Friday, February 9, 2018

Activities in the DR - Friday, Feb 9, 2018

David's Art Program in Loma

Helping the Children do an Art Project

The New Property in Loma

Behind the House in Loma

Art Program



Rebecca Teaching an 'Empowering Girls' Class

The Front of the New Property in Loma

Inside the Entrance Room of the House 

Entrance Room and Kitchen
Pathway Behind the House 
'Empowering Girls' Class

Cupboards in the Cangrejo School

Cupboards in the Cangrejo School

Donations for Loma

DR Activities - Thursday, February 8, 2018

Food from the Ontario Christian Gleaners in Cambridge, Ontario was Delivered to the PRC (Pregnancy Resource Centre)

A Consultation Room at the PRC

Clearing the Walls in Preparation for Painting at the PRC

Facing added to the Shelving at Cangrejo School

The Cook at the School receives A new Apron, Stirring Spoon and other Supplies

Doors and Divides added to the Shelves

Canada Night at the Resort

We celebrated Canada Night with Servant's Heart Staff

Bea has the Attention of Kelvin, Wendy and Dario

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Cangrejo - Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Beautiful Start to the Day

Dehydrated Food from the Ontario Gleaners

Kelvin and Wendy work for Servant's Heart Ministries in the DR


Bea and Deb Painting Termite Repellent on the Shelves
A Little Jump Rope During Break


Shelving Units in Place

Shelves are 18 Inches Deep

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Cangrejo - Tuesday, Feb 6, 2018


The team returned to the school to continue work on the shelves.  Deb spent time with the kindergarten class and Bea continued with eye testing students.  Some children were quite amusing in that they would want glasses even if they could see perfectly well.  The kids don't get to keep the reading glasses but had their name put on a pair of the correct strength that they pick up from the teacher when needed for reading or other desk work.

Electrical power went out before lunch and remained out for most of the day, which limited some aspects of the construction which required plug-in tools like the table saw.  We managed to nearly complete the 4 shelf units.

Cath, Dave, Deb and Vic (drawing by David Chapman) made a  presentation of computers purchased by the Congregation of Saint Luke's Lutheran Congregation in Kitchener.  Five computers were donated, with another to come with Vic at the end of March.  They will be used in the school library.

John and Dave assembling a shelf unit.

Two completed and one almost completed shelving units

Outdoor Activity 
Deb helping in a classroom



A donated laptop computer 
Presntation of computers to the School Director



Monday, February 5, 2018

Cangrejo School - Monday, Feb 5, 2018


Today we went shopping at a Dominican 'Home Depot' (LOL) and bought lumber, screws, hinges, etc for shelves and cupboards at the school where we built library shelves last year.  While unloading at the school, the sky decided to fall and soak the lumber and the folks on the outdoor end of the job.  By the time we got everything unloaded, we only got to work for about an hour before lunch.  The afternoon session was more productive and nearly all the pieces for the shelving got marked, cut and drilled.  Meanwhile, Bea and Deb worked with some students in the classrooms.  Bea did some eye testing with the aid of some staff members and was able to assign some of the reading glasses that we took down.  All things considered, it was a productive day.

Phil Williams, from Servant's Heart Ministries, was at the resort when we returned and had supper with us after we cooled off in the pool.  Phil will be completing the property purchase in the village of Loma de Los Chivos.  Phil showed us a video of the building and lot which will provide a community space for programs such as adult education and after school enrichment for the children, including art and eventually music, as well as meeting space for social and civic activities.

Panorama from our resort looking west toward Puerto Plata.
Rainbow from the breakfast table.

Lumber and Hardware Store

Passing Boards to the Upper Floor of the School Addition

Dave and Dave (Dave Squared?) Squaring Boards while Cath Sands 

Sunday, February 4, 2018

Sosua by the Sea - Sunday, February 4, 2018

Our flight from Toronto to Puerto Plata was on time and uneventful.  Unfortunately we are down one team member.  Vic is at home dealing with a pinched and inflamed nerve which makes movement next to impossible.  But we know he is here in the DR in spirit and he hopes to get down at the end of March.  We'll save some work for you Vic.

The remaining 5 of us are waiting to be picked up to go to a church service.  I will try to figure out how to get some pictures onto my Blog when we get back.

The sand beach at our resort (Sosua by the Sea) is completely gone - nothing left but jagged coral rock,  Oh well, we have a pool to play in when we get back from working each day.

Went to church in a mirrored exercise room next to a room full of treadmills, stationary bikes, etc.  The hurricanes last year took out the gazebo where church services used to be held. There were 28 visitors at the service, which nearly doubled the size of the congregation - it was hard to tell how many people there were since the mirrors had already doubled the size of the congregation.  (LOL)   PS:  The 28 visitors were told not to show up to the minister's Super Bowl Party at his condo.  (more LOL)

Afternoon:  The ladies (Bea, Cath and Deb) sorted and classified the 12 hockey bags full of supplies we took down.  The men (Dave and I) were taken to the Pregnancy Resource Centre and Cangrejo School to measure up the spaces where cupboards will be built.  Also picked up all the tools we will need and took them to the school where we will be doing the constructing.

Supper and a bit of relaxing at the resort.  John will be estimating lumber needed tomorrow so we can pick it up on our way to the school.

Thursday, February 1, 2018

Donations from the Halton Hills Pathfinders

The Halton Hills Pathfinders girls group made a great effort to collect supplies for the Dominican.  There was actually too much for us to pack, so some of it will be stored and sent down with another team going at a later date.  A lot of clothing was collected.  The winter clothes are not useful in the Dominican so they have been donated to another charity.  The blue jeans, t-shirts and shoes will be sent down later.  The 3-ring binders, paper and some other bulky or heavy items will also go later.  The following pictures show most of what we packed today and will be taking with us.  Great job girls.  Many thanks.  We will be sure to get pictures of where your donations will be going.

The big pile of donations collected by the Pathfinder girls.

Weighing the bags to make sure they are under 50 pounds.
Pens, chalk, erasers, calculators, pencil sharpeners, scissors, etc. 
Crayons, pencil crayons, rulers, geometry sets, etc.
Pencils and note pads
Tooth brushes, tooth paste, nail polish, cosmetics, reading glasses. 
Hair bands, ribbons, elastics, jewelry, etc.
Back packs, hand bags, pencil cases, etc.
Binders, paper, etc that will be going later.