Last Field Trip of the Summer
Marta and Dale took half of the orphans this week on a field trip to the capital, Santa Domingo. It is a three hour trip one way. There they explored the Museum of Man which is an anthropological museum. Dale prepared questions in Spanish for the boys to take with them on forms he prepared. Each boy had to find the answers to ten questions. The museum has three basic areas. There is a large area on the top floor dedicated to indigenous religions of the islands. Here about 2% of the popluation practices Voodoo, 80% are Roman Catholic, and 18% are Protestant. We saw various exhibits on major festivals of each faith.
A second area is dedicated to the various cultural influences on the island. There were exhibits on the Taino influence. These were the natives who were here when Columbus arrived, about 400,000 strong. There are many linguistic influences that have entered our language due to the Tainos. Even though they have died off due to european diseases, words like hammock, and papaya come from them. Then there is the Sapnish influence. Language, music, clothes and customs of the Spanish strongly dominate the island here. Then there is the French influence from the Haitian culture on the western 1/3rd of the island. At various times the French and Haitians have controlled the whole island. Finally there is an African influence. Slave trade was introduced by the Spanish. Today, african influences are seen and heard in music, fashion, and customs of the Dominicans.
The third area and perhaps the most interesting was the second floor of the museum dedicated to the Tainos. Thousands of pieces of pottery and reconstructions of their stone age life was exhibited.
After the museum we went to McDonald's for hamburgers. You would think this would be a big hit with the orphans but it is not. Here rice and beans at noon is the big meal. McDonald's does not serve rice.
In the afternoon we went to the botanical garden where we took a train ride. Through the park which revealed over 30,000 kinds of plants indigenous to the Dominican Republic. The boys had to learn three new names of plants and on the bus ride home they happily shouted out their new knowledge.
Perhaps one of the most touching moments of the trip was at the restaurant when a girl came up to one of our orphans and asked to trade for a toy each of them had in their happy meals. WIthout hesitation Rafael traded and completed the deal with a smile. It was such an act of generosity and joy.
Donations
Last week we got $405 dollars in our PAYPAL donation account. Thanks to everyone who has contributed. Money goes directly to the orphanage education programs. Besides your prayers, this is the best hope for success in life.
September 1, 2004
Field report from Good Samaritan Orphanage, Dominican Republic
We have had many baseball games this summer. We have a small league of boys made up of boys from the neighborhood and some orphans. About 150 boys participate in all. Every week we have practices on our new baseball field. We use our bus to take boys to practices and to games. The 8-10 year olds are in a big battle for the regional championship with the neighboring Cruz de Barrio, a town about 15 miles away. These are serous games.
Baseball came to the Dominican Republic in 1922 with the US Marines who were sent here by Woodrow Wilson to protect American sugar interests here. Marines taught the Dominicans how to play baseball. Today 20% of the National Baseball League in the USA is made up of Dominican born players.
News of this Week<
Dale went to the radio station with Papa Negro the founder of the Orphanage. The real name of Papa Negro is Manuel Jesus Rodriquiz. He has just returned from the States where he has been visiting his adult children in Florida. Upon his return he resumed broadcasting from the regional radio station. It is a one hour program and is a variety show with music, religious news annoucements, and guest speakers. Dale spoke in Spanish on the Great Commission of Jesus and on the Great Law: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind (Mat. 22:37-40). It is a morning show so a lot of housewives and business people listen to it here in the northwest corner of the Dominican Republic.
Sad News An orphan who belonged to an orphanage up north and has been living in Santiago was arrested for theft last week. Dale has put in many hours to help with his situation. He was asked by the head of Orphanage Outreach to visit and see what he could do. Here people in jail are beaten up regularly. The police demand bribes on a routine basis. Dale and an attorney have been negotiating and monitoring the situation. Dale has talked to the victim as well and is shocked but not surprised that the police have turned on the victim to try to extort money from him using threats of arrest and jail. Dominican Repulbic has a poor human rights record mainly due to these kinds of tactics used by local police.
Computer Camp
A Dominican university student, Leticia, is teaching the orphans to type and use the computer. Dale has set up computers in a program room and the orphans are going there everyday to practice and learn new skills. A Spanish teacher from New Jersey stopped by the orphanage the other day and wants her class to correspond with our orphans I think it will be a great project.
Hurricane Link Added
(see link at tend of paragraph) Hurricane Francis is heading our way. This is the second hurricane to head our way. A few weeks ago we were knee deep in water here. That is probably all that will happen this time. We are inland about 40 miles so even if a hurricane hit the coast it would not affect us too much. Hurricane Francis
Dale and Marta Johnson,
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