What an amazing day this was!!
Ever have one of those days that started rather uneventful and then turns into one that you wouldn’t trade for anything? Well I had one on the 17th of August and I am going to share it with you.
It didn’t start off as a “Dark and stormy night” because I was at the bus station in Los Charamicos, 10 minutes from home, at 6 bells in the morning ready to meet a bright and sunny day. My friend Leonel Nunez was going to join me to go to Santo Domingo to purchase a cargo trailer for Reality Ministries. Just a simple day trip to the “Big City”, “El Capital” and the “Big whatever!” We got on the bus and drifted off on the travel as planned.
If you have ever traveled on “Caribe Tour” buses, you know that you need to bring extra clothes and possibly a blanket. It's just a tad chilly. You don’t even need ice for your water because the inside temps of the bus will keep it one degree above freezing. You need a cooler to keep things from freezing. How cool is that!
We went uneventfully into Santo Domingo and just as we were entering the city, got off the bus at some unmarked corner in order to find a cab to find the trailer vender, our primary reason for coming. Finding a cab, an honest fella he claimed to be, and he took us to our destination and unbeknown to us, only charged us double the going fare. Honest fella that he was. He gave us his phone number and assured us that he was at our “beck and call” for all our traveling needs. How do we ever find such wonderful guys?
Into the trailer vender we went and were treated as the prized customers we thought we deserved. Here too the waiting room was kept just above freezing so I felt great and Leonel pulled his wool hat out that he wore the whole time on the bus, right down to below his knees. Remember the cartoon some years ago called “Fat Albert” and Albert’s friend had a wool hat that had eye holes cut out of it so he could see? Well I was looking for a pair of scissors for Leonel. Putting down the deposit on the trailer we needed, still to be built, we headed back out to start our uneventful journey home. PART 2Completing out mission for what we came to do, we asked the guard at the front gate where we could catch the Caribe bus back to Los Charamicos. He told us we should cross the 4 lanes of busy highway traffic to the other side and hail down a cab or a Guagua (a mini van that holds twice the normal amount of people with the normal amount of seats) to take us back into the city to find the bus station. He really didn’t know so he did us the favour by not giving us any directions.
We hailed a passing pint size cab that would have not even received an entry into a scrap metal yard. The only window that worked belonged to the driver and the rest were your palm manual push ups and then wedged with a screwdriver so they stayed up and didn’t fall back down. No inside cosmetic materials except for the seats and even those couldn’t be salvaged. The front window looked like a spider’s web but we didn’t care because at least one of the wipers worked and it wasn’t raining; for now.
Leonel and I piled into the back seat with a rather thin small woman, thank goodness she was half my size, and so with 3 in the back and 3 in the front, off we went off to the capital. It was then we realized how we had been fleeced by our “honest fella” friend as we passed our pick up and departure points realizing we paid double of what we should have. We laughed that off because we were still in shock from the condition of our cab. The driver was a very friendly chap and between displaying his middle finger to those who constantly cut us off and honking his horn to hail other possible cab clients, we moved along rather well. That was until the heavens opened on us.
PART 3And open they did! We all had to suddenly lift and push our custom palm windows up so we didn’t get soaked. With the inside suddenly not having any outside air flow and the humidity level gaining altitude like the space shuttle, I begged my lady friend beside me if we could open her window ever so slightly. With our spider web front windshield holding a visibility of about 10 feet forward towards our destination; it really seemed to me as the best option.
Little did I realize, the rain was coming from her side and as we cracked her window open only a predetermined shade, it dropped about 5 inches. My 90 pound friend was instantly saturated and getting more drenched by the second, better yet, she was on her way to an important doctor’s appointment for some scans. Her sudden drenching probably saved her a few pesos because she was pretty much see-through from the rain by the time we got the window back up.
