El Almacén del Obispo: Una Casa Abierta

El Almacén del Obispo: Una Casa Abierta

The Bishops’ Storehouse: An Open House

Saturday, October 20, 2012

El Sábado, el 20 de Octubre de 2012

Hermano Arias introducing the Almacén to local leaders

Our calling as Area Welfare Specialists allows us to do so many things. For example, one of our assignments is watch over the Bishops’ Storehouse (el Almacén del Obispo), partially because we live in one of the apartments above it.

Nuestro llamamiento como Especialists de Bienestar del Área nos permite hacer muchas cosas. Por ejemplo, una de nuestras asignaciones es velar por el Almacén del Obispo, parcialmente porque vivimos en uno de los apartmentos encima del él.

Priesthood receiving instruction about Almacén

On Saturday, October 20,  we helped host an open house (Una Casa Abierta) to help the stakes who are part of the Bishops’ Storehouse understand the resources available to them. A local couple—los Arias—have been called as the coordinators and work Tuesday evenings; another couple—los Rotellini—are here on Thursday evening; and Brother Miranda takes care of the Saturday session. 

El Sábado, el 20 de Octubre, ayudamos con una casa abierta para ayudar a las estacas que pertenecen al Almacén del Obispo comprender los recursos que les son disponibles. Una pareja—los Arias—han sido llamada como coordinadores and prestan servicio los Martes en la noche; una otra pareja—los Rotellini—están aquí los Jueves en la noche; y Hermano Miranda coordina la sesión los Sábados en la mañana.

Presidente Olivero, Bennie Lilly, Elder Dominguez, y Obispo

 The open house was a success. Elder Jorge Dominguez, one of the Area Seventies serving here in the DR, came. He is a wonderful leader whose son just went to Mexico to serve a mission.

La casa abierta fue exitosa. Él Elder Jorge Dominguez, uno de los Setenta de Área serviendo in la República Dominicana, vino. Él es un líder increíble y tiene un hijo que recién fue a Méjico para servir una misión.

Three of the volunteers who greeted everyone who came

With the help of the volunteers, we had tours of the Almacén, showed people how to pack food, demonstrated the health fair kit (puppets who “talk” about why it is important to be healthy or why it isn’t good to take drugs or drink alcohol, etc.), offered tips about gardening and nutrition, and answered questions.

Junto con los voluntarios, hicimos tours del Almacén, les mostramos a los participantes como empacar la comida, 

Volunteer demonstrating how to bag rice

demonstramos el equipo de feria de salud (títeres quienes “hablan” acerca de por qué es importante ser saludable o por qué no es bueno tomar drogos o beber alchohol, etc.), 

The Health Fair display

 ofrecimos pautas acerca de jardines y nutrición, y contestamos preguntas.

One of the sisters who loved playing with the puppets

 The Health Fair display was a big hit. People had great fun playing with the puppets (títeres).

Leaders receiving instruction about the Almacén

El equipo de feria de salud fue muy exitoso. Los participantes tuvieron un bueno tiempo jugando con los títeres.

A leader who loved the puppets. Who doesn't?

Many thanks to the los Arias, los Rotellini, Bennie Lilly, los Haws, Sister Arias’ sisters, and the volunteers who came to help.

Muchas gracias a los Arias, los Rotellini, Bennie Lilly, las hermanas de Hermana Arias, los Haws, y todos los voluntarios que vinieron para ayudar.

Hermana Arias (right) and her two wonderful sisters

Hermano Miranda, Los Arias, voluntaria, y los Rotellini

You are all wonderful!

Ustedes son maravillos!

Los Rotellini

 

Volunteer

Liceo Minerva Mirabal: A Place of Educating Young Minds

"Liceo Minerva Mirabal: A Place of Educating Young Minds"
 Elder Darrel L. Hammon 

Liceo Minerva Mirabal in las Brisas--Las Americas Stake

Apartment building converted to a high school for 600 students

Missions for senior couples are full of surprises, wonders, tears of joy, and just plain elation. A mixture of all those happened on Friday evening at a closing of what we call the “Liceo Project” (Liceo Minerva Mirabal). We have been working on this project for about one year. Finally, it came to fruition.

A brief history, perhaps, might be in order here. We began the project last year right after we arrived. Brother Bennie Lilly, the Area Welfare Manager, had received a call from President de la Cruz from the Las Americas Stake, which is in the East Mission. We made contact with President de la Cruz. We met at Los Frailles 2 chapel because he told us our little Honda Civic may not make it to the school site. In his SUV, we made it through some of the “worst-fishing roads” I have seen. And, yes, the Civic wouldn’t have made it.

