long he sat up on the second floor balcony calling to people passing by on the street to come to his party. As the week passed the anticipation grew, and it occupied his every conversation. Early the Sunday of the party, a barber came to the hogar to give him a hair cut and shave and new clothes were ironed. A HUGE cake came from the bakery, and at 4 o'clock the people started arriving. There was music, dancing, lots of singing, and the "king" of the party was beaming. Probably 100 people joined in on the celebration and many hugs were given to Titi. What joy for him, the church community, and the local community to see that the hogar is really a nice place to live.
November 2007
Check out this picture taken of Karen's birthday celebration!
Contact
- Andi Gorton (727) 421-7704