Women: Builders of Nations

Women: Builders of Nations

Elder Darrel L. Hammon

Women have played an important role in my life—my mother, my four sisters, my wife, my two daughters, my mother-in-law, and many of my teachers. Because of them, I am what I am and will ever be. While that is a bold statement, it is true. Take for example, my mother.

What I loved to do most is pick raspberries with my mother. Early in the a.m., the sun rising in the east, mother and I tied gallon buckets around our waists with yellow baling twine. Mother showed me how to lift the vines gently with a leather glove on the left hand and pick with the right, each berry gently placed in the bucket. She went down one side of the row; I on the other side. Often, the only sounds were rustling leaves and feet moving down the row. Then, her voice pieced the air: “Darrel, bend a bit lower and pick the big hidden ones, hanging on the lower limbs.” I kneeled down, careful not to knock the fruit off—and there they were, the succulent ones. This lesson of not overlooking anything, even the berries best hidden, required a bit of bending much like prayer. While I didn’t consider it work, I learned to work because of what my mother taught me during those early raspberry-picking mornings.

Joanne

Now consider my wife. She is truly my best friend and has been for thirty-three years. We have experienced exceptional times and trying times. We have moved from Idaho to Montana to Wyoming and now the Dominican Republic. I asked her the other day where she would like to live when we return home from our mission. She said, “Anywhere with you.” We are enjoying so much serving together in the Caribbean Area. Who knew what a wonderful companionship we would make.

I truly believe mothers are essential in the building of character in the lives of their children. It is so evident in the lives of our two daughters—Anna Rose and Hailey. They are mostly what they are because of the influence of their mother. She chose to stay home with them. She fixed them lunch every day, even in high school when they would bring their friends over to eat. She made their dresses. She volunteered in their elementary classes; she made sure she was part of the parent-teacher organization; she even substituted in their high school classes. During their young women days, Joanne was their young women’s leader—always serving, always being there, continuously buoying them up when they need that extra boost, and inculcating in them that righteous desires and deeds reap righteousness. Now, Anna Rose is a mother of two; and Hailey will be a first-time mother in September.

To truly demonstrate how they feel about their mother on this glorious Mother’s Day, I asked them to pen a few words:

Anna Rose and Joanne

Anna Rose:

As I write this note, my lap is home to one of the cutest little boys I know, William Luke. Named after his father and my mother's father I can't help but think of my own sweet mother. She was here once, looking down on me with the same love I feel for baby William, hoping I would sleep through the night...loving me even if I didn't.  I see her in the patience I strive for with Emiline. I see her in the songs Emi and I sing together. I see her in my crafty projects. I see her in my day to day living. My mother is in everything that I am. She taught me, sang to me and showed me what a mother should be. A mother is a friend, a confidant, a teacher, an example, a nurturer, an angel. My mother is the ideal example and I feel blessed to have her influence and love in my life. I celebrate her today and everyday...for there is no greater role than that of "mother."

Joanne and Hailey

Hailey:

“I always describe Mom as being the perfect 1950's housewife. She always kept the house clean, had dinner ready and on the table when dad got home from work, made us breakfast, had snacks ready for us when we got home from school ... and she did it all with a smile, although sans pearls. I never heard her complain about any of her motherly duties, ever. She was always willing to serve and made sure that everyone was 100 percent satisfied before she took care of herself. 

“My mother is extremely unselfish. She always had my best interests at heart and supported me in everything I ever did. She always laughs at my jokes and makes me feel so happy and loved when I am around her. 

“My mother is patient. She is kind. She is loving and just plain amazing. I know that, now that I am going to be a mother, she is who I will look to for advice. It is the memories of her greatness from which I will draw inspiration to help raise my own children. 

“Mom, I love you so much and feel beyond blessed that I was able to have a mother like you. Thank you for being such a wonderful friend and role model. Thank you for always helping me when I needed it, picking me up when I am down and giving me encouragement when I need it. 

“You are beautiful and smart and fantastic. 

“I LOVE YOU, MOM! Love, Hailey Jean.”

Can you sense a greater tribute to a mother than kind words from their daughters? Once you watch a young woman, listen to her speak, monitor how she behaves, observe her mannerisms and then meet and spend some time with her mother, you will quickly discover the similarities. It’s uncanny but true.

