Merry Christmas

 

latest news from the Walker Family!  You can go to http://ywamorlando.com/staff/56-ywam-orlando-staff/53-nwalker to donate to the Walker Family! Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Merry Christmas!! Feliz Navidad!! Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas from the Walker Family! We love and miss you all.  Can't believe we have now lived in the Dominican Republic for 4 months.  Some days it seems like we have been here forever and others it seems like just yesterday that we were with you in the States.  May you realize how much God loves you and that He wants to be a vital part of your lives.  Not just during the Christmas season but all year long. Please remember to keep in touch.  You can respond to this email or use Walker5forGod@yahoo.com Our Mailing address is:  Walker Family AGAPE Flights STI 27519 100 Airport Ave Venice, FL 34285    Our First Home in the DR! Well, here it is!  This is officially our new home here in Santiago, Republica Domincana!  El Dorado II, Calle 4, Casa 26  House update:  We have signed a contract for the house and are just waiting to get the keys from the previous renter.  She is finishing up some repairs, painting, etc... Please be in prayer for her to finish up quickly.  She is to give us the keys as soon as she is done which was supposed to be on Friday.  This is where the language barrier is very frustrating as I can not even call her to ask what the progress is because we don't speak the same language.  The sooner we get the keys the better so that we can be moved out of the Martin's home for their return.  We also have a group coming from YWAM Orlando on Dec 30, so we will get quite busy after their arrival for at least the first few days! We still need furniture!  We found a refrigerator at the Chinese/Korean store where we buy fancy fingernail polish.  Yep, pretty random!  Thank you to all who have given towards our furniture.  Please be praying that we find good deals on good items! You can still give directly for our furniture.  If you would like a list of what we still need or any information, please let us know! Surprise Visit from Uncle Thom! A Visit from the Haiti side of the Island! Christmas Visit from Thom: We had planned to go see Debbie's brother, Thom and his family who live in Port de Paix, Haiti for Christmas, but it was not possible financially.  So Thom took a couple days of his Christmas break from school and came to visit.  We were able to do the tour of the city with Thom that we have our visiting teams do so that they are able to get around town on their own.  We ate some amazing Dominican food and enjoyed each other's company. The relationship between Haiti and the Dominican Republic has been a very up and down not so friendly to say the least relationship.  Tensions are quite high right now as the DR and Haiti both try to figure out residency and status of their people.  Please be in prayer for these tensions to come to an agreeable and favorable for both sides end.  Our family has started to help in a ministry to local shoe shine boys who mainly live in the streets.  We were able to help feed them a nice Christmas meal at a local restaurant and bless them with some candy, fruit and marshmallows as a gift.  Probably the only one many of them will get this Christmas. Sammi turned 19! This is one of my favorite pictures of Sammi!  She is sharing the love of Jesus with Antonio.  Everyone is loved by God but not everyone knows it.  Sammi loves sharing the word of God to others.  Praying for people in the streets is definitely one of her favorite things to do here.   Hannah is a blessing! Hannah is definitely a favorite to many of the Dominican children.  Here she is with a pastor friend's little boy.  Whether it is the SUYO kids that we work with once a month or with little children at church or at meetings.  The kids love Hannah!  She has a calming effect on them and can usually get them to smile, sleep or whatever is needed.  What a blessing this is to so many! Hardworking Jesse! Jesse is really getting to learn some practical skills here.  He is quite the hard worker and is quick to learn.  He loves going to Casa Grande which is a local ministry and learning to weld amongst other things.  Here is a great picture of him screwing sheet metal to a chapel roof with Chapel Project.  follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook | forward to a friend  Copyright © 2013 Ned and Debbie Walker, All rights reserved. Thank you for being a part of the Walker Family Ministry. To Donate please go to: www.Walker5forGod.com Our mailing address is: Ned and Debbie Walker Agape Flights STI 27519 100 Airport Avenue Venice, FL 34285 Add us to your address book  unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences

House Update

 

 

