News from the Dominican Republic

Alex Morse – Dominican Republic
For those of you wondering, yes I am still alive.  Mainly I’ve been doing two things; house visits to people living with HIV/AIDS and teaching English classes.  I am now teaching 5 classes with the largest being about 60 students, and is located in an old bar/ supermarket.  All together I have about 90 students in my first batch and we will be finishing up the first level here in a week, conveniently the same time that my parents coming, so we will be able to enjoy our time together.

For those of you wondering, yes I am still alive.  Mainly I’ve been doing two things; house visits to people living with HIV/AIDS and teaching English classes.  I am now teaching 5 classes with the largest being about 60 students, and is located in an old bar/ supermarket.  All together I have about 90 students in my first batch and we will be finishing up the first level here in a week, conveniently the same time that my parents coming, so we will be able to enjoy our time together.

Things here in Boca Chica had been fairly tranquil for the last couple of months; however, the last two weeks have been slightly more tense.  The cause of the crime is that there is a lack of tourists here right now.  In other towns this isn’t quite as large of a problem as it is here.  Normally during this lull between European and Summer tourists, and Christmas American tourists, people go and work in sectors other than tourism.  However, in Boca Chica there is nothing outside of the tourism industry.  This started 10 years when the main employer in town, a sugar manufacturing plant, was privatized, sold to Brazilians, and then closed because they wanted to make ethanol and the government wouldn’t allow it , so they shut down the plant, they shut down the railroad that brought the sugar, and they lowered the demand and price of sugar.  Also, nobody else has been willing to invest in the plant because they don’t know what the government will or will not let them do.  So, in the mean time everyone here suffers in the off season.  This week violent crime has jumped dramatically as there is no money in the street as the people here say (but in Spanish).

Another interesting thing that I’ve been able to see parts of is the some of the brujeria, or witchcraft that goes on here.  For example one of the people living with AIDS has an uncle who performs rituals to keep spirits away from him, and things like that.  Also, one of my friends is strongly against witchcraft and the damage it does, but also is convinced of the power of evil spirits that haunt.  It is a cultural aspect that is very interesting but can get in the way of treatment, for example some people don’t believe that they have AIDS and instead blame it on curses and refuse to take medications.  I am hoping to go close to the Haitian border for Halloween, which should be pretty eye opening.  I have lots more to talk about, but will save it for another time.

Alex Morse
Alex Morse is a Global Ministries Intern serving with Caminante in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic.  He works with children in Caminante’s Outreach Ministry.  His work is possible because of funds provided by Week of Compassion of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).