As President Uchtdorf said, "We are living in a great season for all women in the Church. Sisters, you are an essential part of our Heavenly Father's plan for eternal happiness; you are endowed with a divine birthright. You are the real builders of nations wherever you live, because strong homes of love and peace will bring security to any nation" (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Influence of Righteous Women," Ensign, September 2009, pp.7–8).

Mothers and women all over the world—Thank you for what you have done, what you do, and what you will continue to do over and over again: That is loving your children, helping them grow and develop, and nourishing and nurturing them. Yes, “you are builders of nations.” Nations will rise and fall as a result of the teachings of the mothers of the children. May our Heavenly Father bless you all, today, and forever.

Hailey, Joanne, and Anna Rose

Thank you, Joanne, for being the mother to our two daughters, and now grandmother to our two grandchildren and one on the way. They are special because you are special. They are wonderful because you are wonderful. They are incredible because you are incredible. Thank you for being you. I love you.

"Newborns and Dominican Hospitals"

"Newborns and Dominican Hospitals"

Elder Darrel L. Hammon

Los Snow and their family with Elder y Hermana Saint Hilaire

Now if you haven’t been to a Dominican hospital before, then entering the walls of the hospital may startle you. We went to two hospitals this week, one each Sunday: one in Boca Chica, a small hospital in a very poor part of town and one here in Santo Domingo, Centro Maternal Infantil San Lorenzo de Los Minas, located in the Los Minas part of town. Both hospitals have a maternity ward. We went with Elder and Sister Snow. Sister Snow’s almost 89-year-old mother made all of the kits. Sister Upia, a member and a former resident of Boca Chica, went with us.

The Boca Chica hospital was very humbling to us. The rooms were austere, and the young mothers were lying on their beds with their babies. A thin sheet covered the hospital beds. While the room was humble, the young mothers seemed happy with their new little infants. They were so adorable. I stopped to think about their futures, and the futures of their mothers. It saddened me to think that they were born poor but will they be able to rise from their poverty, go to school, get good grades, go to college, earn a college degree in some field that will allow them to earn a good living, which, in turn, might help them rise from their poverty? All these are questions yet to be answered.

Hermana Saint Hilaire with a young mother

We drove to the Centro Maternal Infantil San Lorenzo de Los Minas and parked in the parking lot, which was no more than a piece of grass mixed with dirt and rocks. We pulled the various suit cases the Snows had brought with them from the trunk of the car. Sister Snow’s mother had made about 170 of these kits. The Snows had been out to the Central Maternal before with the Saint-Hilaire, another missionary couple from the DR who are serving in the temple. Sister Saint Hilaire accompanies us this a.m.

               We began to trundle to the door to enter the hospital. Many eyes were on the missionaries in white shirts and ties and the sisters wearing skirts on a hot, humid day. Waiting for us was Danilo, one of the hospital workers. He had his cart and quickly loaded the two suitcases in the car and off we went. The mothers’ rooms were stark: three beds with a plastic-top mattress with no sheets unless you brought your own. María, the young woman who was taking us around, walked into the rooms to check on who was in the rooms and determined whether the baby was a boy or girl. Then she beckoned us in. As we walked in, we usually saw three mothers, lying on their beds, an IV in their arm, and their little tiny baby lying on a blanket on the bed next to her. Some of the babies had been born the night before; the others the day before.

               

Young mothers

We met four little mothers in the hallway who were ready to go home. It was hard to believe because their babies were so small. One of the young women had an especially small baby. When I asked her how much her baby weighed, she told me a little over four pounds. A little over four pounds! I suspect it should have been in an incubator. Whether there was one of those in the hospital, I do not know. The little mother with the small baby had it tucked inside of her shirt so she and the baby could share the warmth.

One mother had lost her baby. Fortunately, the Snows had brought along a hygiene kit we could give her so she didn’t feel left out. Oh, what sadness she wore on her face; and oh, what sadness we felt, knowing her baby was gone while others lived. When the Snows had visited this hospital before, they encountered more than one mother who had lost their babies. The mortality rate is high.

One of the mothers didn’t speak Spanish or English. She was a Haitian who had given birth the night before. We tried to communicate with her the best we could. We gave her a newborn kit and then waved. She waved back, a huge grin on her face. The other mothers were so appreciative. A couple of the mothers had their own mothers with them.

Sweet Angel

Sweet Angel 2

I reached out and gently touched one of the babies, placed my big index finger inside of her tiny little hand. For a moment, I thought she squeezed it. She won my heart immediately. So soft. So cherubic. So tiny. So incredibly beautiful. So serene. So, so innocent.

