The Armenian News
A quarterly publication of In His Footprints Ministry
S P R I N G
2 0 1 3
Just a Taste!
On my very first trip to the
Dominican Republic with a group
of students from the Hamilton
District Christian High School, we
found ourselves building a block
wall around a school in the
impoverished village of Fao.
This venture was filled with many
new experiences including
bending and tying together rebar,
hand mixing concrete, pasting up
blocks etc... and all of this under
the very hot Caribbean sun.
During recess breaks, the children,
all wearing their smart uniforms,
would be all over the team using
them playfully as playground
equipment. Lots of pictures were
taken. Many of the team were so
deeply touched that they began
making secret plans to smuggle
them home.
As time wore on, lots of pop and
snacks were consumed. Many
team members came back from a
‘hole in the wall’ store” loaded up
with snacks all excited by how
cheap they were. Money was not a
concern at all because plenty was
brought along to cover all the
extras.
During the school lunch break
many of the children headed off to
eat. Some took team members
along with them hand in hand to
proudly show off their homes.
Well, they weren’t much to look at.
Dirt floors, rusty tin roofs and
gaping holes in the walls were the
shocking realities they were
confronted with. The stench of
open sewers was always in the air.
One group came back totally
surprised by the fact that plastic
covered furniture was in a home
that would have been condemned
by zoning officers back home. To
honour them, the mother insisted
that they sit on them as to offer
them her precious thrones.
Now that’s community!
It was after witnessing this that I
began to wonder who was to have
their eyes opened wider.
Well, the answer became clearer
as I began to question whether or
not I would give away every piece
of all that I have been given so
that everyone would benefit…to
simply offer a taste so that all
could be satisfied.
When Jesus fed the four thousand
on the mountain who had been
following him around for three
days with a pathetic amount of
fishes and loaves, guess what
happened?
What I remember the most was a
simple act of amazing generosity.
A young girl was given a stick of
gum by a team member. Hurriedly
a group of younger girls gathered
around her as she gently peeled
back the foil wrapping. There they
sat together all focused on this
simple gum stick.
Now it would have not been
unusual for the girl to stick the
whole thing in her mouth because
she was the one who had received
it.
But no!
She took the stick and began to
tear it up into very, very small
pieces and gave each girl their
share. It hardly was enough, but it
gave each of them a taste.
Everyone got just a taste of that
food offering, but it was enough to
miraculously fill them all up to
overflowing with plenty left over.
Now that’s something to truly
ponder upon while sharing what
Christ so freely shared with us…
the total sacrifice of His body and
His blood to give us just a taste of
greater things to come.
As we break bread and sip from
the cup this Easter, may we all be
miraculously filled up with His
body and totally bathed under His
blood so that we all may be
overflowing with great generosity
to all those around us.
Blessed Easter to all of you!
One Hundred Plus and Counting!
God has truly blessed us with allowing us to reach an amazing milestone. Since 2008 over one hundred volunteers have joined
us in Belize helping to develop the IHF campus. All of you have endured the primitive conditions of pit toilets, river bathing,
insect bites as well as the intense heat and dangers of the jungle conditions. From the first team slashing it’s way onto the
property to the last teams putting on the roof, hoisting the water tanks and digging the septic tank hole, it has been quite a
journey. The amazing thing is that not a single team member came to serious harm and only a few got mildly sick. That is a
answer to the most coveted happening…the prayers of protection and success of all our loved ones back home.
Now that the campus is nearing completion, it’s on to the most important phase…the setting up and implementing of the
vocational training programs. Please continue praying for that to unfold also according to God’s timing and delight!
John Rustenburg
Isaac Baites (2)
Jonathan DeJong (2)
Kyle Nuell
Justin Spoelstra
Dave deBoer
Kevin VanderMeer
Derek BeVaart
Adam Neven
Gord Stuart
Dylan Peckham
Carolyn Stuart
Kathleen Doxator
Thomas Wannop
Laura Boudreau
Gilbert Van Kruistum
Rob Neven
Lucas Pot (2)
Mandy Jagt (2)
Eric Pot (2)
Rob Neven
Grant Burlie (2)
Jim Pot
Josh Okema (2)
John Okema
Patrick French
Nathan Gillespie
Mike Vandenberg
Zack Scholten
Mackenzie Koning
Justin Haanstra
Cory Janssens
Ian McKoy
Shenny McKoy
Lazarus Pop
Alicia Pop
Wil Kamphuis (16)
Lillian Kim
Grace Siwik
Sarah Anda
Nathan Hensen
Lillian Kim
Amanda Zwart
Tye Eastman (2)
Stan Fowler
Nathaniel Oudyk (2)
Matt Stam
Elijah Kim
Steve Voorberg
Nick Scharringa
Mike Laven
Dan Bergsma
Vidi Hynes
Alex Mobach
Ryan Heeg
Nick Hogeterp
Matt Walker
Alex Hogeveen
Aletta VanderHoeven
Tim Van Berkel
Duane VanderLugt
Matthew Hensen
James Elzinga
Bernie Vlietstra
Laney Paddock
Hildegard van Niekerk
Nette Hamilton (2)
Brydon Eastman (2)
Zack Green
Jonathan Fennema
Thomas Sikma
Keya Strobosser
Kristen Wolin
Victoria Miles
Nick Tigchelaar
Mike Hodge
Christian VanGeest
Harvey VanderMeer
Kathy VanderMeer
Etty Broer
Derek Benjamins
Andre Leonhardt
Paul Moore
Deirdre VanDijk
Ryan VanDijk
Vashti Hoiting
Ben vanderWoerd (2)
Meghan vanHoeve (2)
Vincent VanderVeen
Karen Kamphuis (5)
Robert Crawford
Trevor Beecraft
Ryan Stoepker
Well Done Good and Faithful Servant!
