Generous and Sympathetic

It's been less than a week since our neighbor Haiti had a major earthquake. Dominicans were the first to respond. The DR has made hospitals available to the injured, and opened its port and an airport near the border to the use of the relief effort, when Haiti's own port and airport have issues that limit their use. They sent over heavy equipment to use in the rescue effort, along with water and food supplies. They sent medical personnel. They helped in more ways than I can list.

One time Jesus saw a woman giving two tiny coins into the temple treasury. There were lots of wealthy people giving big sums of money, but Jesus praised only this woman, because she gave all she had; she gave out of her poverty.

The DR is not a wealthy country. For its government to give such help to Haiti, an even poorer neighbor is truly sacrificial giving. The response of the Dominican people has been loving, sympathetic and generous--and this to a neighbor with whom they don't always get along well. They have set aside the issues between them, to help Haitians in their time of great tragedy.

Sacrificial giving to a neighbor in need, is not new to Dominicans. They do it daily on a smaller scale. It is just part of this Dominican Life.