Sweet Angel 3

Almacén del Obispo (a.k.a. "The Bishops' Storehouse)

Almacén del Obispo “The Bishops’ Storehouse”

Elder Darrel L. Hammon

For those of us who grew up in Idaho, Utah, and other parts of the U.S. where the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is prevalent, you have probably spent some time in the Bishops’ Storehouse, probably providing some type of service. I was always amazed at the number of products, both canned and fresh, that were available to those who were in need. At Christmas time, our two daughters also spent some time in the Bishops’ Storehouse in Linden, Utah. They commented how they were impressed with the number and quality of food stuffs available.

Almacén del Obispo

We also have a Bishops’ Storehouse or Almacén del Obispo here in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. It is housed in the old Santo Domingo East Mission home, located in Gascue on a short street named Casamira de Moya #5. It has a beautiful front gate that can only be opened by an automatic door opener. Then, there is the gate that has a padlock to just get to the Almacén del Obispo. Once you arrive at the front door, there is another lock on the door. But then you enter a home that has several rooms dedicated to Almacén del Obispo, including a large storage room where the bulk of the 13 items are stored.

Yes, the Santo Domingo Almacén del Obispo has just 13 items:

13 Items

Leche de Polvo         Powered milk

Aceite                        Oil

Arroz                         Rice

Habichuelas               Beans

Harina                        White flour

Avena                         Oatmeal

Harina de Maiz           Corn flour

Jabón                           Soap

Spaghetti                     Spaghetti

Sardines                       Sardines

Chocolate                     Chocolate

Azucar                          Sugar                                                          

Sal                                 Salt

This list of 13 items may seem small compared to what many of you have seen in the Almacén del Obispo in the more heavily populated areas where there are lots of members of the Church. Interestingly, though, these 13 items are the staples in the lives of the Dominicans. As you can imagine, the rice and beans are probably the most important items on this list.

The beans and white flour come in 100-pound bags and are re-packaged into smaller three-, five-, and ten-pound plastic bags. Volunteers come each Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and then on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and help those who need help, re-package the beans and flour and sometimes the rice, stock shelves, and do general cleaning inside and outside the Almacén del Obispo.

the sealers and volunteers

The Almacén

We have four package sealers at the Santo Domingo Almacén del Obispo. They have developed cardboard models for each of the sizes of bags. They then have a huge roll of plastic. They place the model on the plastic and then cut the right size. After cutting the right size, they seal one end, fill the bags and weigh them on the scales. Once appropriately weighed, one of the volunteers uses the sealer to seal shut the plastic bag. Then, another volunteer writes the weight on the bag. The permanent marker barely has time to dry before it is whisked off to the actual Almacén where it is placed on the shelf.

Volunteers at the Bishops' Storehouse in the kitchen

Since our apartment is above the Almacén del Obispo, we often arrive home when the members are here serving. I cannot tell you what a pleasure it is for Sister Hammon and me to greet and visit with the members who come, whether they are volunteers or members who have come to obtain a few of the food stuffs to take home. They are a wonderfully happy people, eager to serve and be a part of the Bishops’ Storehouse in this part of Zion, the Dominican Republic.

We marvel how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides for the poor and the needy through Bishops’ Storehouses. We testify of the importance of these Bishops’ Storehouses and how they help people in their time of need as they become more self-sufficient. This is the Lord’s Way, and we are humbled to be a part of it.

Gracias a todos que prestan servicio en el Almacén del Obispo en Santo Domingo, República Dominicana. Serán bendecidos por su servicio.  

Two sister volunteers

Other volunteers

Another view

"Innovación Orthopédica: Truly Angels"

I posted this on our www.hammonDRmission.blogspot; but we enjoyed our experience so much, I am posting it here, too.

"Innovación Orthopédica: Truly Angels"

Elder Darrel L. Hammon

Monday morning was incredible! We went to Innovación Orthopédica, a company that helps people who need prosthetics. The Church is currently working with them on a humanitarian project. The project has to do with prosthetics. Once they receive a referral from a hospital or a priesthood leader, they then work with that client to help them create and develop the right prosthesis for that person.

Jose, Samuelito, Previ, Heidi, y Carlos ("Freddy")

Cristina, one of three leaders at Innovación Orthopédica, met us at the door. She introduced us to Carlos (Freddy) and José. They are wonderful men with a vision of what needs to be done and a passion for doing it. They have been around for a long time. Both Carlos and José have been to the U.S. to be trained. Plus, they have worked with some of our people from Salt Lake.

