Pearls from Jane's pen

It's been a busy week here but many things have happened since we last talked, so I thought I would bring you up to speed. But first, I hope you are all well and not stressed about the upcoming holidays. It's really odd to see Christmas decorations here like those inflatable balls with snow scenes, and wicker reindeer, garland over doorways, some Christmas lights on homes and of course the big displays in the local stores selling all sorts of Christmas merchandise. The sun is shining now after all the rain we have had lately and the temperatures stay in the 25-28 degree range. The nights are a little cooler so sleeping is quite comfortable with only a sheet and maybe we pull on the blanket in the wee hours of the morning.

On Friday we went to the airport to pick up a group from Marshall United Church in Ancaster and who do we see at the airport getting off the flight also but Sam & Nancy Voorberg from Ancaster CRC. They were quite surprised to see us also and today we were able to get together with them and take them on a tour of our work here. God sure knows how to send a ray of sunshine at times when you feel homesick and tired. We also received an email last week from a school buddy of John's (Ken & Jennifer Sipkens) who are here for a vacation also. More sunshine!

There are 6 ladies who joined me at the sewing shop on Monday & Wednesday to help teach the local women how to sew on the machines. We started making small drawstring gift bags that will be filled with toiletries and gifts for the group's visit to the patients in the public hospital on Thursday. Our visitors were surprised and overwhelmed with the enthusiasm, commotion, and lack of basic skills these Haitian women possess. Even sewing a straight line is a challenge because they all think that the faster you make the machine go the better it is. Each group member was paired with 2 Haitian women at one machine per table and given the opportunity to work closely with them. Of course, many of the ladies who were in my embroidery class that were not chosen to use the machines came to watch and socialize. Chaos multiplied many times over. Finally I had to tell them they could watch for 5 minutes only so we could get back to work. It's really awesome when you see these Haitian women helping each other with their sewing. They made the 75 bags needed for the hospital ministry. Good work to all!

Sometimes life is frustrating here but we know things can always get worse. Last week for 4 days we had no running water in the house because the pump that draws the water up the hill burnt out. This affected the 10 homes that all rely on the pump. You don't realize how precious a commodity water is until you don't have it. No showers, no laundry done, rain water for dishes and toilet flushing, ugh! I think of the village we are working in of Los Algodones who has gotten water for the first time in it's existence just recently. How did they do it? Also, the cellular network was experiencing difficulties in our area so we had no phone service during the same period. Add to that the fact that hydro comes and goes regularly for 4 or more hours at a time made for quite a stressful week. At least it's not cold here. But all things are now back to what is considered normal again. Thank you, Lord.

Is it Christmas yet?

It kind of hard to believe that it’s November 17. It’s still very warm, lots of rain but still very warm. The usual signs of the Christmas season appear here as they do in Canada but not near to the same extent. It could be the high cost of electricity and many Christmas decorations appear home made rather than store bought. It kind of reminds me of the way Christmas may have been celebrated before it became so commercialized, I don’t know for sure because I can’t remember that far back.

The other day Jane and I booked our flights to come home for Christmas and it seems surreal that it’s that time of the year already. We come back home to Canada on December 18 and then I leave for the Dominican Republic, January 10, and Jane on January 22. During that time we do have some committed engagements but if you would like us to visit your church, club or community, please send us a note because if we can, we’ll be there.

Till then, keep smiling and God Bless!

Top notch security!

As some of you may know, we now have a fence around our home. It took a while to get and though it really only keeps “Honest People Honest”, it still give some sense of security. As false as it may be, it does give a small amount. Since then we have decided to beef it up with some very high tech equipment that requires some maintenance but hopefully worth it on the long run. I would like to introduce our two security guards, Cleo (short for Cleopatra) and Roly (short for Roly Poly). We don’t know their last names but we know where they came from and they are about six weeks old. Roly is the brown guy and Cleo is the dark female. Though they are brother and sister they fight and wrestle like long time combatants going for the grand prize. Cleo has a pesky character and Roly more docile which is a good thing because Roly is certainly bigger than Cleo and if the characters were reversed; I would really feel sorry for Cleo. Presently the nights share the usual sounds of the country with that of whimpers and occasional scraps, but that’s okay, what’s a few more sounds. Now we just have to keep our shoes high and both eyes open for the odd little puddles. Aaaahhhh, life is sweet when it’s dry!

Since these pictures, Dogs 1 vs Beautiful Potted Plant 0, and I am sure other games will be under way soon.

Gotta step back

Do you ever get into one of those moods or swings when nothing ever seems new? I mean if someone says to you “So what’s new?” generally we say “Oh, nothing much”. At first thought, this week seemed like just another one. I mean it’s not like all of us live on the cutting edge of excitement. Each day sort of flows into the next like the sun follows the moon and the moon following the sun continues the procession. But really, step back and look at your life, some things happened that made it memorable.

