An Update and some Thoughts

I am back in the DR, and eager to get this project moving forward. We have now taken a 4 week break while some necessary things have been worked on - like a more efficient way to transfer money! The generous help provided by the CAT dealer caused us to move ahead without really having things aligned the way we want, so with the CAT equipment work completed, now is the time to get all of our ducks in a row.  Another week or two and I hope we will get rolling again.

and now, some thoughts ...

This country is both a wonderful place and a crazy place. 
  So many beautiful things - the tall mountains north and south of us, the agricultural fields filled with corn, beans or rice interspersed with various type of random palm trees, the dramatic sky - sunsets here are hard to beat - the pronounced light beams look like the God's powerful vision cutting thru the clouds, the great attitude of the people and their customs and want to help out. 
  Then there are the crazy things - the beautiful mall that sits empty in the middle of the city (2 years and counting), the trash that litters a beautiful place, the cultural issue of saying yes, not wanting to say no to you, but not following thru, conveniences like light fixtures in your home or stop lights at intersections that just don't work - might have never been hooked up,  the bureaucracy in businesses making things like signing up for cable and electricity an absolute pain in the @$$ !   Its a mess and a great place.
  And it makes me think that God looks at us with the exact same opinion - they are great, these creatures of mine, but boy are they a mess! 
  This country and I think everywhere and everything in this world to me reflect ourselves - anything we may look upon and think "wow, that is crazy" could be found in our own lives or place we call home. We are amazing creatures that can adopt to most any situation or condition, but that also means we are very good at picking the right pair of rose-colored glasses that helps us see things as we would like, to help ourselves feel very good about ourselves. 
  That can be a shame, because you can be fortunate to spend your life in a beautiful setting and never really appreciate it, or be blessed with amazing community strength or financial security and just bop along like "this ain't no big thing". 
  On the other hand, what is also wonderful about this ability to adapt is that we can be quite content in a situation or setting many would find very harsh. I think many Dominicans here fit this model. This simple, clearer mode may also allow a closer connection to what we are all here in this life to do - Serve Others. Not having a feeling of entitlement can clear the air of many issues and allow a soul to just be - and be content and not wanting.

I had a very interesting discussion with Dr. Canario and Frank a while back talking about the people the Clinic now serves and the plan for the new Clinic. This Clinic serves everyone - everyone. If you cannot pay, they make it happen, If you can pay, you are asked to do so on a scale appropriate to your ability and sometimes with some positive sacrifice. Four dollars for a procedure can be too high for some - they won't admit it however in order to maintain their pride, they will just not come back for the procedure. 

To me this the reason for the Clinic - to provide care (and hope) to the poorest of the poor.  Serving Others.