Spring Time

 Service Teams

During the first week of February, the Good Shepherds' team from California came down. We had enough volunteers from their team to have a dental and medical clinic running all at the same time. It is a very busy week, but so fulfilling. This team also brought down Days for Girls kits, which are reusable pads for women. They were able to do some education with the ladies in the mountain! 

We had a team from St. Mary's parish in Pinckney, right after the Good Shepherd team. The St. Mary’s team comes down every year! It was nice to see so many familiar faces, but we also welcomed and met a few new ones. We spent the week doing elderly visits, mobile clinics, and visiting the children at the nutrition center. 

My good friend Cassie came down with a team in April! This was super exciting because she also brought down her baby Cal!! The team was amazing! We did many elderly visits, brought a few kids down to the nutrition center, and medical clinics.  While they were here they really spoiled me. After a long work week, they invited me to the beach with them for a couple of days. It was great to be able to spend some quality time with them and relax. 

A New Nephew!

My sister Paige and her husband Nate had their first baby in January!! After the 2 service teams in February, I was able to take a two week vacation home to meet baby Theodore! I spent the majority of those two weeks snuggling this little baby or hanging out with my other nephew Callen, who is now one! 

Missionary News

In February, we had an intern come down and spend two and half months with us. Sophia’s first trip to the Dominican Republic was last year with her high school service team. For the last two months she helped Olivia teach ballet classes,  helped with teaching catechism in the mountain, and helped us with medical clinics! It was so nice to have some extra hands helping us! 

Over the last couple of years we have been trying to help one of our kiddos, Wanda, from Rosa la Piedra get surgery for her cleft lip and palate. In March, Our missionary friends here in San Juan de la Maguana received a missionary team from Sharing Smiles, who specializes in cleft lips and palates. They did an amazing job!

Our Building of Bridges of Hope team took a weekend together to relax in March. It was wonderful! Dr. Angel's sister has a countryside house in Constanza. Her home was a beautiful place to relax and reconnect. It has been so long since we have done something as a full team. 

Easter

The Easter season was very special for us this year. The doctor that has been working with our team, Angel, better known as Angelito to us, got baptized in the Catholic church. The Building Bridges of Hope team all went to El Llano for the Easter Vigil mass to celebrate with him. 

Upcoming: 

In May, a group from St. Francis University will come down to work with us for a week.  This is our veterinarian and medical team who have come many times!! We are very excited to have them come back to help us this year!. 

Wiskinlove has completed all her rounds of chemotherapy. She has been in the hospital for over a month waiting for surgery. The surgery will be to completely remove her right eye.

Prayers: 

-For Wiskinlove as she waits for surgery and her recovery. 

-For the upcoming team who arrives next week.

-For a couple kiddos we have in the nutrition center right now who need a little extra attention.

-For Olivia, as she finishes her last month here with BBOH and her transition back home.