NILES, Ohio — Their mission: To teach the people of the Dominican Republic how to grow food instead of feeding them for the rest of their lives. Mission ongoing, not yet complete.
In 2000, Ohio missionary Bob Rumple, businessman Kurt Klingelhofer and Trum-bull County farmer Tom Schwartz worked to get a 45-acre farm up and running in that country. Progress was made as 260 hogs and 2,700 rabbits were being tended to by the people in the small island country.
His ultimate mission is to feed the people while teaching them farming basics. "They need the protein in order to develop the ability to read and think. It’s not possible without protein in the diet," Rumple said.
He said when he started his mission work, he and his wife, Karen, decided to focus on the children so they could learn skills necessary to succeed. "The problems are never going to change if the children don’t eat right," he added.
Flash back in time for a little history. Rumple started his Grace & Peace Missionary Fellowship in 1985 during his first trip to Haiti. He traveled back and forth to Haiti for 10 years. In 1998, he crossed the border into the Dominican Republic and began building the mission house there. In 2000, Bill moved his family there to work full time.
The family purchased the 45-acre farm and organized a group of counselors through a Farm Council. They began raising pigs, rabbits and fertile land for crops. The farm provides food for the Children’s Education Program (serving 275 children), the Widow Program and those staying at the mission house. Also installed was the Farming Project, a medical clinic, a church and a clean water distribution program. It is now providing share-cropping opportunities for the nationals living there.
Four years ago, Rumple suffered a stroke, though, which forced the sale of the animals and the farm employees to lose their jobs. "When I had my stroke, it was untimely because I was just getting to know the people," Rumple said. "The Dominican Republic is a Third World country, and many children and senior citizens are hardest hit by poverty. I want to get back up and running."
Rumple has great vision. He also has great challenges lying ahead of him.
"In the Dominican Republic, it is not easy to find farm equipment or labor that can handle some of the chores many U.S. farmers take for granted," he said. "Every chore on the farm requires hand labor. One thing that is on the mission’s side is the weather. There is a 12-month growing season in the Dominican Republic, which means crops can continuously be grown."
The crops the farm has grown in the past include corn and sorghum, and Rumple has learned how to use native forage and plants to feed livestock. He even tested native-growing forage in the U.S. to find out its nutrient value, and that’s how he was raising the hogs and rabbits before his stroke.
The mission support group hopes by using the year-round growing season, they can grow cash crops so the farm can make enough money to make itself sustainable and feed people that need it.
During the last 15 years, Rumple and his staff developed a Children’s Education Program in which 275 children are enrolled; a Widow Program that feeds women both spiritually and physically; a Farming Project; built a medical clinic and a church; and organized a clean water distribution program.
"Before the Haiti earthquake a few years back, we had about 2,700 rabbits and took nearly two tons of rabbit meat into Haiti after the tremor. We also had up to 260 pigs and facilities for 500. We’re building things back up as we go," Rumple said.
"Over the last 15 years, we’ve transported and distributed more than 10 million gallons of water from the well located on our property. We would like to drill another well. The Dominican water is the culprit for many diseases the people have to deal with."
Rumple is hoping those here in the United States can lend a hand, either physically or financially.
"I’m 65, and I’m looking for people who want to carry this on," Rumple said. "More importantly, I’m looking for farmers who want to send me some used equipment. I could use some modern conveniences, such as a tractor or a planter."
Contact Rumple at Grace & Peace Mis-sionary Fellowship, 2055 Pleasant Valley Road, Niles, OH 44446. Or call 330-448-8234.
