Drought. . .

After a six month drought of blogging, I'm back.  Not that plenty hasn't happened. . . I will try to update you on the highlights.  But for now, I'll start with February 2014.

MEDICINE IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

"Whatever you do, don't get sick in the Dominican Republic."  Yes, this was sage advice given to us by the senior missionary couples in Santiago.

No worries, I haven't had any problems and certainly Elder Fagersten has been very healthy.  However, it wasn't long before my first encounter with the Dominican medical system.  After wading through that I vowed that I would never use the medical system again.  When am I going to learn to watch what I say! I have now been to three hospitals in the Dominican Republic and I have found them to be just about the same.  Some are worse than others, but not by much.

Just remember that looks can be deceiving.  The outside is somewhat welcoming.  

However, I was not prepared for what I experienced when I entered the hospital.

No worries, we feel safe because there are always security guards to make sure we are protected.  They all carry the same style of sawed off shotguns.

I had been sick for about a month, thinking, hoping and praying I would get over whatever it was that I had. I continued to ignore my illness until I couldn't ignore it anymore.  I was in bed more than I was out of bed, my blood work indicated that I had need of medical attention.  I had no options but to go to the hospital. The sanitary conditions are virtually nonexistent. 

The emergency room was filled with people, we had a bed and the nurse came in to draw my blood.  I was having a kidney stone attack.  "I have to throw up!"  So the nurse reaches the garbage can and gives it to me. Really, I am going to throw up in this garbage can used by how many people that day?  The nurses and doctors go from patient to patient without washing their hands.  When questioned about that protocol, their answer was "Oh, we're trying to keep costs down."  Hmmm, my confidence in their care was waning.

I was admitted and taken to a room.  My IV tree didn't have rollers on it so I had to have Gary drag the tree around for me.  He was a good sport.  

  

This is my bed, a random oxygen tank and my end table.  This mercury thermometer (which they put under my armpit to take my temperature) was literally thrown in the drawer in this table.  Oh, by the way, there are no pillows, blankets or hospital gowns provided.  I was grateful to have a sheet on my bed and a bar of soap in the bathroom. 

This is the closet where I was to store my personal belongings.  I thought I would let the bugs keep the closet to themselves.  Gary was good enough to sweep the cobwebs from the ceiling and clean up the area a bit.

 

Since I was having a procedure in the hospital, they brought breakfast to Gary.  Chocolate milk and "grilled" cheese.  They don't use butter on their bread, but they do cut the crusts off the bread :-)  Gary took one bite, covered the food back up (he decided he wasn't interested in breakfast) and we had to leave for my procedure.  When we returned an hour and a half later, we found his breakfast sandwich filled with ants. . .

Needless to say, when we returned to the United States I was so grateful to receive my care in a sanitary environment.  All of the doctors in the Dominican Republic were very kind and caring, but they have very difficult situations they have to work in with very limited resources.  

We were in the United States for two months.  We were able to be with some of our family and see some of our grandchildren, which was a thrill for us.

I am very grateful for all of the prayers, love, support and help I received from so many of you.  Gracias! (And you thought I couldn't speak Spanish!)

Hungry Anyone?

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE FOR LUNCH?



There are definitely a variety of foods that you can purchase on the streets from vendors.

Cashews and batatas (potatoes)

The ice cream man

Ready to serve a new pig every day.

Wilbur

Coffee anyone?

True story.  We were in Santo Domingo.  We brought a few people up to an employment seminar.  

One of the men that we brought has his own electronics store.  On our way home he wanted to stop

in a particular store to purchase supplies for his own shop.  While we were sitting in the car this man

(see photo above) pushes an old grocery shopping cart up to the store.  He was hoping to make a sale.

He didn't notice that I had my camera and was taking photos of him from inside the truck.  The man put 

his hand inside the bag of plastic cups.  Not wanting to sell any coffee with floaties in it, he turned the

cup upside down, shook out the dust, then proceeded to use his shirt to wipe the cup clean.  Now that

is what I call a concerned employer.  Just wanting his customers to have the best.  He then poured the 

coffee in the cup, put a lid on it and walked inside the building to sell his cup of coffee.  When he came

out empty handed, I knew he had made his sale.  Someone in the building was glad to have a nice cup

of hot coffee. 