President Muñoz y Juana Suero, the Liceo Director

We met with Juana Suero, the director of the school and an incredibly dedicated woman whose heart is set on helping children learn and attend school. What they wanted to do is convert a newly-constructed, yet empty, apartment building into a school. It sounded like an intriguing project. We wrote it up, and the Area Presidency approved it. And the work began.

What the courtyard looked like

Courtyard after

Lots of things needed to be done—walls torn out, painted, electrical checked out, chairs and desks purchased, blackboards obtained, water containers purchased and installed, etc., etc., etc. It took time to do this. The irony was the school had to open because of their commitments. So, the work had to be done throughout the school year.

Some months ago, Director Suero asked if there were a possibility of buying computers. We had a bit of money left in the budget because some items were purchased for much lower than the quotes had been. We were fortunate to purchase seven computers for the school.

 We went a month ago to see how everything had progressed. Most everything had been done except for a few things. At that meeting, we discovered—belatedly—that the electricity is turned off in that sector from about 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. So, the computers cannot work. The challenge was to find enough funding to purchase the appropriate equipment with batteries to make it work. When the bids came in, the overall cost was way over budget.

That next day, an anonymous donation came in. The donor asked that it be spent on an “open humanitarian project.” We applied it to the Liceo project. I called President Muñoz and let him know we received X amount, and if the supplier of the equipment could sell it to us for X amount, then we could purchase it. Well, the supplier was more than happy to do that. Plus, he said he would maintain it for the Liceo for free. What a blessing!

Students in their uniforms

Friday’s closing (closura) came. What a sight when we arrived. Students were sitting in the courtyard that had been nothing but dirt and rocks but now was paved and beautiful. The young women were dressed in peach blouses and tan slacks. The young men’s uniforms were white shirts, ties, and tan slacks. They looked stunning, sitting there patiently for everything to begin.

Students in one of the classrooms

Directora Suero began the event and greeted everyone. One of the local ministers gave an incredible opening prayer (imagine this in a school setting elsewhere….). Directora Suero then gave a rousing and rather dramatic speech about the importance of education in this sector and thanked the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for all it did to make this school a success.

Teachers, the directora, and one of the community leaders

After her, one of the community leaders spoke and thanked the young people for doing what they do. Then, President Muñoz, 1^st counselor in the Las Americas Stake presidency, spoke. He told the audience that he was a math teacher and understood the importance of education and having a school like this will enhanced the lives of each student who attends and takes advantage of the teachings. He spoke about the Church’s focus on education. He did a nice job. The final speaker was the “vocero” or the voice of the community. He talked to them about Las Brisas, the sector in which they lived and how some people say only bad things happen there. He said, “More good things happen here than bad, and we can always make good things happen if we work together.” Then, Directora Suero’s husband, who will be baptized into the Church on September 23, gave the closing prayer. Because of the friendship with President Muñoz and his family, the Sueros are investigating the Church.

four of the seven computers

Students and psychologist (white shirt on end) en computer lab

We took a few pictures, took a tour of the computer lab, visited with some of the people who lingered. At the end of the event, we shook hands, gave each other Dominican abrazos, thanked each other for the partnership, and promised continued support. When you see a project like this that helps hundreds of students—in this case, 600 students—you have to feel good about it. Without the Liceo Minerva Mirabal, the majority of these students would have no place to attend high school. Now, they have a high school in their sector, one they can be proud of.

The RS President and President y Hermana Muñoz

Gratitude

"Gratitude"

Elder Darrel L. Hammon

Sundays are always special days, but today seemed a bit more special. Elder Button, a member of the MTC presidency here in the Dominican Republic, stood and expressed how important gratitude is. Just before he began, I looked toward the back where Joanne was seated. I felt an overwhelming love for her. Each of the missionaries bore strong testimonies today. They are growing and developing. 

In Doctrine and Covenants 59:7, we read how important to thank the Source of all of our blessings: "Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things."

