Sunday 11 de May de 2008

Critical situation...

As in other parts of the world, high gas prices are driving up prices of everything. Here in the DR we are also suffering the effects of the two tropical storms that hit us hard- Noel and Olga, which damaged a significant amount of crops. Food prices are rising by the minute it seems. One good thing is that while we run up to the election, the current government is taking major steps to control the situation. Once the election is over, the situation is bound to get worse before it gets better. Here is an article from the AP...


SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - The Dominican Republic has expanded subsidies on basic food staples to maintain calm after deadly food riots recently struck neighboring Haiti. Trucks loaded with milk, chicken, eggs and other food staples have been rumbling across the Caribbean nation, where almost half of 9.5 million residents live in poverty. The subsidized food is on average 30 percent below supermarket prices. The government recently expanded the effort by selling a US$3 (euro2) package that includes a frozen chicken and 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms) each of potatoes and onions. An estimated 20,000 of the packets are being sold daily, according to a Saturday news release. Food riots in Haiti, which shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, killed seven people in April and cost the prime minister his job. Dominican President Leonel Fernandez implemented the subsidies as he seeks re-election this month. The food packages are a welcome reprieve to 34-year-old handyman Vidal Rosario, who said people in his working-class neighborhood in northern Santo Domingo have been rationing their food. "It makes life easier on poor people," he said of the deliveries by government trucks at a basketball court near his house.
Posted by Timothy Project at 08:57:59 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Saturday 10 de May de 2008

New house news...

It is amazing how quickly this new house has become "home." Oreo doesn't even like to get out of the car at the old house, and if she does, she lies outside the gate! I spent one day this week fixing up my flower beds- it was a fun experience- my two neighbors and I went to the "vivero" (nursery) which made for a fun outing.  I have enjoyed getting to know them. One is from Bogata, Colombia.  Last night they invited me to their friday night Bingo- it was an interesting evening, meeting professional folks from here in Santiago. They have formed a foundation, each paying $15 dues per month, plus the proceeds from their bingo games to benefit older folks who have need of medicine and other basic necessities. I also met another Colombian lady and we had an amazing conversation about faith issues. She is extremely well read and has gone through a lot of personal suffering.  I don't think she is quite a believer yet, but she is on the road. I was pleased to see that my work in Human Needs opens the door to witness and reach the professional class. She shared last night she doesn't like evangelicals with all their talk and dancing, etc., but she was impressed with my work on behalf of the needy- she felt like that was "real religion." Pray for continued opportunity to share and witness, that she and others may come to a genuine faith in Jesus.
Posted by Timothy Project at 12:13:00 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Checking in...

I know this sounds cliche-ish but, I don't know how the week passed so quickly! We are in the final weekend of the campaign- don't you envy us? You have several months yet to go! Our elections are next Friday but after tomorrow the candidates are not allowed to continue campaigning.  Schools will let out on Wednesday to ensure that their buildings are ready for Friday.  We need your prayers as we enter into this election week- some are predicting a volatile election. In fact, I heard of one business pulling out their personnel on Thursday, just in case. Myself, I am looking forward to staying home for a few days! It will be good to have an excuse not to be out running around! 

What is coming up? This Tuesday (13th) we have a training event in disaster relief for our convention folks- we will have about 20 pastors and leaders from all over the country here. We have the director of Baptist Global Response (BGR) the director of disaster relief for the North American Mission Board (NAMB), our regional disaster relief coordinator and the president of the Emergency Committee of the Baptist Convention of Guatemala.  It is the first time ever a training event such as this has taken place in our region- we are excited as we anticipate many good things developing out of this experience. 

On Sunday (18th), we have a medical team and water purification team arriving from Richmond, VA. We are excited about the impact they will make- plans now are to work in Palmar Arriba, Espaillat, and in Brisas de Este in the capital. Keep these folks from Cool Spring Baptist Church in your prayers as they finalize their preparations for their visit. More later on these exciting projects.

Tomorrow we have our first round of interviews for the microcredit project. Pray for all us- the board members and the candidates alike. Whenever you have great opportunity for positive growth, there is the potential of great difficulties as well. 

