The Hamilton Connection

Well the island got just a wee bit cheerier (is that a word?) when Gord and Sylvia Veldstra should up. It was great having them here for a few days; they stayed at a resort because they heard that I snore. I tried to convince them that it’s the dogs but I don’t think they bought it. While they were here they participated in a milk ministry and a visit to the local hospital combined with a trip to the local flea market style venders. We love having the visitors because it brings home just a wee bit closer. Besides, absence makes the heart grow fonder! Notice the good looking people, stealth and specimens of health and beauty, at least 2 of them.

Our additional family

Some of you may know but I am sure most don’t, Jane and I have sponsored a family in one of the villages we have built. This is a family of six children and even though the Dad (Confesor)isn’t in the photo he does his best in supporting the family. Over the past couple of months we have been working with the local authorities in getting birth certificates for the six children (after trip #5 to Puerto Plata we still haven’t got them). Since they are a Dominican family this is in one sense much easier than trying to get birth certificates for Haitians. (Getting Haitian birth certificates is almost impossible) With birth certificates the children will be able to go to high school and college/university. They are Juana Polanco Rodriguez (mom), Adan 14, Beyarleny 10, Jeremy 9, Neroliza 7, Yendri 3 and Leidy 6 months. All the children are bright, intelligent, well behaved and just sweethearts (sounds like our own children) and so for us, though it’s a pile of work and unbelievably political, it is well worth it. We love them!!

Eric Wildschut and John Harman

Had a nice visit from my nephew, Eric, and his friend. They were here for about a week and chump change and it was good to have them around. While they were here John Harnum (that’s his first name) solved all the Haitian social, political and issues with just a single conversation of his deep philosophical mind. When we had to leave a village, all I had to do was look for the gathering Aristotle’s, Plato’s and all those other wise men and there was John deep in conversation. His French language skills certainly came in handy because the Haitians love to discuss just about anything. Unfortunately when he got too deep I bailed out before I needed additional help and counselling. Eric on the other hand solved much of our civil engineering dilemmas. He helped us on some of the road, septic and river crossing issues. He is a pretty smart guy but that only goes to figure, look who he’s related toJ. It was nice to see them come and hard to see them go. Those guys can come anytime!!!

Neighbourhood Participation

If you get our newsletter you would have heard about the feeding of an entire village. When Jane and I came back at Christmas, we got together with our neighbours, there were 5 or 6 families , and put together a food hamper for 215 families in Los Algodonas. This village is literally dirt poor and the hamper we all put together would feed a family of 4 for about 2-3 days. It took us a day and a half to put together and about 2 hours to distribute. It was awesome!

Work teams from ...................

Sometimes people wonder where our teams come from. Well pretty much everywhere. From Jan. 29 until March the 8th, we had 11 groups come and help us serve among the poor. They came from Alberta (1), Ontario (7), USA (2) and our first and certainly not last group from Belgium (1). Not bad for relying solely on the Lord to provide the workers.
Spruceland Millworks from Alberta was our first team of 2008. They came and did the roof for our school in Los Algodonas and showed some of our Dominican builders the new roof plans for our houses. This small group of 5 (our smallest this year) worked like dynamite, not only working everyday but some afternoons they participated in a hospital ministry and also in a feeding ministry for a village.

First visitors for 2008

Well we had our first visitors for the New Year arriving Jan. 29 and they were Dad and Mom (Jane’s) parents. They came for 2 weeks and the time really went quickly. While they were here, we had two mission groups working here also, so it worked well for Dad to work with the groups while Mom worked in the sewing center. They also did a good amount of socializing with the neighbours, most days it was like a regular “hen house” around here with all the women neighbours cackling. When it was time for them to leave, I think the neighbours were as sorry to see them leave as Jane and I were but they promised everyone they would return and start where they left off. Birds of a feather do flock together, regardless of where they start from.

Well I’m back in the saddle again ...................

There is a song that goes something like that but I think it was written and sang before my time so I can plead ignorance. I came back to the DR on Jan. 10 and Jane will be returning on the 22nd. I can say that it is good to be back in my regular routine of working here in the Dominican Republic. The 3 weeks that I was back in Canada for Christmas and New Years was just a whirl wind of activities. In the 3 Sundays Jane and I were there together, we visited 4 church congregations, visited with many of our supports and still spent some time with our families. I needed to come back to the DR for a rest but it was great to see everyone again. I had to reintroduce myself to our dogs that were so spoiled by our friends that it felt like I betrayed them and had to earn their graces again. Whatever happened to “man’s best friend”.

Over the next couple of months we are going to be booked with mission teams and even some family visitors. Jane’s parents are coming for 2 weeks starting on the 29th of this month and then we have my nephew Eric for 10 days and his friend John Harnum coming for 7 days. We love the company but unfortunately when you visit this pop stand, your put to work. So if you’re looking for Club Med, you may want to book there instead.

The Spanish language is coming along, not as fast I would like but I’m not 20 years old anymore and so sometimes it takes a little longer for this old dog to learn a few new tricks. Hopefully when Jane comes back in a couple of days I can add some new pics in my next blog update. Also, hopefully we will have the internet connect directly to our home. I had the cables run to the house so all we need now is the internet provider to hook it up and hopefully it will work. If it does, look out because then we can do all our emails, updates and correspondence right from the comfort of our own home and no more days between replies. Till then, may God bless you our dear friends and oh yeah, Happy New Year!