Because of your generous support, I was able to return to the Dominican Republic. As in last year, it provided an invaluable life experience for me in understanding poverty, as well as reminding me of how blessed I am in the US. For me, the best experiences were interacting with the local kids. Many of them are abused, beat, neglected, or do not go to school. They were thrilled to be around us, and showed us their enthusiasm by helping us with our work. The kids worked as hard as us, and did so in ripped t-shirts and bare feet.
Living without electricity, running water, or internet would seem like abhorrent conditions to us, though the Dominicans take it in stride. They have TV's, and they know how Americans live. Yet, they do not despair at their lamentable condition. They are the hardest workers I have met, and are eager to prove their value. Through no fault of their own, their government is corrupted and there are almost no jobs to be had in the town we stayed in. This is obviously extremely depressing, and it leads many into the temptations of alcoholism.
While building some latrines may seem like a small act, it provides the families a measure of hygiene, and means they no longer go squat in the woods. Whether it will make a true difference, I do not know. But I do know that they truly appreciate our hard work, which could only have been accomplished through your donations. I do not plan to return again next year, as I would like to allow younger members of the Fraternity to experience the developing world. I hope you will continue to support our efforts in the Dominican.
Very Sincerely,
David Levy
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