Dominican Republic volunteer

Fundraising for the school

2006-11-23T15:09:00.000-08:00

..and you thought I'd never post again.

Let me tell you dear reader. Once you have experienced the highs and lows of mission in the Dominican Republic, the story never ends.

Of course I'll go back. But I want to go back to help build a school in Los Algadones. Here's the good news - permission has been granted to lay 1.5miles of pipe so that these desperate people can get water. Also there is the possibility of land adjacent to the village being purchased which would be used for re-housing.

As mentioned previously, there is a need for the building of a school. This will bring hope and a chance for these people to not die in the mud. They will take this opportunity. I have seen the school at Ascention and it is an edifying experience seeing the kids being taught. I want to see this happen at Los Algadones too!

We have set a goal of £50,000 which will cover construction and kitting it out. We've already raised £5k so only another £45k to go!

We intend to do a sponsored 'the Three Peaks Challenge' next year. However, all gifts (however small) are greatly appreciated! Make your cheques payable to 'Mission Direct' and send them to the charity at the address on their website. (I've just become a Trustee of MD!) Make sure you download a Gift aid form from thesite and make sure you state its for the School at Los Algadones.

I'll keep you up to date with how its going.

Sorry, one more thing..

2006-09-27T13:11:00.000-07:00

..I just love this photo. These young lads scavenge at the dump. We gave them soap, toothpaste, a t-shirt and some food. They gave us joy and a lesson in humanity.

I think we got the best part of the deal.

Final thoughts

2006-09-27T12:34:00.000-07:00

I have had to have a break from posting to allow myself to draw conclusions from this incredible two week experience. I want to thank you for sharing this journey with you, it has felt at times as if you have been here with me dear reader.

Perhaps next year you will...

So what conclusions have I drawn?

Firstly: I can't change the world. I can't even change DR. Even Jesus said 'the poor will always be with you' but that doesn't mean we can do nothing. DR is now a country firmly placed in my heart. Its a country of great natural beauty but one of such marked contrast. Heat/Rain, Poverty/Wealth, green pastures/desert, Dominican/Haitian, Life/death, Heaven/Hell.

The school in Algadones WILL happen. We will raise those funds. Already through this blog I have had contact with a very dear friend from Pompey who has offered invaluable service to the cause. This WILL make a difference to the young in that village and give them a chance to get off the bottom rung. Otherwise, in the same way that they were born in the mud, so they will die in the mud too. This is a change we CAN make!

If you want to contribute to this cause, give me a call (07768367195)

Secondly: Building houses is not what this trip is about. Its about building relationships. When you pick up a child and give him attention, it may be the only bit of individual attention he gets all day. Yes, dignity comes from having shelter, food, clothes, but we can have our dignity taken from us even when we have these things. I believe we all crave validation, validation that we are a person of worth, and this is a desire that goes to the heart of our very soul. This we can give to these downtrodden people by visiting them in hospital and holding their hand, laughing with them at the dump without holding our noses, cuddling a child even though he smells of excrement because water and nappies are in short supply or genuinely being honoured when invited into a Haitians' leaking, rodent infested shack that he and his family call home.

I like looking at Haitian peoples teeth. Why? Because if I can see them it means they're probably laughing.

Finally: Yet again I have received more than I have given. These trips teach you more about yourself than about other people. Your baggage comes with you. Your fears, your temper, your hopes and your regrets, and this will come out. But its a time of reflection too, if you have a faith, it is strengthened, if you don't, you may just start to get one. It forces you to ask those big 'life questions', and you never know, you may find the answer can be found in a man who walked this earth 2000 years ago.

Whatever, if I have come back the same person that left, the trip will have been a failure. To those of you that know me, I'll leave you to decide...

Saying goodbye

2006-09-21T15:42:00.000-07:00

Today we said goodbye to the village. Emotions were mixed. I'm tired and ready to go home. I miss Debbie, the kids, the dog, a mug of tea.

Work doesn't seem important, Pompey's results seem insignificant, I don't even want to go boxing. Watching the X Factor almost seems a sin!

Reality will bite on Monday and it is easy how quickly I revert to type and stress myself out over the least important things which so much of this world just consider a dream. Contentedness equals shelter, food and clothing mixed with a dose of love. Hopefully, somewhere in the past two weeks we have been able to administer a dose of this to some of the people we have come into contact with.

