| DOMINICA
TRIP
At site of Emergency Communications Center-Dominica, the
mission team was hosted by D.A.R.C.I. members.
Some Highlights
The team was met immediately in Dominica by Clem James (Amateur Radio Call
J73CI) president of Dominica Amateur Radio Club, Inc. (DARCI), who gave great
assistance during the entire trip, as did many of the club members, local
ministers, government officials and medical personnel. These folks helped to
ensure that donated supplies were placed in the proper hands for best use.
We arranged to host a rally for young people - HIGH FREQUENCY YOUTH FUN DAY - at
Lindo Park in Goodwill Friday, Dec. 30th . This day was intended to encourage
young people and to share the love of Christ with them. The afternoon included
games, music, prizes, testimony and sharing of the Gospel. Many Bibles were
distributed, and the team served as counselors to talk with the children and
pray over them. The group was fortunate to get great publicity by several live
radio/TV interviews.
The team worked “hands on” to help with student programs in Castle Bruce.
Construction was done in the DASH (DADs After School Help for school-age
children) center to make its current services more efficient: food trays,
utensils, cups, etc. were supplied for feeding program up to 40 children at a
time, so cabinets, sink counter and work space were needed. Bathroom facilities
were upgraded, and an area was formed for live-in security of the premises. A
“radio room” was needed for the new Amateur Radio Club in Castle Bruce, where
young people may join as members: some plaster work and painting was
accomplished there. The greenhouse (used for the Agricultural Training project,
which teaches rabbit rearing, greenhouse cultivation and outdoor farming) had
been damaged by high winds-- some of the group repaired torn plastic, hung bird
netting and anchored it around the base of the greenhouse. A new class will be
starting there this month! Group leader Josanna Lockhart, Tina Franklin of
Lifeline Ministries and new acquaintance Jenny Helton (Peace Corps intern in
Castle Bruce) will see to continued improvements and ongoing program operation.
A special presentation was made to DAD (Dominicans against Drugs) and its
sub-groups of a Roland Keyboard. It was donated by the Roland Corporation, in
memory of Dee’s mom, Vickie Dannewitz, who passed away in August. She knew of
the need of some people on the island [in Castle Bruce], who greatly enjoy music
and who are eager to learn, but who have no way to purchase musical instruments.
The keyboard was given for the music sessions that are part of the programming
there. A guitar was also given by Steve Ryan of Good Shepherd for use by
Dominica’s New Day Fellowship.
It was brought to the attention of the group that a new program was in place in
the Carib Territory, where “Rovers” worked to teach groups of about 14-15
children and also their moms and dads learn parental skills. The donated items
could be used during these teaching times and gifted as incentive for learning.
It pleased everyone to know these people were being benefited in this way, since
most have no ownership of anything valuable, and have little to no
borrowing/earning power.
There was a day or two where the missions team was able to relax and make tour
of some other areas on the island. They visited the club site of the Dominica
Amateur Radio Club Emergency Communications Center, and were encouraged by the
activities and site improvements there (a security fence donated by FAIRS has
arrived and will surround the lot soon! Additional radio equipment & monetary
donations were secured by FAIRS for the center). Some from the Hospital and
various clinics mentioned they were happy for the group visit, and the new
medicines and equipment. More items will be transported in the coming months,
and a follow-up visit by FAIRS is planned for April 2006.
Even meetings with the Wotten Waven VIC on Wednesday, January 4th and with Hon.
Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit (arranged by Clement Pierre-Louis)
for Friday, January 6th helped to focus on future opportunities for cooperative
work, to benefit everyone!
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