A DAY OF CELEBRATION

October 16, 2008 was a very special day for the Samaritan Foundation. Thanks to Ben Sawatzky and his team from Spruceland Millworks, Edmonton, Alberta for donating 20 homes for the poor. After working in the hot sun for 2 weeks, the team was able to put the roofs on these homes in this newest village called Villa Paraiso.

On the day of the presentations, the group toured the current living conditions for five of the families, picked them up in the bus and brought them to Villa Paraiso. The remaining 15 families made their way there also, by foot or motto and were waiting when the bus arrived.

It reminded me of the TV show called Extreme Home Makeover.

The celebration was amazing to see and after a few words spoken on behalf of the Samaritan Foundation, the families were given their house numbers and asked to go stand on the porches of their new homes for photos.

At the end of this month these families will have moved in and a new neighbourhood will have been started. With praise and thanksgiving, all the glory is given to our Heavenly Father!


Time to return home to pack up their meager belongings in preparation for the move.

whether by foot, team bus, or 5 people on a motto the rain didn't stop the celebration!

PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!

JASEIN GARCIA'S PROGRESS

Every day after school Jeisen goes to the medical clinic in Algodones where he receives lunch and a therapy session with Dave Chapman. Together they are working on strengthening the muscles in his legs and feet. It can be a painful process at times and discouraging too but Jeisen is a real trooper. His willingness to go through the pain and still come out with a smile is a testament to his nature.

Last month the two guys went to Santo Domingo by bus to visit the doctor for a check up and received a favourable report on his progress . Kudos to you both Dave and Jeisen, keep up the good work! For more information on Jeisen’s progress see Dave’s blog at -
losalgodones http://web.mac.com/daveandsandymoving pictures

Some Photos 2

The Jasein Garcia Story

SEWING CENTER BEGINS 2ND YEAR

Well we’re back in the saddle again. After two weeks of cleaning and preparing the building for class, we have started once more.

Eight ladies took an intensive 2 week refresher course and passed with flying colours. We went over such basics as how to maintain the machines, thread the machines, wind the bobbins, and practised and practised how to sew a straight line. They also learned about cutting out patterns so all the pieces are the correct size and had more practise sewing straight lines. Practise makes perfect....most of the time.

The eight ladies passed the course and received their diplomas (I made) and are ready to work. All of these ladies except one, are moms who would like a job to earn money to feed their families....some have up to 7 children!
They are currently working on making headscarves...a really great thing to have when you don’t want your hair to fly around in the wind. We are selling them at a very reasonable cost in order to provide lots of work for them all. Concentration is important but there are times of joy and prayer also.

Last week one of the young ladies in the class (wearing the green shirt) was on her way to high school in the evening on a motto concho and was involved in an accident. Filomene received 14 stitches in her knee and will not be able to return to work or school for a little while. Unfortunately, these things happen quite frequently here. Please pray for safety for all who travel daily here....it can be absolutely crazy at times! If you’ve ever visited the Dominican you will know what I mean.

Esther Jo is a student from New Jersey who has been living in the mission house in villa Ascension for the past 6 weeks. She has been working with Jane in the sewing center and has been a great source of help and inspiration. THANK YOU Esther for all you have done here in villa Ascension. We are all eager to have you return.

mailing address

We are pleased to announce that we can now send and receive mail. We have signed up with AGAPE Flights missionary mail service whose office is located in Venice, Florida. Mail is sorted on Mondays for delivery later in the week. The co-operative group on the north coast takes turns driving the 1 1/2 hour trek over the mountains to pick up the mail weekly in Santiago.

Please send all mail to the Florida address below with our account # SGO #21104 and if it comes after sorting has taken place then it will be held until the following week for delivery.
Packages can be sent also, but please keep in mind that there is a charge of $1.50 per pound that we must pay upon receiving. This charge applies only to packages however and not the regular mail.

JOHN & JANE HUIZINGA
C/O AGAPE FLIGHTS SGO #21104
100 AIRPORT AVENUE
VENICE, FLORIDA 34285

It’s funny how many things one takes for granted living in Canada or the U.S. ...like mail service, constant supply of electricity and water. We have learned to adjust to the new culture and way things are done here and thank the Lord for the times when we do have such luxuries. We now also eagerly look forward to snail mail service.

ANOTHER CONTAINER ARRIVES

The beginning of September marked another exciting day for curious onlookers in Los Algodones.

A container of lumber sent in July had finally cleared customs and was delivered to the work site. The transport driver had a difficult time making the turn to enter the gates into villa Esperanza but he did so successfully with only inches to spare on each side. As a former school bus driver I can relate a little to the challenge that was presented in getting through the gate safely. Many people came to watch the drama brought out by their own curiosity and excitement.

The Samaritan Foundation would like to give a great big THANK YOU to Spruceland Millworks, Edmonton, Alberta for their generous donation in providing the lumber to build many homes for the poor and needy.

VILLA PARADISE

Villa Paradise continues to grow at a healthy pace. There are approximately 20 homes ready for the roofs to be put on and the cement floors poured. In October, a group from Edmonton, Alberta will assist on the finishing touches for these homes. The windows and doors will be painted and installed ready making these homes ready for families to move in.Currently there is one family that has already moved in due to the fact that they were living on the property already. In return for their former home, they were granted the privilege to be the proud owners of the first home constructed. Their assortment of baby piglets, sows, chickens and roosters are still able to remain under and around their former home finding relief from the heat and sun.The next few weeks will be spent laying out more plots for future homes to be constructed on. We can only be amazed at how God continues to provide for the needs of his people through the Samaritan Foundation bringing people and organizations together with the single purpose of being used by God to help those in need.

THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR

Most people associate this saying with Christmas time....but it can also be used by moms when their children return back to school.

Commencing Sept. 1, 2008 our director Juan Ovalles had prepared the staff for the reality of 108 students attending Colegio Cristiano Los Algodones for the first time. Four Dominican teachers and two Haitian assistants are off and running in their new school building. Grades one through four are being taught with additional grades to be added as needed. No matter what the age of the student, most of them are in grades 2 or 3.

On the first day of school each child received a backpack, notebooks, pencils, pencil crayons and uniforms. The purchase of socks, shoes and the balance of the uniforms necessary will be purchased shortly due to the different sizes required of each item.
Thank you to all who have supported the school financially, prayerfully and physically and especially to our Heavenly Father who makes all things possible.

TIME BACK HOME IN CANADA

We had a wonderful time in Canada this summer visiting family, friends, and churches. Jane was back for a month while John took only a few weeks this time. It was truly a blessing to visit and see everyone especially at the two open houses which were well attended.
Jane was able to single handedly improve the Canadian economy by buying things that are difficult to obtain or are very expensive in the Dominican Republic. What a wonderful time she had with friends exploring all the local malls. Having summer all year round means that a great supply of shorts, tops, and cooler type clothing is essential.
February 2009 we plan to return to the Hamilton area for a wedding. Our oldest son Bart is planning to get married to Sharon Kiers, a wonderful, local Christian young lady.
For all those people whom we missed due to holidays or other reasons, we hope to meet you next time.