Our Last Meeting Before We GO!

The Fenwick HANDS Team had their last meeting before heading to the Dominican Republic.  This past Tuesday night we met at Hans and Hilda's and were joined by Tim Bootsma, HANDS Co-ordinator at Worldwide Christian Schools.  Tim spent time with us; encouraging and challenging us as we thought about the upcoming trip.  Many questions were asked as we read through an article by Kent Annan titled, "Poverty Tourism Can Make us SO Thankful".  Kent spends much time in Haiti and has been pondering his involvement there.  He writes about the suffering and poverty he sees and experiences, then wonders, "If the longest lasting result of my working in or visiting a place with much suffering is that I feel a little better about my own life....well, then I've probably exploited people struggling with poverty even more than they're being exploited already." 

Tim read with us the article, then asked us a few questions regarding how we respond to the people and conditions we are met with while on this type of trip.  Are we thankful for what we have?  Is that the only respose we have or is there more?  Do we view the people there as objects and as we observe their smiles think, "They are so happy!"  Or do we walk along side them while we are there, engage in their lives, find out who they are and find that they are no different that we are - with the same concerns, cares and worries that we have?  And do we realize that 'poverty' is a label, put on by those outside the situation?  Do we choose instead to focus on how these people are 'rich' - and what are they rich in?  Do we go to a different country and culture to learn and bless?  Do we come home taking what we have learned and continue to bless in our own communities?  Many questions - we have some thinking and praying to do!

Our core team will be joined by Gordon VanderLeek and his daughter Nicole from Alberta, who will be doing some photography and filming for WWCS, as well as by Michele Ludwig.  Michele is the former HANDS Co-ordinator and now works hard on other programs - HEARTS, Walking Together and School Sponsorship.  Visit the WWCS website for more information  http://www.wwcs.ca/  
Michele will be kept busy by meeting with COCREF (Christian School Association in the DR) staff and administration....she will join us periodically on site and on our excursions.  We are very excited to have Gord, Nicole and Michele join us.

We are leaving VERY early on the morning of February 8 - provided Buffalo weather co-operates!  Flight is out at 6:10am...so that means leaving home at 3am - it will be a long day.  Bernie Prinsen, one of our team members, has been given many, many soccer uniforms and we will be bringing most of them along with us for the schools in the DR.  Bernie is also bringing a used but excellent laptop computer along to be given to COCREF for use in a school.   WWCS has a computer program - taking used, but good condition laptop computers to the countries in Central America.  These computers are emptied and then re-programed for use there.  The goal is to have each Christian School in the DR outfitted with at least one computer, and then each highschool having a computer lab.  A large task considering the lack of funds.  The government of the Dominican Republic is requiring all schools to be equipped with computers. If you have or know anyone who is willing to donate a good, used laptop to WWCS to be used in Christian Schools in Central Americal, please contact WWCS.

We will have wireless internet use while in the Ministry Center so we are able to update this blog.  We will add pictures and take turns writing our experiences and thoughts, so once we are in the DR, check to see the latest news and pictures.  The blessings of technology - we are far away, yet not so far :)  I will try and link the blog to Facebook when possible.

Please pray for us as a team and as individuals as we prepare to leave our families behind, as we will spend a large amount of time together working and in fellowship, pray for peace of heart as we look foward with anticipation to what God has planned for us, pray for safety while travelling there and while in country (if you've been there, you know what the driving is like), pray for health so that we can do the work set before us, pray for the people we will be in relationship with as we look forward to being the hands and feet of Jesus.

Thank you to WWCS who does so much work helping teams like ours get ready to go, especially Tim who answers questions, sends emails, looks after travel and accomodations and who generally does all the worrying about things when they don't go as planned :)  But God is good and gracious and even when difficulties arise is teaching us new things.  See you in the DR!