I want to keep the momentum going, otherwise I will forget. It has been as equally therapeutic for me to write this blog as it seems to have been enjoyable for you to receive. Thank you for all the comments you have made.

Once back in blighty I will put down some final thoughts.

Andy has updated his photos: www.flickr.com/photos/andyindr

The poor and the poorer

2006-09-19T13:14:00.000-07:00

You think you've seen it all, and then another sight shocks you to the core.

Today, we went to a village far up in the mountains called Agadonis. So far, the worst village we had visited was Caravallo at the beginning of the trip. This however was poorer as its remoteness meant that the village has no water. Its a slum, and yet the government charges these poor people rent!! What kind of landlord charges rent to people knowing that they are poor and have to buy in water? Because water is a scarce commodity, they very rarely wash. This leads to illness and suffering. The children walk around through open sewerage.

Consider this true fact. In your stomach juices, dear reader, you have about one hundred parasites. In a teaspoon of a child in the village, there can be as many as one hundred thousand. I write these as words so you do not think that I have made a typo.

There is a desperate need for medicine, sanitation and education. The Haitian people differ from the Dominicans in that they see education as a means of getting off the bottom rung through getting a job and providing for the family. They don't really want handouts.

A spot of land to the edge of the village has been bought by a wonderful missionary called Jana who has earmarked it for a school. It will cost US$7,000 to build.

The great news is that sufficient funds are available to build the school, the bad news is that its still in your pocket!! This is a project we have felt lead to take on. We'd love to see this become a reality.

Another game of football on a makeshift pitch resulted in pride being restored for the English.

We had gone there to help cement a floor of a shack, as most are floored with mud which results in all sorts of parasites and illnesses being picked up by the dwellers. However, there were sufficient hands already set to this pump, but rather than stand around, our group got the kids together for a kick-about. Its one of the things that I have valued about this group. They are all 'dooers' and have thrown themselves into everything asked of them. the kids loved the attention.

Haitian children are beautiful. They know no different but deserve so much more. The harshness of their existence was heightened even more in the afternoon where we helped in a feeding programme run by Jana. This simply involves giving each child an egg, a bit of nan bread and a glass of milk.

A handicapped boy was brought in. He could not walk, and may have had slight learning difficulties. His hunger was self evident. Jana has ministered to this village for five years and yet did not know him. It transpired that he had never been let out of his house (if you could call it that)

Handicapped children will never be able to support the family and so have less worth than a 'normal' child. They are therefore fed less food than their brothers and sisters. This boy could offer joy and pleasure to someone and was an object to be loved, but I fear for his future.

I carried him back to his 'casa' having been directed to it by a child. I knocked at the door and handed the boy to his brother. The boy just put him on the floor and went back to what he was doing before I arrived. I took one last look at the little boy shuffling accross the floor before the door closed on me.

I'm now sitting in an internet cafe in Sosua crying as I write this. I want to do so much more. I feel helpless. The need is so great and I am so weak. This doesnt mean howeverthat I can abrogate my responsibility. This is not the end of the journey...

Work and Play.

2006-09-18T13:47:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much everyone for emailing or commenting. You lift my spirits.

Mission allows the privelidge of seeing and experiencing many beautiful sights. On Saturday, whilst the rest of the team took a Cable Car up the mountain at Puerto Plata (which really is like Pompey with tropical weather) Baz, Simon and I visited the originally named '27 waterfalls.' This involves an hour and a half hike & swim to the top of the mountain and then following the river back down including jumping of cliff ledges into deep water pools.

Health & safety wouldnt allow it in the UK, but here in DR, as long as you pay, someone will take you. Those that know me know I am not a strong swimmer, and as we swam against the current, with high steep walls either side, the two guys got further ahead, and I experienced a new sensation I had never had before. PANIC ATTACK.

My mid life crisis that I am in about my third year of means that I have to overcome challenges, and this was one that I was not to be beaten. Once I had been calmed down, I went on to complete the 27 and then did the first seven again with the rest of the team who had now turned up.

It was inevitable that Sunday was going to be flat. Suffice to say, after the exhileration of the week, people were tired and needed space. We went to a Haitian church, and yet I sat there feeling completely unable to experience anything remotely 'spiritual' I was angry with team members, I was angry with the Haitian people and I was angry with myself for going on this trip and leaving my family behind. (I love them so much)

A man called Gilly, a Haitian builder who works on the building site came up to me in the middle of the church and said that because I was his friend he expected me to give him money. Take take, take, that's all you people seem to do.