On a personal note: I had been looking forward to and dreading at the same time moving one of our water purification trailers from Santo Domingo to Santiago- it is the size of a medium U-Haul trailer. While I have a little bit of experience with trailers (we have had boats, wave runners and snowmobiles all my life) it has been a long time since I actually pulled one and I was never all that great with backing one up. Just imagine pulling one here in the DR on our roads!  I made it- and I got the trailer backed in my driveway, perfectly in the middle and straight- I was glad no one was there to see me do it because it wasn't real pretty, but at least I did it. We brought it up for our event on Tuesday. 

Posted by Timothy Project at 12:06:55 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Sunday 04 de May de 2008

Sunday news...

What a day- it is always good to worship and hear a word from the Lord- this Lord's day was no different. I had been 2 weeks without worshipping with my "gang" so it felt good to be home again.  Attendance was scattered- we have had a lot of rain which has caused a great deal of damage in the Hole. We are in the run up to the elections (May 16th) so there is a lot of activity surounding that. The president was in town today. It took one of my friends almost 2 hours to get to my house for our meeting- a trip that usually would take 10 minutes maximum! 

Please be in prayer for the finalization of the first series of loans. We have several worthy candidates, each representing a different type of loan. Some are from the poorest of the poor, others are university graduates looking to begin a business that will enable them to provide for their families as they pastor. We will meet next Saturday to interview the candidates and make a final determination.  Pray God would grant us all wisdom and success as we seek to provide a helping hand to those who are serving the Lord and have great personal need.

We are also finalizing some legal work to make sure we have our exempt status ready. God willing, we may be receiving a new (used) van for the ministry! Pray for our treasurer as he works on that this week. With the elections before us, things are hard to get done.

Yesterday Pilar and Mecho and I (more them than me!) got the old kitchen cleaned up and ready for our groups that are coming.  The house seems so different now that it isn't "home" anymore. We did some yard work and gave it a much needed face lift. I think I have the last "stuff" out of the house- I brought a car load yesterday of things from my office and little things here and there. It is amazing how much we accumulate in the course of time. I am giving a lot away and hope to keep from collecting so much again!

So what is on the agenda this week? Tomorrow is a holiday- I hope to make it a day of rest and reading.  Then beginning Tuesday I will be working on these loan applications and the legal process for them, getting one of the water trailers from Santo Domingo to here- it has been a long time since I drove a trailer so I need to get some practice!  We have our disaster relief training a week from Tuesday so I will be finalizing the invitations, making sure we can get our folks here.  We are still working to get the new pump installed at Villa so they can use their filter, and make some adjustments to the unit in La Canela as well. And last but not least, finalizing plans for our medical/water team that is coming May 18th. More about them later. So you can see it is a busy week! Lots of exciting projects going on. Thanks for keeping us all in your prayers!
Posted by Timothy Project at 21:54:11 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Friday 02 de May de 2008

I am home again!

It has been a great week- we had the priviledge of hosting a VIP from Costa Rica, our communication resource specialist. She was here to evaluate our Spanish language skills and offer encouragement. It definately was a very stimulating experience. As you gain competence in communicating in another language, and can function pretty well, it is tempting to use the age-old excuse of being "too busy" to continue to work at improving your skills. We invited her to come and evaluate us, and give us some strategies to work into our daily schedules language skill building activity.  She tested all of us, including our MKs, and will send us individual reports with an evaluation of where we are at with our language skill and what we can do to keep progressing.  As I have said, it was a great week!  I continue to marvel and give thanks for the support we receive from Southern Baptists, that make this sort of resource available for us.  Thank you all for your support of the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

Since I have been in Santo Domingo all week, I don't have much to share about what is happening here in Santiago. I plan on making the rounds today and through the weekend to catch up with folks. 

Last Saturday we had a meeting of the Directors of the Barnabbas Foundation and will meet again this Sunday. I am pleased with the excitement I see in our group and continue to pray that we will be wise as we seek ways to help people build a solid economic base as they live out their faith commitment to Christ. We meet again this Sunday to finalize an interview process and then will invite our first loan candidates to meet with us. Please join us in praying God will guide us and bless us in this endeavor.

Things are heating up here in the country as we get close to the elections May 16th.  I have been reading and hearing of numerous "huelgas," burning tires, protests, rock throwing, etc. Pray for the safety of all and that the elections will take place in calmness and most of all that God would work through the process to establish a just and honest government.

Posted by Timothy Project at 09:28:46 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Saturday 26 de April de 2008

Good news for those coming to the DR...

From DR1...

