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"Teach me to listen, my caring God, to those far from me - the whisper of the hopeless, the plea of the forgotten, the cry of the anguished. Teach me to listen, O God, to myself. Help me to be less afraid to trust the voice inside- in the deepest part of me. Teach me to listen, Holy Spirit, for your voice- in busyness and in boredom, in certainty and in doubt, in noise and in silence. Teach me, Lord, to listen, Amen" John Veltri SJ |
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With all of the work we have been doing in Haiti, our newsletters have been full of
information in that area of our outreach. With that in mind I have decided to dedicate time
to what God has been going on in the Dominican Republic with emphasis on our medical,
as it is expanding and reaching new areas of service.
information in that area of our outreach. With that in mind I have decided to dedicate time
to what God has been going on in the Dominican Republic with emphasis on our medical,
as it is expanding and reaching new areas of service.
Along the lines of helping hands, Megan Ratnam
will be arriving to manage the mission house
with it’s numerous volunteers that live and work
in Ascension Village. No small task, as they live
in a refugee village of 1,500 with the many
will be arriving to manage the mission house
with it’s numerous volunteers that live and work
in Ascension Village. No small task, as they live
in a refugee village of 1,500 with the many
On the medical front, we have made a change that we
felt was necessary to better serve the poor and that
was by relocating the free medical clinic that was at Bob’s
veterinary clinic. Since his clinic is on the main highway we started
getting so busy with a large portion of the clients, increasingly
comprised of the middle class, making our stop ‘convenient’ for
anyone passing by. We were even referred by the police to ‘stop by
as they
felt was necessary to better serve the poor and that
was by relocating the free medical clinic that was at Bob’s
veterinary clinic. Since his clinic is on the main highway we started
getting so busy with a large portion of the clients, increasingly
comprised of the middle class, making our stop ‘convenient’ for
anyone passing by. We were even referred by the police to ‘stop by
as they
have free doctors there.’ When one gets recommended by such large structures in
Sosua, we are bound to be flooded with people, not all of them poor.
Sosua, we are bound to be flooded with people, not all of them poor.
As you all know, we have been called to the poorest of the poor,
with my heart resting in the lap of the fragile, forgotten, weak and
downtrodden. For this reason, we have now started to take our
doctor into the poorest villages in our area to insure that they get
the necessary service that is so mandatory with the marginalized.
with my heart resting in the lap of the fragile, forgotten, weak and
downtrodden. For this reason, we have now started to take our
doctor into the poorest villages in our area to insure that they get
the necessary service that is so mandatory with the marginalized.
I have done some research in the villages
and asked why they were not coming to our
medical clinic in Sosua and their answer was
“we cannot pay for the passage”, which by
the way, is $1.50 round trip. So, long and
short of it, we are going to them.
and asked why they were not coming to our
medical clinic in Sosua and their answer was
“we cannot pay for the passage”, which by
the way, is $1.50 round trip. So, long and
short of it, we are going to them.
Now when you visit you can share this outreach in La Union,
Acension and Agua Negra, where we work 4 days a week with
free medical, diagnosistics back up, (x- rays, blood tests, sona
gram, etc.) alongside free medicine and surgery when needed.
Acension and Agua Negra, where we work 4 days a week with
free medical, diagnosistics back up, (x- rays, blood tests, sona
gram, etc.) alongside free medicine and surgery when needed.
Another exciting improvement is that we are starting a free
dental outreach this summer. The equipment (see attached
for photo, a total cost of $22,000) was purchased by those
students and parents from Asheville Christian Academy,
Trinity Presbyterian Church and Arden Presbyterian
Church that have worked alongside Crossroads, raising
the money through rummage sales and donations over the
past 5 years. In addition, $10, 000 dollars of extra
equipment was given by Ted Proctor’s dental office in
Canada. Dr. Proctor flew the machinery in, assembled it
dental outreach this summer. The equipment (see attached
for photo, a total cost of $22,000) was purchased by those
students and parents from Asheville Christian Academy,
Trinity Presbyterian Church and Arden Presbyterian
Church that have worked alongside Crossroads, raising
the money through rummage sales and donations over the
past 5 years. In addition, $10, 000 dollars of extra
equipment was given by Ted Proctor’s dental office in
Canada. Dr. Proctor flew the machinery in, assembled it
and got the equipment up and going, which took days to finish up all that was needed.
This has been a prayer of my heart for years and with this new machine we do not have
to pull children’s teeth and can now protect the mouth for a lifetime, as the machine has a
drill for fillings, alongside mobile X-ray and the other necessary equipment for a full
dental outreach.
This has been a prayer of my heart for years and with this new machine we do not have
to pull children’s teeth and can now protect the mouth for a lifetime, as the machine has a
drill for fillings, alongside mobile X-ray and the other necessary equipment for a full
dental outreach.
You would think this was enough blessing for the
beginning of this year, but we continue to receive such
grace to help the poor. More, yes, more gifts arrive as Dr.
Lee Parsons, who owns and heads up a clinic comprised
of 16 gynecologists, who are coming in three times a year
to do free sterilization in the private hospital!
beginning of this year, but we continue to receive such
grace to help the poor. More, yes, more gifts arrive as Dr.
Lee Parsons, who owns and heads up a clinic comprised
of 16 gynecologists, who are coming in three times a year
to do free sterilization in the private hospital!
If you have walked by our side and seen the poor with
hungry children, huts overflowing with 6 to 10 children,
you would also be rejoicing at this new area of service, as I
am sure you are, for all of us deeply desire with our soul,
heart and mind for children to have something to eat.
hungry children, huts overflowing with 6 to 10 children,
you would also be rejoicing at this new area of service, as I
am sure you are, for all of us deeply desire with our soul,
heart and mind for children to have something to eat.
