Report from Week 1 Group in the DR

Dedicating Homes to Two Men in Esperanza Village 2011

Arrived safely Saturday - late didn't get to our rooms til after 1:00 am Sunday morning.

Sunday up early for breakfast and church service in Esperanza.  Bill played his bagpipes. Amazing Grace was popular and the congregation sang along in Creole. Then we visited the HOPE project. Also saw the 65 year old gentleman that we moved into a semi last year. Back to the resort for rest. Weather  cloudy and rain off and on.  Monday we spent the day in Cangrejo with Servant's Heart. Kathryn lead a seminar on librarian training for the teachers. Some of us helped paint and started building benches. Plans were finalized for the Empower Women project for the afternoon.  After lunch and the reading of the journal and history, Phil filled us in on lots of interesting facts. Wendy (Haitian artist) took some of us on a tour of Cangrejo and Laurie led making bead jewellery with 26+ young woman.  Colourful beads were soon strung and Laurie, Kathryn and Joan helped finish them off. Bill played a few tunes and the young children were enthralled. Back in the bus and back at the resort by 5:00. Rain off and on all day - but didn't dampen our spirits. Great day, lots of fun.  Stay tuned for update number 2. 

Julie and Dave

One Week to Go

Hockey Bags of Supplies taken to the DR in 2011

Bea and I are doing our final organizing of supplies and personal gear that we will take on a humanitarian mission to the Dominican Republic.  This is our 3rd year going with Dominican Journeys together and my 4th trip.  The 11 people of Journey 2012 Week 1 departed Toronto for the Dominican Republic on Saturday January 28.  Bea and I are with the 23 people in Journey 2012 Week 2 leaving on Saturday, February 4th. We each take a hockey bag containing about 50 pounds of school, medical and other supplies and dried fruits and soup mix from Ontario Christian Gleaners in Cambridge.  We will be working mainly in villages built by 'The Samaritan Foundation', started by a Canadian couple, Elio and Lena Madonia.  Over 1000 homes in 10 villages have been constructed over a 25 year period.