Medical missioners served hundreds at a makeshift clinic near Santiago.
Two members of Trinity Church in Melrose traveled to the Dominican Republic as part of a medical mission in July. Judy Cote and Harry Walton joined a 16-member team in setting up a clinic in an impoverished barrio near the city of Santiago. This was their second mission trip to the Dominican Republic.
Once there, the mission team transformed the classrooms and sanctuary of the barrio’s small Episcopal church into a much-needed medical clinic. This gave local people an opportunity to be seen by a doctor and a dentist and assisted by nurses, pharmacists and support people. For many, it is the only medical treatment they will have access to all year.
Walton reports that Trinity parishioners responded overwhelmingly to a request for donations and collected hundreds of crayons, coloring books, clothing and other items for children seeking treatment at the clinic, in addition to personal care items and supplies for the clinic itself.
“The deep faith of the Dominican people, living in conditions that would shock us here is amazing,” Walton said. “They truly feel blessed with what God has given them and for our leaving our homes and traveling so far to help them. Yet we feel we gained more from them during our trip than we could have possibly given.
“We assisted approximately 500 people over the five days the clinic ran, and at the end of the day many remain unseen. But they left and returned the next day with grace, understanding and a calmness that was beautiful to witness.”
The team also created personal care packages for each of the patients, comprising toothbrushes, toothpaste, washcloths and bars of soap. These are given along with any prescribed medications after examinations.
A unique part of this mission, Walton said, is the diversity of the team. The members come from a number of parishes throughout the dioceses of South Carolina, Massachusetts and California. They meet together only twice prior to a trip, once to pack the trunks for the mission.
“Upon arrival in the Dominican Republic we travel four hours by bus to the barrio, and work side by side with locals for over a week in less than ideal conditions. When I shared time with the impoverished yet vital people there, my heart opened wide from the love they shared,” Judy Cote said. “We may offer our skills and talents for a short time, but their love awakened feelings in us that offer a daily challenge: to be more loving all our thoughts and actions and to seek Christ in others.”