Healing Hands

Although I've written about the 15th anniversary, the dental clinic and meeting needs in the community, I still have much more to tell about this last group's work here in Cielo!

Elizabeth, Emily, and Jackie with Dawi and his family

The week before the group arrived Joe Budd, his son and his father, brought down a load of wheelchairs, braces and equipment for the physical therapy program. Thanks to the Lord and our partnership with ADR, the 1,000 lbs. of materials passed through customs within half an hour.

Deanna fitting Christopher into his new wheelchair

Erin helping Aquilino with Nairobi's therapy

This prep work enabled Deanna and Jackie, physical therapists from Texas, and Emily, a PT from Winston-Salem, NC to fit 6 children with new wheelchairs. They also fixed 4 chairs for children that were already using wheelchairs. In addition, they were able to provide 10 children with braces and shoes. We had great attendance at therapy sessions with 13 children receiving therapy on Monday morning, 10 on Wednesday morning, and 16 on Friday morning.

Lisbeth after therapy

Emily working with Dawi

Thanks so much to Deanna, Jackie and Emily for all of their hard work, dedication, and love for the children with special needs of the community. Thanks also to all those who volunteered their time in the clinic entertaining siblings, assisting with therapy and making new friends. And of course thank you to those who made all of the week's work possible through their prep work beforehand -- Anna and Andrew Harper and Joe Budd and his family. I hope I haven't left anyone out. We are all just so grateful to the countless people who work hard during the year to provide for weeks like this and for the prayers that accompany everything.

Jackie working with Christopher

May God bless you abundantly,

Anna

Dental Outreach

Last week's October trip included 2 dentists -- Dr. Johnson from North Carolina and Dr. Dillard from Texas -- and 3 dental assistants (from NC, TX and FL).

The doctors, assistants, and translators

The doctors and their assistants worked full days Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, in the afternoon on Thursday and all morning on Friday. They were able to work on over 80 people doing extractions and fillings. In addition to the countless hours of work they point in, the staff brought down thousands of dollars worth of medicines, materials, and equipment. Part of their work in the dental clinic also included training our dental assistant so that she is able to do more procedures.

Dr. Johnson and Heidy work together on a patient

Dr. Dillard and Johnny extract 2 teeth on a young girl

Every morning was jammed pack with people in the clinic. There is such an overwhelming need for dental services. People living in the community do not have the resources to pay for yearly checkups or emergency procedures. In the clinic, we are trying to concentrate on education to prevent cavities by working with our schools and the community. However, the immediate need is great as so many people have impacted, infected and abscessed teeth. I wish we could do these trips 5 times a year!

Thanks so much to all for their hard work!

Blessings,

Anna

Filling a Need

Of all the things that happened on this year's October Trip, I think the one story that touched me the most is that of Francis and Frangelys.

Francis came to the mission several weeks ago to talk to us about her daughter Frangelys and her need for help. Frangelys has cerebral palsy and cannot move much on her own, talk, eat or bathe herself. She is completely dependent on her mother and eats through a feeding tube. Francis is a single mother with two children, one of whom needs around the clock care. Frangelys had been in a live-in program that was taking care of her, but the program recently sent her home without reason or warning. Apparently, they are sending all of the children back to their homes.

We prayed with Francis and set about trying to find a way to help her. Unfortunately, there was not an immediate way to help her monetarily. So, we continued to pray about it. Francis came to the mission again last week. Frangelys' feeding tube was infected and her mother didn't have any money for formula to give her through the tube. All Frangelys had ingested for days was tea and water. She cried all day from hunger.

On Wednesday morning of last week, Frangelys came with her mother to receive therapy. She met Emily, a PT from North Carolina who was moved by her circumstance. Emily asked Ron and myself what we could do for her. So, after explaining the situation, we all sat down to talk with Francis to pray with her and her daughter. We knew that circumstances had only gotten worse, not better for Francis. But we had hope. We used John 3:16 funds, a fund for urgent health needs to give Francis money to get food for Frangelys that day and take her to have her feeding tube cleaned. Emily asked her to come back Friday so that Deanna, Jackie and she (all PTs) could try to fit Frangelys with a wheelchair.

