"Food, medicine and education are the heart and soul of Journey Into Hope"

Thanks to you all for your many thoughts, prayers, and support during the past few months; it has been an intensely busy time as we try to meet the needs of a world deep in poverty and sickness. Medical teams from Detroit and PA came to Sabaneta in March and shared their lives, skills, hearts and medicines with the folks in our area. Many home visits by doctors, physical and occupational therapists, nurses, pastors, and friends deeply touched the lives of the residents in our barrio. God’s love in action is the most powerful agent of change on the planet, and it was great to be a witness to so many wonderful acts of kindness.

Food, medicine and education are the heart and soul of Journey Into Hope. Choosing between these three life essentials has become a daily, often heart-wrenching task in our effort to help improve the lives of our brothers and sisters on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. Malnutrition and starvation, sickness and death, illiteracy and poverty are the constant companions of many residents in our neighborhood. We continue to buy a lot of rice and beans and try to feed as many kids as possible with our limited resources. We purchase and give away medicines to many who will otherwise go without treatment for conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, typhoid fever, parasites, and epilepsy.  And then along comes a young nurse, Guylaine Codio, who has worked excellently with us during the past few years and asks us if we can help her go to medical school so she can return to work with us as a physician when she completes her training. Presently, we are providing financial aid to 30 students, ranging from kindergarten to graduate school; adding a medical student to this list has been prohibitively expensive in the past. Medical school tuition in Santiago costs approximately $6000 over the course of 5 years; but this is a long-term investment in the life of a young lady who wants to return and serve her community and improve the health of our neighbors. Such an investment would seem to be the perfect fit for Journey Into Hope’s heart and soul. If helping Gulaine appeals to you, please contact me and let me know your thoughts.

In His Most Holy Name, 
Richard Taylor