Thankfully like most rain showers here in the Dominican Republic, they stop as fast as they start. The rains stopped just in time for our cab driver to drop us off at the Caribe bus terminal so we could catch the bus back home. Sadly, he dropped us off at a wrong terminal. It was for another company and they weren’t even going our way! So like the silly boys we are sometimes, we asked for directions. We were told the Caribe bus terminal was “just” down the highway so we started walking.
Realizing it was going to rain any second, we grabbed a Guagua and headed down the highway. The rain soon started and with the side sliding door wedged open for maximum passenger capacity, everyone one in the van was getting well sprayed from the front tires. With my back to the passenger seat and the sliding side door broken open, I started making funny faces to a little boy who was sitting directly in front of me, you know, face to face. He started it and I couldn’t help but entertain him with some of my most bizarre and outrageous faces. It was only after a few moments of my finest poses that I noticed everyone looking at me like I was some sort of insane asylum escapee. Yes, the little boy had an audience of one, me, and I had an audience of about 20. Thankfully we reached our destination soon afterwards. I haven’t rode in a Guagua for years and I hope it’s that long again. ...
to be continued.....
PART 4Getting out in front of our Caribe Tours bus terminal, it wasn’t soon enough. The 2 of us strolled up to the window with pesos in hand to secure our seats. As we were proudly ready to purchase and claim our seats, we were sadly informed that this Caribe Tours bus terminal only carried and distributed parcels and letters. Ouch big time and scorched again. No seats and no Caribe bus. You may think that we may have some fetish for Caribe Tours buses but they really are the cleanest, fastest and most reliable on the country besides the Metro Bus lines. The Metro terminal is further from our home.
However, in front of this terminal stand about a dozen other buses. These are about 1/3 of the size of Caribe bus but pack about the same amount of people. With no other options, in we go. Our seat designed for 4 now seats 5 and I am no fly weight. I lean very forward for the next 2 hours, the time from our stop just outside Santo Domingo until Santiago, while Leonel sits like a postage stamp against the window. This may seem very strange but both of us are laughing hysterically most of the trip. Every time we looked at each other we swore this would be the last time we traveled like this and we found it funny that we were the only two who found this type of travel so unbelievably uncomfortable. People were ordered around by the bus porter like they were chess pieces. “You get out of your chair and move over to that seat” were common sounds. Two skinny people in one seat to make room so a “hubba-bubba” person could squeeze over there. Wither you liked it or not or maybe even agreed with it, they got up and did as they were told. No arguing or back talking, you did as you were ordered.
PART 5When we got to Santiago we switched buses, not to a larger one, but to one with less people. Now we were on our way to Puerto Plata, an hour away and our second last stop until home. As the bus rambled along, dodging pot holes and motorcycles, I was amazed at how everyone including the bus driver handled everything. Not that the ride in this beauty of a bus that lacked real suspension was phenomenal but everyone sort of went with the flow. What seamed sort of surreal was in the fact that no one “blew a gasket” every time something didn’t go according to plan. The trip actually seemed rather uneventful and kind of boring. A good friend of ours once said “Boring is good.” and so it seemed to fit the phrase quite well.
In Puerto Plata we exited our bus and made our way down the street to another taxi. Our final leg home and it wasn’t coming fast enough. We squeezed into the back seat of another taxi and as rough as this one was, it was a Cadillac compared to one 5 hours earlier. Yes we bottomed out on every bump and pot hole but these windows actually went up with an inside handle and the doors opened from the inside. How cool is that! Forty minutes later and 40 pesos lighter, we were back were we started 12 hours earlier.
You see, we were gone 12 hours for a ½ hour meeting but we gained almost a whole world of experiences. For almost 11 ½ hours we sat and shared the lives of people from both sides of the economics in the Dominican Republic. Caribe Tours buses are truly luxury buses that most of the Dominican people could only dream of riding in. We take it for granted and sometimes see it as a deserved right to ride in these vehicles of transportation. How sad! Our ride home showed us what it is like for many people and even then, we weren’t subjected to the worst form of travel. There are still even rougher and more brutal means of transportation and thankfully we weren’t subjected to those this time. As much as we laughed at the different vehicles we traveled in, this truly is reality for almost all of the people.