DR spared new US baggage rules
The new baggage restrictions will not affect the Dominican Republic - for the time being, anyway. The US$25 surcharge on a second item of luggage so far only applies to US domestic flights starting 5 May 2008. Luggage allowances for several major airlines flying non-stop to the DR remains the same:
American Airlines: two items 50lb/23kg max per item (within USA and international).
Continental Airlines: two items 50lb/23kg max per item. For departures of US-domestic flights on or after 5th May 2008, the baggage allowance will change to 1 x 50lb/23kg. A second bag up to 50lb/23kg is permitted but a charge of $25 will apply (payable to airline at airport). However, please note that if your US-domestic flight is on the same date and connects with a transatlantic flight, the baggage allowance will remain at 2 bags 50lb/23kg max.
Delta Airlines: two items 50lb/23kg max per item (within USA) except EYW, which is one item 50lb/23kg max per item. The allowance is two items 50lb/23kg max per item for international flights.
US Airways: two items 50lb/23kg max per item. For departures on or after 5th May 2008, baggage allowance will change to one 50lb/23kg bag. A second bag up to 50lb/23kg is permitted, but a charge of $25 will apply (payable to airline at airport).
JetBlue: two checked bags with max weight of 50lb/23kg.
For full details see: www.ustoa.com/consumernews/airlinebaggage.cfm
Posted by Timothy Project at 09:42:07 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Friday 25 de April de 2008

Villa de Yaque update...

The things that happen when I am away! I shared with you that there were some tornadoes in the area of Villa Gonzalez last Sunday- I didn't know it but the wind damaged the big warehouse that INVI (housing authority) maintains there. People were looting, taking advantage of the situation. INVI sent in the troops (literally) yesterday to take down what was left of the warehouse and remove all that was there which provoked the people into a violent protest.  From what I saw and heard today, it was quite a scene! Tempers were still at a high today when I was out there.

It really pains me to see such injustice- people struggle to make a decent living, and can't, and then begin to do whatever it takes to get by. Sometimes the things they do seem very immoral to me.  As I reflect on these things, and try to process my feelings and what position I should take as a spiritual leader there, I come back to the same theme: God's plan is for all people to be able to earn their living in a dignified manner.  Giving out resources isn't the answer because it really doesn't solve their problem long term nor does it contribute to their dignity.  This economic system is messed up to use a very non-technical term. Please pray for justice, for dignified employment and spiritual as well as economic well being.  Pray for our Dominican team that is serving on the Barnabas Foundation, that we will have wisdom and fortitude in trying to rectify the injustice all around us.

We did get the 1 Horse power pump to them today and are making plans to fence in the basketball court. I have yet to be there when it isn't full of kids playing! Now that the warehouse is gone, according to my folks, the "tigeres" will be looking for something else to keep them occupied at night- we don't want it to be our court or the water project SO we are trying to move quickly to get our area secured by fencing.
Posted by Timothy Project at 21:33:41 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Successful trip...

There is never a dull moment here in the DR- or when there is, I treasure it! I think (hope) I had shared with you that I was going to be out of town for 2 days/nights. I made a trip out to New Roses again (near the Haitian border). From home it is a 7 hour drive so I drove down Tuesday evening to leave early Wednesday. Rick from Edge Ministries went with us to help us determine the feasability of putting in a well.  We also had 2 Dominican pastors with us. It was a GREAT day- I love meeting new people, hearing their stories of how God has touched their lives and the different ways He uses us all to serve and share God's love.

We had Rudy with us, the young Dominican man who started the ministry out there. He has such a sweet spirit, obviously filled with God's spirit. I was moved bu his sincerity and genuineness.  We got to eat with his family and then 5 men piled in the back of my SUV with Rick and I in front to head out to explore the site. As we arrived the Haitian folks were gathering for church- it was cool to hear them singing as we were checking out the not functioning well. To make a long story short, we know we can sink a 500 ft well, and have plenty of water.  (We actually may be able to repair the well that is there. Apparently, they weren't done properly.) We met the Cuba man who owns a great deal of land and employs most of the community folks. He gracious GAVE us a house and plot of land to house the church and well!! Imagine that! We left our two Dominican pastors to stay and get the paper work done. When I spoke with them last night, they had it all set and the Cuban man was to go this morning to sign the paper- pray that will happen as scheduled. What a blessing!

