from time to time we receive the blessings of visits from family and friends. This month, John's sister Pat joined us for a 3 week stay with the desire to teach a sewing course at the school in Paraiso. The timing was perfect as this was the week before the next set of classes was to begin. 16 ladies...most of whom had taken sewing courses in the past year at the school were eager to learn new things so Pat taught them how to make simple pillow case dresses in 3 different styles.
With the help of Stephany as her translator and Petra (the office manager of the school) their workshop was a huge success. One man even joined the class as he wanted to make a dress for each of his 2 daughters....no previous experience on the sewing machine. Everyone enjoyed the course immensely. Thank you Pat.
Over our Christmas break we ran into great friends from years past...Kerry & Elaine Charbonneau who coincindentally had already booked a vacation to the Puerto Plata area....took a day off from the beach to tour the villlages with us and really see what the Sama
ritan Foundation is all about.
It was an eye opening experience according to Kerry and just a glimpse of what a mission team would do when they come to partner with the Samaritan Foundation. Francia showed them how to roll paper beads, and during their tour...they experienced a real Dominican lunch at a local hotspot....Rosa's. For those of you who have been...you know what fabulous food she makes.
Thank you Lord that we have an awesome team of leaders to help us make things run so smoothly. 4 teams....7 busses each going to their own unique destination. By 8 am each morning all the teams have picked up their lunches provided by the hotel at the cafeteria, and hopefully have gotten on the correct bus. The first day we had everyone out the door, on the bus and on their way in only 15 minutes. Talk about orgainzation...eh? We pray that the week will continue smoothly as we prepare each day for ministry with a word of prayer for safety and that we may impact many lives in our ministry work. We see God's hand working mightily and are being blessed as we go out into the community to serve.