              Pig, sausages, chicken and your guess is as good as mine.  No refrigeration necessary, just slice and serve.

              The food stays at "room temperature" all day.  Hmmm, maybe there is wisdom in the rule that missionaries are not                 to eat from street vendors.

                                                           Make sure you wash your fruit before you eat it.

                                      Elder y Hermana Fagersten, taking our first sips of fresh coconut water. . .yummy!

                                                        Take your pick, avocados, oranges, or whatever is in season.

Sugar cane straight from the field.  Peel and enjoy!

We've Got You Covered!

Don't worry, we've got you covered!  A familiar phrase often used in an action movie.

It was the Christmas Concert in La Vega.  This was a very big deal because our choir, consisting of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and a handful of enthusiastic singers not of our faith joined together to perform with the Catholic youth orchestra.  La Vega had not had any kind of Christmas concert like this in the past.  We were to perform Christmas music singing along with the orchestra and all proceeds of the concert would go to a charitable organization providing relief for the hungry.  The MicroVision television station was there to record the concert for TV later on in the week.

We had been there a few hours practicing before the concert, several of the choir members had their makeup done for their debut on TV, and it was nearing performance time.  "I need to use the ladies room," two of the sister missionaries, Hermanas Baez and Weller, declared.  Well, I thought, I might as well go with them.  So off we went.


As we were heading out to the bathroom, Elders Farnsworth and Jensen warned us, "The men's bathrooms are really strange.  We hope the women's bathrooms are not the same."  What could be so different, I wondered?  This year I turned 60 years old, and I can tell you that I've been to my fair share of bathrooms with our nine children and our twenty grandchildren.

We have been to France, Germany, Spain, Gibraltar, Portugal, and about 46 of the states in America. Never in all of our adventures have I seen a bathroom like the one in the Dominican Republic in La Vega in the Dosa, (Club Deportivo Domingo Savio) where our concert was performed.

In order to get into the concert hall, you have to walk up two steps and enter through the door.  Immediately on your left is the ladies bathroom.  A great location for a bathroom so you can take care of business right before the concert.  However, all concert goers must pass by the women's room in order to get to the concert hall.

The sister missionaries and I walked to the bathroom.  The sign on the door indicated it truly was the women's bathroom.  We looked around, was there any other place we could go to take care of our business?  The outside bathroom door and walls were made of glass.  The bathroom stall doors were made of glass.  A woman inside using the bathroom had a lovely yellow dress on.  What were we going to do?  It was nearing time for the concert to start and we knew we wouldn't make it through the concert without using the bathroom.

"Don't worry, I've got you covered!"  Two of us stood in front of the door becoming the human screen for the sister using the bathroom.  As I was standing there in the shape of a human X, my husband walked up the stairs to go down the hall to the concert.  His eyes caught mine and he started coming towards me.  "No, No, don't come in.  This is the bathroom!"  I shouted.  Baffled, my husband walked on.  The crowd continued to file up the steps, all turning their heads to see what was going on behind those glass doors.

We were grateful there were three of us:-)

Glass door to enter building. Notice the exact same
glass door and handle inside.  That is the door to
the women's bathroom.  Unbelievable, but true!

Oh The Strange Things You See

Just When You Think You've Seen it All

One of these pigs is not like the other. . .

Hot air balloon basket

Dog gang

Anyone interested in buying bowling pins?

Somehow, I just wouldn't feel safe driving in this bus.

Dog on the roof

Justin Bieber in the Dominican Republic

The National Police, enough said. . .

The new fender look

I'm going to get me one of these when I get home!

Yep, those are leaves on the van.

A sign in the metro station prohibiting anyone from bringing the above things on the metro.  Notice the bottom right picture.  Yes, it is a refrigerator and yes, people try to bring refrigerators on the metro.

                                  Kids riding in the back of a pickup truck. . .no seat belts required

                                                    Would you climb this scaffolding?

Display in the metro in Santiago of a toilet and sink used to
educate people about washing their hands after using the toilet.

                                                             Yes, three bananas in one.

                                                 Santa riding on top of a truck in January

                                          Who has the right of way? Car, moto, horse, pedestrian?

                                           Notice the lowest wire above the white car.
                                                       It hit the top of our truck.

