Dominican Project Information: Sponsor a home!
The Need
Haitians living in poverty have immigrated sometimes illegally into the Domincan Republic. However, industry need for cheap labor lured Haitians whose families were literally starving. Unfortunately, living conditions resemble slave quarters or worse. People are dying in the worst conditions. Sharing teams construct simple shelters that save lives and give hope.What Can I Do?
- Pray Even if you have few resources, you can PRAY with us that these refugees from Haiti will receive shelter and hope.
- Share Financially It takes $3,000 to build a basic house for a family. These are of simple design with concrete floor, two windows, metal roof, toilet with septic tank, sometimes electricity, no runnig water. For $200 children in a whole village can get a food pack of eggs, milk and bread. $1000.00 helps with Jesus Film equipment to reach villages with the message of hope and redemption. MAIL IN FORM I ONLINE GIVING
- Share Your Life Finally you may want to join a future team or bring a team to work on a home. A ten-day trip will cost each team member $1,195 plus airfare. The team fee includes in-country transportation, Sharing staff leadership, food, lodging, some site seeing.
- MAIL IN FORM I ONLINE APPLICATION
Dominican Republic Projects: Other
There are some amazing "side ministries" going on here in the Dominican Republic. Each has been devloped by local missionaries to bring self esteem and a livelihood to those who formerly had no hope!
Wedding Mnistry
Local missionary, Jana Armelingmeyer, noticed one day that one of the women seemed withdrawn in the local church service. She was not singing... which in local services is VERY expressive with everyone participating. When Jana was able to ask her if something was wrong she received an interesting answer. Since coming from Haiti, the woman had married, but neither spouse had official papers. As a result, they do not participate with worship.
This is very common. Without legal status, families like this can find it difficult to integrate into what for them is a "foreign society." But out of this dilemna, a new ministry has flowered. Whenever 6 or 8 couples like this have been identified, and effort is made to secure papers from Haiti. Usually local missionaries work together to make this possible. Usually Jana has made the difficult trip herself over the mountains into Haiti. Her efforts have paid off.
Her efforts have paid off. With papers in hand and an assortment of donated wedding dresses from the U.S., each woman is able to prepare for a big day--her "official" church wedding which will allow witnesses and the church to make the common law marriage a legitimate one. Team members sometimes bring new bottles of expensive perfume for the ladies to have as a wedding day gift. Weddings are a big deal here, as in all nations. The custom is formal with traditional, white wedding gowns, flowers, and gatherings of guests over meals prepared by friends and family.
You can be a part of making all this possible! Either bring a wedding gift if you are coming on a team, or donate funds to provide for the trip over the mountains into Haiti. You may never get a chance to see the bride and groom, but you can be sure there will be more singing in churches across this small forgotten part of the world... jjust because of one missonary's perceptiveness, and because of the efforts of you and I to make a difference!
Craft Market
Another way local missionaries have found to help serve the local people is by establishing a craft co-op. In Ascension Village, local villagers learn a particular skill. Some carve wood or paint. Others have learned to creat stained glass for church windows... using glass salvaged from the landfill. All of this provides new skills and new forms of income for families in need. If you come with a team, be sure to inquire with local missionaries where you may procure some of these local works of art.