Dominican Republic 12/2007 - Tropical Storm Olga

Based on what I had heard before leaving the United States on December 10th, I expected my trip to the DR to be pretty routine. Amongst the items on my list of things to do: distribute Christmas funds to the childrens homes, gather an update report and photographs on a kitchen renovation project, update the rosters of new children and others who have been lucky enough to return home with family, and attend meetings regarding further support that we are trying to receive for the homes.

I had heard nothing of Tropical Storm Olga bearing down on the island of Hispañola. As soon as I arrived I was quickly informed about the local buzz. The country was still struggling to get back on its feet after Tropical Storm Noel blasted them with 5 consecutive days of wind and beating rains. It seemed that everyone was especially nervous about the strength with which Olga would hit.

The city of Sanitago got the worst of the storm. Not only are they already dealing with low elevation and a large river, but the dam that monitors the water flow on that river was nearing a bursting point and had to be opened. The entire city was severly flooded. Thousands of homes were lost and sadly, many lives as well. We sat and watched the evening news in horror as it showed the water rushing over entire homes and throwing an SUV onto a second story balcony.

Unless you have traveled outside of our borders, it is very hard to imagine the poverty and living conditions of many of the people that we serve. Homes are merely shacks made of scrap pieces of metal and wood. Roofs are constructed of plastic, palm, and tin. Lives are balancing on invented shelters and makeshift comforts. One single thunderstorm can be devastating to someone living in these conditions, much less any level of Tropical Storm. One strong flow of water will destroy an entire home in seconds. The news was full of stories of mothers losing small children in the current. Lives swept away at a moment's notice.

Once the rain let up, we checked up on our Angels of Hope sponsored homes. Aside from leaking roofs and water creeping in under the doors, the homes were unaffected by the storm. It was exam week and school was closed for two days. The kids were having a great time, but the administrators were feeling a little stressed given the end of the term and the storm throwing their schedules off.

I spent some time talking to a couple of young boys in one of the homes. We were talking about Christmas and whether they would be going home to stay with their parents or other relatives for the holiday. Many of these children do have living relatives, just that they are not economically stable enough to care for the children full time. It was interesting to hear the boys' responses.

One said that the home administrators do not allow them to leave for Christmas because its not safe for them at home. Everyone would be drinking and shooting firearms and fireworks. Its better for them to stay at the home for Christmas where they are safe with their "real" family. Another boy said that he was not excited about going home to see his family because he has six siblings, and all of them live at home with his mother. If she did not want him and abandon him at the orphanage, he did not want her either.

It was so sad to hear these 12 year old boys speak about the realities of their lives. Neglected or mistreated by their own families, these boys find comfort in one another and the orphanage that has come to represent family and home to them.

To brighten their day, I happened to be delivering packages of letters from their sponsors and the boys each received a letter and a Christmas card. It may seem like a simple gesture from the sponsor, but to these children it means the world. They eyes lit up as they each ran to a different corner to read their letters. Quickly they all gathered back together around me to tell me what their letters said and compare the translations to the original English letter. They were comparing letters and teasing each other regarding comments on needing to work harder in school or how handsome the boy is in his photograph.

The trip was a mix of emotions: of shock over the storm and its consequences, of affection and joy from interacting with the children, and of satisfaction over the administrators' responses to receiving checks for the AOH Christmas Funds.

It was, however, far from the routine trip I expected.

Guatemala 11-07

Mid-November I was in Guatemala again. This time I went on my own for personal reasons and ended up staying a few extra days to take advantage of the fact that I was already there and get some work done. When I am working in the field I spend a lot of time visiting the different homes and meeting with their administrators. Sometimes I have the opportunity to spend time with the children and hang out for awhile, but usually I am running around all day long and we do not have much time to play.

I gather the photographs and letters necessary to maintain our sponsorship program and to cultivate the relationships between the children and their sponsors. I also speak to the home administrators about the support we are providing and if there are any other needs that we might be able to address.

I like to spend time getting to know each home and understanding their biggest struggles. This allows us to customize projects and support to meet their most desperate needs. We do not send cash directly to the homes. We send support in the form of staple food items, goods, furniture, clothing, school supplies, cleaning products, personal hyigene items, etc. on a regular basis. So understanding each individual home and their needs helps us to complete that support with projects and specific donations.

The situations of the children in our supported orphanages throughout Latin America and the Caribbean are different than our stereotypical idea of Orphan Annie. Most of these children are not orphans in the sense that both of their parents are deceased. The homes that we support play the role of foster home, nutritional rehabilitation center, long term child care, as well as orphanage. Most of the children are brought to live in the homes merely because their families are suffering from extreme poverty and are unable to maintain them. Many are from very poor families who do not have access to proper nutrition, health care, or education. These children come to the homes and are not only taken care of, but also receive the opportunity for a quality education. Some children are the victims of mistreatment and abuse, while others are temporarily residing in the homes until the courts determine custody and guardian issues.

The children are amazing and beautiful. Its so difficult to hear their stories and hear them talk about what they have all been through. We are so truly blessed here in the United States. So much of what we have we take for granted. These children talk about getting their first pair of shoes the way our children talk about getting their Playstation 2 or their new Ipod. There are 12 year old children in first grade classrooms because it is the first time they have ever been to school. Its just amazing and inspirational to spend time with them and learn more about them.