THE FINAL CHAPTERMay God forgive me if and when I look differently upon those who are not blessed as I am? These past blog entries were as much fun for me to write as I hope they were for you to read.
However, in the end, this has truly been one of the blessed lessons learned for myself and one I hope that I may never forget. Please remember, the next time you see a person who has not received the blessings you and I have; do 2 things. Thank God for what you have and please help those who haven’t experienced these same blessings. As I write this, tears form in my eyes because this has truly been one of the best days of my life!
God Bless!!
To all our family, friends, & supporters we want to take this opportunity to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We look forward to leaving on Jan. 4th going to McKinney,Texas visiting our friends and supporters from 1st Baptist Church and then on to the Dominican Republic for the busy winter season.
Daily emails and phone calls keep us in the loop-de-loop of all the many exciting things happening down south so the work continues uninterrupted. The plans and preparations for the many groups scheduled to arrive continue to unfold ….what would we do without the internet? Both of us plan to return to Sosua in the beginning of the year refreshed, invigorated and prepared to start the busy winter season of facilitating the mission teams and their outreach opportunities. In the meantime, we are visiting our supporters and carving out family memories with our children and grandchild; Christmas tree shopping….looking for just that perfect tree to cut down, Christmas concerts, and taking brisk walks on the many beautiful trails in and around Hamilton. Thankfully we were spared from the big snowfall (100 cm of the white stuff) that was dumped on London, Ontario yesterday with a forecast of more to come. I see flurries in the air now. Eeek.
Ruthie, JJ, Rachel & Meagan sought local artisans who were willing to donate some of their art to raffle off in this public event. The evening of music and art was an outstanding success with approximately $2,200.00 raised in an effort toward feeding the empty mouths and stomachs of the children and seniors in Villa Ascension. 
Rachel and Ruthie along with their siblings will personally deliver the funds next month as they visit their parents, William and Dorothy Oosterman for a family gathering in the Dominican as well as making the most of their opportunity to assist with the feeding program. 
I guess God already knew years ago when we were having babies that a family of 4 boys would be better for us in this later stage of life. Having arrived only days before their wedding…we were able to visit some family members who are not doing so well and still be ready in time for Dan’s big day. Thankfully I had purchased my “mother of the groom” dress on an earlier trip so the only major issue that cropped up was when during our Sunday dinner the chair that John was sitting in collapsed, tearing a big hole in his suit pants. Agghh …it couldn’t be fixed so he went off to buy a new pair the next day. 
We are very thankful for Dan & Jeannette’s commitment to the Lord which was evident during their ceremony and at the reception afterwards. We wish them God’s blessings as they start their new life together as husband and wife.
Three days later, on November 1st we were thrilled to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary also.
Raquelle at 6 months...cute as a button but then that is just a grandpa & grandma's biased opinion.
TWO SHIPPING CONTAINERS WERE RECENTLY SENT BY FELLOW CANADIANS IN SUPPORT OF THE WORK OF THE SAMARITAN FOUNDATION DEDICATED TO HELP THE POOR IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 
THE FIRST ONE RECEIVED WAS FILLED WITH USED FURNISHINGS FOR THE SCHOOL AND MEDICAL CLINIC, ALONG WITH SKIDS OF SOUP MIX, SEWING MACHINES & TOOLS FOR THE TRADE CENTER, AND 20 BICYCLES FOR THE CHILDREN. MANY VOLUNTEERS BOTH YOUNG AND OLD HELPED TO UNLOAD THE TRUCK VERY QUICKLY.
EVERY CHILD AND ADULT IT SEEMED, WANTED TO HAVE A BICYCLE SO A RAFFLE WAS HELD ON SATURDAY, OCT. 2ND TO DISTRIBUTE THEM FAIRLY. 