When Fred Bierling died tragically in a fatal car crash, his many friends in the Woodstock, Burford and Paris area
grieved deeply. What didn’t surprise them, however, was that so many showed up at his funeral that some actually
left because there was no more room for them. What Fred would also never have realized was that his heart for
service towards others would have such a lasting generational impact. You see, he was part of a dedicated threesome. Fred, Gord Stuart and Gilbert Van Kruistum made up a dynamic trio that moved with the spirit to Russia,
Guatemala, the Dominican Republic and other far off places bringing along teams
to do whatever needed to be done.
IHF was so blessed when Gilbert approached us seeking more information about
us. The next thing you know, they put together a team and made a commitment to
help us out. And what a team they were! Arriving one day late due to a snow
storm in Toronto, their goal of getting the entire roof on our main building would
be severely tested.
When they finally arrived, the campus was lit up with the generator and they got
right to her. Trusses were assembled on the ground and then hoisted up in some cases twenty feet. Gord estimated
that one truss alone had to weigh at least five hundred pounds. After they all were in
place, on went the zinc decking. With all the right tools, expertise and hard work,
sure enough, three and a half days later, the entire roof was on.
Lazarus, our property manager, was then asked to carve a plague dedicating the work
to Fred’s inspiration. Shawn Stuart, a student at Heritage College, gave a few
memories of how Fred had touched all of their lives. He then led the team in prayer
as tears of remembrance were shed.
It was a reminder to us all that the hope and direction of the youth of today depends
on older role models that dedicate their lives to those in need no matter what the cost.
This precious plague will be mounted on the wall of the main building to allow us all to continue to tell the story of a
wonderful servant of the Lord. Gord and Gilbert, please continue the good work that God has placed upon your
hearts to do! We need people like you to continue on with Fred’s blessed legacy.
Finishing Up With the Final Touches
The following are a collection of pictures showing the February and March 2013 teams putting on the roof, hoisting
the water tank, installing the solar panels, construting the septic tank and putting in the doors and windows as we
near the completion of the main building. What a blessing it is to finally come to the end of this phase of the ministry’s development.
Donations, Donations and More Donations!
Just When We Think It Could Never Happen!
Cuddleling Up Tightly in Armenia!
Sometimes the donations we receive come
even though we doubt they ever will. Besides
helping out Diana with her restaurant in the
village, another trusted family has approached
us with a vision of opening up an internet café.
At the present time there is no internet access
in the village at all.
What was required as a capital investment were laptops to make it happen.
As the February trip drew closer, none were donated. At one point we
even gave up thinking that they would ever come in.
Well, at the eleventh hour four come to us with twenty four hours. Three
were purchased by one couple alone. All we had to do was go to the
computer store to buy them. One other came from the same person who
held the dinner party for Diana’s restaurant. Since then another one was
donated. Now the family has five to set up shop with.
In short order we should have the entire village of well over one thousand
people added into the global family.
Isn’t it so true that when we see no way, God’s way always comes
through.
IHF wishes to bless the McKoy family as they now have what it takes to
complete the vision God has placed upon their hearts.
Clara Vos from Burford,
Ontario has made a lasting
impact on some of the Mayan
children of Armenia. Over the
years, we have been so
blessed with bringing down to
Belize hundreds of pound of
your donations to bless those
in need. Clara’s contribution were a generous bunch of
hand stitched teddy bears each with their own
distinctive look. Having the honour of handing them
out was with the knowledge that they would be
cherished deeply because as we all know, stuffed
animals have a very special place in all of our hearts.
We dragged them around with us, talked to them as if
they could hear us, scolded them when they were bad,
and squeezed them firmly while we fell asleep at
night.
IHF wishes to thank Clara for allowing us to be part of
her teddy bear ministry. Apparently, they have been
given out on other trips to other places in the world
Gateway Brantford Comes Through Again!
In our hometown of Brantford, Ontario is a small church plant that
meets in a rented gym. Even though the membership is not moneyed
or large in numbers, the generosity of their giving is. Every time we
ask for specific donation items, they bring them in. This includes
laptops, a keyboard, a generator, complete sets of dishes and cutlery,
medical supplies, clothing, shoes, hats, teddy bears, soccer uniforms
and equipment, a flat screen television, coffee pots, blenders, guitars
and on and on it goes. We are so thankful for everyone there that we
have claimed it to be our home base. It only confirms what we
already know...that being small is truly beautiful!
Thank you, Gateway, for all that you have and continue to do for us
here at IHF!
Belizean Gifts a Giving!
IHF wishes to thank two successful businesses in Belize for their
very generous donations to our ministry. First we wish to thank
Builders Hardware in Belmopan for their $600.00 donation of
building materials.
Secondly, Sun Flower Convenience Store in Armenia needs to be
thanked for the water dispenser that will allow us to enjoy cold and
hot water on demand.
We also want to thank Ian McKoy for getting us incredible
discounts from numerous businesses for all the building materials
that we have needed to complete the campus development.
The Final Stretch!
We’re so close to completing the main building that we
can actually begin accommodating teams in greater
comfort. We do, however, need the following items to
bring it to a total completion. If you can help us out, we
would be ever so grateful:
3 exterior doors
4 interior doors
10 hurricane shutter
windows
3 toilets
3 sinks
2 shower heads & taps
1 large water tank
2 solar panels
3 solar batteries
300 ceramic tiles
2 propane tanks
-
$150.00 each
$ 50.00 each
$150.00 each
-
$150.00 each
$100.00 each
$100.00 each
$400.00
$400.00 each
$130.00 each
$350.00
$200.00 each
If you feel moved to help us out, please contact us a
[email protected].
If you’re interested in joining us on
our upcoming trips during the spring
and summer months,
contact us at
[email protected].