Year 2006 Activity Report

Note: This year we are again thankful to have had Tom Bateman to help us rebuild computers, working in his own home workshop. Tom did most of the required rebuilding, allowing Bill to repair and set up the computers for each individual student. Thank you Tom, you have made it possible for us to be able to work on some things that have been neglected, and have a life outside of the computer workshop. We’re also thankful for every one who gave money, material, and time to our effort to provide computers to needy students and our effort to support youth groups doing service to others. A special thank you goes to John Wezeman of GVSU Kevin Kubiszewski of Foremost Insurance Company and Kurt Minder, Grand Rapids Junior College for major equipment donations. We thank Herb Lantinga of Notions marketing for allowing us to store our bus and storage trailer on his property .

We still give programs that allow the student to do their work that is similar and compatible with programs used at their school. We continue to install Open Office (a free version of Office made by Sun Microsystems) We continually monitor Internet performance and upgrade the programs used for the Internet. We continue to install Mozella FireFox as an Internet browser and Thunderbird as the e-mail program that we install on computers with 98SE.

Our computer assembly shop is still in our home. We have provided computer systems again this year to students and their families which included an hour of training given in our living room to each family. This year we also helped Jim Boersma who co-ordinated filling a shipping container with equipment for the public school system in Kenya East Africa.

Again this year the Public Schools, GR Community College, Davenport College, Michigan Works, United Way, churches and neighborhood associations have actively assisted students to fill out the applications and find volunteer opportunities in the community. They also refer businesses who want to donate computer equipment to us. We continue to have the Kent Intermediate School District office for home schooling (serving students expelled from school) refer parents to our program when they do not have a computer in their home. The United Way refers anyone in crisis that needs a computer to our ministry. We are the only organization in the Grand Rapids area what donates computers to students. Microsoft’s non-profit division, CompuMentor told us that we are the only organization that they know of in the world that requires the recipient of a free computer to do community volunteer work to qualify for a computer.

We supported Eastown Ministries who joined with Urban Transformation Ministries Life in the Creston area, and Tabernacle Community Church from the Alger/Eastern area and Westwood Community Church at the Southeast YMCA and in Forest Hills Bible Chapel for an overnight "Lock-down." 19 teens with six chaperones including Bill & LaVerne met 40 other participants. The evening included group praise and worship, teen center introductory activities followed by pizza/pop, open gym, 3-on-3 tournaments, pooltime, computer activities, bowling at Eastbrook Lanes, a snack, more activities and breakfast at 7:00 am. The bus was used for transportation, and storage for the various events.

We used the bus to support Eastown Ministries who participated in a basketball tournament which was held in Walker, Michigan. Two teams from Eastown Ministries entered the tournament. Organized and entered by one of the players, the teams were "Eastown" and "Ministries". Arriving early, our teams scrimmaged with Alyssa DeHaan, a local resident and MSU freshman later awarded the title of "Michigan’s Miss Basketball 2006." After the tournament, a locally-sponsored "carnival" offered interesting amusements nearby.

Cornerstone Festival in Bushnell, Illinois with activities and learning opportunities for everyone included a special outdoor circular meditation walk this year. We joined with Oakdale Park CRC and other associated groups. We also took neighbors, friends, family and our granddaughter. This Bible Conference with musical concerts is attended by over 20 thousand people. Special note: I enjoyed meeting my college academic mentor who was here as a featured speaker on history and archaeology.

The First Christian Reformed Church Bible Study group and neighbors went to Grand Haven, and participated in various activities, including the regular Bible study session. We cooked in the bus and had a picnic on the beachfront.

Cops Fore Kids was a day long event at the Christian Reformed Recreational Center. Bill took four boys from Eastown Ministries. They had a great day playing golf, sharing meals and meeting with Grand Rapids police. The Chief of Police Harry Dolan spent time with one of the boys (DaQuan Watts) whom he commended in his speech to the assembled group. Also attending were Marcellus Manning, Joe Brown, and Darian.

The bus transported basketball teams organized by a youth from Eastown Ministries to a day-long tournament held at Grace Christian Reformed Church. It was a lot of fun for the team members who played well and earned trophies. A hip-hop rally was part of this event.

Michigan Adventure was the site for a large group of Eastown Ministry youth group and six chaperones. Everyone enjoyed the various activities and a good opportunity to have fun together using the bus.

We took a large group of Eastown Ministries teens to a pool party in Comstock Park, hosted by Jim and Carol Carpenter. Swimming, games, recreation, socializing and a picnic were part of the activities.

We loaded the bus with neighbors, the Osman and Aba Ahmed Munye family (now US citizens with 2 sons at GR Christian high School.) and stayed at the farm. We made a visit to Michigan Adventure, where we met other neighbors, friends, and family.

The Adult Bible Study Group from Eastown Ministries used the bus to a morning attend worship service and a noontime potluck at a "sister" congregation in Sylvester, Michigan.

A group of teens from Eastown Ministries joined other groups in Saranac, Michigan for a day of various activities in the woods. Although the bus and food was ready to go, as it turned out the group was smaller than anticipated, so the bus and LaVerne returned home and the group used a van.

Unfortunately this year cancellations were high: The Black Student Union from G.R. Community College was unable to go on a service trip to the New Orleans hurricane area, and St. Francis Xavier also had to cancel..