Another hard working team of 14 from Spruceland, Edmonton, Alberta arrived October 5th for a 2 week period to continue building homes in villa Paraiso. Working 9 to 5 daily (actually 8:30 – 4:30), the men were able to finish the roofs on 18 more homes
while the women painted 5 windows and 2 doors for each of the 25 homes currently under construction.
Martha and Frieda and two of the local women got their hands dirty painting every day. When the job was finished quicker than expected, they searched for more unpainted windows and doors of homes in the village that the people had already moved in to.
The 2nd week saw a few changes in the schedule….Thanksgiving dinner together Monday night at a local restaurant (Morua Mai), a visit to the public hospital and a juice ministry was held for the 1st time in villa Paraiso.
But the highlight of the week was the dedication of homes for 25 families on Thursday morning. Have you ever watched the TV reality show called “Extreme Home Makeover”? The team visited some of the families in their humble dwellings that have no electricity or water, many which are very close to the river and prone to flooding, and brought them to the celebration and their new home.
Elio Madonia speaks to the families during the ceremonial opening. The press was invited to attend the grand celebration and their articles were published the next day in the local paper.
Senora Isabel Garcia Vargas and her family were pleased to receive house # 86.
It’s hard to believe that it was only 1 year ago, October 2008, that the first 25 families enjoyed the celebration of receiving a home in villa Paraiso….and now there are 103!
Thank you very much to all the Spruceland employees and team members who have made this project a reality. We thank our heavenly Father for safety on the job site and the continued support of all involved in meeting the needs and changing the lives of the poor.
Spruceland has committed to build 200 homes in Paraiso by the end of 2011. Praise the Lord!
We would like to say thanks to all our family and friends (especially those who have reached this milestone already) for their birthday greetings and gifts.
Paul & Julie (our son & daughter in law) brought their greetings in person arriving here on that special day and we look forward to spending time together enjoying God’s creation on this beautiful island (after work of course). CONGRATULATIONS, and remember….. after 50 life does gets even better!
However, we have found that many of the local merchants still have the best prices on their produce and meat. Through Claribelle, the Dominican cook for the lunch program in villa Ascension, we met and now shop regularly at these local merchants whenever possible. 
If you get to the butcher early enough in the morning you can get a slab of beef or pork cut directly from the carcass while you wait, before the flies start buzzing around and settling on the meat. 
I am a skeptic at best buying meat that is hanging unrefrigerated in a hot climate…but after tasting Claribelle’s cooking I was won over. The beef roast sitting 2nd from the left on the counter was our dinner that night. 
Mr. Mackley roasts up to 40 chickens at a time coated with his special seasoning over hot coals in two large barbeques, and they are the best I have ever tasted. I have also discovered that when buying a fresh chicken, that (eeeek), the feet are still attached to the bird. Deep fried chicken feet, better known as Pica Pollo, are a favorite amongst the local people. 
Each day we drive down our street, Papo is selling seasonal fruits such as oranges, grapefruit, mangoes & avocados, and there are always some bananas hanging at his stall for your choice selection.
(Showing the homes ready for the roof tops in villa Paraiso.)
This man earns a living by making carbon stoves out of recycled metal. After cutting the forms from old washing machines or other metals, he makes the bowl by pounding it with a machete into a cone shape on a section of steel rail. 
His ingenuity is amazing. I guess necessity is the motherhood of invention and voila! ….a finished carbon stove, an item used by the majority of the poor who cannot afford a gas cook top stove. 
An uphill challenge in villa Esperanza.
Sunday afternoon stroll on the Malecon, close to the port of Puerto Plata.