The other day I got 2 new (actually they were used) tires on my vehicle, the 4 wheel drive fixed and the oil changed. Good thing, the next day I needed to cross the river with 4 wheel drive. Got my first haircut here in the DR, between my broken Spanish and good fortune I came out with a pretty decent job for 100 pesos (3 Canadian dollars). A couple of weeks ago, a guy I had been sort of taking care of in Los Algodonas died of his disease, I am quite certain it was aids. Quite a few people in this village, like most villages, have aids and so when they die, they usually die very lonely. This past Sunday (Nov. 4) a couple and her brother (all three from Canada) that has been frequenting the Dominican Republic came to our first English church service. They are planning to eventually move here and so struck up a conversation with me after church. Being the shy and bashful type that I am, we talked for a while and they mentioned to me that they are interested in setting up an orphanage here in the Dominican Republic. After explaining what we do here for the poor, they asked if they could visit some of our villages. We did that and now possibly with the Lords leading, they may be looking at setting up an orphanage in one of our villages. We sure could use one or more of those so please be in prayer for us that maybe we will be able to add an orphanage to our village of Los Algodonas. Yesterday (Nov.10) the Village of Ascension, village #6, had its swearing in ceremony for their brand new town council! Three and a half years ago it was just a hill with sugar cane growing on it. The mayor Montellano, the largest city close by, was in attendance and she swore in the new council. I haven’t been to a town or city council swearing before but at this one was plenty of Christian songs and prayers offered. What a refreshing view of what has become in Canada a non Christian (we don’t want to offend anyone) event. Often could be heard “Gracias a Dios” during the service which means “Thanks to God!”

I guess this week was special, I just gotta step back once in awhile. Gracias a Dios!

Always Welcome!

We had Randy and Nanda Haveman as guests for a week. That is the awesome news; the bad news was that they came during Hurricane Noel. Hopefully this means they will have to come back when the sun shines more. While they were here, we were able to show them the villages we work in and the poverty that needs to be addressed. They worked with us side by side and even more importantly, they worked with the poor and destitute. I know it made an impression on them as it has on us and we are very thankful there are people who continually support us in the ongoing work. The only thing that makes working at addressing the problems and issues of spiritual darkness, poverty, sickness and lack of education seem impossible is when everyone who can give hope and relief, stop.

I am reminded of what I read recently in

Matthew 22: 35-39 One Pharisee who was an expert on the Law of Moses, asked Jesus this question to test Him: “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the most important?” Jesus answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind” This is the first and most important command. And the second is like unto it: “Love your neighbour as you love yourself.”

The last day they were here we stopped at the ocean on our way to the airport so they could put their feet in the water one last time. Unfortunately for the 7 days they were in the Dominican Republic, it didn't rain about 3 days, thanks to our hurricane friend Noel.

Prayer Requests

I have been periodically asked if we have prayer requests and I am often shy about asking for specific items because they often seem to concern Jane and I. But there is one that I am going to ask everyone to please pray for continually until it’s been answered one way or another.

We have been working in a village called Los Algodonas; it is one of the poorest villages that I have ever seen. Over the past few months with the government’s permission, we have managed to get clean running water into this village which has never ever had running water. We have also been given permission to build a church, school and medical clinic here. The school has been started and soon will the church and medical center but we have not received permission to build homes there because the land is deemed “Tourism Land”. When land is deemed “Tourism Land”, homes cannot be built on it without the government changing the land status, much like North America. Please continually pray that we will be allowed to build homes on this land for the 200 families who currently live there.

The Rainy Season

It is absolutely amazing how much rain can come in such a short period. We just experienced Hurricane Noel and it has had a devastating effect on the Dominican Republic. On the last report, I believe it was at over 50 people now who have been killed. Between collapsed bridges, washed out villages and vehicles swept away, this has been an awful time period. We did not experience the same havoc they did in the capital city of Santo Domingo but we certainly got our share of rain. The river pictures below do not do justice to the actual height of the water but it rose in a 12 hour period about 4 feet. No one could enter the villages by vehicle for 2 days and it wasn’t until the 3 rd day we could get the trucks and cars back into Ascension Village.

Small Time Fun!

Well I’m back and it’s been a while since I last entered something. A lot has happened and we have been really busy with groups, friends visiting to make sure we’re not under a banana tree with umbrella drinks and Spanish lessons. The Spanish lessons are my least favourite but probably the most important. So I will make a few different entries, each with its own story. This one is how to have fun without the toys from home.

First find a few of your best friends and invite them down to the river for some old fashioned water hole splashing. These boys were having the time of their life and they really couldn’t care who was watching or what they thought of their fun. After a few pictures they thought it would be good to get us wet in our car. I’ve never claimed to be the brightest but that was my clue it was time to roll up the windows and finish driving through the river!

You don’t have to be a brain surgeon to figure out we don’t get snow in the Dominican Republic but as these 2 lads are showing, you don’t need it. In one of the villages we are working in we have a great hill for these guys to find a pod from one of the palm trees. Once you split them open and clean out the seeds and other goodies you simply flatten them out and sit inside. They are fairly thick and move down the hill just like a toboggan would in snow. The best thing about this fun is there is no snow to shovel.

Since toys are a rare commodity around here, the children will find an old bicycle tire, bicycle rim or anything else round and roll them with a stick. In the end of the stick they may have a piece of a bleach bottle nailed to it in the shape of a cup. With the cupped shaped end of the stick they compete with each other who can roll them the farthest without having the rim fall over. Sometimes they will even make an obstacle course to really test the skill. It’s no wonder when they get older they drive their motorcycles like it’s a part of their anatomy.