Dominican Journeys: Sunday, February 22nd, 2015

We bussed to church for 9 a.m. at Templo Biblico in Sosua Abejo. Paster Olmedo was very happy to see many of the 'regulars' back for another year. The 2 hour service went by quickly enough and featured several hymns in Spanish and 2 in 'Spanglish, with Bovine accompaniment from the adjacent pasture. Communion was preceded and followed by several impromptu prayers from the Dominican congregants and a couple from Pastor Olmedo and were highlighted with a sermon on Zacheus searching for Jesus. He was hampered by his diminutive stature (I can relate) and the pressing crowd but solves the problem by shinnying up a tree, only to be confronted by Jesus who wants to go to his house for some hospitality, and so on; you know the story (or you can look it up). Back to the resort for lunch and a briefing on our itinerary for the week from Rebecca Harnum, Team Coordinator for Servant's Heart. Then off to visit the 'Hugs for Kids' school, where the new addition is taking shape, and then to the Pregnancy Resource facility called GEMA (an acronym for the Spanish 'Earn While You Learn') where some work will be done by our team this week. We then went to Loma de los Chivos to visit Maria and family and Victoria for whom we have sponsored houses the past 2 years. We will be painting 2 new houses in this village. Past 5 o'clock by now, so back to the resort for some relaxation before supper.

Story Within a Story
GEMA presently has 55 women in classes. Education is the priority since many of the women are ignorant of pregnancy, child birth and caring for a baby. Or worse, they come with the baggage of mythology from parents, grandparents and others from 2 different cultures (Haitian and Dominican).
In addition they often walk, bus and taxi (motorbikes) long distances to get there each day, then return home at night. One girl would start out at 9 a.m. for a 1 p.m. class but completed the course, delivered her baby and is doing well. The women may be malnourished and the food they earn by going to class may be taken home as the only meal of the day for their family.
they receive daily vitamins at the centre. Most babies are delivered at the Public Hospital (read: second or third rate) where they mostly have caesareans since the doctors can't be bothered with waiting for them to deliver when 'there is a lineup at the door'. In spite of all these adversities, the pregnancy clinic will continue to run at full capacity for the foreseeable future. Sadly, the Dominican government provides free birth control for any woman who wants it.