Thus,  I am grateful for the following:

Joanne, my beautiful wife and eternal companion

Hermana Joanne Hammon

Our incredible family

Christiaan/Anna Rose/Emiline (William is still in Heaven), Darrel and Joanne, and Hailey/Jospeh

Our calling:

Elder y Hermana Hammon at the 2011 Christmas event--Santo Domingo

The Temple

The Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple

The Idaho Falls Idaho Temple 

Being in the Dominican Republic

 

Hermana y Elder Hammon--at Adrian Tropical with other senior missionaries

 Missionaries

Hermanas Garcia yFlores, Los Hammon, y Hermanas Justos y de los Santos

 Heavenly Father's Creations

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Early morning sunrise in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

Vedauwoo Park between Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming

But, ultimately, I am grateful to the Lord for His Atonement

Minerva Teichert's "Rescue of the Lost Lamb"

The Beating of Hearts: One of Christ's Tender Mercies

"The Beating of Hearts: One of Christ's Tender Mercies"
Elder Darrel L. Hammon

The children and their families

What a great experience we had Friday in attending a “closura,” a “handing over” of a specialty piece of heart diagnostic machine to the Centro de Diagnóstico Medicina Avanzada y Telemedicina (CEDIMAT) through one of its foundation, Heart Care Dominicana, Inc.

Elder Cornish, Dr. Toribio, y Dr. Ureña

During the closura, we heard from Dra. Janet Toribio and Dr. Pedro Ureña from the hospital and Elder J. Devn Cornish of the Caribbean Area Presidency. I was impressed with Dr. Toribio’s dedication to help children who have heart challenges. She is a tireless doctor who wants children to be healthy. Elder Cornish, also a doctor, is one of those people who has continuously worked with others to help them progress and grow. His winning smile, willingness to do, and wonderful sense of humor are examples to all of us.

     

Young man and his grandmother

According to the CEDIMAT website, they feel that helping people with scarce resources is “…part of our social responsibility, taking as a fundamental value of solidarity, CEDIMAT provides access to advanced medicine to the people of limited economic resources. Thousands of extreme poverty found in the center the only alternative to save lives or improve their health in the country, performing procedures of high complexity” (http://www.cedimat.com/acerca.php).

           

The youngest heart patient at the event with her mother and father

            

The foundation responsible for helping CEDIMAT obtain the heart diagnostic machine is the Heart Care Dominicana, Inc. (http://www.heartcaredr.org/index_en.html) whose slogan is “Together we make their heartbeat stronger.”

One happy young man

According to their web page, “Heart Care Dominicana Inc. is a non Profit Organization that provides care for indigent patients in need of cardiovascular care. Our mission is to contribute to provide care for patients whose income prevents them from getting the required cardiovascular procedures to lead a healthy life; thus providing a better quality of life for them and their families. Our beneficiaries are evaluated, diagnosed, and treated locally, assuring the quality of treatment, evolution and follow up” (http://www.heartcaredr.org/en/sobre_nosotros.html).      

Young shy one with her parents

   

Probably the most delightful part of the whole event was speaking with the children, the ones who have received medical attention from Dra. Toribio, Dr. Ureña, and their other colleagues who work in the hospital. 

We spoke with all of the children and/or their parents or grandparents who had accompanied them. They were all very cute and willing to chat, except for one little girl who was so shy. Her parents tried to get her to say hello, but she did not want to do it.

The 14-year-old future doctor and Dr. Toribio

One of the touching moments of the events was when I spoke with a 14-year-old young woman who has had heart challenges since she was a little girl. After asking her what she wanted to be when she grew up, she glanced where Dr. Toribio stood in the front talking with some people, looked at me, and said with conviction, “I want to be a cardiologist.” When I quizzed her about her studies, she told me she was a good student, one of the best in her class.

When I had the opportunity to visit with Dra. Toribio and thank her for what she was doing, I told her about the young woman. I looked where she was still sitting and beckoned her to come forward. Dra. Toribio and she hit it off and began talking about the future. Dra. Toribio gave her some sage counsel about working hard in school.

Young 14-year-old and her mother

Then, she asked the young woman, “Being a cardiologist is hard work and requires a lot of study. Will you work and study hard?”

Without hesitation, the young woman said, “Yes, I will.”

 “Then,” said Dra. Toribio, “we want to help you achieve your goal.” They hugged each other. What a sweet moment with a patient and a doctor, one accomplished and one desiring to accomplish that which the other had accomplished.

Afterwards, I spoke to the young woman and her mother and told her she had just received a promise from a very prominent cardiologist who said she would help her. Now, all was up to her.

              

Young patient and her mother

 

These are the days that make being a missionary so pleasant and so rewarding. Our hope is these young people will take advantage of the help and the counsel they receive.

The heart machine