Housing Update from the Walker Family. You can go to http://ywamorlando.com/staff/56-ywam-orlando-staff/53-nwalker to donate to the Walker Family! Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. We got the house! Things are done quite differently here in the Dom Rep but after much ado the previous renter is finally out of the house and we can move in safely.  We have put our locks on the house and no one else has the keys.  This has been quite the process and much different than in the states to say the least! Thanks for your prayers! Entryway and Living Room More pictures can be seen on facebook and on instagram....email me for specific information if you don't know how to "like" or "follow" us! Thankful for the help! There is still time to help in 2013. We are asking for your prayers on how you can help! As support based missionaries we depend on you guys for our day to day living.  We do not take this lightly and are in great appreciation for all that you have done.  We are asking you to pray about how you can help set up our home.  Some of you have already given and we are very thankful for that.  We have been able to purchase a refrigerator and stove.  We are borrowing a few items for a few months from YWAM Santiago but are still in need of many items.  It is crazy when you get used to what you have and don't realize the multitude of all of the things in your house that you would have to purchase if you started from scratch.  Honestly, we are quite overwhelmed by this all.  We were also not expecting the amount of money that would be needed on light bulbs, locks, door knobs, and other things that in the states came with the house and you only changed as a luxury.  We are in need of many things still and are asking you to pray about if you can help.  Remember!  Your prayers help!  For instance, we found a brand-new stove for $30 US more than a used one.  It was a Christmas sale that we just "stumbled" upon.  This is what your prayers do! So thank you! We don't like asking for money at all! the hardest part of what we are doing many times is not what we actually do here..but asking for money and support from you.  So please know that we feel we are to put this need of housing furnishings out there for you all to pray about. We will not be asking on a continuing basis but do have a very real need right now. Donations with end of the year tax-receipt can still be made online at http://ywamorlando.com/staff/56-ywam-orlando-staff/53-nwalker !  follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook | forward to a friend  Copyright © 2013 Ned and Debbie Walker, All rights reserved. Thank you for being a part of the Walker Family Ministry. To Donate please go to: www.Walker5forGod.com Our mailing address is: Ned and Debbie Walker Agape Flights STI 27519 100 Airport Avenue Venice, FL 34285 Add us to your address book  unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences

Walker 5 Special Home Request

 

 

Special Request from the Walker Family.    Donations can be made online at Walker5forGod.com Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Would you consider helping make a house into a home? The Walker Family has found a house to rent! The Walker Family has been house-sitting for the Martin's (base directors here at YWAM Santiago) since we arrived here in Santiago, however, the Martin's will be home after Christmas.  We have been looking and praying for a home of our own since we arrived.  We've prayed for one that is close to the Martin's and the YWAM Missions house.  The neighbors next to the Martin's just moved out so we are planning on renting this house mid-December.  Please be in prayer for us as we negotiate a good price and the move-in date.  Excited but in NEED!  Homes here come with nothing...no appliances, screens, ceiling fans...nothing. When we moved to Santiago, we brought with us only clothes, kids items such as Jesse's legos, and homeschool books.  We have lived in YWAM housing in Orlando for the past 5 years so have no furniture of our own.  YWAM Santiago is a much smaller base...5 staff members including Ned and I, so they do not have housing or furniture for us. Would you consider helping us make this house into a home by sponsoring an item needed? We have been pricing items here locally both new and used to see how much moving into this house will cost.  We are asking at church and the local Christian schools to see if they have any used furniture/appliance item also.  The below prices are approximate in US dollars of items that we have found.  Please also be praying that we can find good prices for these items.  Prices at second hand stores here are basically the same as new.  We have checked quite a few places.  You can sponsor an item listed or just give towards miscellaneous housing costs.... Refrigerator...............$700                        Table...................$300                    Stove.........................$500                        Sofa....................$450                     Water cooler..............$150                        Queen mattress.....$340                   Clothes washer..........$600                        Twin mattress.......$150                    Clothes dryer.............$500                        Dresser.............$300                      Water heater................$300                      Bookshelves.....$75 Ceiling fans..................$100 each             Sheets......$20-30 Floor fans.....................$40 each              Dishes.......varies* Screens........................$250                     Pots/pans....varies* Inverter.........................$450**                   Utensils.......varies* *varies....means that the prices are about the same as the states plus some.... Can you mail things from the states??..this is possible however we pay $1.75 per pound in shipping and if it is over 100lbs we have to make a trip to Santo Domingo to get it which costs us about $100.    **an inverter is what allows your essentials such as the refrigerator and fans to continue to have electricity even when the city electric goes out...which is about once a day and sometimes more.  ALL DONATIONS NO MATTER HOW SMALL OR LARGE ARE A BLESSING TO US!!  THANK YOU FOR BEING A HUGE PART OF OUR MINISTRY AND THE CHANGED LIVES OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.   Donations can be made online at Walker5forGod.com just click the donate button. Tax-deductible checks may be mailed to... Walker Family  15411 CR 455 Montverde, FL 34756 Please make check payable to YWAM Orlando but do NOT write our name on the check anywhere but attach a separate paper saying Walker House Fund with specific directions for spending. Non-tax deductible gifts can be sent to Walker Family  15411 CR 455 Montverde, FL 34756 with the check made out to Ned or Debbie Walker.           PLEASE BE LOOKING FOR OUR REGULAR NEWSLETTER RIGHT AFTER THANKSGIVING!  follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook | forward to a friend  Copyright © 2013 Ned and Debbie Walker, All rights reserved. Thank you for being a part of the Walker Family Ministry. To Donate please go to: www.Walker5forGod.com Our mailing address is: Ned and Debbie Walker Agape Flights STI 27519 100 Airport Avenue Venice, FL 34285 Add us to your address book  unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences

