A Christmas feast for our students!

Friday December 19, 2008 was the last day for the students at school in Los Algodones, now called Villa Esperanza (Hope). Another meal was sponsored by Paul and Tamara from the United States and the children enjoyed it as much as the one at Thanksgiving. These children will remember this special year because of generous contributors who made the school a reality and by our Lord´s grace.

Two teachers busily wrapping a gift for each student to take home.

The wrapped gifts are ready to be handed out after lunch.

Rice, potato salad, chicken along with grapes, apples, raisins and candies for dessert.

The children wait until everyone has received their meal, a prayer of blessing is asked on the food and then it's time to ....

ENJOY THE CHRISTMAS FEAST!

It looks like it´s going to be a green Christmas.

Yup, you guessed it. It looks like it’s going to be another green Christmas here again. Just like every other year and probably for many more to come. This will be our first Christmas in the Dominican Republic and it certainly is going to be different. Jane and I just went for a Sunday afternoon walk in Puerto Plata, about a 20 minute drive from our home, and saw this nativity scene. We would like to take this opportunity to wish for you all, a very wonderful blessed Christmas and New Year.

Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it ………

Our 4 batteries were tested and found "Finished", so we finally had to do it. Yes, I had to break down and buy new batteries for our house. The four batteries we had only gave us 3- 4 hours of energy out of them on a full charge and that was only if we would turn off everything, especially the fridge, and use as few lights as possible. Now with 8 batteries, we get almost 24 hours and that is with leaving the fridge on. The only thing that hurt about these batteries was paying for them and then lugging them up into the attic. Those things are brutes but they work great. How do I know? Glad you asked, our electricity went out on Saturday afternoon at 2pm and today, Sunday, the batteries ran out of juice at 2pm. So being the math and time scholar that I am, that makes 24 hours and we still don’t have any electricity and I’m writing this on Sunday at 5:51 pm on my computer battery power. By the time we did get electricity again it was Monday at 11:30 am. Just under 48 hours; technology is so cool!

Christmas Newsletter

Then the angel said to them, `Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying `Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men`. Luke 2:10-14

I have often wondered what it was like for those shepherds, working the sheep shift in the cool night, and then to suddenly have an evening angelic chorus singing like they were the only people on the earth. Front row seats without having to pay admission, great for guys on a tight budget. They probably wouldn’t have even thought about the concession stand, the greasy popcorn and watered down soda, being totally captivated by the greatest spectacle on earth. Let me tell you a little but well known secret. Even if you and I were the only persons on this earth, Jesus would still have come for us. To save you and me from the eternal death penalty that sin brings is sometimes a little hard for me to grasp. I guess that’s why it is called GRACE, we didn’t deserve His coming to earth but I am thankful He did. Enjoy this special time of the year and do not be afraid to wish someone a blessed Christmas because that is what it’s all about! That special time of the year where the good news still is the “Reason for The Season!”

We reflect back now on the year 2008 with some of the precious moments that we have been blessed to witness and share.

The Samaritan Foundation and H.O.P.E. Sewing Centre

1)More than 70 families have received a home this year. Moving from rented shacks to a newly constructed block home of their own brings a new level of hope and a fresh start!

2)Two medical clinics have opened; over 2000 people now have access to medical attention.

3)A new school has opened to educate over 100 children who had no opportunity to learn before.

4)Another church is almost completed which will provide a large facility to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the lost and unsaved.

5)The sewing centre has increased its variety of craft items and is now employing 17 women. We are now able to ship and sell items in Canada and the United States.

6)More than 30 mission teams came from 4 different countries to work, bless and share with the poor.

7)Drinking water was provided to two new village projects and to eventually over 1500 people.

8)Bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ through “hands on work and sharing of the good news”.

We want to first thank our Heavenly Father for blessing, sparing and allowing us to serve him all through the past year safely. Secondly, to all of you for your many gifts of support whether it was in prayer, financial or just a phone call or note, it is fuel that allows us to continue to serve. May we all enjoy the blessing of Christ’s birth now and through all times.
Blessed Christmas and New Year, John and Jane Huizinga

FRIENDS!

Of the millions of things your eyes see daily some things just seem to stand out.
God created beautiful things......like flowers
And poisonous things.......like a great big tarantula in your garage
And ugly things like worn out boots.....

but the best thing of all is FRIENDS!