We spoke to several people in the group about the need that Francis had identified -- a blender -- so that she could liquefy food for her daughter to give her through the feeding tube. A simple appliance that was life saving for Frangelys would mean that she could now eat and that her mother could provide for her.

On Friday, we were able to find a stroller for Francis to use to transport Frangelys and we presented her with a blender so that she can feed her daughter.

We continue to pray for this family and for God's provision in their lives. For we know that as much as we love and care for others, God loves them so much more. He has a plan and a purpose and we may not always understand it, but should be looking for ways for Him to use us in it.

Thanks to all who are praying for this family.

Blessings,

Anna

Happy 15th Anniversary, Mission Emanuel!

Hi all!

We have just wrapped up the October trip, celebrating Mission Emanuel's 15th Anniversary in Cielo, Dominican Republic. Mission Emanuel had events in the states in September in Florida and North Carolina and finished off its birthday last Sunday with a Quinceañera attended by 500 people from Cielo and Nazaret. At the celebration we worshipped together, the mission handed out awards to key people involved in Mission Emanuel's success, and showed a video recapping the mission's 15 years in Bayona.

worshipping together

The Pastor's Wife and I, post-ceremony

Mission Emanuel over its 15 year tenure has built 2 schools and a Haitian education program, a Dominican and a Haitian church, a medical center that includes a pediatric clinic, dental clinic, physical therapy program and community health program, a water purification plant and a children's sponsorship program as well as a women's cooperative, various bible studies and outreach events. Mission Emanuel has also built over 40 homes in the community, a baseball field, basketball courts, and youth center. Each year over 500 short-term missionaries come into the community from the U.S. to give of their time and resources to bless Cielo and Nazaret.

Here's to 15 more years!

Miracles

Some people say that miracles only happened way back when. That they don't exist today. I've never subscribed to that theory ever. But in the case that I ever had any doubts, they have all been erased, as I was able to witness miracles last week.

For those of you who have been following my blog, you might remember Mari Rosa, the woman in the community with 5 children who was diagnosed with cancer last year. Mari has received extensive therapy including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which have both made her very sick. Her children and her husband as well as her neighbors have watched as Mari has gone through bouts of sickness, nausea, vomiting and fatigue with her treatment. They've observed as her faith, which was all but absent when she was diagnosed with cancer, has grown day by day even though she has been faced with a dire prognosis. They have joined with her in her struggles and sorrows and last Monday they were able to join her in her joy. Her doctors reported that Mari is cancer free! A miracle that we know came from God. Mari shared her good news with me and the staff of the mission and later that evening gave her testimony that night in women's church.

Mari Rosa

I am so thankful for a God who does miracles. A God who is with us in the big and the small struggles. One who will never forsake us, the only one who will never forsake us. He is a God that has done many miracles, is doing many miracles and will do many miracles until the end. And He allows us to see and be a part of these miracles so that we can remember that He is a God and loving God. So that when we pass through trials, temptation and fire we do not despair for we know that the same God who was with us before, is with us now and will never leave us.

Blessings,

Anna

U.S. Visit and M.E. Anniversary

As my first week back to the DR ends, I wanted to write a quick update on how my trip back to the states went.

I had a great time in Maryland with my parents and my brother and sister. My brother came home for 3 weeks to visit and it was wonderful to see him as we hadn't seen him in over a year! I also was able to visit with aunts, uncles, cousins and family friends.

Mom and Dad :)

Mrs. W, a family friend, and me

my aunt and my brother

Towards the end of my trip, I went to North Carolina to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Mission Emanuel. Many people spoke about the way in which Mission Emanuel had touched their lives over the years. It was a reminder of just how important the work we are doing is for Americans and Dominicans alike.

Mission Emanuel staff and friends