Ministry Location: Dominican Republic, Latin America & the Caribbean     

Ministry Focus: David is the Sponsorship Coordinator at Servant’s Heart Ministries (SHM) for the “Hugs for Kids” program.

Update: Sandy's First Month:

Hotter than Toronto's Summer 2016, and humid. So wet--I might as well be swimming! Which I was, 3 times a day for the first two weeks. That was nice. Finally begun to cool off, sometimes below 28C, wow.  Trying to make a house into a home (after 3 years as a one-man hovel) lol. Of course, the best part is being with the one man--every day! Love my Davey!! My part-time job with Servant's Heart Ministries is slowly being defined, starting with "Special Projects" two days a week, which I will provide info on shortly. Spanish lessons needed badly. Prayers needed desperately. 

As well as his duties as Sponsorship Coordinator, Dave continues to make use of his background in art and graphics to help create mission visuals and promotional material and assists wherever help is needed. Dave is also using his love for art to engage “Hugs Kids” with art classes and special projects.

In the village of Esperanza:

Because of assistance from a group at Runnymede Community Church, Dave and Sandy are able to help Joseph Ivoidieu with his Christian School for Adults. Joseph is teaching first and second grade classes in Spanish for adults three evenings a week to about 30 mature students. They are now doing grade two...and yes math is one of the subjects (according to Sandy I should be taking that class)


Prayer Needs


For Servant's Heart DR

 Recently a number of other mission schools have closed in our area. This year our own enrollment is so high we were forced to turn some kids away. We need prayer that God will allow us to meet the needs of the community.

 Please pray that God will be our focus and direct our steps especially in the community of Loma de Los Chivos. That His Spirit would move in the Women’s bible study and new children’s programs.

 That God will give us a good rapport with local brothers and sisters in Christ.

For Sandy and Dave:

 As we begin a new chapter in the DR as Global Workers with the PAOC we want to make sure that God will be our focus and strength. That we will keep our eyes on Him.

 As Sandy and I work closer (in proximity) that God would guide the relationship transition.

For Esperanza:

 Remember the village of Esperanza and especially our brothers and sisters in Christ living out their faith in a really tough environment in all ways -Spiritually, physically, economically….

 For Claire Hodgson: strength, energy, health and encouragement.

 For Joseph Ivoidieu and his family: encouragement, that God would bless his work in the village and good health for Joseph’s daughter Yuberki.


We are in the final process of becoming Global Workers with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. We do need your continued support both spiritually and financially. Visit Dave’s bio page https://paoc.org/donate/DavidChapman

If you currently support Dave automatically on a monthly basis through the PAOC nothing will change.

The Sponsor Visit

Hugs for Kids, the Dominican Republic. 

We walk past a dog,

who, seemingly, with enormous effort, lifts itself from a pothole in the middle of the road giving way grudgingly to a slowly approaching pickup. The old truck, low riding and piled high with fruit, blasts a continuously repeated, distorted, recording from a megaphone attached to it's crumpled hood. In front of us, blocking the way, a brave tourist sits in a clear spot on the curb while his sandals are expertly “detailed” by a young boy.

 Crossing the road

we step over a variety of suspicious looking discarded objects in the street while searching for a safe place to put our feet and negotiate our way to the dry side. We squeeze past vendors and swing around a leaning hydro pole. Before us, curtained doors of narrow rooms face a crooked alleyway where food is being prepared and children play. We pass a group of men, sitting on well used plastic chairs smacking down dominoes on a small wooden bench. Just ahead we approach a communal wash area with bathrooms and washtubs. Laundry, hangs from the low electrical wires crisscrossing just above our heads. A few small colmadas sell basic necessities, water, rice, beans…

Just around the corner we are visiting a home

It has all been arranged in advance. We call out at the door and wait. A curtain swings back and a young man blinks his eyes adjusting to the bright sunlight. “Como estas” The translator introduces the sponsor and explains that we are from the Hugs for Kids School and we would like to say hello to his sponsored child. We hear the child’s name called out repeatedly, then there are the sounds of a scuffle as a very young child is thrust out through the doorway.

We all paste smiles on our faces

as a very small young boy with back and hands pressed to the wall behind him stares with huge eyes that dart from side to side.  He is petrified.  Before we can say or do anything the child darts into the alley and runs.  I turn to the sponsor, smile, and say;

"Not all sponsor visits go this well"

This is Cangrejo, and the home of our “Hugs for Kids School”.

By Dave Chapman

Sponsorship Coordinator
Servant's Heart Ministries
Dominican Republic