Our Story

I am Don Baker, a former dairy farmer from Winneshiek County, Iowa, USA.

It was January 2008, the year that I would turn 50 years of age in the early morning while I was making coffee that God gave me a message, “ it is time for a change, it is time to sell the cows, I have other things for you to do!”. I have learned He doesn’t use lots of words or explaining or details. He will however more often put things on a person’s heart.

Well anyway I knew what the other things were, go volunteer helping those in need. No details just that. And I said, yes, okay I will go. He had me begin volunteering in Cedar Rapids, IA on Oct. 8th, 2008. Cedar Rapids had flooded severely in June, effecting over 5000 homes.I served there helping rebuild for almost two years. God worked at training and teaching me during that time using many amazing individuals. The most important thing God taught me was that relationships with others are the most important part of volunteering. People, relationships, nothing is more important. God values relationship with us and our relationships with each other.

The following is a timeline of places I have been blessed with the opportunity to serve since beginning of this journey of full time volunteering:   All glory and honor to God, our Lord and Savior.

• October 2008 – September 2010, Cedar Rapids flood recovery.
• September 2010 – November 2010, Colfax, IA, flood recovery.
• November 2010 – January 2011, McComb, MS to help remodel a building for a senior citizens center.
• February 2011 – April 2011, Haiti to assist with rebuilding homes and schools from earthquake.
• May 2011 – September 2011, Western Iowa to towns of Fonda and Mapleton, tornado damage.
• October 2011 – November 2011, SW Iowa towns of Percival and Hamburg, flooding of the Missouri river, helped with clean and gutting houses.
• December 2011 – April 2012, Tuscaloosa, AL severe tornado damage, working on homes and one church.
• April 2012 – July 2012, returned to Hamburg and Percival, IA to help rebuild homes.
• August 2012 – September 2012, went to Japan, tsunami, helping rebuild homes.
• September 2012 – November 2012, returned to Percival, IA to continue home repairs.
• January 2013 – March 2013, went to New Orleans, hurricane damaged homes
• April 2013 – May 2013, returned to Tuscaloosa, tornado damage rebuilding a church.
• May 2013, upstate New York for short mission trip, hurricane damage.
• August 2013 – October 2014, Egbe, Nigeria to assist in helping rebuild a hospital that was built in the 1950s but had falling into disrepair.
• November 2014 – December 2014, Hamburg, IA to rebuild a flood recovery home.

While in Japan, God had put on my heart to sell the farm. I had drug my feet in getting that done. However even when we delay, thankfully God is patient. So I spent the winter from December 2014 thru March 2015 getting the farm sold. God had positioned me where He needed and desired me to be. Enabling Him to open new doors for me. In July 2015, He gave me the blessing and opportunity to go to Uganda to serve those in need for one month.

I have been many places serving, always with the knowledge it was for a time and it would end. I would go somewhere else then. I at times would think, wonder if someday God would settle me someplace. Either was fine. Well I believe with all my being He has chosen to settle me. Other than this is Gods doing after being in Uganda for one month and seeing the need of many, not all but many. That I would leave Uganda knowing deep down in my heart, this is where He wants me. Uganda is home!! This is where I belong! To fulfill a plan that belongs to God! Not my plan, His plan. And to God’s Glory it will be. With man this is impossible, but with God All things are possible!