Day 3 - La Romana (2/4/14)

Well today was the day that I realized why I am doing this trip, why I am continuing to come and do this work, and how I found out I have made a difference!

Yesterday before Wascar and I went with Kevin and Gary to build the new latrine we wanted to see the success of the working Latrine we built last year.  We drove to Batey 105 to see the latrine, and both Wascar and I were shocked and complete saddened to see what had come of our latrine.  Nothing had been done with it since the day we left a year ago.  Last year our team had built the latrine from the foundation up.  Cinderblock by cinderblock, mixing the cement, layering it, measuring it, putting the roof on and making sure that it was ready to be used.  Yesterday we saw graffiti on the walls, garbage and waste on the floors and nothing had been done at all.  No doors, No paint and No toilets!!!  We took pictures and left the batey saying we had to do more.  Wascar and I said that Nothing could be done until we finished this latrine. 

We came back to the house and had a long talk with the coordinator of the program.  This was not acceptable and the two of us would finish this on our own if we had to this HAD to be completed.  After a long conversation, we had made it happen.  Wascar and I were going back to batey 105!

 

Today we arrived and gallons of paint and paint brushes were waiting for us.  We had a team of 6 construction workers already started working and we were on our way to completion!  Along with the construction workers Wascar and I swept the floors, cleaned the walls, painted the outside and inside of the latrine.  We assisted in laying the cement on the floor in preparation of the installation of the toilets!  By the way the toilets are Western style toilets, minus the toilet seat.  Not sure what will happen with that, but it's a start!!!  We have made such a difference...  The health promoter told us they need this so bad and no one has assisted since last year.  People just go to the bathroom, where ever they are... This can not continue and hopefully it won't. 

 

Tomorrow we will be going back to the batey to assist with the installation of the toilets and the doors...

Additionally we brought a suitcase of the donations from all of you to hand out to the children of the batey!  Each child got a notebook, colored and regular pencils, a pencil sharpener, crayons, a jump rope and balls!!!!  Their faces lit up when they received all of these goodies!  Some of the children started drawing pictures for Wascar and I and others went and put them right away in their napsacks!  The little kids started playing with the balls and of course the bubbles.  The parents were so pleased with the goodies!!! Hopefully it will keep them busy!

 

It is amazing the goodness in the hearts of so many can make a difference that we will never know the true meaning.  Wascar and I (with your help) made a difference in the lives of 100 families on the batey, and this is just the beginning.....