We are praying about sending out a team (Dominicans and maybe Northamericans) soon to do an evangelistic blitz- inaugurating the new church and beginning work in other communities.  With the exception of this ministry in New Roses (Nuevas Rosas) we have no Baptist presence anywhere out there.  Please pray with us that God will continue to open the doors to share the Good News and that hearts would be open to respond with faith!

Yesterday I headed out early with a missionary friend/colleague to get our water trailers out of customs at the Port- as I had hoped, we were all done and back at his house WITH the trailers by 11:15am.  They are pretty awesome looking. Now we just need to know how to use them!  I brought the instrustion manual home with me BUT I am hopeful that when our Human Needs gurus are here in May, they will give me a lesson. We need to work through a variety of issues: storage, trailer hitches for the car(s), etc. But at least we have them and can get them into condition to respond in emergencies! 

I am home today, hoping to get the new pump for Villa de Yaque so they can get their filter in use, thus purifying more water quickly. I also hope to check on Simon out in La Canela- he has had a variety of issues to deal with and the community has had some problems with their roads and pipes/water supply so it has kept him from getting the purifier in full swing.

Tomorrow night we have a Board of Director's meeting of the Barnabas Foundation- plans are to get at least 2 microcredit projects underway within the next month. Pray God would grant us His wisdom and guide us as seek to step forward in faith. Loaning money and trying to create jobs/businesses is going to be a TOUGH TOUGH task. I imagine the failure rate will be higher than we will like, BUT I am convinced that despite the hard work, the frustration and difficulties, God's justice and love requires us to help people find dignified ways to supply the needs of their families. Pray God will open doors and guide this project!

I will be gone this coming week- I will be in Santo Domingo, hosting our Communication Resource Specialist- a wonderful lady who is here to evaluate and help us keep improving with our Spanish speaking skills.  I hope to meet with a variety of pastors, getting to know their needs and working on plans for different projects.

Posted by Timothy Project at 10:26:27 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Monday 21 de April de 2008

Weather news...

From DR1...

Tornadoes hit three provinces
At least one death was reported and several people were wounded as tornadoes
struck La Vega, Santiago and San Pedro de Macoris yesterday afternoon.
The Dominican Republic does not have a tornado warning system because
 they are such a rare occurrence. The only reported fatality, Mercedes Torres,
62, died while being treated for her injuries after being crushed and trapped
by a collapsing wall in her home. Four others were slightly injured by the
storm that hit La Vega at 2:40 in the afternoon with high winds, hailstones
and heavy rain. In Villa Gonzalez, Santiago and San Pedro de Macoris, the
strong winds tore roofing materials off several houses. Reports also filtered
in from San Francisco de Macoris telling of more dwellings damaged. Luis Luna
Paulino, the chief of the Dominican Civil Defense told El Nuevo Diario reporters
that, so far, only one fatality has been reported.
Green Alert for much of the DR
The National Emergency Commission (CNE) is maintaining a Green Alert for
the provinces of Puerto Plata, Santiago, Samana, Maria Trinidad Sanchez,
(especially Rio San Juan and Nagua) and Espaillat (Gaspar Hernandez
and Moca), Duarte - especially the Lower Yuna River Basin, Hato Mayor
 and El Seibo. The Green Alert has been extended to include San Pedro
de Macoris. Residents in these provinces, especially people who live in
low-lying areas or close to rivers and creeks, should take precautions
against landslides and flash floods. The Weather Department (ONAMET)
 is forecasting continuing rains, electrical storms and hail over parts of
the country today. Through noon, though, at least for Santo Domingo,
it was a very sunny day.
Posted by Timothy Project at 20:07:28 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Finally!

Oh it feels so good to have my internet back!  (I must admit that part of me wasn't complaining about being without service for a while. It was actually sort of freeing!)  Hopefully my communication will get back to normal.

An interesting note: we have had some strange weather here- there were 2 tornados that touched down - one in Villa Gonzalez (near Villa de Yaque) and one in La Vega. I had heard that last week while I was in Santo Domingo we had some tornados as well. One person was killed yesterday and several more injured. Electricity is out in most of La Vega.
More good news! Now that my phone is back, I discovered that the paper work for getting the water trailers out of customs is ready- I hope to get them tomorrow!! Wednesday is the trip out to Las Rosas to see about the well so it will be a week of travel.
Posted by Timothy Project at 15:33:13 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |