Our Home
Marta and I live above the bathrooms. We live in a second level apartment on the orphanage property. Below us are the men's and women's bathrooms for the volunteers. When we first moved in the walls were bare cement. Now that we have a little time between groups of volunteers Marta is painting the apartment in Carribean colors. Yellow and green is the theme.
Because we live on the orphanage property our lives are very busy. Our home serves as an office as the many needs of the orphanage come to our door with requests for advice or money. Next door we have set up a program room where we make candles and teach computer classes to some of the older orphans.
It is a great honor to serve these children and the many people who come to impact the lives of our orphans. We are so thankful for the many who make it possible for us to serve in this way. We believe that God has called us here. Our lives have been deeped in faith, humbled by the experiences in which we find ourselves, and constantly awed by the power of how God`s love can heal the souls of those in need. Marta and I just want to thank everyone so much.
Passing of Friend We wish to thank so many of you at home who keep us informed. We thank Sharon Haines and Biff Blake for passing onto us the news of the death of Lucy who was Marta`s boss at Evergreen Assisted Care for over a year.
Thanks to MCC We are so happy to hear from so many of our friends in Portland at MCC. Your prayers mean so much to us. Here is a thank you from some of the kids.
Two New Orphans
Two new orphans arrived this week. One boy is from Mao and had lived in the orphanage previously. His mother is in jail and he doesn�t know his father. He seems to have contact with two grandmothers. This is the second time his relatives have sent him here. He says he prefers it here because it is better than home. Alfredo is 12 years old.
The second boy, Christopher, is from the border city of Dajabon. We do not know much about him but he arrived very sick and required a visit to the clinic and medication. We will update you more next week.
September 7, 2004
Field report from Good Samaritan Orphanage, Dominican Republic
School started on Monday, September 6. We have 22 boys going to school this year. Several of the boys have never been to school who are 9 and 10 years old. We have been working hard to get them ready for school. We have two new boys who are 12 years old who have had limited school experience. Most children in the Dominican Republic do not go to school very much anyway. They never have full days of school. Children go to school only 1/2 days. Added to this, often teachers are on strike or have meetings. On average children go to school only about 90 days a year. Also children are not expected to read until about the third grade.
The boys went to orientation Monday. Before they left the orphanage grounds the lined up and sang the national anthem. The they proceeded to school where they opened with prayer. The teachers and principal gave the rules for the school. Principal Blas talked about how the school belongs to everyone so it must be kept clean and we must take care of the building and equipment in it. Almost all the boys have new school shirts and backpacks. They felt very special. Four of the new boys did not have uniforms or backpacks or shoes. One boy refused to go to school because he was embarrassed. We took these boys to town and bought them what they needed. Here at Good Samaritan Orphanage we try to improve the educational level of the children so they can compete against children who go to private schools from rich families in this country. We want our children to have the best chance possible to succeed and we are working very had to give these children a real head start.
News of this Week
Hurricane Francis went past us without so much as a sprinkle. We got a few light breezes but the storm was too far off the coast to cause any harm to the island. It certainly was not good for the Bahamas and Florida to the north and west of us.
Dental Needs Several of the boys have severe dental needs. Their teeth are so rotten that the dentist could not save them. Three of the boys have had several of their teeth pulled. Alex has severe infection in his mouth. Quico had permanent back mollars pulled. Raul even had a permanent front tooth pulled. There is no floride in the water here and the diet of the children has only recently been improved. We are increasing the amount of calcium in their diet with milk and cheese. They were hardly getting any calcium before this time and now many are paying the price.
Hurricane Ivan
(see link at tend of paragraph) Hurricane Ivan is heading our way. This is the third hurricane to head our way in just within two weeks. Hurricane Ivan
Dale and Marta Johnson,
Send contributions to Orphanage Outreach,
atten. Dale and Marta
6111 Robert E. Lee Street,
Glendale, AZ 85308 or pay by major credit card through Pay Pal. Click below
