Bananas and more bananas

Just at the edge of Villa Vasquez is the Kellyisa 2 organic banana farm.  Yoel (a nephew of Francisca Tatis) has worked there for 8 years.  They plant and care for many acres of bananas for production and export out of Santo Domingo.  Using the waste from the banana plants, goat dung and molasses, they create organic fertilizers; both dry and liquid.  A system of cables runs through the whole farm, enabling easier access to send fertilizer out into the plants and to send the branches of bananas to be washed, sorted and packed for shipping.
Bananas are marked with a color of tape to show when they first appeared on the plant.  They are bagged, collared and protected as best as they can be from any diseases.  After 12 weeks they are harvested so that their 4 week journey to the Edmondson Village Giant will get them to the produce aisle in time to ripen fully in our homes.  So many hands have cared for your bananas.  Enjoy the fruit of their labor and give thanks to God.

Cuban Ties

The leaders of the fight for independence from Spain from Cuba (Jose Marti) and the Dominican Republic (Maximo Gomez) met together in the town of Monte Cristi on the far western edge of the Dominican coast.  The two shared similar ideas of freedom.  Together they signed a formal agreement in the late 1800’s to support each other in their common goal of creating independent nations.  Cuba and the Dominican Republic are less than 200 miles apart!  The two leaders met in the wooden house below, where Maximo Gomez lived.  What an interesting connection between the land of our sister congregation in Sagua la Grande, Cuba and the home of several of our members, the DR.  Our global connections bring us closer together on many levels!

 I am standing on the winding staircase of the public clock which was given to the town of Monte Cristi in 1894, and has never stopped running in 125 years!  It is a source of pride for the town, placed in a central square called Duarte Park.

Welcoming Refugees!

Jewish refugees in the Dominican Republic?  In 1938, multiple nations were asked to receive Jewish refugees who were attempting to escape Hitler and his hatred.  The Dominican Republic, under the leadership of dictator Rafael Trujillo, was the first country to agree.  He recognized that their presence could be a boon to his country.  He was right....it was a win-win.
A boatload of Jewish refugees landed in the Dominican Republic in 1940.  They were from Poland and Czechoslovakia and Belgium.  They were given land in Sosua to build houses and also to clear for farming.  They used their skills in cattle raising: cheese making, as butchers and bakers.  They were teachers and doctors.
The Jewish batey (Spanish for a community where all are of the same group) prospered.  The Jews took advantage of the land given to them; building structures, businesses and making good use of the rich soil.  They built and ran a meat market; a flour mill, a school.  The only synagogues in the Dominican Republic are in Sosua and nearby Puerto Plata. Most of the Jews have been assimilated into the community at large by now, but this unprecedented welcome to a group of persecuted people so different from the Dominican population is fascinating to me. Though Trujillo ends up with much negative press for the way he treated people, this was one bright spot of his leadership.
The batey in Sosua is now the home of multiple hotels and restaurants enjoyed by tourists and locals alike. The synagogue and a Jewish museum still stand today, but it was unclear as to how much they are functioning.

This history makes me wonder about the kind of welcome that we (as a nation, as a community, as individuals) are offering to brothers and sisters who come to us today for refuge from something.  Perhaps if we offered more of a start to these brothers and sisters, we would all benefit from the gifts they bring.

“When immigrants live in your land with you, you must not cheat them.  Any immigrant who lives with you must be treated as one of your citizens. You must love them as yourself, for you were immigrants in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.”  Leviticus 19:33,34.  CEB translation.

Villa Vasquez!

The view from Guillermina Tatis’ (eldest sister of Francisca Tatis) front porch in Villa Vasquez.  This town is flatter, hotter and drier than Sosua.  It is surrounded by rice fields, banana and plantain trees.  We are very close to the Haitian border here, and I heard Creole spoken for the first time yesterday.  I actually rode on a motoconcho (a motor bike used as a small taxi everywhere) from the bus stop to the house, but we can walk everywhere in this small town.
At the end of morning mass today the priest reminded us to wash our hands frequently, to clean our cell phones (big collectors of bacteria), to avoid touching our mouth and nose with our hands, but not to live in fear of the coronovirus.  Good advice.

The power of rain

Rain taps on the metal roof next door, singing a song.
Rain overflows the banks of the river, bringing rushing muddy water swirling to the front steps of la casa de Carmen.
Rain coming in torrents closes schools for the day.
Rain flushes out the trash along the riversides, collecting in what is now a mountain of trash bags filled with plastic bottles and bags and styrofoam.
Rain is a gift, bringing families some unexpected time of togetherness.
Rain cuts off electricity, cloaking us all in darkness for a few hours.
Rain is loud, pounding on the ground.
Rain sprouts umbrellas, even for the men on motorbikes.
Rain brings relief to the dry ground, filling the cisterns, water for the cattle on nearby farms.
Rain traps us on the second floor for awhile, as we watch the water rise beyond our control.
Rain is a blessing from God.

Sosua, Dominican Republic

A Zumba class at sunset, Sosua.

 Sunset at Playa Alicia, Sosua.

Congregation of Iglesia Evangelica Dominicana, Sosua on a rainy Sunday in Lent.

What feeds a culture?

Being immersed in a different culture gives me an opportunity to ponder what makes one culture different from another?  There are many facets of culture, but today I am wondering about differences in road behaviors from one culture to another.

Why do drivers in the US (mostly) stay in their lane, obey traffic signals, etc?  Why is driving here in the Dominican Republic putting your life at risk, especially if you are on a motorcycle with 3 people and packages, swerving between cars?  Driving behaviors don’t pop up over night.  They are a part of the culture, the expectations of one another, the way life is.  You get used to it, you cultivate patience with others, you exercise caution and you stay very alert when driving or walking along the road.  Accidents and even fatalities are very common here.  (It would be interesting to compare stats with US stats....)

But why?  Does the US enforce laws more effectively?  Maybe.  But when I drive at home I stay in my lane not primarily out of fear of getting a ticket.  It is expected of me and I expect it of other drivers.  I want us all to be safe on the road.
Are people more respectful in the US?  I don’t think so.
Are people more selfish or more in a hurry in the DR?  I don’t think so.

Different life experiences, different histories, different political patterns (Here there are 32 parties vying for a win in local elections which were attempted in February but canceled on the day of due to accusations of election fraud and are now scheduled for March 15.  The national election will be in May.).  Different climate for weather, for religion, for business, a different perspective on time and on

loyalty to those around you, different economic resources, different expectations of government...  there are many factors which feed a culture, which shape our accustomed behaviors, whether on the road, in the home, in our workplaces, the way we spend our free time.

What a joy to be immersed in the Dominican culture for these days.  I am so grateful to Carmen Harmon’s family for their welcome and care for Dan and me.  This is Raquel!