In February of last year, we visited what was left of a house that literally burned down two days before we arrived. A candle that they used for light caught fire. The family was in very desperate circumstances. The little that they owned was gone! We were so touched that my brother and I pledged the remaining money to build them a new home. To our surprise, the family wasn't excited. Later, we found out that they didn't believe it. Nothing like that has ever happened to anyone they know. They thought it was just a photo op.
When we went back in November, we visited this family and we got to see the new house that we helped to build. What a great experience! They say that you can't take anything with you when you die. Well, we're taking this moment!
One of the most touching and memorable moments happened when we least expected it! This is the photo we took. On Wednesday November 19 we were enjoying a dinner at our resort. Jack was visiting with our waitress. He asked her about her family. In broken English she told him that her 17 year old daughter, Patricia, had been in a motorbike accident.
We learned that Patricia had endured nine surgeries after her accident. Nothing worked and they ended up amputating her leg. Our waitress showed us this photo (I set it down on the table and took this picture). When Jack asked if they wanted to get a new leg, the mom ran out of the restaurant in tears--saying that it was impossible. Louise and I followed her out and found her weeping in the restroom. After she got control of herself, we told her that we knew of a place in Santo Domingo where they make prosthetics and that we would try to help.
This turned out to be very expensive but Louise organized an effort to raise money to get a prosthetic leg for Patricia. This will change her life in a way that we may never comprehend.
When our Cook'n Club friends joined us in November, we did a fun service project. All 15 of us piled into this small mini-van and drove across town.
In case you are wondering, this is what it looks like when 15 large people get out of a small mini-van.
The foundation shipped a container load of used shoes. The container was filled to the top but the people in customs took 2/3 of it. What was left was in complete disarray. They needed us to help sort the shoes.
We had to unload every box...
...sort the shoes...
...and then load them back up again.
This is a video of Louise telling about a home that the Foundation helped to build.
Louise took us around to show us all the projects that the Dominican Starfish Foundation is working on. Since I speak Spanish fluently, I helped in the effort to find land to build the library. Here are some photos of the other projects that you helped fund! As a reminder, 100% of the money goes to buy materials for the project. The labor is done by locals on a volunteer basis.
This family was living in a shack...
They were SO excited to see their new house being built by neighbors and friends!
Block by block...
...and two weeks later, it was done! Can you believe it?
This is another shack that was falling down! It leaked water. It's hard to believe people lived here!
The foundation bought the materials and this is the new house when finished!
We visited others who were were living in desperate circumstances. This house had 9 people living in it!
We walked through and couldn't believe what we saw!
Kathy stood on the porch and shot this photo of all the people who came to help. The foundation bought the materials and everyone pitched in to build the house.
This is the house when nearly finished! The family is SO excited!
What a blessing to have a new home!
Can you imagine what this means for that little girl? Tears. There were so many tears of joy on this trip!
In February of last year, we visited what was left of a house that literally burned down two days before we arrived. A candle that they used for light caught fire. The family was in very desperate circumstances. The little that they owned was gone! We were so touched that my brother and I pledged the remaining money to build them a new home. To our surprise, the family wasn't excited. Later, we found out that they didn't believe it. Nothing like that has ever happened to anyone they know. They thought it was just a photo op.
When we went back in November, we visited this family and we got to see the new house that we helped to build. What a great experience! They say that you can't take anything with you when you die. Well, we're taking this moment!
One of the most touching and memorable moments happened when we least expected it! This is the photo we took. On Wednesday November 19 we were enjoying a dinner at our resort. Jack was visiting with our waitress. He asked her about her family. In broken English she told him that her 17 year old daughter, Patricia, had been in a motorbike accident.
We learned that Patricia had endured nine surgeries after her accident. Nothing worked and they ended up amputating her leg. Our waitress showed us this photo (I set it down on the table and took this picture). When Jack asked if they wanted to get a new leg, the mom ran out of the restaurant in tears--saying that it was impossible. Louise and I followed her out and found her weeping in the restroom. After she got control of herself, we told her that we knew of a place in Santo Domingo where they make prosthetics and that we would try to help.
This turned out to be very expensive but Louise organized an effort to raise money to get a prosthetic leg for Patricia. This will change her life in a way that we may never comprehend.
When our Cook'n Club friends joined us in November, we did a fun service project. All 15 of us piled into this small mini-van and drove across town.
The foundation shipped a container load of used shoes. The container was filled to the top but the people in customs took 2/3 of it. What was left was in complete disarray. They needed us to help sort the shoes.
We had to unload every box...
...sort the shoes...
...and then load them back up again.
Louise took us around to show us all the projects that the Dominican Starfish Foundation is working on. Since I speak Spanish fluently, I helped in the effort to find land to build the library. Here are some photos of the other projects that you helped fund! As a reminder, 100% of the money goes to buy materials for the project. The labor is done by locals on a volunteer basis.
This family was living in a shack...
They were SO excited to see their new house being built by neighbors and friends!
Block by block...
...and two weeks later, it was done! Can you believe it?
This is another shack that was falling down! It leaked water. It's hard to believe people lived here!
The foundation bought the materials and this is the new house when finished!
We visited others who were were living in desperate circumstances. This house had 9 people living in it!
We walked through and couldn't believe what we saw!
Kathy stood on the porch and shot this photo of all the people who came to help. The foundation bought the materials and everyone pitched in to build the house.
This is the house when nearly finished! The family is SO excited!
What a blessing to have a new home!
Can you imagine what this means for that little girl? Tears. There were so many tears of joy on this trip!
