We Set the Record

Emilio, our lead translator, says that our med team set the all time record for number of patients seen at a med clinic in all the years they have been doing this work…220! The med team was in a barrio that is far away from La Romana, called Yuma. It was a wide open space that made for a less chaotic clinic.

The construction team cranked out tons of work in the morning making significant progress on the foundation (photo below). One of the joys of today is that we are really starting to get to know and be able to joke around with our translators, Luis and Jean Baptiste. After lunch today, the 25-year-old cement mixer broke so work halted and while they were trying to fix it, we had a good chunk of time to play with the adorable kids.

After work, we made our annual visit to the local orphanage. Many of our team's repeat travelers have made some important connections and were eager to see these special little ones. For some reason, the permanence of these girl's situation really saddens all of our team.

The highlight of our week is our annual Thanksgiving celebration where all of our team and all of our hosts gather for a big dinner and party at the local resort, Case de Campo. It is a time when we get to relax, meet their families and bond in a deep and satisfying way. Plus, it's a blast. The kids all get to swim in the pool and there is always a big dance party! This year, Hilda (one of our translators who is a great grandmother) taught a group how to salsa!