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Clinton News-Record, 1985-08-21, Page 3By Alan Rivett CUNT' ON - Missionaries; down through history have been primarily noted for spreading Christianity among cultures where more primitive beliefs are practised. Today, the time honored profession involves more than spreading the word of God. At least that's what a Clinton couple found out. mNeal and Sandy Hegemen have worked as issionaries in the Dominican" Republic, an island in Latin America, for the Christian ;;,reformed Church over the past four years. They returned to their Clinton home this past March to, as Mrs. Hegeman puts it, "get refreshed spiritually" and to allow Mr. Hegeman time to work on his Doctor of Theology degree. chlgeh's initial contact in 1976, said Mr. Hegeman. - "`I'he biggest change we see when they , become a Christian is a change from superstitious " spiritualism into something more concrete. Their personality starts to change and they begin to get their lives in order," he said. - Prior to the coming of Christianity, the Haitian cane cutter communities had many common law marriages. Now, however, many are getting married legally and are trying to get the documents for legal im- migrant status, he said. "It was quite a dram on ourselves to be at- tending to the needs of the poor all the time," said Mrs.. Hegeman. The couple lett tor Latin America in 1980 after Mr. Hegeman was ordained as a mis- sionary in Clinton. After spending eight months in Costa Rica, they moved on to the Dominican Republic to resume their work of establishing Christian Reformed Churches and leadership training for the natives. What they encountered in the Dominican Republic was a little disheartening. "We saw extreme poverty with a lot of begging in the streets," said Mrs. Hegeman. "There was a great deal of difference between those who do and those who don't have money. They considered us as rich Americans. We were not used to feeling rich." • ilkiUpon • their arrival, the Hegeman's im- ediately took up the plight of 'the Haitian cane cutters. The cane cutters were im- migrants from Haiti who were brought to the Dominican Republic .to work in the sugar cane fields. They're described as "the' poorest of the poor" who earn between $1 and $1.50 for long hours in the, fields. Mr. Hegeman says the cane cutters have no rights within the country. He estimates there are 500,000 Haitians living in the Dominican Republic. Mrs. Hegeman describes their situation as extremely desperate. "The cane cutters are • sold to the • Dominican Republic by the Haitian Govern- ment for $5 ahead. 'They're loaded into cat- tle •trucks with standing room only and they remain working in the fields until the end of the cane season. They're treatedlike animals," she said. After arriving in the village of Sabana Grand.- De Boya where a group of the Hai- tian cane cutters lived, they immediately began construction of a wooden, one room school and church with the help of- the villagers. The school. would serve only Gr. 1 to •5 because of lack of fund. They coneen- trated on literacy training for or education. e cane •Out- ters who hadn't .had any `p Mrs. Hegeman said she first served as a teacher school, rain ng the ut later became to take over the teaching. • The arrival of the Christian Reformed Church missionaries has had a great effect on the Haitian immigrants since the The biggest challenge and the highest priority of the missionaries while in the Dominican Republic was getting the natives to take leadership roles in the church and in the school. When they left the country to return to Canada the 45 schools and chur- ches that were established were run by the native people. "The church has to be carried by the na- tional people. We can teach them but, ultimately, the responsibility of the church belongs to them. All the churches we began are run by lay preachers," he said. During their four years in the Dominican Republic, they found the people really warm and hospitable. Americans are especially welcome over there because of the large amount of baseball players who make the major leagues. Mr. Hegeman recalled one humorous sign that read: "Yankee go home but take me with you." They found the government to be neither a help ora hinderance to them while working in the country. "We had no problems with the govern- ment but they don't do a lot for the Haitians. But, they allowed us to do a lot and they were co-operative," said Mr. Hegeman. "They're treated like animals" The Hegeman's were not the only people from Canada dding service work in the country. Groups from the Christian Reform- ed Church in Lucknow and Georgetown helped with the building of churches and schools as well as a number of Canadians who were part of the medical caravans that came to the tiny villages. Mr.. Hegcnan's mother, who joined the couple from the Netherlands, established a native run cot- tage industry involved in imprinting sta- tionery which has been doing a thriving business. IRpnblle. W hile here, Mei " will be iinvelved. in $isiting• the I5• churches in the U.S. and Canada which supported their missionary work as well as working 'part-time "n the Clinton church. They also brought ,back a film of their work which will be shown at various churches. A poem written by Mr. Hegeman which was included in a newsletter he wrote about the country describes the hardships of the Haitian cane cutters. It reads: Who Are They They bought me for 5 American dollars To work for 3 peso a day Which is worth 2 American dollars If you ever get paid. They brought me over the border With over 20,000 male workers To labour for 6 months Until the end of harvest. They put me in a wooden barrack Covered with carbon soot The boards are rotting off the wall Covered with mosquitos looking for blood. They informed us there was no running water The river would have to do Even though it was brown with mud and 2 kilometres on foot. They explained there were many benefits But for everything theyhad to find a way So the benefits were subtracted From the bi-weekly pay. They warned us not to travel But to stay put all day Travellers would be rounded up And thrown into jail They assigned us to our working crew With some fat man as our boss It was obvious this man would never make it If it wasn't for his rum and horse. They told us to -work real Ira d A lot of cane had to be brought in This was going to be the best year ever For the government company. "" They are the Dominican government And I'm a Haitian immigrant God knows the injustice under the sun But who will deliver me from it? The Hegeman's will only be staying a year in Clinton before returning to the Dominican '•.; • The Haitian cane cutters, described as the "poorest of the poor", harvest the sugar cane crop in the Dominican Republic. Old Cheddar " Orange or White Reg,. 4.79 Ib. 10.56 kg. Prunes New Crop Reg, 2.29 Ib, 5"05 kg. NOW $1.49Ib. $3.29 kg. Don't forget about our Cheese andmeat traysfor that special(7£ zythin9QUALITY FOODS& FRIENDLY SERVICEPROP.- 482-3478JANET BUCHANAN 11 Albert St. Clinton .,,,f,....„,....„..0.„--",.<,...,..„......„-,..„.1 t %., vt, 9s ft 0� if76 Ontario St. STRATFORD* t0 IS 8� � � NOW OPEN! 44 We specialize in CD fashionable styles 4 /p for all ages... . Sizes: 14-26, 36-46, and 141/2-321/2 In regular & petite sizes. We carry a complete line of; * Separates * Dresses * Sleepwear * Lingerie * Accessories Introducing Jacqueline Bradley The Hair Shop is pleased to welcome Jac• queline to our staff. Jacqueline has completed her training at Marvel in London, 'finishing second in ap class of thirty. . Jacqueline joins Ramona Humphrey and. Janice Stauffener at the Hair Shop, your full-service salon. the I-/tiI SLIt ID "the friendly shop that. cares" CORNER OF EfIBBINGS ANO RATTENBURY STREETS, % ANTON PHONE FOR APPOINTMENT 48 l -1 C9117 NEW SUMMER HOURS: Closed Mondays till September. OPEN: Tuesday-Frlday and Saturday t1114 p.m; plus Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Neal and Sandy Hegeman and children returned to their Clinton home after spending eight years as missionaries in the Dominican Republic. One of the ways the missionaries help the cane cutters help themselves has establishing a cottage industry. Neal's mother (background) was instrumental in creating this stationery shop. 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