The way they became involved with the Church is quite serendipitous. One day they received a call from James from Salt Lake City. He had been a missionary in the DR, went home, was in an accident, and lost his leg, thus necessitating prosthesis. When he was in the DR. he couldn’t believe the number of amputees. Once he was home, he decided to help the DR. So, he looked through the directory and found Innovación Orthopédica. He called them up, explained what he wanted to do, and asked if they would be interested. Of course, they were a bit skittish about this. Why would anyone call them out of the blue and say he would help them for free? That just doesn’t happen. They took the chance, however, and the rest is history. They are now a wonderful partner for the Church.

Today, there were three young people there who wanted to tell us their stories—Samuelito (11), Previs (11), and Heidi (16). Previs was with a group of eight of his friends at a carnival when a drunk driver, a woman, smashed into them. One of the eight was killed, others weren’t seriously injured, and Previs was seriously injured. Several bones were broken, and his right leg was in such a mess they had to amputate about thigh high. So the Innovación Orthopédica worked with the Church to create a unique prosthesis for Previs. He showed it to us and was very proud that he could walk like a normal young man. His life changed because of Innovación Orthopédica and their work.

               

Heidi is a different story but one filled with hope. She was born with no legs below the knee. Plus, her hands are somewhat deformed as well. For the first several years of her life, she walked on her knees. Since she was already small, the kids at school made fun of her, and she developed a very low self esteem. Finally, she was referred to Innovación Orthopédica, and they began to work with her. Soon, they created two prostheses, one for each leg.  

Samuelito, Previs, los Hammon, y Heidi

Carlos, one of the co-owners of Innovación Orthopédica, asked Heidi to walk down the hall for us and then asked us which leg had the prosthesis. Honestly, Sister Hammon and I had a difficult time deciding which one because she walked so well. We guessed the right leg. Carlos then said, “She has two,” and then Heidi told her sad story but with a happy ending. We told Heidi she was wonderful, and she just beamed. She is now a beautiful young 16-year-old with a hope for the future. When I asked what she was going to do, she said, “I am going to finish high school, and I then I want to become a doctor.” Carlos said that once Heidi graduates from high school, they are going to hire her and help her through college. What a wonderful young woman Heidi is! Her smile is intoxicating, and her view of the future is positive. She knows what she wants to do.

Carlos and José took us on a tour of their facility, truly a facility that utilizes every single space available and then some. They begin by working with the client and measuring the person for prosthesis. Then they go to the shop where a young man begins building the mold. The young who was there had been a delivery boy for a colmado, a local store, near Carlos’ house. Over a few years, Carlos would call the Colmado, and this young man was the one who delivered the goods. They developed a friendly relationship.

One day, Carlos called José and said, “I think this young man could work out, helping us in the shop.” They agreed, and the young man came to clean the building. Because he was naturally curious about what was going on, bit by bit, they showed him how to make the parts. Soon, the person who was doing the job left, and this young man took over and has done an incredible since then.

We also went back to the room where the oven/kiln was where they “bake” the mold. Two young men were there, and they create the molds from scratch. They showed us the final products they make. So, Innovación Orthopédica makes everything from ground zero, create a unique prosthesis for each person. We were impressed with everyone there. They were absolutely incredible.

Samuelito, Previs, Heidy, y Carlos ("Freddy")

We stopped in to visit with Christina, Carlos’ wife. She showed us a variety of videos they had taken of some of their clients—the before and after shots. This is what humanitarian work is all about. Working with groups like Innovación Orthopédica shows me the importance of partnership and the importance of people like Carlos, José, Cristina, Heidi, Samuelito, Previs, and all of the people associated with Innovación Orthopédica. These people do not receive government funding; yet, they are willing to go out of their way to help their clients. There were a couple of times that tears almost came to our eyes when they told us the touching stories of the people they have helped. They even showed a video of Carlos and Cristina’s dog whose back legs became immobile.

They came on a Saturday and built a prosthesis that the dog wears that is hooked to a set of wooden tires that allow this little dog to move about the house and outside. That’s the kind of people at Innovación Orthopédica. They serve others, not matter who or what they are. 

Thank you, Innovación Orthopédica, for brightening our day and renewing our hope for a better future. And thank you Samuelito, Previs, and Heidi. Y gracias a Samuelito, Previs, y Heidi. Ustedes son increíbles y impresionantes. Ustedes son nuestros heroes.