International outreachSince 2006, St. Stephen’s parishioners have traveled to Azua in the Dominican Republic and to the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Although we contribute in many ways to the needs of our international mission partners, our priority has been and continues to be building relationships with the people in those communities through time spent together in fellowship, prayer, and worship. Together, we discern God’s call for our joint friendships and ministries.
Dominican Republic Mission Fall 2011 | Read Ann Pearman Blanchard's posts from Azua
We returned to Azua in the Fall of 2011, visiting our counterparts at the Episcopal parishes of La Reconciliacion and San Jorge. Previously, we have joined together on projects as diverse as building latrines, painting a house, and making kites for children in nearby hurricane-ravaged Haiti. We also continue to lend our support as our Azua friends build their own church. To learn how you can participate in a future trip to the Dominican Republic, please contact Weezie Blanchard. South Africa Mission| Annual trip in late Fall
In November 2011, we again visited Monica Vega and Heidi Schmidt, our missionaries, and the children in their care. Monica and Heidi work with the Isibindi Project, a model program for assisting children orphaned by the AIDS pandemic, and we visited Isibindi Project “safe parks” in Alice. We have also embarked on a relationship with St. Augustine’s Anglican Church in Grahamstown, which has a thriving food ministry and is working with Monica and Heidi to build an Isisbindi Project safe park. To learn how you can participate in a future trip, please contact Weezie Blanchard. Dominican Republic Medical Mission Trip| February 1-8, 2012 | Posts from our medical mission team
Medical and dental practitioners and Spanish translators serve the parishioners of La Reconciliacion and San Jorge, our mission partners in Azua, as well as the poor and disenfranchised in the surrounding community. February 2012 team members were Joe Alcorn, Judy Buchanan, Richard Clary, Martha Curry, Gil DeBiasi, Peta Douglas, Gene LeCouteur, Nan O’Connell, Fred Rahal, Elizabeth Schwarzschild, Melissa Schwarzschild and Sarah Taylor. To learn how you can participate in a future trip, please contact Weezie Blanchard. February 2012 posts from our medical mission team in the Dominican Republic
Thursday, February 2, 2012
This photo by Melissa Schwarzchild show the line is forming outside the clinic on Thursday.
Friday, February 3, 2012
 At the end of the day it is difficult to decide what is more impressive: the fact that we treated 195 patients, or that our pharmacy stores are still holding fast! The weather has been beautiful the last two days with cool breezes and nearly constantly sunny skies and other than a few difficult cases we are happy to say that things continue on course and without incident. Tired and sore we are ready for a good night's sleep after Compline tonight. Of course, we are looking forward to an early start to another full day tomorrow and, even more so, our much needed morning coffee. -- Sarah Taylor, TranslatorSaturday, February 4, 2012
 Just when we thought we had see it all we watched as Nelson carried our lunch out under his arm after breakfast and bring it back four hours later in a pot - it was, without a doubt, the freshest "sancocho de gallo" (rooster stew) that any of us have ever had. I don't think we anticipated such a delicious meal from such a tough old bird, but it was a particularly restorative lunch. It was a good thing too because by the end of the day we had seen another 183 patients including a young girl with a 104 fever. But, aside from the many smiles and a plastic cup full of extracted teeth there is not much else to say about our work today. We are all eager for a day of rest and relaxation tomorrow after church and, of course, the rice pudding in Buenos Aires. Que Uds descansen bien!
Photo at left: a little girl is treated for a high fever
Sunday, February 5, 2012
It is hard to not feel like we have all become a little more Dominican after a day at the local beach, a lively Sunday service with Padre Jesus and dancing followed by cups (plural) of steaming hot arroz con leche (rice pudding).
With only one working day left ahead of us it is surprising to image how far we have come in a single trip. Aches and pains have been cured, friendships have been kindled and renewed and always with a smile. Although we have run out of toothbrushes, our pharmacy stores should hold long enough to carry us through the remaining day at the clinic. The memories however, and in some cases incriminating photographs, will be carried with us even after our return to Richmond.
Monday, February 6, 2012
More photos are available on St. Stephen's Facebook page.
 Six hundred and twenty-eight patients and six flavors of ice cream later and we can barely believe that our time in Azua is at an end. Our thoughts turn now to future trips and how best to plan and organize. Hopefully, the new church will provide more space and continued participation within our own community will support our efforts and propel our success.It is safe to say that congratulations are in order if for nothing more than for the brand new clinic toilet that we were all (patients and doctors alike) thankful for. But small or large, accomplishments of this kind cannot be counted, but rather felt by those of us who have been here and reflected upon by those who of us who are yet to come.
Posts from our team in Azua, October 2011
Ann Pearman Blanchard, a member of St. Stephen's and a student at St. Catherine's School, is with St. Stephen's team in Azua, Dominican Republic, working with the Episcopal Church there. Ann Pearman sent the following dispatch October 8: Everyone here has been so excited to see us. When we got to Azua Thursday afternoon, Chichito, a member of the church who drives us in his taxi, was waiting for us. He was so happy that he lifted my mom [the Rev. Weezie Blanchard] and Jeff [Thomas] off the ground when he hugged them. When he took us to the church, lots more people were waiting and were so glad to see us. The kids especially love to play with our long hair and have their picture taken. They fed us a feast. Yesterday [Friday] we helped build a house for a family with 10 children who live in a one-room house with tin walls. The new house will have three rooms and is made of cinder block. Those of us who are strong carried block and helped lay it. The rest of us put cement on the block. The maestro was very particular. All the kids watched and wanted to help. After lunch we played games with the teens and adults. At first it was awkward, but then everyone had fun playing games like bingo and singing songs. We had a church service last night. Padre Jesus was annoyed that not many people showed up. When he asked why, everyone said, "Because it's Friday!" That was pretty funny. Ann Pearman's October 10 post: More from Azua and La Carreras, courtesy of Ann Pearman Blanchard: On Saturday we played games with children in Azua and Le Carreras, where there's a smaller church. The children loved when Emily [Krudys] read "The Cat in the Hat" in Spanish and laughed at her pronunciation. Then we played more games. They especially got into Musical Chairs and got almost violent! (in a fun way). In La Carreras, a nearby village, we played bingo while Padre had church with the adults. The kids were definitely having fun. They love that we have come to see them. Watch a slideshow of one of our trips to Azua below.
|
|