As humans we have short memories. I need to remind myself that it was only three days ago I was writing about the cheapness of life, but we mustn't forget that I'm human too, and can only give so much.

We played against the soccer team in the afternoon, it was again a close game in which we went away honourable losers. One hour in the heat was harder than a day on the site, and after a couple of cold beers in the evening in the hotel bar I had the best nights sleep of the trip....

...We all needed to get our teeth in to something, and today (monday) we were given the task of laying a drive outside a medical center in Sosua Bottom which is the poorer end of Sosua. Currently, the ill have to wait outside in the mud, so we were asked to concerete it. The temperature of 40 degrees prevented us from donning donkey jackets and putting on broad Irish accents.

Now this is DR, and a promise of a delivery of a cement mixer at 9.30 am means nothing. Therefore, until it arrived at midday, we mixed the stuff ourselves. 5 men, five shovels, 2 wheelbarrows , a pile of sand, a pile of ballast, and tons of bags of cement.

We completed the task by 3pm. Spirits are high. We are now off for a beer in Eddys Bar which is an English Bar. We've deserved it.

There's a sense of satisfaction about completing this task. Its cemented us as a team (sorry, no pun intended) Its reminded us why were here. You can get too idealistic. Not all Haitians are good people, not all Dominicans are, and certainly not all English are! Not everyone says thank you and not everyone appreciates our hard work. However, we're not here for praise, we're not here to earn Gods forgiveness or his love, we're here because we see a need of fellow human beings and have the opportunity to do something about it.

Go to the Mission Direct website right now and sign up for a trip.

First of all, have a look at some more photos Andy has downloaded.

www.flickr.com/photos/andyindr

A matter of Life & Death

2006-09-15T12:43:00.000-07:00

Its been a tough day for some of the lads. Andy, Kev & Baz chose to work in the village on the house building. Phil, Brian & myself went and worked in a clinic which we set up in one of the settlements near Puerta Plata. Phil & I weighed & gave de-worming medicine to about a hundred children. It was a sweet morning with much hilarity and a steady stream of beautiful children who were all impecably behaved and bravely took their medicine.

At the bottom of Ascension village, there is a river which separates the new village from Caravello slum. The guys were invited to visit the slum to partake in a wake. However, when they got there, all was not as it seemed. A haitian man had been murdered and his body remained where it fell. The police had come but because it was a haitian man, they really weren't interested, and eventually a dirty old truck arrived and four men picked his body up (rigor mortis had now set in) and threw his body into the open truck.

Case closed.

Life is cheap in DR, and its even cheaper if you are haitian. I think this was a candid demonstration of this fact.

Walking back to the building sight, the guys were met by Milo, a really amiable Haitian builder who has previously invited us into his humble abode. Yesterday he had asked Andy to pray for his heavily pregnant wife who was suffering pains. Today, Milo proudly held his newborn daughter in his arms.

Ever seen grown men cry?

Thank you everyone!

2006-09-14T13:14:00.000-07:00

One of the great blessings when you are away on mission is hearing from loved ones back home. The response to this blog has been phenominal, and coupled with the hotmail emails has made me truly grateful. Please continue to respond. It spurs me on to write more.

Because of the cost of internet, please do not be offended, but I cannot personally reply to your emails.

And so today, to the trip which I was most looking forward to. The Rubbish Tip.

I know of no place on earth which can make you so grateful for the riches we all have. A dump is no place for an adult, yet alone a child, and yet, rummaging through that which has been discarded by the rest of us, both adults and children eek out an existence.

Its hot, it stinks (one member of our party retched as soon as we opened the door) there are flies everywhere, and the people are filthy,but somehow it is an edifying experience.

I guess its edifying because it does make you grateful for what we have, but its more than that, as its also that these people are actually so gracious and welcoming to us. We sang, we laughed, we were the same, God's children. Its just that the stork dropped us in a far better place.

There are so many marginalised groups in DR. Haitians as a whole, but the sick, the poor, the prostitutes do have one thing in common: Jesus seemed to spend a lot of time with these people when he walked the earth. I think he would have come to DR if he was around today. I think he would have visited the dump too.

