The January Spruceland team left their mark once again in villa Paraiso. For the past two weeks they strapped and nailed the tin on the roofs of 23 new homes. They smashed the previous record of 18 homes. However, even while working hard,they also had time to build relationships with many of the people. The families who received a home last year from this same team were eager to show how they have made their houses into home. 
A village food distribution took place in a local Dominican community, Cana Dulce just up the coast from Sosua giving the team a chance to share in their many blessings. 160 families each received a bag of staple food items which would last them up to one week depending on the family size.
Bag lunches were also distributed to all the students in villa Paraiso school just before their recess, which gave us an opportunity to spend time chatting, hugging and loving the children.
Another milestone will be reached next week Tuesday, February 8th, where in a special ceremony…the president of the Samaritan Foundation will present the 1,000th home to a poor and needy family. This community has rallied together to clean their entire village in anticipation of the many guests scheduled to attend this grand celebration. But who will receive this very special home??????? Stay tuned next week for more details. Shhh.....It's a secret for now.
With a team from Thanks Living Lutheran Church in Nebraska, we visited Sandra to decipher where the greatest needs were in her community and how we can help. As we carefully watched our step to avoid stepping in the black (sewage) water, we followed Sandra on a tour, and saw the love of Christ in her to all the folks she encountered. Greeting each person by name, tousling the heads of children and even picking up a small boy who had fallen and scraped his knees….
Can we say the same for ourselves? Where is our focus ... on pleasing our own self interests & desires ... or serving others? Jesus offers rather a fresh and much-needed invitation to our "me-first" generation. Jesus says, in effect, "Be a servant . . . give to others!" (Mark 10:45).
But how? By regarding others as more important than yourself. Look for ways to support, encourage, build up, and stimulate the other person. This requires an attitude that would rather give than receive. 
Lo and behold....after the services the area received a lot of heavy, wet snow. Is this really happening in TEXAS? Yes, indeed.
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.
