Agua Negras is a very poor community located on the shores of the shipping port in Puerto Plata. A few times a year when a storm surge drives the ocean waters inland and up the rivers, the sewage lagoons flood, dispelling up to 3 feet of its waste water into this community. Sandra Tineo, a pastor/teacher & administrator of children, teens & women’s programs is a beacon of light in this community.
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….
she
gave a kind word of encouragement to each and everyone we met. Our eyes were opened to the reality of life for so many people who pay rent to live in these unsafe and sometimes uninhabitable places, but who also joyously attend the small churches to be filled with the love of Jesus. Together with the local people, she encourages & empowers them to work together to raise the floors by 3 feet & repair their homes using funds graciously donated by many different mission organizations.
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.
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4)
she 
gave a kind word of encouragement to each and everyone we met. Our eyes were opened to the reality of life for so many people who pay rent to live in these unsafe and sometimes uninhabitable places, but who also joyously attend the small churches to be filled with the love of Jesus. Together with the local people, she encourages & empowers them to work together to raise the floors by 3 feet & repair their homes using funds graciously donated by many different mission organizations. 
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.
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. 
