So sorry.  I opened an email from a friend and it automatically forwarded to everyone in my mailing list. Please ignore it.John Henderson

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Hi again to all of you from John in Georgetown.  Happy Family Day!  While 'Journey 2010' is now over, I am sure that memories will remain for many years.  In my case the memories will be revisited over and over as I sort through and edit over 1000 photos.  I would like to suggest that we each take a 'stick' or 'disc' of our pictures to the reunion, where we can view and share them with the Journey 2010 team.
 
On Sunday we traveled once again to Esperanza, to take part in a very animated and uplifting church service.  Perhaps celebration would be a better word.  There was much music, featuring an ensemble of drums, keyboard, guitars, and homemade 'noisemakers' fed through a needless amplifier into a stack of giant speakers.  Many 'traditional' hymns were just recognizable in the joyful and lively renditions.  Singing in at least 4 languages (english, spanish, creole and italian) punctuated the performance.  Several speeches and tributes, interspersed with prayers, rounded out the nearly 2 hour service of worship.  Etched forever in my mind will be the 'conga line' of clapping, bobbing and weaving celebrants as they made their way to the basket resting on a chair at the front of the church, into which they cheerfully deposited their offerings of coin and paper.  I promise you: nobody fell asleep!
 
We bid our farewells to the villagers and boarded the bus back to our Sosua 'home' for the last time.  An afternoon of relaxing at the pool and beach, packing up dirty laundry and wistfully sipping our last cervezas and 'girlie drinks' at the 'B & D Bar', was cut short by the imminent arrival of Manuel and his trusty ironhorse. 
 
A quick trip to the airport, last goodbyes to Elio and Lena, John and Jane, Manuel and Dennis, and a safe flight home.  And to top off a great Journey, Westjet got us back to Toronto 20 minutes early - and it wasn't snowing!
 
Cheers, a slap on the back and high fives to each member of the team!
 
Love, John.
 
 

Hello all!  Today we returned to Emanuel village where we showed an animated video (based on Jesus' ministry) to about 200 kids who packed the church.  They were VERY WELL behaved, thanks to the loving attention of the local school teachers and the church pastor.  This is the church I told you about yesterday, which has experienced phenomenal growth.  Good things are clearly happening here.  The children had been 'spruced up' by their parents as well and were at their photographic best (sorry, but I AM the trip's official recorder).  Following the movie the children were given a lunch bag, juice and a gift bag.  They were highly excited about all the things that they received and many gave us thanks without being prompted.  It was a very rewarding experience for our group and a very positive note on which to arrive near the end of the week in the Dominican.  
 
We returned to our 'home away from home' and split into 2 groups - those who went to Cabarrete (sp?) beach and those who chose to lounge about and watch huge crashing waves, cool in the pool and soak up rays.  A good recuperative time was enjoyed by all.  Tomorrow we return to Esperanza to attend a church service and then its back to reality and prepping for our trip home.  Until Monday then....
 
Love, John.

Hello again.  We just finish our seafood supper, so I came back to tell you what we did today.  For those of you on Facebook, check out the batch of new pics I added.  When I get home I'll organize them better and put some titles on. 

 Today our journey started with a visit to a supermarket to buy coffee and vanilla or whatever, then we were away to Ascension village.  This is the village where we built the 'row of shops' in 2007. It was nice to see all the improvements to the village in 3 years.  Most of us spent the rest of the morning helping Jane an Bill run the feeding program for the children.  This is actually a program started by Jim and Sue Coates, but Jim suffering a stroke 2 weeks ago and is in hospital.  The food was a HUGE cauldron of soup which served over 200 before it was empty.  Juice was also provided.

  Many of us bought crafts in the local shops and walked about the village.  Bob brought out his balloon stash and began making balloon animals, crowns and swords.  In no time a thron of children threatened to smother him, so our translater, Dennis, and a few other large bodies intervened and brought a semblance of order to the affair which continues for some time.  Yea, Bob and helpers!

  Serendipidous moment for today:  Dr. Graham was called to see a lady in one of the homes, who had been bedridden with abdominal pain for several days.  He diagnosed a probable rupture appendix.  Plans were made to hve her driven to a local hospital for further tests.  Money was collected by 'passing the hat' to cover immediate expenses and she was taken away.  Hopefully the story has a postive outcome.

  After a lunch of ham and cheese sandwiches (or was it cheese and ham today?), we headed away to Esperanza to dedicate 3 houses to receiving families.  A party of pop and cookies followed and another mob scene was narrowly averted. 

  Love, John.

Hi everyone.  For some reason I couldn't connect to Sympatico last night.
 
We traveled to Esperanza (Hope) in the morning to work on construction of new houses. 
We first visited Los Algodones (Cotton), a very derelict collection of shacks, which is being torn down house by house as families are moved to the new village across the road.  Following the tour, carrying blocks and bending reinforcing bar were the 2 main tasks.  It rained hard a couple of times but we managed to get a lot done.
 
The afternoon was spent in Emanuel distributing food to about 150 families.  Each family had been given a number tag and showed up at the church where the food was handed out.  Some of the older people were helped in carrying their bag home.
Some of our group went to the local school where 3 tubs of supplies were donated to the very grateful teachers.
 
Dr. Graham and Karan visited Dr. Jim Coates in hospital where he was recovering from a severe stroke.  Jim and his wife Sue started and ran the feeding and care program for children and moms.  He was in good spirits and happy to have visitors.  Dr. Graham also did some clinic work in Emanuel in the afternoon.
 
Love, John.

Hello to all from the Dominican Republic on Wednesday.  Today was hot, Hot, HOT!!  Labour had to shut down at 2:30 due to the blazing heat.  One of our team succumbed yesterday and we didn't want a repeat.  We split into 2 main groups today.  One group returned to Paradise to continue shoveling, painting, etc.  They also did crafting with the children in the morning.  The other group was dropped off at Nazareth to finish painting a support wall around the medical clinic.  Dr. Graham worked with the clinic doctor to treat patients.  I did data entry for patient files and others helped organize a treatment area. We returned to Paradise to link up with the other group and have lunch.  The afternoon was spent putting newly painted shutters into new houses.  I helped with crafting in the afternoon. The bus returned us 'home' by 3pm.  About half of us stayed on the bus to go to Dr. Bob's vet clinic, which also has a care facility for humans in desperate need.  Dr. Bob and his wife have connections to Haiti and have made a medical trip there already and are planning another for April. They are amazingly dedicated and caring people, who ask for your prayers, not just for themselves but for all those in need.
Love, John.

  Pic1-Reorganized Clinic
Pic2-Painting the wall
Pic3-Making a 'God's Eye'
Pic4-Dr.Bob
Pic5-Dr. Bob's wife with a mother and child she brought home to care for.

Hello all.  Busy day of working in Paradise (really!).
Love, John.

  Pic1-Some of the tubs of supplies we brought down.
Pic2-Dr. Wood's young patient.
Pic3-Bea can't escape the classroom.
Pic4-Sandra, guardian angel of Agua Negra.
Pic5-One of several projects we worked on.
Pic6-New found friends in Paradise village.
Pic7-Elio Madonia (right) with former mayor of Sosua & Elio's daughter.

Devotions at 7 am, then breakfast.  Bus 8:30 and off to Nazareth.  Visited a new school and clinic.  Arranged to sponsor 2 students, one from Norval Church (Alexander, Grade 3) and One from Union Church (Franchesca, Grade 4).  We helped with organizing the medical clinic here.