Walker 5 News

Latest news from the Walker Family!  You can go to http://ywamorlando.com/staff/56-ywam-orlando-staff/53-nwalker to donate to the Walker Family. Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Adjusting Well to the Dominican Republic! A picture with our Spanish teacher, Guarionex, aka. Professor X! We are doing well!  We are busy with Spanish classes four days a week two hours a day.  Last week we worked with a group called Chapel Project, so we did not have class but instead put what we had learned to use.  Ned and Jesse were surprised at how much they understood.  They are still struggling with remembering the right word to speak but that comes after understanding or so we are told. We attend a Spanish speaking church called Oasis and are beginning to make some friends there.  Mainly Spanish speakers but some who speak English too which is nice. We enjoy going over to Casa Grande, a local ministry here run by Tim and Trena Johnson.  Their son Darren is a good friend to the kids.  Please pray for Darren as he is still currently in the hospital with complications from dengue fever.  Prayerfully he will get to come home tomorrow.  We have gone to visit him a couple of times to break his boredom. We made a trip to Santo Domingo to visit the national directors here in the country.  It is about a 2 hour drive but was a nice visit with the Norells and Sanders.  We are hoping to get to go to Haiti around Christmas to visit Thom (Debbie's brother) and family who are missionaries there.  Please pray for the funds for this trip!  It will be about $125 each with transportation and border crossing fees. YWAM Orlando Celebration Occupancy!!  As you know, we are launched out of YWAM Orlando where we have served for the past 5 years.  They still process our funds and are a great support for us.  We, here at YWAM Santiago, were excited to get to celebrate with YWAM Orlando via livestream internet on September 27 when they finally after 3+ years were able to get the occupancy on some of the buildings.  The current fall schools are living in the dorms!  And can have class in the air-conditioned buildings!!  No more army tent classrooms!  God is sooo good!  We miss all of our friends at YWAM Orlando who are much more like family than friends.  We are praying that they will be able to continue to send teams here and build the connection between them and us.  Looking forward to hosting teams from Orlando very soon! Ned's Health: It was quite the crazy month with Ned, Debbie and Jesse all having chest x-rays done and having fluid in the lungs.  We have all struggled with bronchitis and issues.  Some worse than others.  Ned scared the doctor quite a bit because his chest x-ray showed an enlarged heart.  They were quite worried and rushed around getting us to have blood work, EKG, echocardiogram and other various tests.  Ned's blood pressure, cholesterol and uric acids were all very high but the echocardiogram showed that his heart was not as bad as it first seemed.  Ned is now on cholesterol and bp meds and is trying hard to loose weight.  Quite the task in a rice and beans and bread country where relationships are incredibly important and often involve food. We were super blessed to not have to pay for the doctor's visits just some of the tests.  The doctor is a good friend's dad and he has been quite the blessing and brings us star fruit and plantains to help us be healthy.  Thanks for your prayers for health for us all but especially Ned. Chapel Project! Helping to build churches alongside Dominicans! This past week we were privileged to work with Chapel Project for the second time.  Chapel Project helps to build a roof on a church building that the locals have constructed the walls on.  The pastor and church must raise a certain amount of money and do a certain amount of work in order to be helped.  There is a screening process that the church must go through also.  Sometimes helping hurts....this is a lesson that the Dominican Republic and Haiti missionaries are learning from the past.  A hand-out is not always the best thing for someone, but if that person can work alongside the missionary there is "sweat equity" and an ownership in what is being done.  Sometimes a blessing is needed and sometimes a work project is better.  This past week we were able to help build Iglesia Cristiana with Claudio and Berenice Moncion!  They are some of the sweetest people I have ever met with an amazing heart for the people they meet to grow in their relationship with God.  It was a blessing to work with our friends with Chapel Project.  Don MacCaugly is a true inspiration, having built chapels in Romania for years and now working on them here in the DR.  Ned welded for the first time in over 20 years and Jesse was able to get to work.  