Kaitlynn: One Month Volunteer
Kaitlynn is from Pepperdine University. She was here last February with a team of twenty people. She was so touched by the power of the experience working with the children that she chose to return for a month.
She is a theater major but since the experience last February she is thinking about changing her major to something that relates to human service. She has work with children with disabilities, volunteered in preschool, and conducted disability theater. She has a passion for the children and this week is teaching the orphans how to use the computer to do math assignments.
Release of New Book: Christ Mind, Buddha Heart
The first copies of Christ Mind, Buddha Heart have arrived. This book was written in preparation for an upcoming conference in Los Angeles on Christianity and Buddhism. This is an international conference for people of both faiths to come together to talk about common issues and identify ways to respect and honor each other.
Lorna Kelly edited the book and is the author of The Camel Knows the Way, a biography of her 20 years friendship with Mother Teresa, and was the first woman auctioneer of Suthobys. She presently is an editor in New York. She read the manuscript and said this explains how a Christian can also incorporate Buddhism into their life and not violate basic Christian belief. Release the Hero Within is averaging about 11 books a day at www.lulu.com/barhanna Books Relating to the Language of Jesus
Mailing Address: Snail Mail
Mailing address
(via the kindness of our friend):
Dale and Marta Johnson%
Leticia Minaya
Roman de Pina �35
Mao, Velverde, Republica Dominicana
May 10, 2005
Field report from Good Samaritan Orphanage, Dominican Republic
Xavier Team to Arrive
We have been busy getting ready for the Xavier team of about 12 people who will be here volunteering for two weeks. Normally groups come for a week. So this group will require a little extra planning.
A new technique is being used with the groups coming this summer. Each person will be given a shoebox and it will be used to keep items of experiences the volunteers have during the week. Perhaps an orphan draws a picture for the volunteer or there is a special expereince reflected in a stone or seashell. Each volunteer fills the box with memories and then shares these memories at the end of the week. We have done this once with a group this Spring and it was so successful that we will make it a permanent part of the experience.
Our three weeks in the States
We are so thankful for the many friends we met during our visit to the States. We got to know the people at MCC in Portland. We feel such a connection to this church. Most of all it feeds us spiritually. I told Reverend Glenna that I hope heaven is like these worship experiences we have attended. Also, we made many new friends this time and got to know people we have only had contact with by email..
Also we could not be more grateful for Darren Wertz who provided us a place to stay for two weeks and to Dale's mother who provided us hospitality during the week we were in the Seattle area where Dale gave a lecture on Science and Religion at Seattle University. The lecture was well receivced and it has resulted in many book orders, emails from around the world, and an invitation to the University of Montana next year.
We visited the Great Vow Zen Monastery in Oregon where Dr. Jan Bays trains monks and seekers in the principles of Buddhism. Dale will be speaking at a conference in LA with her and she is such an inspiration. She will be leading a team of people to Hiroshima this August, with 250,000 items to commenorate and memorialize the 50,000 children who died in the Atomic Blast.
Also we visited Fr. Walker, an Episcopal priest and spiritual mentor for Dale. Both Fr. Walker and his wife were so gracious to us and are a model of love and devotion.
Finally we thank our many supporters at Ridgefield United Methodist Church. Woody Ennis, the women's group, the men's Bible study group, and Marta's parents. Also we thank Jack V and the men at the coffeshop, Maggie and Steve, and to Ray and linda for a beautiful boat ride on the Columbia. Thanks to Jeremy for two great fishing trips and a shared experience of acknowledgement and honor for each other.
Hall of Heroes
Click the photo button at the bottom to see all the orphans we presently serve at El Buen Samaritano. Each child is identified by name with a short note about his special talent or circumstance.
Dale and Marta Johnson,
Send contributions to Orphanage Outreach,
atten. Dale and Marta
6111 Robert E. Lee Street,
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