Marco Polo Club Puerto Plata

... starting to get dark, so wasn't very good for picture-taking. Finally, we pulled up to a lovely little house in this village in the mountains - which is just houses lining either side of this street. The reception was held outside, and the family had just put in a new gazebo, which was where the band played and people danced, and where the cake was on display. There were little white tables interspersed among the plants and trees in the garden, and people ...

... can't wait to see them.  My little Ellie Grace has<br>grown at least one inch, is beginning to give up her bottle, and is saying new<br>words.  She grew up some while I have been gone--I'm going to eat it all<br>up when I get back!<br>I haven't been able to reflect on this experience.  I've heard that<br>reflection comes in bits and pieces, interwoven during normal daily routines--a<br>thought here, an image there.  What I do know, is that this ...

... he said, "I don't have the money or the time."  It was maddening.  I truly believe in my heart that this child will not survive this illness, just because of his living situation.  It was difficult to walk away-<br>Please offer your positive thoughts, good karma, prayers, or wishful thinking to this little one tonight.  Maybe they will help.<br>Missing all of you,<br>Love,<br>Lani

... aren't spoiled by anybody,<br>Who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep,<br>Who live and move, but have no being.<br>We pray for children who want to be carried,<br>And for those who must,<br>For those we never give up on<br>And for those who don't get a second chance.<br>For those we smother,<br>And for those who will grab the hand of anybody kind enough to offer it.<br> -----by Marian Wright Edelman 

... pass us by around Thursday afternoon, thanks in advance, Bill.  It rained all night last night, and looks like Thursday will be a wet day as well.  <br>I'm attaching a very recent pic of my little one, taken last week.  I think she's learning to play the piano in my absence, and definitely growing up too fast while mommy is away.<br>Take care.  Hope you are all well-<br>Love,<br>Lani<br> 

... this is my first, "I'm really homesick, and am admitting it to the world" blog since arriving here.  I'm hoping that I continue to stay busy, as that makes the days seem shorter :)<br>I'm attaching a group picture.  This picture was taken after the Campo clinic and education session.  Yes, we are really as tired as we look!<br>Please feel free to drop me an email and let me know how you all are doing.<br>Adios,<br>Love,<br>Lani

... to talk with and mull thing over. We are staying in a average size city at Hotel Castillo. The building itself is about 150 years old but not one of those classic beauties, it really is small living but it's quite upstairs and safe. Downstairs there is a bar where there is a constant flow of regulars consisting of expats, mostly men, who have married Dominicans and sit around smoking and drinking and don't always have the best things to say to women ...

... to swim with sharks instead! I should preface this entry by stating that I do recognize that it is inherently and generally wrong to capture animals from the wild to keep them in captivity. Even though the enclosure at Ocean World in the DR is apparently the largest man-made dolphin enclosure in the world, it is still, of course, a far cry from the vast entity of the world's oceans that they would normally have to call their home. While it is not right, nor ...

... have to mail the donations off pretty quickly. If you are able to help out please let me know how many boxes or cans I can expect, and I will add that to my list. The mailing addresses are as follows : For UPS, DHL, or FedEx Margaret Kirlin, PCV Cuerpo de Paz 451 Avenida Bolivar Santo Domingo Republica Dominicana For US Postal Service Margaret Kirlin, PCV Apartado 1412 Santo Domingo Republica Dominicana Thanks so much! Miss you all and will write more soon. Love, Maggie

... loser at this point. I did eventually make it to the top of the mountain chasing after the group and from here on you could only walk by foot as the path got too steep for the horses. Wohoo! Walking I CAN do! It was only a short 10 min. walk downhill (but remember what goes down must come up). I could already see "El Limon" and it looked very impressive and big. However once we made the downhill ...