Taking time out of our work schedule for breakfast with friends is a special blessing where we encourage, pray, share our joys and sorrows, laugh and cry together.
Melissa, Tina, Donna, Josie, myself, Becky and Zoe enjoyed a wonderful morning together at a restaurant in Cabarete ironically called FRIENDS!

Tina (and Rob) will be leaving tomorrow to go to Canada to visit John & Lily and then home to Florida to spend the holidays with family. Becky leaves Friday to do the same in Texas. We will miss you and look forward to both of you returning in January.

The remaining missionaries here from Canada, the United States and England will be celebrating the holidays together here in the Dominican Republic.

A Dominican Thanksgiving

The children of the school in Los Algodonas got a special treat this past Friday the 5th of December. Paul and Tamara of the United States decided the children should have a Thanksgiving dinner just like we do in the United States and Canada. This dinner consisted of BBQ chicken, potato salad, bread, casaba (a juke type wafer), apple, a few candies, a piece of chocolate and of course their favourite drink of orange or Sprite. Each meal was prepared with loving care and hand delivered to each child. A feast that will soon not be forgotten!

BBQ Chicken

Potato Salad & Casaba

cutting the apples

preparing the plates

school staff and helpers

personal teacher delivery
and another perfect display of serving excellence

giving thanks for the food received

Enjoy!

Wenchelle the assistant enjoys the time with the students

eating with poise

never had this before but it looks good

a very special meal. Thank you Lord for all your blessings!

P.S. Some of the children took part of their meal home to share. The true meaning of Thanksgiving!

Preparing for our first DR Christmas

It is so hard to believe that we are not going home to Canada for Christmas this year. This will be the first time we have ever spent Christmas apart from our children and extended family and its already starting to hurt, knowing the memories of past Christmas' and not being all together. Thankfully our son Dan, Arnie & Betty and their children and grandchildren are coming to celebrate Christmas with us.

This all starts becoming a reality when you see the decorations appearing on some local establishments and knowing that I usually would have battled a chilly Saturday with Calvin putting those decorations on the outside of our home. Cold fingers and snapping attachments. Thankfully the last few years, Bart took my place and helped Cal carry on the tradition.

This year Jane and I went Christmas tree and ornament shopping here in the Dominican Republic and it was soooo painful, buying my first ever "phoney baloney" Christmas tree. I swore in the past I would never buy one but after one quick look for a local real Christmas tree lot, proved "zilch". It still hurts,

(my first fake tree, it is so painful).

It really didn't take long afterwards when Jane and I got home and started unpacking our purchases that we really started enjoying making our home a little Christmasy. Putting our tree together and decorating our home for the first time in Christmas settings actually felt a little bit like when we were first married. Ah yes, that first Christmas together, just the two of us and now 28 years later, just the two of us again and we're still trying to find the right spot for the tree and a place for all the now displaced furnature still proves to be a bit challenging.

Well I got the tree together and started putting on the lights and the other things.

Jane did one of the things she is still awesome at doing and that is making our home just a bit better looking. She did the finishing touches on the tree and figured where the garland and other decorations had to go. I had the joy of supplying the back power while she directed. It wouldn't have been so bad but I was the only manual labor around beside herself.

Some how isn't amazing that the decorations and trees are really just a prelude to the most important part of Christmas. How incredible is that. Join with us in knowing the true preparation and celebration for the season is really this;

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God,The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" Isaiah 9:6

Don't work too hard on the preparations, the real reason for the season is still "Jesus Christ".

Ralph, Patty and sons are in town.

Well its not every day that family come to visit and it sure is "awesome" when they do. They came in late Friday night and so when we go together Saturday afternoon for a few minutes it was "Sweet" with a capital S. Looking forward to a week together, well not the whole week, some of us have jobs but I'm going to relish it all I can. Hope they enjoy it as much as I will!

We got together for a few moments and a little ice cream.

A JOB WELL DONE!

Sunday Nov. 16 was a special day for all of us here that work with The Samaritan Foundation. I know it certainly was for Jane and I. Often a pat on the back and a simple “Thanks” is what most of us get for a job well done but the Rotarian's of Sosua had other plans. During their annual dinner where they recognize people for jobs well done, they presented Elio Madonia, founder of The Samaritan Foundation, with a special award for his many years of service and the work of the Foundation here in the Sosua and Puerto Plata area. What they wrote on the award was most fitting. He was seen as one who puts aside all prejudices such as race, colour, creed or wealth but rather focuses on the needs of the poor. It was a wonderful dinner and evening and Elio is certainly most deserving of such an honorary award. All of us are very proud of the amazing accomplishments God has allowed in his life, the many lives positively affected and most of all his exemplary love for God and the poor. Congratulations Elio, you certainly deserve it!

