From January 15 to 29^th this year, I had a team of four people at a Conference center/campground called Centro Conferencial/Campemento Biblico near Maimon, in the Dominican Republic, DR.

This campground was carved out of the jungle by the person who started me doing these trips. Don Wunker and his wife Audrey were missionaries in the Dominican Republic from about 1956 to 1994. Don is now 96 and lives in the retirement apartment next to Calvary Associated Gospel on Pape Avenue in Toronto just above Danforth.

This DR camp has a main dining room, four two floor masonry cabins and perhaps four single floor cabins, a chapel, and several other buildings. The camp suffered significantly due to COVID, which shut down churches in the country for an extended period. Presently, the camp is owned by the ABC, Allianz Biblica Cristiana grouping of churches in the DR.

Our main project was installing perimeter lighting to enhance security. We accomplished that and did several other tasks to improve the camp.

Long-term, the camp needs to raise money for significant upgrades. The main Kitchen dining building needs a new roof, new interior counters and stoves and fridges, new dining room tables and benches, etc. A few cabins need new roofs after being damaged by falling trees.

When these facilities were built in the 80s, there was not the proliferation of iPhones, iPads, laptops, and other electronic gadgets that need charging, and thus some buildings have NO electrical receptacles.

I am interested in doing several things. I challenged Manuel, the camp’s ED, that if he can raise the money to upgrade a structure, new roof, furniture, screen, windows, I will raise a team to upgrade the electrics in the building. That would include new feeds, panels, lights, fans, receptacles etc.

I would like to create a five-year Board approved project to raise funds via LAM Canada and UWM in the US. The funds would be used to upgrade the camp. I would also organize a fund-raising effort for people in Canada and the US who have worked at the camp, know about the camp site, and want to help restore it.

NOTE: Allan Holt has led many short-term mission groups totally hundreds of persons to camps in Dominican Republic, Mexico, Costa Rica, and other countries. He loves seeing young people, and men and women, too, enjoy the relaxed atmosphere provided by “getting away from it all and enjoying things more.” If you are interested in joining him on one of his next trips, please contact LAM through the website.

   By Allan Holt