                                                   What to do with your leftover soda bottles. . .

                                                           What street do you live on?

                                                           Not paying attention or illiterate?

Feliz Navidad

Feliz Navidad

Nativity in La Vega

I love Christmas and all of the traditions, memories and activities that accompany this time of year.  

One of my favorite prophets is Howard W. Hunter.  The last address he gave was in December of 2002 entitled "The Gifts of Christmas."  I would like to share a portion of this talk with all of you as you contemplate what gifts you can give to those you love.

"The Savior dedicated His life to blessing other people.  As expressed by His chief Apostle, Peter.  “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power:  who went about doing good” 

(Acts 10:38)

Never did the Savior give in expectation of receiving.  He gave freely and lovingly, and His gifts were of inestimable value.  He gave eyes to the blind, ears to the deaf, and legs to the lame; cleanliness to the unclean, wholeness to the infirm, and breath to the lifeless.  His gifts were opportunity to the downtrodden, freedom to the oppressed, forgiveness to the repentant, hope to the despairing, and light in the darkness.  He gave us His love, His service, and His life.  And most important, He gave us and all mortals resurrection, salvation, and eternal life.

Let us strive to give as He gave.  To give of oneself is a holy gift.  We give as a remembrance of all the Savior has given.  

This Christmas. . .

Mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise.   Forgo a grudge.  Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again."

I am motivated by the example of our Savior and encouraged to ponder the words of the prophet and determine what gift I can give my Savior.

Merry Christmas to all of our family, friends and loved ones.  

Lights on the Square in La Vega

Did That Really Just Happen?

"Be there at 7 p.m. for the Christmas dinner," we were told.  So being the prompt missionaries that we are, we arrived at 7 p.m. to find a handful of people at the church.  Decorations were being put up, some of the food was brought in.  By 8:30 p.m. the building was filled to capacity with anxious people waiting for their dinner.  However, Dominican tradition is that they have their entertainment and dancing first, then the dinner last.  If I had known that, I would have eaten some saltine crackers or something:-)

So the entertainment began. . .

The Nativity in the Dominican Republic

Why, that picture looks just like thousands of pictures of the reenactment of the Nativity.  The event was quite reverent and the actors and actresses played their part with respect until Santa walked in.  The guitar began strumming with the keyboard accompanying the nativity to the tune of "Feliz Navidad!"  The angel, wise men, Mary, Joseph and shepherds began rocking out.  What just happened?  Everyone enjoyed the entertainment.

As missionaries, we were invited to four different Christmas dinners at the branch meetinghouses in La Vega. We learned very quickly what the traditional Christmas dinner is.  Although the presentation of the food varied, the menu was pretty much the same.  

Roasted pig, chicken, potato salad, green salad (shredded lettuce, shredded cabbage, sliced tomatoes with oil and vinegar), rice with beans, and a pasta salad with tuna fish in it.  For dessert, they take an individual small styrofoam plate, pile it with an apple, grapes or raisins and two jelly candies, wrap it in plastic wrap and hand it out to each individual.  

Yes, that's a machete they use to carve the pig

                                                                                          A delicious dinner

In the Conani Branch, where we are assigned to attend on Sundays, I am the only one who "plays" the piano.  So of course, I was asked to accompany some groups while they sang their Christmas songs.  The Dominicans love, love, love to sing.  It is so refreshing to hear them sing their hearts out and they don't care if they are in tune.  Well, I'm not sure if they know if they are in tune or not.  

I had just finished accompanying a quartet who sang Angels We Have Heard on High.  The strains of gloria rang out and I was sitting at the keyboard in the front of the chapel, pondering the beauty of the season and the blessing of the birth of our Savior.  

The chairs and podium were moved aside and I sat directly in front of the brick with the keyboard in front of me.  Elder Fagersten was sitting close by.  Unbeknown to me, there was a 6 inch lizard crawling up the brick wall behind me.

The lizard looked around, and down below.  Oh, he thought, I see my target clearly below.  He took the plunge, will he reach his target?  Swoop, he landed on my head, then ran down my back!  I shuddered, let out a small squeek, pushed my chair back and looked for help to be saved from the man eating creature.

Did that really just happen?  Yes and I lost my appetite for the roasted pig. . .