Getting Ready to Go

Wow, we are so close to taking off. We have a group of 26 travelers who are heading down to La Romana Domincan Republic to bring medical care to the Bateys and Barrios, as well as construction teams working on the hospital. We are getting so excited to take off. Hope you all will be able to follow along on our adventure as we head out. I want to do a shout out to some of the folks who have put a lot of work in behind the scenes who will not be traveling with us; First on my list is Susan Crimer, Director of Sunday School at First Church in Sterling. She has been collecting and keeping track of all of our paperwork and payments (no easy task believe me). She has also been sending letters and making calls on our behalf. We would not be able to do this without her. Helen Hill, the unflappable secretary of First Church who has been helping with paperwork, copies, flyers, answering phone calls, tracking deposits, and helping us in ways I can't even begin to describe for years!! Bob Beck, for helping with airline tickets, bags, supplies, experience and his continued work in organizing the collective of mission teams known as The Good Samaritan Mission Councel. Partners for World Health, for their help in the last few years of gathering medical equipment and supplies that has made a huge difference in the work we do. Pastor Nancy  for her continued support and prayers, letters, and guidance. Mary Higgins for continuing to show up and help out with our fundraising and packing. Daisy Rivera, for sharing her heart, passion, cooking and helping to co-ordinate with New Life Christian Church. And thank you to all who have gone before, those who dug foundations, poured cement, hoisted blocks, shoveled sand, as well as those who examined a person in clinic, checked a blood pressure, or counted out vitamins, we could not be doing this without the work you have already done. There are so many more people and organizations that we should stop and thank, this list is by no means complete, it is a mere beginning. Thank you

First post

The blog is up and ready to go.  The background photo was taken by my daughter, Katy H., on a previous trip to La Romana.  Invitations to the team members have gone out asking them to contribute content here.

This is my first trip to La Romana.  My daughter went for the first time when she was 17. This time she invited me to go along so I said yes.  I've been too busy with work to think much about it.  We leave tomorrow and I haven't started packing yet.  I have my passport, my anti-malaria horse pills, and some scrub pants.  Hopefully, I can get anything I've forgotten after I get there.  Now I'm starting to get a bit nervous, but excited too.  Looking forward to warm weather, a new culture, and meeting new people.