IN EAGER ANTICPATION, THE CHILDREN WAITED IN A SUDDEN, LOCAL DOWNPOUR AS EACH BICYCLE WAS SHOWN AND A HOUSE NUMBER WAS DRAWN FROM THE BASKET. 
EXCLAMATIONS OF JOY FROM THE WINNERS AND TEARS OF SORROW FROM A FEW WHO DID NOT RECEIVE ONE SHOWED THE DEEP EMOTIONS FELT BY ALL. 
ON OUR WAY HOME AFTERWARDS, WE ENCOUNTERED THIS YOUNG MAN BELOW, RIDING HIS NEWLY AQUIRED BICYCLE INTO VILLA BETANY ALREADY WHERE ODDLY ENOUGH, IT HAD NOT RAINED THERE.
ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8TH A BAG OF SOUP MIX (SERVING 100 PORTIONS) WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO EACH FAMILY IN VILLA PARAISO, WITH SIMILAR DISTRIBUTIONS TO BE HELD DURING THE NEXT FEW WEEKS IN VARIOUS SAMARITAN FOUNDATION VILLAGES AND LOCAL BARRIOS. 
THE TRUCK STILL SNAPPED A NUMBER OF THEM AND HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY MAKING THE TURN TO CROSS A NARROW BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER.THE MEN WORKED LATE INTO THE EVENING UNLOADING THE WOOD AND BRINGING IT TO THE VARIOUS WORK SITES AMID A FEW SUDDEN DOWNPOURS (IT IS THE RAINY SEASON NOW). 
SINCE THEY FINISHED LATE INTO THE EVENING, THE MEN RETURNED THE NEXT MORNING TO FIX THE LINES THAT HAD BEEN SNAPPED BY THE TRUCK. 
A few more student chairs are needed but they will be in place as soon as the container that has arrived in port has been cleared.
Introductions of the director and staff were followed by the singing of the national anthem and few words from Dr. Kim & Josie Pensinger of Dominican Advance who will manage and operate the school. 
Ninety one children are enrolled in pre –K, K, & grades 1, 2 & 3 with more parents lining up in the office to enroll their children also.
We would like to thank each and every person who has made this school a reality.
- the 2 mission teams (Heir & Mission Direct team #2) who helped move block, sand and the many wheelbarrows of dirt to fill & level the floors of the school prior to the pouring of the cement . 
- Spruceland Millworks and Faith Tabernacle for their financial contributions.
- And most of all we want to thank our Heavenly Father for blessing the workers with safety and providing an excellent staff which will develop and mold these children into citizens of God’s heavenly kingdom.
Their first performance took place in villa Paraiso just 2 nights after their arrival and played to a bursting audience for 3 nights in a row. We can honestly say that the team’s performances were really a top notch job well done even amidst the clamor of the children, and a few power outages. 
The audience cheered and clapped as the individual performances of the actors was played out and were especially vocal when the Hallelujah chorus was played when a believer’s name was found in God’s book of life. 
The haunting laugh of Satan struck fear in the hearts of the young watchers but they cheered as the bad guys were taken away by his demons. 
At the altar call afterward by Efraim, 50 people came forward to accept or rededicate their lives to Jesus. Last night we witnessed another presentation done by the team in a church in La Union and were impressed with the commitment and efforts of Orlando Martinez and the entire ministry team. We pray that many people will feel the call of Jesus and give their lives to him and his saving grace.
Our job not only consists of being ground tillers with the construction of homes, but also by providing for the physical and spiritual needs as well. We cannot do these things alone and don’t claim to be experts in everything, but we rely on the grace of our Heavenly Father to send people to fill these roles with their expertise. Our job does entail a lot of co-ordination and management to oversee the work, so this year Jane became a personal assistant (PA) to work alongside John in his role as MISSION DIRECTOR, ensuring that all areas of the work continue as are necessary. 