Elio receiving the award from the Rotarian governor and local representative.

Elio with his wife, Lena, enjoying the moment.

THE POWER OF PRAYER FOR LOS ALGODONES

The past year has had a series of ups and downs for the village of Los Algodones. With the help of the Samaritan Foundation and their many generous sponsors, water had been brought up to the village by pipeline for the first time in over 60 years of existence. A parcel of land adjacent to the village was purchased for the construction of homes but this plan was met with resistance. The land was zoned as “Tourism” so through negotiations with local authorities, a school, a medical clinic and a church only was allowed to be built on this site. During the past year, work has progressed steadily and nearing completion, but what about the homes?

Construction of church nears completion

With fervent prayer and a lot of waiting we knew that with God all things are possible in His time. While we saw only roadblocks, God in His infinite wisdom was working on the hearts of key government officials and those who had influence in significant decision making during this time and who have since become followers of Christ. Praise the Lord!
The final piece of the puzzle came with the help of a popular, local TV personality who invited Elio Madonia to appear on his program. On November 8, 2008 just a few weeks after the airing of this show and more meetings with the authorities, permission was granted to build homes in Los Algodones!

Construction began two days later on Monday, November 10th and will continue until all the homes are complete and their existing ones are torn down. Please join us with effective, fervent prayer thanking God for this miracle.

H.O.P.E. BEADS

MUCHAS GRACIAS to Lois, a member of the McKinney, Texas mission team and a new friend, who came in October with the idea to teach some ladies to how to make paper beads and turn them into necklaces, bracelets and earrings.

Lois called these H.O.P.E. beads (Helping Other People Eat) and after spending a week teaching ladies in both Ascension and Algodones left behind supplies to make many more. Two or three times a week five ladies arrive early to the sewing centre in Ascension, eager to begin their work. Their response has been positively overwhelming.

Mercedes the” bead machine” has a talent and an eye for colour to turn out many items quickly and well done.

TEAM H. O. P. E.

One concern I’ve been pondering lately is how to market the items made in the sewing center in villa Ascension.

The ladies are learning and sewing with eager anticipation but where do the items go from here?

They have made headscarves (panuelo’s), pencil cases, make up bags and are beginning to work on tote bags of different sizes. We are still in the beginning stages of operation but if we know there is a market to sell these items, then production will go full steam ahead.

Helping Other People Eat is what our work is all about but it requires a team effort. If you would prayerfully consider taking on the task of marketing these items in local churches, bazaars, schools, etc. we would greatly appreciate your help. The new label will incorporate the sewing center items as well as the beads.

H. O. P. E.

Helping Other People Eat
In The Dominican Republic

A TRIP TO SANTO DOMINGO

John & Jane celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary on November 1st, 2008 by taking a mini vacation to Santo Domingo, the capital city of the D.R. which boasts a population of more than 3 million people.
The easiest and most economical way to travel in the Carribean is by Caribe bus, so we did like the locals and took the big, yellow bus. With no worries or hassles regarding the crazy, aggressive drivers, we sat back and enjoyed the scenery during the 4 ½ hour trip.

The Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo was our destination, perfect for history buffs like John.

The next four days we traversed the narrow streets, exploring many of the 300 monuments, ruins, fortresses and historical sites in the oldest city of the New World that was founded by Christopher Columbus (1496).

A monument of Columbus stands in Parque Colon in front of the oldest cathedral in operation in the western hemisphere. Our highlights of the city included visiting the local markets, a guided walking tour with Manuel, an anniversary dinner in the Colonial Zone and meeting with Stephen Brauning of the CRWM and some of the local pastors.

We stayed at the "Hotel Atarazana", a beautifully restored antique building located in the Royal shipyards near the port and right beside the local police station.

The President’s Palace Offices
These young boys also made our shoes shine! Unfortunately, while enjoying the sunshine of the capital city in the south, a tropical depression pounded the north coast. The rains came down and the rivers spilled their banks flooding many communities in the region of Puerto Plata, including our town of Sosua Abajo. Seeing the furniture and belongings of most homes set outside to dry brought reality to a sharp standstill.

We feel blessed to have a safe home set high on a hill but think of and pray for our many neighbours, including Juan Ovalles, (the director of our school in Los Algodones) whose homes were flooded by more than three feet of water on Friday, October 31st.