The general consensus is that this was the best day. We had worked hard at Ascention this morning, and then the dump in the afternoon. Tonight we are preparing for the church sermon we have to give on Sunday in the village. I've roped Andy into giving the talk.

Tomorrow, Three of us are off to a medical clinic to work with Dr Bob who is a missionary here. He does a clinic for the poor. He's a trained vet, so I guess they only go see him if they really are sick in case he wants to take their temperature!!

I'm loving the different experiences out here. The needs are so great. It continues to be a humbling experience. Thank you sweetheart for letting me go, thanks partner for holding the fort at work, and thank you to the rest of you who are thinking/praying for me. I can feel it!

Health...

2006-09-13T13:37:00.000-07:00

...Failing!

Had a tummy bug for two days now. Its not chronic, but you don't want to feed it so didnt eat yesterday until the evening as I decided I felt a bit better. This was a mistake as i've felt dicky all day.

Anyway, let me tell you about Tuesday. Firstly, a true story. Near the village there is a farm. The farm is infested with ants. Not the sort that we get either. Working on the farm means you will get bitten and covered in nasty blisters which can become open sores. Because of this the farmer pays top wages. 500 pesos a day. The current rate is 58 pesos to the pound.

He's never short of workers.

We spent the morning working on site. I stay within my comfort zone and move breeze blocks around or carry buckets of cement. However, we had arranged a soccer match against the village football team. This was played at 12.30pm in the midday sun! I now know how Moore, Charlton & Banks must have felt in Mexico 1970.

We let them win 3-2.

Before the game, a young lady called Andy "David Beckham' Afterwards, he announced the same lady called him 'Brad Pitt.'

I think he miss heard, she really said 'Fat Git!'

In the afternoon we visited the poor hospital in Peurta Plata. Its hit and miss as to what you see. There's terrible desperation, and conditions which certainly make the NHS look like BUPA.

In one of the mens ward, I sat with a man covered in sores and flaky skin. I felt helpless but in some way wanted to give this man some dignity. The word marginalised is one that is often on my mind, and I thought of Jesus and the lepers. How could I not hold his hand and put my arm around him.

Another stank of faeces, an alcoholic, but obviously previously lived a life of better times. He spoke good English and asked me if I was a priest. He asked me to pray for him. His name was Miguel. I felt inadequate. He'll die soon. Prayer can seem so powerful and at other times so inadequate. This was one of those times.

The waves are incredible atthe moment. This is due to a hurricane in Bermuda the other day. Its a surfers paradise, but sadly so dangerous that they have had to close the beach. Andys got some good photos, which i think he's updated. Check them out.

www.flickr.com/photos/andyindr

I'll be back again dear reader.

Working in the Village

2006-09-11T13:46:00.000-07:00

Today we got stuck in to the first of two houses which we have paid to have built. It has already been started and was at the stage of putting in the ring beam. This involved mixing a vast quantity of cement, putting it into two buckets and carrying them to the Haitian builder, lifting them up to him for him to pour into the trough.

Easy!

Temperature circa 34 degrees. No cement mixer available.

I have mixed emotions today. last year I was smitten by two great boys aged about 7 & 8, Tyson & Kylo. They had quite an affect on me,and I would have happily taken them home smuggled in my suitcase so they could get a better life. The biggest fear on my return would be whether they remembered me (how selfish) or whether something bad had happened to them.

Today I had my answer. As we drove up the hill, a lad I remembered last year was sitting in a doorway. 'Jason' I shouted, and he ran off down the road. When we embarked, he was running back up the road to us with Tyson in tow. From a distance of about 4 ft, Tyson leapt into my arms. It was an emotional reunion. He'd changed. Last year I couldnt get two words out of him, but this year I cant shut him up! He's still small, frail, but those eyes just melt me. (nothing sinister you understand) but he really is a beautiful looking kid, but one that may well live & die in the village.

Later, Kylo came home from School. He was reluctant to come to me, but eventually he came up, but was unresponsive. I showed him photos of him last year, which he took, but I didnt think he really remembered me.

I've been thinking about this, and in truth theres no reason why he should. Many 'do-gooders' pass through the village, and why would I have had any greater impact than any other. In fact its quite arrogant of me.

I'm tired. A little mixed up, and I'm waffling. I'll stop.

A link to some photos

2006-09-09T12:46:00.000-07:00

Andy has managed to download some photos on-line, taken this morning.

