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In January 2007, I participated in
the Annual Sisters of the Circle Retreat at Dayspring,
with my friends from St.
Peter’s Cathedral. One of the participants was Karen Carroll, a long-time member
of St. Peter’s who is currently serving as a missionary in the Dominican
Republic (DR). Those of you who read my daily journal (which is still available
on this website) from our mission trip to Santiago, Dominican Republic last
July, will likely recognize Karen’s name as she was part of the team that
brought Vacation Bible School (VBS) to approximately 300 children in that area.
Anyway, it was good to see Karen and hear about her latest accomplishments doing God’s work in the DR. When I last saw Karen in July, she had been standing on the street in front of the Hogar, as the rest of the VBS team headed off to the airport to return home to Florida.
So, “What is a Hogar?” you ask.
The Hogar, whose official name (in English) is “The Bishop Isaac Home for the
Elderly” is the center of Karen’s mission in the DR. It is an
elder-care
facility, built by the Anglican Church, and is part of the San Jose Church and
School complex in Boca Chica. Karen is the administrator. A couple of years ago,
Karen left her job at All Children’s Hospital in St. Pete to take on the task of
overseeing completion of the Hogar. When we were there in July, the construction
was almost complete and they hoped to have a dedication in the fall. Well, The
Hogar now has residents and its mangy mascot “Happy,” who when we met him in
July was nearly hairless, has grown into a full-size dog and is very healthy.
The Hogar provides lodging for the elderly poor and daytime services and
programs for the elderly who live nearby. Karen also keeps pretty busy hosting
medical mission teams.
Some of the women at the retreat were surprised to hear that Karen doesn’t receive a salary for her work in the DR. Nope! Karen is a volunteer; she is supported by her personal savings and by donations from people in our diocese. If you would like to make a donation to support Karen in her efforts in the DR, donations may be sent to St. Peter’s Cathedral, Carroll Missionary Fund, 140 4th Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
I was glad to hear that everything is going well with Karen at The Hogar. I know that there have certainly been some frustrating moments for her as she continually tried to advance the building process toward completion. Let’s face it – the timeframe that American’s are accustomed to just doesn’t compute in a poor, Caribbean nation.
So, when you say your prayers tonight, please say a special one for my friend Karen Carroll, doing God’s work in the DR. Pray that she will be safe and that she will be given the strength and courage to continue her mission.
Gail McGarry MacAulay
April 6, 2007
Editor's Note: We have made arrangements with Karen Carroll to publish her reports of her work at the Hogar in a continuing column called Karen's Blog which will begin next week ... get a small taste of what it means to have a mission in a third world country, and, if you can, help her in her work.