Santiago de los Caballeros

Santiago is the 2nd largest city (population 1.4 million) of the Dominican Republic located in the Cibao valley, just 50 miles away from Sosua but on the other side of the Cordillera Central mountain range. Far from the lazy beach towns and all inclusive resorts, Santiago is the nearest large commercial center; the place to go shopping and to pick up the mail.
AGAPE makes weekly flights to 11 locations in the Caribbean, and this week it was our turn to run the Pony Express to Santiago for the mail pickup for all the members who live on the North Coast. It is always exciting to be able to receive a letter or parcel, but equaling disappointing when you know a box has arrived but no one went to get it. Argggh!

John & Lily Nakonechny arrived on Sunday, July 19th and joined us on this overnight excursion to the big city. Lily shopped for amber at a few of the local factory outlets along the mountain road while John patiently waited.
Wednesday afternoon after a bit of shopping, we went to tour the famous Centro Leon, the best museum of Dominican culture and history on the island only to discover that they were closing early and would be closed for the rest of the week because the founder of the museum had died the day before. Definitely worth making a return visit in the future.Beautiful sunset over the city skyline and the monument of the “Heroes of the Restoration” of this country.

Still smiling thanks to John's safe driving through the traffic chaos of Santiago and circumventing the numerous potholes and washed out areas of the winding mountain road and a mission accomplished.

Where 2 or 3 are gathered….

Over the course of the past 2 years we have attended several churches; a small house church started by some local missionary families, then later attending at El Buen Samaritano church first in their Spanish service and then in the English morning service that was added. Unfortunately, the local people didn’t embrace the idea that it would be an opportunity for them to learn or practice their English and after a time it was discontinued also.
So the idea of starting up a small church arose once again. Though our group is small, there is a genuine uplifting and encouraging of the saints through our weekly worship time. The numbers fluctuate as people come and go but we pray to become a growing and vibrant church in the booming area of Cabarete. Last week we were able to use a tiny church on the main street, just a perfect size for a small group but large enough to seat 100 people! It’s a great place for mission teams who want to join together on a Sunday morning with the local missionaries. Pray with us that the church will continue to grow and that the benches will be overflowing!

BREAKFAST IN ESPERANZA

Monday and Thursday mornings each week during summer vacation, breakfast is given to approximately 120 children in villa Esperanza thanks to the generosity of a few Mission Direct team members.

During the school year, each child usually receives a snack during recess and once in a while they receive either a hot lunch or a bagged lunch. But during the summer, there are many hungry children who go without a meal.
With dedicated volunteers like Tina, Jane and Kathy along with some of the local people, the food is prepared and the distribution runs like a well oiled machine.

Teaching the children to line up to enter the church and to sit quietly and respectfully has been achieved for the most part, especially when they realize there is enough food for all who come.
Kathy opens singing a few songs with the children and nurse Yany leads them in prayer. The clang of their metal cups when dropped adds to the noise but all goes well.

Tina and Jane distribute the buns, eggs and juice to the children who line up in groups of 10 and then are ushered outside by one of the helpers after receiving their meal.

COME ... & VOLUNTEER

Kathy Goodwin is a volunteer who came from England for 3 months with Mission Direct to work with The Samaritan Foundation. Kathy lives in the mission house in villa Esperanza giving her a first- hand opportunity to touch many lives.
She teaches the children the importance of a healthy diet and other fun things using both her English and Spanish. Wednesday afternoons she gathers up the children, says a prayer and then gives them a bag to collect rubbish around the church and town square of the village. Afterwards, the children wash their hands, and then Kathy gives them a cup of homemade soup for their efforts.

One day, her husband Francis showed up on a surprise visit from the U.K. and stayed a week to lend a helping hand.
Kathy likes working on her own program, visiting the houses, seeing what the need is and doing what she can to help.
There are many opportunities to come and spend a few weeks, a month, or an extended period of time volunteering to help the poor with the Samaritan Foundation. Knowing Spanish is a definite asset but even if you are just learning, come and see what you too can do!

CHILDREN’S EDUCATION CENTRE

The 8 members of the mission team from Lakemount Community Church spent their week working on a much needed structure in villa Paraiso (Paradise)….A CHILDREN’S EDUCATION CENTRE.

Their tireless work in some very hot weather certainly didn’t go unnoticed by the community. We are so thankful to Lakemount and all those who contributed to help make this education center possible. We cannot ever underestimate just how important teaching the children about Jesus Christ is and so we hope to complete the building and start with our first Bible classes for the children in villa Paraiso this fall.