Saturday, January 31, 2015

Saturday, January 31, 2015

Today was packing day for the Journey 2015 team, at St Luke’s Lutheran Church in Kitchener.  All but one of 25 members were there, including 3 Helens.  Also, a couple from Pennsylvania will be joining up with us in the DR.  Several rooms had tables set up with labels for the various categories of supplies: school, adult medications, child/infant medications, needlework, sports, etc.  As each person arrived, they were assigned an area and began unpacking and sorting all the contributions.  All cardboard packaging was removed to lighten the supplies.  We then had a short lunch break accompanied by instructions from our trip organizers Tim and Cath followed by ‘choir practice’, compliments of Uli and Donna - we will be singing 2 songs (containing some Spanish parts) at a church service the day after our arrival in the DR.  We then divided into the different rooms and began packing hockey bags, trying to bring the weight up to just under 50 pounds. The owner, contents and weight of each bag were recorded in order to expedite check-in at the airport and distribution of goods in the DR.

Cath briefing the Journey 2015 Team
The 3 Helens - Young, Younger & Youngest

Some Supplies for the Pregnancy Clinic
Harry & Chuck Sorting Medical Clinic Supplies
Donna & Marlene Sort Personal Hygiene Items
100 Bottles of Vitamins from Jamieson's
Youngest Helen Weighs a Bag
One of Our 2 Songs
Some of the team members prepared materials for two crafting activities: ‘arm knitting’ scarves and making tambourines.  These activities will be done with girls at an orphanage and kids at a school, respectively.
Marliese, Sarah-Jean, Donna, Margaret & Pauline ‘Crafting'

Some of our 50 Hockey Bags
Three weeks from today we will arrive in the DR where a new adventure awaits us.  Our itinerary will include both work and relaxation and of course - lots of warmth!!  

Vic, our ‘Number Cruncher’ gets a little Divine Guidance







Friday, January 30, 2015

Friday, January 30, 2015

This year (2015) is the 10th Anniversary of ‘Dominican Journeys’.  Since 2006, the group has grown and split twice, kind of like an Amoeba.  All 3 groups continue to travel to the DR at various times in February and March and we occasionally bump into each other during our work travels.  It is hard to know exactly how much money and supplies have been raised during the 10 years, but it is likely in the neighbourhood of $400,000 and over 10 tons of supplies for schools, medical clinics, children’s programs, a senior’s centre, new houses and so forth.  We have funded the building of many houses, a mission house, a row of shops, and contributed to many other projects.  Our teams have spread 100’s of gallons of paint, dug in the dirt, carried cement, bent rebar, bought and delivered food to remote villages, visited seniors and hospital patients, built shelves, taught crocheting and knitting, and took part in numerous other activities.  This year will be my 8th Journey and Bea’s 5th Journey.

In preparation for this year’s trip, Bea and I have been busy fundraising and accumulating supplies.  We have been having ‘Soup Lunches’ after church on many Sundays, which raise about $70 each.  We have also established a group of friends and relatives who contribute money each year.  Dozens of people provide supplies to go with us, including Anita Bergsma who provides soccer uniforms and balls through her organization 'Chance to Play’ https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/evoNb .  Another friend, Sarah Fernandes, has connected us with people who have donated items such as personal care products and medical supplies.  Another friend has donated equipment and supplies for diabetics.  Two ladies, Edythe King and Audrey Douglas have knit hundreds of items over the last few years, including those in the pictures below.

Dresses Knit by Edythe King
Some Contributions
Enjoying a Soup Lunch
Hats Knit by Audrey Douglas