Joining Hands; a partnership

The Diocese of Orlando created a partnership in 1983 with the Diocese of San Juan de la Maguana in the Dominican Republic. So the mission actually works with the entire diocese, not just La Cucarita. The mission is centered in La Cucarita, but the villages of Los Frios, El Montazo, and La Cueva are all centered in the same vicinity of the mountainside.


An integral part of the work done for the mission field comes from the people in the mission office. Organization and planning are key to success; without the relentless work of the mission office team the work done in the Dominican Republic would not be possible. There are so many wonderful people involved throughout the mission itself; when I meet a fellow missioner, I am meeting an instant friend. We both have the same wants and goals for the people of the Dominican Republic, and we both have an understanding of the immense work needed to get there.

Welcome to the beginning of the rest of your life...

My first trip to La Cucarita was with Valencia Community College on an international service learning trip; students and professors went under the leadership of Ann Farrell on a 10 day mission where we ran a creative arts camp for the children of the village.

The mission is a two sided process. We give to La Cucarita and we receive just as much in return. During mission trips, reflection times are a crucial part of the learning experience. Every night the mission group will meet and reflect as a group on the feelings of the day; this time is cathartic. When Valencia came in August of 2008, Ingrid, a long term missioner, guided us during the reflection hour. One thing for certain, every single person on this trip was greatly effected and changed forever. We all had new outlooks on life, new growing appreciation, new goals.

Ann told us if appreciation for our own life was all we gained from this trip we were only scratching the surface...

Ingrid said it best with "Welcome to the beginning to the rest of your life."

There really is no going back after an experience like this.

Home Sweet Home

When the mission first arrived, at first glance La Cucarita was a tiny little village supported solely by agriculture with scrap metal homes. The immediate goal of the mission was to create a plan for suitable housing.

The philosophy of the mission is to to help others help themselves; in other words everything the mission does in La Cucarita and the neighboring villages is earned by the people. The mission is not there so that La Cucarita can become dependent upon outside help.

In the case of proper housing many challenges arose. The houses were to be rewarded through a program much like that of Habitat for Humanity in the states. In the beginning of the housing program the villagers chose whether or not to sing up for the housing project. The choice had to be made in the beginning; everyone was in this together. Missioners were giving their blind faith to this village and in return the people of La Cucarita were expected to trust in the program from the beginning. A bong was created. The houses were to be built through construction missions where the the Dominicans and missioners would work side by side towards a common goal. Working on the homes was not only used as a form of payment, but gave the homeowners pride and satisfaction in contributing. In the end many Dominicans learned valuble skills in proper construction. After the completion of a house, there would also be a minimal mortgage.

The old scrap metal houses would be torn down; we were not trying to encourage the renting out of unsuitable housing. The new houses all followed the same layout: three bedrooms, a small living area, one bathroom, and a small kitchen. The houses were white with gleaming metal roofs; the only sign of Dominican style came from the brightly colored trim which was different for each house. This was about the only difference, but regardless of the similarity each house was filled with unique pride. The day of a move in ceremony consisted of a mass in which the entire village would attend to bless the house and aw over how beautiful it was. The sense of community continued to strengthen. The village was seeing concrete progress and the "hill of gleaming pearls was born."

Robert, a previous long term missioner of La Cucarita used to walk up the mountain to the location of a cross buillt from scrap construction pieces overlooking La Cucarita. From this point on the mountainside, he used to say La Cucairta looked like gleaming pearls in the sun; the pearls are the metal roofs of the mission homes. They are more valuable than any gem; they hold families who have love in their hearts and hope for tomorrow.

Aqua Por favor

The drinking water is unsafe in the Dominican Republic. Foreigners are told to keep their mouths shut while taking a shower, brush their teeth with bottled water, and ask for drinks without ice at restaurants. Natives are more adapted, but the effects of contaminated water were still a major issue when the mission first came to the mountains. Sickness from water means the nutrients from food do not stay in the body, hence a growing issue of malnutrition.

