While the Dunnville team was with us we also had a great visit from Journey 2012, a group that visits the DR every year to work with local missionaries and help with projects. Over the course of 2 weeks, they certainly left their mark while painting, fixing and doing presentations in the schools.

These two teams had barely left when a group of ladies from Bathurst NB arrived. The women left in stages: the first group after one week, a few more after two. But Pauline and Marie were having such a great time they stayed a full month!

And then there was Vic. Vic came with the Journey 2012 group for two weeks then flew home only to return three days later for another two weeks! What a dedicated friend. Everyone was such a blessing with each one contributing to the work in his or her own way. Thanks to all of you!

Our next team began arrived on April 8th and began building and repairing homes for some local families. One of these homes was for Marcelino Lopez (82). He lives with his daughter-in-law Yameri and her two children Angie (11) and David (12). It was a great week serving some wonderful families in our area.

The goal of the Empower Girls program is to decrease the risk of sexual abuse and sexual commercial exploitation among marginalized teenage girls by building life skills and assets that will help them to grow up to be healthy, caring and responsible. Our vision is to see a generation of girls who understand their worth and value and who grow up to become women of faith. The program aims to instil assets like positive values, self-esteem, a sense of purpose, a commitment to learning and constructive use of time. To accomplish this, different activities will take place such as community service, dance class, discussions on faith and sexual integrity, field trips, one-on-one life coaching, micro enterprise projects and leadership development.

Thank you for your interest and support of girls at risk in the Dominican. We will keep you posted as the program progresses and relationships are formed!

Here are some pictures of our first Empower Girls program:

(Written by SHM volunteer and Empower Girls director Anna Rutherford.)

Now that they are in a sponsored school they have the unique opportunity to get extra help so they can conquer these learning hurdles. Not all the children who started in the tutoring program finished but all the kids who came through the program walked away with greater knowledge.

With the smaller class size we were able to pour our time and effort into three very committed children. These three children in grades one, two, and three came to us with no confidence and the seemly impossible task of learning to read. We learned one or two letters a class and drilled it into these kids’ heads. Once they perfected the letters we moved onto the sounds of the letters. Now, we are so proud to announce that not only do they know each letter of the alphabet but also they have each read their first book on their own. What a gift it was to watch them with smiles on their faces and a new confidence in the fact they can READ!!

The possibilities are limitless for children who receive a good education. Your donations make those possibilities a reality.

(Article written by SHM volunteer Keeleah Edwards. You can read more of her Dominican adventures with her husband Chris and daughter Abriel on their blog Our Dominican Experience)

I know this seems overwhelming, but believe me when I say something can be done! We’re DOING it!
SHM had the pleasure of hosting five remarkable young women over Christmas week and one of the things they did was teach proper hygiene in Villa Nazaret, where one of our clinics is located. We then partnered with an amazing couple from Florida, Mike and Terica Williams who provided water filters. After some basic training on how to care for the filters properly, each house in the community received one. With proper cleaning, the filters should last 10 years.

Registering for their new water filters, and waiting for the information session to start. Exciting!

Filters waiting to be distributed

Teaching how the filters work

Receiving their new water filter!

This is very very exciting! It means we should see an even greater decrease in the need to treat the community for water related illnesses that often result in diarrhea, upset stomach, vomiting and more. This is right in line with Servant’s Heart Ministries mandate, which is to improve the overall health of the people in the communities we serve.

Since we opened Centro de Salud Danica in June of 2008, we have seen a steady decline in the incidents of skin disease, stomach sickness and other preventable illnesses. This has been in large part to the ongoing, continuing education, about health related topics our clinic staff has been involved with teaching in the community and with individual patients at every opportunity.

We would not be able to do this without the many very generous people that have contributed to our ministry during this time. Your donations have and continue to make a difference. Thank you!

We do however find ourselves in a difficult position.

This past year saw a sharp decline in donations to the medical division of Servant’s Heart Ministries. As of the end of the year we were $15,000 short of the amount required to run the clinics. I realize if we were a large organization this amount or money would not seem like a lot. The reality is we spent a total of $31,313.83 to provide basic medical services to approximately 6000 patients last year. That is an average cost of just $5.22 per patient.

In order to keep our two clinic locations open we need your help.

It is understandable that in these tough economic times we need to make choices. I also understand not everyone can give, but maybe we can get the word out, tell others, hold fundraisers, and get everyone you can think of involved. My mom always said, “many hands make for light work” So let’s all pitch in and keep these clinics that provide such a valuable service to the poor, open.

Giving can be done on-line or by mail and tax receipts in Canada are available for all donations. Thank you in advance for helping.

As it nears the end of 2011, I am reflecting back on what we have been able to accomplish this year. We educated and fed 150 students at our Hugs for Kids school. Our medical staff treated nearly 4000 patients with everything from cuts and bruises to pregnancies and the flu. We built 6 houses for the poor of Agua Negra. I could go on but you get the picture.