Please pray for both of us that the Lord will supply a greater knowledge of the Spanish language… we have made great strides, but there is still more to learn and even more cultural issues to be aware of. We would like to say a great big THANK YOU to all our sponsors for making this opportunity a reality through your generous donations and buckets of prayer. 
John recently presented plaques to Jon & Andy from Mission Direct who raised the funds to help build the school in villa Esperanza. 
Although the Dominican Republic cannot rival these numbers, motto conchos are in abundant supply everywhere waiting for their next fare. This is the transportation of choice for most people who cannot afford to own their own vehicle. 
Every day we hear the roar of the bikes and see their sometimes crazy antics weaving though the traffic or the occasional wheelie by a young man with his friends on the back. When the street light turns green look out….it seems that the race is on with every single bike trying to be the first to pass through the intersection. 
However I must admire these talented men as they drive with up to 4 or 5 passengers, the many women who sit side saddle without holding on to the driver, or the 50 & 100 lb. propane tanks and washing machines that you see them transport. The most bizarre things I have seen were a man sitting on a 4x8 sheet of plywood and dragging it behind on the road, a passenger was holding a door sideways or the lady riding side saddle holding a slab birthday cake from the bakery. 
This was our first experience in actually participating in a Haitian burial service which usually takes place within 24 hours of death. Since Giuseppe was away on holidays, we offered to use our pickup truck to transport the casket and many mourners to the graveside. There were so many people packed into the back of the truck that the tires were almost flat. The procession proceeded ever so slowly; our truck, two gua gua’s with at least 30 people in each, 2 cars, and numerous motorcycles proceeded slowly to the cemetery in Montellano so the people walking could keep pace also on this approximately 5 km trip. 
The keening and wailing of some of the mourners grew especially loud when the graveside service was concluded, the casket lowered into the ground and with each man taking a shovelful of dirt to fill the grave. Upon our arrival back to the truck we discovered that it was filled to the brim with mourners waiting for a bola (a free ride) back up to the village.
Dilcia had just finished her first year of university in Santo Domingo and must now decide if she can continue to study there while taking care of her younger sister. Please pray for these young ladies in their time of sorrow.
"C. S. Lewis once likened his role as a Christian writer to an adjective humbly striving to point others to the Noun of truth. For people to believe that Noun, we must improve our adjectives for attractive adjectives plus unselfish verbs equal faith in the Noun of truth." Chuck Swindoll.
The days were hot and grueling on the construction site and a few thunderstorms brewed causing the river to rise significantly one morning. A raised path enabled the motorcycles to cross the river but it was a dicey affair trying to cross it by bus due to the dredging of the silt on the river bottom. Our interpreter, David narrowly missed falling into the river while moving the rocks in place allowing us to safely cross it.
It was necessary to unload the bus, cross the river by foot and re-board it on the other side. Thankfully the luggage could stay on board.
Team leader, Lois Jacobs was instrumental in starting the paper jewelry program in villa Esperanza when she saw the great need of employment for women in the village. Since March 2009, 4 women and 1 man have been gainfully employed making the jewelry out of recycled product packaging. Sales have increased to the extent where it has become necessary to employ an additional 4 women in the program. Praise the Lord! 
We taught the women new skills and some new project ideas while also giving them the hope, encouragement and the certainty that they will be guaranteed a monthly salary with a quota of work to fulfill. 
Lois shared with the women how God has blessed her and has given her many opportunities to witness to the people who purchased the jewelry. Sharing God’s love has been her great passion and was demonstrated also by the rest of the team loving the children and people they encountered this week. 
On the final day, we visited the 27 waterfalls…a great team bonding experience. With 3 non swimmers in the group it was necessary to encourage and assist each other while trying our best to battle the force of the water climbing up the falls. Sliding down or jumping off the rocks was so much easier on the way down and we were proud to see some fears conquered.