Check them out at www.flickr.com/photos/andyindr

The Eagle has landed....

2006-09-09T12:23:00.000-07:00

..well, six slightly flustered cockerals may be a fairer description.

Chartered Flights are not my favoured form of travel, and after getting up at 4.30 am, we were checked in by 5.30am to then find the plane was delayed because of maintanance work. We therefore left an hour and a half late at 10am.

Whatever, we're here, we're settled in base camp and we're ready for the adventure that lies ahead.

That was yesterday.

We've had a taster of that adventure this morning.

Firstly, we visited the slum.

In just over a year I had forgotten the level of squalor. I'd forgotten the heat. I'd forgotten the oppressive voodo feel that weighs down on your very soul. I'd forgotten the look of resigned fate that the Haitian adults seem to have. I had forgotten the flies and mosquitos, but I hadnt forgotten the smiles of the beautiful children. Innocence is a wonderful thing, sadly taken away for many at far too early an age.

I picked a child up. Acted the fool, tickled him and (On purpose) clumsily banged his head on the tree. He laughed hysterically. I can't render, screen, mix cement, put on a roof, but I can love, and I don;t need to speak Creole to make a connection with a child.

I think I need to remember that on Monday when we start work on the building site. Its not really house building that I'm here for, (good job!) but I can build bridges.

We then visited Ascention Village. Now over 200 houses in size.

I'd forgotten the sound of women chettering happily whilst washing, I'd forgotten the sound of children playing, I'd forgotten the sound of a comminity which had a chance. It is a village which has a tangible feeling of hope.

We're going to have a great two weeks.

Pompey played today. I forgot.

Pompey stars of the future!

2006-09-05T13:48:00.000-07:00

This is me last year with four of the kids that got my son's old Pompey shirts. The boy in the middle is called Kylo. He had a profound effect on me. he was a fighter, protector, passionate and vulnerable. Give him a chance in life & I KNOW he would succeed.

I really hope I see him again.

Two days to go..

2006-09-05T13:31:00.000-07:00

...Got interviewed by the Luton Herald & Post this morning. Very nice lady, seemed genuinely interested! I will be away when the article is published. Means I won't be around for people to take the mick, or to reply to the sackloads of fan-mail (yeah right!)

So who'se going on this trip;

Andy: My accountant. Top bloke, Luton fan, highly principled geezer. (Like me, he likes a drink!)
Kev: Goes to my church. Have got to know him really well in the past six months through a mens group we both ran. Top bloke, Luton fan, highly principled geezer.
Baz: Builder from Cornwall. ex Lutonian. Brother of my business partner. A joker. Hard worker by all accounts. Top bloke. I'm sure he's a highly principled geezer. looking forward to getting to know him.
Brian: 65 year old missionary veteran. Met him once at the orientation day. we;re looking to this sage to bring wisdom. The first three have about as much wisdom as the three wise monkeys!
Phil: 17 years old! Heard about the trip through his church's notices. Decided it was right to bunk 6th form and come along. There could be a problem...he's a season ticket holder @ Watford. !! It will be good for us to have a young'n with us. to keep us feeling young. Get your hair cut Phil, its going to be hot out there!

And then there's me. Partner in a business, Pompey season ticket holder, highly principled geezer. Top bloke.

2006-09-02T08:46:00.000-07:00

Its the final saturday before I go. Debbie won't let me go boxing this morning in case I get hurt. I get hurt every time I go boxing so I happily agreed with her. So the day has been spent shopping for last minute supplies. My mum gave me £40 which has been spent on toiletries to give away. I'm a bit of a snob, and hate shopping in Wilkinsons, but hey, what a shop if you want bargains!

The trip is organised by a Charity called Mission Direct, and i've been mates for a few years with the guy who runs it. MD arrange 'holidays' so that the likes of you and I can take two weeks out of our busy schedules to have our lives turned upside down as we realise the things that we chase in life (status, materialism) really don't matter and the things we take for granted (family, food,shelter) are just sooo important.

MD run trips to Sierra Leone (that's a tough one) DR, Sri Lanka, Uganda and next year they are looking to start trips to Brazil.

I went last year to DR and was completely blown away. The poverty is heartbreaking, but what makes it so more shocking is the close proximity of the beach resorts that cater for the sun seekers. The tourists live in complete ignorance of the suffering that is going on around them.

heartbreaking.