Several years before Donna and I started our work with Servant’s Heart here in the Dominican Republic, I watched an interview in which Jim Pattison, CEO of The Jim Pattison Group and a Canadian philanthropist was asked why he gave so generously. He responded that the Bible says, “to whom much is given, much is required”

I remember quite clearly thinking, “That’s right! Wealthy people should give more!” How self -righteous, indignant, and judgmental of me! After moving here with my family, I’ve realized how wrong I’d been to think that way. In my defence, I didn’t know any better. In Canada I was perfectly content to live my rather privileged life. With Donna and I both working, we had the means to pay our bills, put food on our table and treat ourselves from time to time.

Now, I see things differently. I’ve learned that the problem isn’t having those things, the problem occurs when we take it for granted, forgetting how privileged we are, and how little others have. That said, I have a question to ask. Would you consider making a donation to those less fortunate this Christmas Season? How you do that, or how much, is your choice. For example, a donation of just $10 CDN allows a child suffering from dysentery to be treated at our clinic and receive the medication they need.

If you choose to help us as we care for the poor of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, you can click here.

If you have any questions, feel free to send me an email I’ll be glad to answer any of your inquiries. Just a reminder, donations received before December 31, 2011 are eligible for 2011 taxes.

Thank you and Feliz Navidad!

Phil Williams
SHM Dominican Republic and Haiti

Thank you again for being such a blessing to the children this Christmas Season.

Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad!

Please remember to pray for Christlove and her mom. We’re looking forward to sending you news of a successful surgery and recovery very soon!

- Phil

I awake to the sound of rain hitting the tin roof over my head. My two year-old baby stirring beside me and I remember why she isn’t in her own bed in the corner of the tiny bedroom I shared with my 3 children. I had taken her and her two brothers into my bed because it was the only area in our small two-room “house” that had plastic over it to catch the water that dripped through the rusted roof when it rained. I’d found enough to cover my bed, and wondered with gratitude, who had been silly enough to throw away such a useful item. Some people are so wasteful.

It’s already 6:00 am and I need to start bailing the water out of my house before the kids get up for school. The rain wasn’t as bad as it has been recently. When Hurricane Irene came through the water was ½ a meter deep. This morning it was only 15 cm. I can’t let the kids get up until the water’s gone because the doctor at the missionary’s clinic said to keep our feet dry so we wouldn’t need to keep coming back for the medicine to treat foot fungus. So little medicine, so much need!

I won’t have to feed the two oldest children this morning, because there is no food anyway! It has been such a blessing since they have started at the sponsored school; the meals they provide allow me to concentrate on making enough money to feed the little one and sometimes me as well.

After getting the kids off to school I get my basket out, avocados are in season and I know where I can pick some for free. I can make a little extra money from their sale and maybe we can add some chicken to the rice and beans tonight…

For many people living in Agua Negra, Puerto Plata this is their reality.

Our mission is “To care for the Poor of the Dominican republic and Haiti” we are able to do that because of the kindness you show through your donations and support.

If you or someone you know would like to help us care for the poor this Christmas Season, you can donate here or email us at info@servantsheartdr.org. We’d love to discuss the many ways you can get involved.

Phil Williams
Executive Director
SHM

For those of you who have met Jessica when she translated with our teams, you know she is a wonderful young lady with a heart to serve others. Because Donna and I cannot be there all the time, her role is to act as a liaison on behalf of SHM. This enables us to respond more quickly to situations and needs as they arise.
I’ll let Jessica tell you, in her own words, what working with SHM means to her:

Working with Phil and Donna at Servant’s Heart Ministry has changed my point of view of everything in my life. My selfishness has become selfless love and wanting to give more of me every day.

But where I think my life changed, was when I got a sincere hug and a beautiful smile, from children who, still needing a hug, rather give one and do not ask for more than love.

And if I could put into words the difference in behavior, self-esteem that these children have now, I would say that is incredible and despite of all what they are going through, I always find the most big, beautiful smile, on them.

Now I know why Jesus said that of the children is the kingdom of heaven, every morning I can see why you need to have the heart like a child, and with a little love, we can change a whole world.

All the love, effort and all work (being done) can be seen and felt and I know there is much more to come.
– Jessica Echavarria Mendoza

With Jessica’s assistance, we have been able to identify an area of need in the community where most of our Hugs for Kids come from. It is the need to have a Psychologist come weekly to work with the children and their parents. Many parents find it difficult to provide the most basic of necessities for their families. Most of us can only imagine how hard it might be to get up every day wondering how you can even feed your children. or even provide things like soap to wash their face or shoes to put on their feet.

This psychologist has provided invaluable help to both some of the children and their parents. They have been able to work through some issues and their behavior, such as the ability to interact socially, has improved greatly.

We are also having regular meetings with the parents as well as the staff. As well, during one of the parent meetings we held elections for a parent committee. This level of parental involvement is very uncommon here in the Dominican Republic, and we are very excited to see the interest they are showing in their children’s education. In the long term we are hoping this concept of involvement will translate into more active participation in community endeavors.

If you would like to partner with us financially, click here to donate online, or if you prefer another method, email us and we will provide information for other options.

Blessings, Phil Williams
Executive Director
Servants Heart Ministries
Dominican Republic and Haiti

Phil interviews Sandra Rodriguez in the community of Agua Negra, a poor neighbourhood built on top of the old dump in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.