The Dominican Republic!

May 23rd, 2008 I got the amazing oppurtunity to go down to the Dominican Republic to do service in a Haitian Refuge Village. I left my heart there so that I would have to go back someday to get it. The people touched me in the most amazing ways. They opened my eyes to the world, and to what I should be grateful for! I will never forget my trip and what I learned and I hope to touch the world with my story I brought back!

This is the first place I went when I got there. The Dump. This poor mom had just lost her baby. She was 8 months pregnant when it died. This her kitchen, pretty fancy kitchen yeah? I don't anyone would complain that their kitchen is too small ever again after seeing this. Her house isn't much bigger either.

Me and my baby Ta Ta! I grew so close to her. She is a 4-5 year old dwarf who lives with her deaf and mute mom. Her mom is known as a prostitute over there who doesn't take care of her children. Ta Ta wouldn't even smile or talk when I first got there, and by the time I left we were unseperable. All she needed was a little love to let her light shine.

Unknown Kid, Jepetta, Tilanda! Jepetta and Tilanda are brothers and sisters and they were so my favorites. They were so funny, and loved to play!
This is me and Jepetta, it was so sad, we aren't allowed to give them food because then the whole village will be begging, and so he was sitting there on the porch looking so sad and I asked him, Jepetta what's wrong...he just looked at me with his sad little face and said, I'm hungry. I hated that there was nothing I could do at the time. Most of the families are lucky if they get to eat once a day, usually it's about every other day. And their portions are not very big. :( It broke my heart.

This was taken at a disabled orphanage. It was a lot different then I expected and expected some upbeat kids running around, and while there was a few of those, there were more kids who just laid there out of it, who had to be fed, and totally taken care of. It broke my heart.

Me with one of the teenagers of the Village, Willy. They were so fun to be around and watch their faces in upcoming professional sporting events. They are amazing athletes.

This is a big sister and a little sister, from a house of 11 children with
a single mom. This single mom had 5 children of her own, when her next door neighbor who was her best friend died, and the dad left. She then took in the 6 children and has raised them as her own.

Ta Ta, and spit fire Natasha!

Natasha!!

More Natasha haha

This was called the milk ministry. It was a different village then our own. They were not as wealthy. For this ministry we took milk, cookies, and egg, and clothes to each of the children. As soon as we got there, all the little children came running towards us with their little broken cups in hand.

Me and a baby!

Me and Ta Ta the first day I got there!

Miguel, a Dominican Man who has diabetes. Everyday we would walk down to his house and clean his legs and cover them. His family abandoned him because he can't work anymore. He is the cutest man in the entire world. He called us his granddaughters and took care of us.

This is the story of Roberto. Roberto is seven years old. His dad walked out on him and his family so at 7 years old, he shines shoes to provide a living , for this family. He is at least lucky enough to be sponsored so he can go to school. When we were sitting in Miguels house, he came in... and there is a huge conflict between Haitians, and Dominicans so we were really worried this might cause a problem, especially because it had happened before when one of the volunteers was down there. So we asked Miguel if he wanted Roberto to leave and Miguel said.."Oh no, Roberto comes and sits with me every day before and after school." That brought tears to my eyes this little boy was so selfless and just wanted to bring happiness to others, he took a risk, and it made this man Miguel happy because it was like he had a family again!!

First Day