EMail Update from Buen Pastor - 10/02

Dear Friends:

 

Earlier this year we were off line for about 2 months due to problems with our new software.  These appear finally to be resolved.  As you may know, Sister Priscilla returned permanently to the US in May of 2001 and Sister Johanna Laura joined me in mid-November.  As usual we have been busy.  In March we remodelled the kitchen at Centro Buen Pastor, installing a new counter, lights, and stove.  It really is a lot lighter and airier.  We also installed a registration window at the clinic and had shelves built in the storeroom. Recently we renovated the stairs to the second floor, as they were rotting out.  Maintenance, it seems, is eternal!   Sister Priscilla joined Sister Johanna for the month of April while I was away on vacation.  We spent the summer months doing reports, writing grant requests (no replies as yet, unfortunately), and getting ready for next September:  installing new cabinets and rearranging classrooms in order to add third grade. In mid-August Sister Diana, who is under annual vows, joined us for four months.  She planned and directed our summer Bible school and is generally pitching in. 

 

In October we had our last votech graduation.  Since we began vocational training in September 2001 we have graduated 173 women (and 2 men) from nine sewing and commercial baking classes, 

plus 14 men from a home wiring class.  We are receiving a small subsidy for these programs, which helps our budget.  We will offer more courses beginning in January.

 

In June we went to Manresa, the Jesuit retreat center, for our annual 5-day retreat.  In mid-August we put up some clothing racks in the old office on the first floor and opened a small store.  We will be asking token prices for donated items such as soaps, powder, toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, etc., in addition to used clothing, school uniforms and supplies, sheets, rosaries, etc.  We found two glass-topped, glass-shelfed display cases for a very reasonable price, and two volunteers from Goshen College, Cristy and Glenna,

helped us set up shop!   Our long-time friend, Ramona, is managing the shop.  Proceeds from the shop go

to defray center costs and provide social assistance for widows and the handicapped.

 

Our new mail/shipping service with Agape Flights seems to be working well, and so far there have been no problems with customs.  Please pray that this contimues to be the case!!   We welcome donations if sponsors will cover US shipping to Sarasota, Florida, and from there to the DR via Agape Flights.  (Agape charges US$1.00 per pound.  Checks to cover their costs may be sent to the convent in Ohio.  Please contact us re: needed items, snail-mail/shipping addresses, etc.)   Agape currently flies only into Santiago, so missionaries from Santo Domingo and the south coast take turns making the 5-6 hour roundtrip from Santo Domingo to pick up the mail.  In July Sister Johanna and I made the trip for the first time.  We cannot make the trip often, as we have to stay in Santo Domingo overnight both before and after the trip.

 

We have had a good year generally, although our funds at present are very low.   Our chapel construction is on hold.  When we have the funds we want to put on a second floor to provide additional space for meeting and class rooms, Sunday School, etc.  When the second floor walls and roof are completely up we can plaster the exterior and then we will be able to do interior plastering, doors, windows, etc. in our first-floor chapel.  We hope to have volunteer teams from the US help with carpentry, wiring, and plumbing.  Due to the summer heat we began having our Saturday night Eucharists in the new chapel.  At present we have four rough block walls, a roof, and a rustic floor!  But because the lot is slightly elevated and the window openings are large, it really is a lot cooler than the small chapel in our clinic building.

 

Our school reopened in September with an enrollment of 104.  We have added third grade and hope to add fourth next year, as that is the first primary grouping.  So far we have received word of 25 scholarships, but we are still in need of approximately 25 more.  The government has appointed a director for the school, and we like her very much.  We have received 2nd grade texts from the government and hope to receive others. We have also been given a donation of texts and other books which were obtained by a friend in the US and are setting up a small school library.  Perhaps one day we will have a computer for the kids and will have a "media center!"

 

The current economic situation is very bad.  As a result there is a very high rate of unemployment and many go hungry.  Unfortunately we were forced to close our nutrition and daycare programs in mid-September due to lack of funds.  This means that many families who depended on the center to provide their children with breakfast and a midday meal can no longer count on our help.  For several weeks we have been providing a simple weekly food packet to the most needy, but we may not be ale to continue to do so much longer.  If we receive sufficient funds we will form a group of mother-volunteers to prepare simple meals twice a day.

 

This brings our thanks for your love and support and prayers for you and your families.  Please be in touch now that we are back on line.  We would love to hear from your.  Also, if you are on our snailmail list, be on the lookout for our upcoming fall newsletter.  If you are not on our list but would like to be, please send us your residential address. 

 

Love and prayers,

Sister JG