One of the more successful projects the mission has created to benefit the health of the villagers is the water project. Essentially what looks like two white buckets stacked on one anther is really a system which was invented to cost effectively purify the water. The health of the village has improved tremendously since the villagers have placed this purifying system in their homes. Water is now safe to drink.

When I used to think about joining the Peace Corps or working with organizations such as the mission, I took for granted how small changes really do make the most impact. Water is still a concern of the mission, there is not a reliable water source into the villages and La Cucarita many times will go without running water for weeks. Let me explain "running water." Showers and faucets exist in the new mission homes, but water is maybe available a few hours a day from a little PBC pipe that runs along the dirt road. If the pipe leaks or cracks, which happens frequently, the search for the problem starts at the top of the hill and continues down the mountain until the source is found.

In the meantime women gather water from the river or a little water sprout which is a 30-45 minute hike. Water is kept in large barrels and then placed in the purifying bucket as needed. Aside from showering at the water spout or river, bucket showers are one's only option. In the summer the freezing cold water may seem like it would be welcomed and with the right attitude I suppose it is. For missioners the entire routine is a grand adventure for a week or so, for the people of La Cucarita this is the only life they have ever known.

The mission still wishes to fund a project to ensure the village has reliable running water; a grand idea which takes time and money. My life lesson, nothing happens over night. There are a million grand ideas circulating the mission office, all of which I want to be a part of and make happen today. However, proper planning and insurance of the financial backing is crucial. Small gradual changes are also the most steadfast. In risk of sounding cliché, slow and steady really does win the race.

Beauty of their dreams

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams"

Eleanor Roosevelt

To teach someone to dream is to grant them the gift of believing in a better tomorrow. Dreams are the motivation to strive above the norm. In the case of the mission, an entire village was taught to dream.

Forgotten and God Forsaken

The people of La Cucarita used to say this phrase when describing their village. No one cared for their well being. On their part, only so much effort could be made towards progress in a village that had no resources. I often ask myself why there are people in this world who live in such dismal circumstances. Why am I so blessed in my life while others must suffer?

I believe God has a plan. Struggle and sacrifice build strength. From suffering comes compassion. I do not have all the answers, nor do I claim to. I do know that the people of La Cucarita claim that God has answered their prayers. They have a faith that I admire and a passion for life that I desire.

Maybe God takes those who can withstand such odds and uses them as teachers. While missioners may be sent to help La Cucarita, the people of La Cucarita teach their Western friends invaluable lessons in life, love, and happiness.

Bienvenido a La Cucarita

When the mission first came to La Cucarita the village was destitute.


Children were dying from malnutrition. Sickness from unsuitable drinking water plagued the people often. Overall health was alarming. The school system was a mockery; classes were in session three days a week at best. Homes were made of scrap metal with dirt floors providing little protection from the torrential rains of the summer. Children looked to their future with bleak acceptance. Boys knew their destiny lied in farming the rough mountainous land. Girls either by choice or force were usually married with children by 13 years of age. Dreams were nonexistent.

Imagine a child without the ability to dream...

Fast forward seven years, enter a thriving village full of possibility where the children are now telling their families, "I am going to be a doctor/ a teacher/ an engineer/ the president of the Dominican Republic."

Accepting their bleak futures is no longer the attitude up in the mountains. Together with their diligence and determination, we will make their dreams a reality.

Definition

Who and in what order we define ourselves as says a lot about our priorities in life. One of the first roles I describe in my life to new people is my role as a missioner. I work with the Mission Office in the Diocese of Orlando, and I go on short term missions to La Cucarita, a village in the Dominican Republic. My main goal when I am in Orlando is to help with education preparation for our children who attend the mission schools. When I am in the mission field I spend the majority of my time working with the children, usually teaching English.


The life of a missioner is a continuous learning experience, and I struggle to see what lies ahead for me in the future. This is a life I have always dreamed of, and God granted me a chance to make a real difference in the lives of others. This is my chance to tell their stories; to focus on spreading the inspiration I receive from working with such incredible people.




Since I now define myself as a missioner, I live my life in faith, at least I srtive to. I have seen how hard change and progress is, but I have also seen the power of empowering people.