Dear Loved Ones,

Greetings from the Dominican Republic.

One of the best things about being in La Romana is going to the bateys. I go everyday during the week with the groups and the translators. It’s great. I mainly fill out the consultation papers. The people in the Bateys buy the tickets in advance. Then, on the day when we are actually working there, they’ll come up to us, give us the tickets, and we’ll fill out an application for them. Without the consultation paper, they won’t be able to see the doctor.

I’m really, really grateful for Kristy letting me go to the bateys with them. It gives me something to do, and it’s incredibly enjoyable. It’s an unforgettable experience. ‘

The people are beyond description. They always get so excited when they see the bus pull up, and it definitely makes us happy to know that they’re happy to see us.

Sometimes, I go with the Evangelism Team, which is led by Pastor Lubin and Pastor Bill. Today was awesome. After the service, the people with ailments came over and were prayed for. The pastors even used holy water. And, to my knowledge, all of the people claimed to be healed. It’s one thing to hear that God still performs miracles, but it’s an entirely different story to actually see it. Watching the teams, you can’t help but be impressed. They work with all kinds of contagious diseases, having to touch people others would avoid. They have a sincere interest in their patients.

One day, we went to a batey where one of the girls had been two weeks before. She checked up on one of her patients, a 15-year-old girl with a 6-month-old baby. The baby was extremely small because the mother was only feeding it twice a day. She had been told to feed it up to eight times a day or more, but she didn’t. The team leaders offered to take her baby and raise it for her, probably in an orphanage. Unfortunately, she refused. The girl, a midwifery student, was upset. Most people don’t take on other people’s problems, but she did. And it was nice, in a way, because she could have turned her back and acted like it had nothing to do with her, because, in reality, it didn’t directly concern her.

It has been an amazing experience. I feel useful, although, when you stop and think about it, anybody could do what I am doing. It’s not that difficult, really. But I like it, and the patients are so grateful, that you can’t help but feel like you’re doing something big.

With gratitude for your love and support.

Yours,

Pambi Nzunga