He was on the roof and helping to screw the sheet metal roof pieces to the trusses and pearlings.  Debbie oversaw snacks and lunch and Sammi and Hannah were part of the street evangelism team that went out daily building the "church". What a blessing to be a part of what God is doing here! Giving Dominicans a boost and encouragement as they minister to their own people! Jesse getting to help screw down the sheet metal roof NIKOland: We have enjoyed working at NIKOland up in the mountains outside of Santiago.  We hosted a local pastor and missionary who has worked with YWAM Santo Domingo before.  We along with Juan, who works with us part-time, went up and worked cutting out guava trees.  Guava trees will quickly overtake the land as the fruit is plentiful and drops with lots and lots of seeds!  The pastor and missionary worked so hard with us that day and then prayed a sweet blessing over our family before they had to leave.  Sadly, the only pictures I got were too far off to show up well in the newsletter.  Funny story for you!  The neighbors, with our permission, allow their cows to graze on the land.  When we were working here last spring the gates were not finished and so the cows were normally tied or would not leave due to barb wire.  WELL, now the gates are finished and look great.  They work great IF you close them...well we didn't!  We went to leave and the two cows and horse that had been peacefully grazing were gone!  YEP, down the road somewhere.  I had to go and tell the neighbors that their cows were gone.  With my limited Spanish, I told them that the "vacas dice adios gringos"...yes, that means cows said good bye gringos.  They laughed and said the boys would have something to do after school.  Well, the next week there were 10 cows grazing.  I guess they weren't upset.  Here is a pic of Hannah, Sammi and Jesse and of course Riza watching the cows!  Trying to get them to come close enough to pet them. Prayer Requests! Thank you for your support and prayers! * Housing!  When the Martin's return in January we will need to move out of their home.  We are currently looking around for a place to go.  We would love to find a large home with a bit of a yard in order to house teams better than the current house which houses about 20 and is in a close neighborhood. Wisdom as we look and affordable prices. * Language Learning!  Continued learning and creativity within our learning styles.  Also for the funds for the lessons. * Sammi, Hannah & Jesse.  God is providing some friends from past trips for the kids.  Prayers that they continue to make friends and adjust. * Finances..  A few more monthly supporters are needed.  Funds for the needed misc. things to move for daily life.  Funds for the first, last, security deposit for a home to move into and the furniture needed.  Fridge, stove, inverter, washer, etc...are NOT included in a home when renting or buying here...so funds for these things. *Safety and Adjustment.. We are adjusting well to life here which includes heat, noise, locks, alarms, etc... We are beginning to miss home and family and friends.  Would you like to Skype with us?  neddeb.walker  is our Skype name.  Chatting with friends and family from home helps a lot! SUYO...His....King's Kids Suyo in Spanish means his.  Here at YWAM Santiago, we capitalize it and use it to mean HIS.  We belong to God.  (King's Kids is a bit hard for Spanish speakers to pronounce.) King's Kids is a YWAM program that has been around for years allowing kids aged anywhere from 6 on up to minister.  Here at YWAM Santiago we have a week long camp and then once a month, the kids get together and have a teaching about a characteristic of God and then go do ministry together.  They learn dances and dramas and use these along with their personal testimonies to share the love of God with others.  Dominican kids sharing the love of Jesus and His Salvation with other Dominicans.  We walked to a neighborhood "barrio" about 15 minutes from the mission's house and did a street performance and then prayed for the people who came to watch.  What a great time serving God with these great kids. Each night we ask the kids how they brought joy to God's heart that day.  Camila answered that she did her cleaning chore well and that she loved her Hannah!  She was right!  When we love others, even in the simplest ways, this brings joy to God's heart.  This Christian walk is about just that...loving others and showing them God's love!  follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook | forward to a friend  Thank you for being a part of the Walker Family Ministry. To Donate, please go to Walker5forGod.com Ned and Debbie Walker Agape Flights STI 27519 100 Airport Avenue Venice, FL 34285 Walker5forGod@yahoo.com  unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences