Thank you for your patience. It has been an incredibly busy winter season so far….just 5 days after returning to the DR our first team arrived.
For the next 7 weeks…10 teams came through our doors and we are grateful to each and every one of them for the contributions in labour, gifts and relationships they forged. Thank you very much to the Sipkens family, Living Hope CRC, the Atlas team from Sarnia 1st CRC, Dominican Journeys(x2), Marshall Memorial Church, GVE, Dominican Service Projects, St. Thomas’ Church, and the agricultural team from IN Network Canada. 
We received a phone call from our family on February 7th that John’s dad was extremely ill so John hopped on a flight two days later to spend time with dad while he was still alive. Jane followed him at the end of the week after completing the current 3 teams’ schedules. 
Eight days later, John said his final goodbyes to dad and returned to the Dominican in time for the next set of teams, but he was able to quickly see our newest granddaughter, daughter of Dan & Jeannette, who was born just a few hours before he was scheduled to leave. 
Two days later, on February 18, 2012, Bart Huizinga was promoted to glory to live forever in the presence of his loving Saviour just a few days after his 84th birthday. “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1: 21. Mom passed away in 2004 so this closes another chapter in our lives.Jane was blessed to be able to attend the funeral and visit with family, friends & supporters for a few weeks, and also attend the baptism of Camryn Renae.
Their house…which was started by our local construction crew….was only 3 blocks high when the family arrived on the construction site the first day…but the young men replied…no problem dad, we can finish it in a week…right?
Laughter rang out at times as Ken & John shared stories of their youthful escapades while growing up together in the small town of Sarnia.
Their vacation of helping others also included time for ministry work. Grandma Sipkens’ and her friend Emmy, joined the family on most of their outreaches: feeding the kids, visiting a school, 
the public hospital and worshipping in the Esperanza church, 
but took time to rest and enjoy the sunshine at the resort while the rest of the family distributed food to a small Haitian community of Chichigua.
Thank you for donating your time and effort in changing the lives of another family when they received their new home. So when your friends ask you about your vacation………you can tell them it was a vacation like no other!!! 
The ladies made Christmas cards for each individual and placed them inside the bags along with the food. After a blessing was given, they loaded the truck and eagerly set off to distribute the food. I think the excitement of riding in the back of the truck was as much fun as the blessings they distributed. Life is difficult enough for the average family…but for a senior who is unable to work….a week’s supply of food was received with grateful thanks. 
Fifa was surprised with a kiss for their generosity to this man. It was awesome to see the lady pictured below putting her Christmas card on the outside of her home to share with all who passed by. 
Thank you to Luckny and Mateo for going door to door the week previously to compile a list of all the seniors and for overseeing the distribution. We could not have done this in such an orderly fashion without your help.
Last month we received some Tim Horton boxes and were able to make more than 90 sets of jewelry which are going back to the manager of the Gleaners in Cambridge, Ontario. If you have a favorite brand please send Jane a note along with the cardboard ….we do custom orders also.
Currently, we are in the process of updating the profiles of the individual jewelry team members and hope to have this information posted soon. 2012 is just around the corner and we are excited to show you some new jewelry items. Big hoop earrings and more to come.
One day they saw the poverty and tin shacks in Poncho Mateo then headed off to Ascension village to help feed the kids a delicious bowl of Gleaners soup. Afterwards, some of the kids literally scrape the pot clean.
That afternoon they distributed hygiene packs, prayed and ministered to the patients in the public hospital with the help of Dennis and Isachar. Three people accepted Jesus as their Saviour. What an emotional day this was!
They finished their house and after the dedication moved Josle and family’s belongings into their new home. Wow...the tears keep coming. 
Tearing down the 2 room tin shack took maybe 15 minutes in total but the significance of what they accomplished will last a lifetime. This may have been their first mission trip but we doubt it will be their last.
When the team arrived, the kitchen addition was taking shape but was a long way from being finished. Each day they directed their energy into pouring the concrete floors, building the cabinets, varnishing the benches, and painting a large portion of the school while loving the children. To the delight of all, their dream was realized as the team assisted in serving the first meal of Gleaner’s soup to the students with the satisfaction of a job well done. 
Handwashing is important aspect of health and nutrition. 
Two cooks have been hired to manage the kitchen & cafeteria.
The students stand while praying for a blessing on their meal. 
A cup of cold water in the name of love.
The students & staff of Juan Calvino School were grateful for the blessings they have been given during the dedication ceremony and enjoyed a delicious meal afterwards. 
Nuitrition + learning = success. 
Shelley Stone, manager of the Ontario Christian Gleaners was in the Dominican Republic and visited the cafeteria on their opening day to witness another ministry being blessed by the distribution of their dried soup mix.
A young boy head to class with a full stomach and is eager to learn. Thank you all for making this dream come true. May God bless you all.
Paraiso has truly become a beautiful place to live…. even more so now. Under the tutorage of Larry Neese and using local labourers and volunteers, 
what was once just a meeting place where people would sit on the roots of the big tree has now become a beautiful park with benches to sit on.
The ground in front of the cistern has become a beautiful garden and much more has changed.
Please check out our facebook page to see the before and after photos.
We are thankful for health and safety, friendships of co-workers in Christ, a vibrant English speaking church, mission teams, and the opportunities to make a difference in the lives of the poor in the Dominican Republic. But most of all, we are thankful for the saving grace of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ who died on the cross to save us from our sins.
Bibles and concordances were distributed to local pastors by Pastor Dale Bitting to enrich their study and preaching of the Word of God.
Eight bags of donated baseball equipment and uniforms were distributed to some local teams including this team from Paraiso called the “Sons of God”. 
Cans of Nourish donated by Campbells Soup, and dried soup mix by the Gleaners 
have been making their way into the tummies of children and seniors alike at a number of different feeding programs that operate both in the Dominican Republic and in Haiti.
Friday afternoon, the Spruce land team participated in a village feeding & shoe distribution in villa Emmanuel. In his thanks, the pastor told the teams that earlier, he had prayed for help since many of the members were out of work and hungry…and the Lord has provided.
Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the holy one,
Did you know that TheSamaritanFoundation is on facebook too? Check it out!
