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.