The recovery medical clinic that was built on our property at Bob’s
veterinary clinic will be used for the recovering patients after
surgery. This is yet another great gift that has come alongside
Crossroads, due to the unending efforts of Donna Langman who
has been arriving for the past 12 years. She fund raises as well
as gets support from her church Elmvale Community Church.
Also Dr. Proctor, the senior pastor of New Life Church who has
been faithful over the years with dental outreach in the villages, his
veterinary clinic will be used for the recovering patients after
surgery. This is yet another great gift that has come alongside
Crossroads, due to the unending efforts of Donna Langman who
has been arriving for the past 12 years. She fund raises as well
as gets support from her church Elmvale Community Church.
Also Dr. Proctor, the senior pastor of New Life Church who has
been faithful over the years with dental outreach in the villages, his
church also helped with the funding of the
medical center. This new medical recovery
unit helps us take in those that are faltering in
the public hospital and those in the village.
Last month we had several starving babies to
care for in the clinic, alongside the numerous
patients that needed extra care in order to be
able to go back into their family and villages.
medical center. This new medical recovery
unit helps us take in those that are faltering in
the public hospital and those in the village.
Last month we had several starving babies to
care for in the clinic, alongside the numerous
patients that needed extra care in order to be
able to go back into their family and villages.
This unit will hold the recovering patients of Dr. Parsons as we
shuttle them back and forth in our medical vehicle that was
donated by Tufts University. The car will also be used for dental
and here is a picture of the car with the electrical battery back up
that is necessary for the dental outreach. The car must go into
the villages so that the dental can have electricity as there are
few hours of electricity daily in the villages and we can not
shuttle them back and forth in our medical vehicle that was
donated by Tufts University. The car will also be used for dental
and here is a picture of the car with the electrical battery back up
that is necessary for the dental outreach. The car must go into
the villages so that the dental can have electricity as there are
few hours of electricity daily in the villages and we can not
depend on a dental outreach unless we have
electrical back up.Bob’s tireless efforts to keep
all maintenance as well as Crossroads
finances, payments, hospital, medical and
electrical back up.Bob’s tireless efforts to keep
all maintenance as well as Crossroads
finances, payments, hospital, medical and
Always on my heart, the beloved monks at St. Benedicts
Monastery have contributed to different projects as well as
taken me into their comforting embraces and friendship for
well over 10 years. Without their contemplative and sacred
setting in the mountains of Colorado, where I went to put balm
on my battle wounds, I would have never been able to manage
this long in the ministry. Their support has kept me strong in
Monastery have contributed to different projects as well as
taken me into their comforting embraces and friendship for
well over 10 years. Without their contemplative and sacred
setting in the mountains of Colorado, where I went to put balm
on my battle wounds, I would have never been able to manage
this long in the ministry. Their support has kept me strong in
As you can see and also witness, God does care for the
poor and yes, there are thousands if not millions globally
that are not getting care and we all moan in our spirits
calling out to a distant God who some feel has forsaken and
abandoned us. And truly, at times it does appear so.
But I see the hand of the Lord on our lives and others as we
walk daily alongside the trenches of the poor and if I, a
woman of 60 with a frail body, uneven temper, limp and
forgetful mind can march forward, anyone can.
poor and yes, there are thousands if not millions globally
that are not getting care and we all moan in our spirits
calling out to a distant God who some feel has forsaken and
abandoned us. And truly, at times it does appear so.
But I see the hand of the Lord on our lives and others as we
walk daily alongside the trenches of the poor and if I, a
woman of 60 with a frail body, uneven temper, limp and
forgetful mind can march forward, anyone can.
Praying on your continued desire to help those that are in need, your prayers that have
walked with us until this very day and the goodness of your hearts that is manifest in the
people we serve.
walked with us until this very day and the goodness of your hearts that is manifest in the
people we serve.
2011 will see Crossroads with many more groups, it seems
things continue to grow as we find ourselves with more of the
poor in our circle of service with helping hands to enrich the
lives of others
things continue to grow as we find ourselves with more of the
poor in our circle of service with helping hands to enrich the
lives of others
demands that are constantly upon them. We are thankful for her endless
help in Ascension Village, our first village that was started, as well as her
help with newsletters and the many gifts and talents she brings to the
ministry.
help in Ascension Village, our first village that was started, as well as her
help with newsletters and the many gifts and talents she brings to the
ministry.
surgery schedules has been a blessing over the years.
Alongside Crossroads structure, Marc, who has been with us for 21
years, helped with the design and building of Crossroads, from the
ground up, is a true blessing as he continues to help with management
of the center and work with the groups in the field. Without both of
Alongside Crossroads structure, Marc, who has been with us for 21
years, helped with the design and building of Crossroads, from the
ground up, is a true blessing as he continues to help with management
of the center and work with the groups in the field. Without both of
these men's' labor of love,we could not possibly be where we are today.
vision and faith to do what God has called me to do, even in dark and troubled times. I
shall be forever grateful for all that they have given and encourage everyone to embark
on silent retreats, for silence reaches deep into the areas that only quieted time with our
Lord can bring to the service and heal.
shall be forever grateful for all that they have given and encourage everyone to embark
on silent retreats, for silence reaches deep into the areas that only quieted time with our
Lord can bring to the service and heal.
May we all have the peace and joy that is promised and may
the Kingdom continue to be built, one step at a time.
Amen and amen.
the Kingdom continue to be built, one step at a time.
Amen and amen.
