Today was a very different day! Instead of going to the work site and doing more construction we donated more of the supplies and flip flops to two other schools. The first school was not on a Batey but was in an extremely poor section of town. One of our friends from the hospital - Daniel lives close by this school, and said they the children and the school were I. Desperate need of anything that we could spare to give them. The children ranged in age from 5-11years old (50 students in total) and as soon as we walked in the door they started smiling and wanting us to play with them. We played for a little bit and then took a tour of the school - 1 playroom, 1 library (and I use that word loosely), 1 kitchen, 2 classrooms, a small kitchen and eating area and a medium sized play yard. The text books in the classroom had been damaged by water and much use from year to year, they had some games, and some toys, one plastic jungle gym and not much more, but the children were HAPPY! We took them all outside and gave each child a new pair of flip flops and they were over the moon excited! After they sang us two songs and were clapping and cheering! After the songs were finished we were able to give the principal and the teachers, new school supplies and balls for the school, underwire for every child and a donation of $450 for new books and supplies for the classrooms! It was a very emotional time for all of us!
When we were finished with this school we went back to Batey Palo Blanco to give school supplies and more flip flops to the other session of primary grade students!
This evening we spent time with the Central Romana Rotary Club! This club is celebrating 70 years this month and is an incredibly warm and welcoming group of people! It is always so good to have the opportunity to meet with them and join them for fellowship! The incoming President of this club is also the director of the Family Clinic in La Romana, whom I have met with on several occasions. Tonight we donated over 100 pounds of supplies and flip flops to her for her summer camp program for the children of the clinic and who are among the poorest, and sometimes in extremely poor health, and live in La Romana and the surrounding area. (Pictures to follow later).
Tomorrow we have some time off, but I will be sharing another story of Manuel whom we have worked with this week and tell his story. The work that we are doing is amazing and we are truly assisting a population of people in such desperate need, but the people that we have met are equally amazing, and I feel truly blessed to have had the opportunity to meet with and work with such outstanding individuals!
Until tomorrow...
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