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Donaldson’s House

Donaldson’s House

He Said Help Others First… But Now It’s His Turn.

Donaldson is my forgiven brother—his humility and our story have touched countless hearts. After Hurricane Irma destroyed his home, he never asked for anything, always urging us to help others first. But after four years, we knew it was time.

Thanks to BFM mission teams and generous donors, we completed the unfinished home the UN had started—giving him not just a house, but a true home, where love and forgiveness now dwell.

Why Was This Project Selected?

Donald Samuel is Bonnie’s forgiven brother. Since 2016 when BFM started their ministry on Barbuda, he has been right by their side helping them in every way he can. Countless projects between 2016 and 2021 have been completed leading up to the start of Donaldson’s home, and each one Donaldson would say “One day sister maybe I will have a home BFM can work on.” In July 2021, that “one day” came and what a glorious day that was!

Project Details

Home Exterior

- Plaster entire exterior of home
- Paint entire exterior of home
- Install gallery lights
- Install flood lights
- Complete all exterior plumbing (water in, drain line, septic hookups)
- Install rain gutter and black tank
- Remove all debris and level all ground with sand

Kitchen

- Build, install and paint kitchen countertops and upper cabinets
- Install sink, faucets.
- Complete plumbing.
- Tile countertops
- Install refrigerator and stove
- Hang curtains for cabinets and windows

Bathroom

- Tile shower and floor
- Install vanity mirror and lights
- Set toilets and complete plumbing.

Bedrooms

- Build and install shelving w/ clothing rods.
- Build bed
- Hang window curtains
- Install ceiling fan

Throughout home

- Plaster entire interior
- Scrape entire floor
- Sand, stain and install interior doors
- Paint entire interior of house: walls and trim (every dried-in home has reconstructed raw wood ceilings and raw wood and/or concrete walls in desperate need of paint)
- Install electrical outlets, lights, light switches, and cover plates.

Project Challenges

Donaldson’s house is not directly in the Village and like so many Barbudans power and water has not been restored. With no electricity and water this project wasn’t easy, but with determined faith Teams from Texas, Pennsylvania and North Carolina pushed through and finished the job inside and out!

What is the potential impact for the local community?

HOPE! Still after 6 years there are so many living in terrible conditions, many feel forgotten, some think their unbearable living conditions will never change. When they see Donaldson’s home restored after so long, they see hope for themselves. This project will have a positive impact on the community because it will show the Barbudan people that God sees them! He sees their need and has sent help.

About Donaldson

On the night of September 5th 2017 when Hurricane Irma decimated Barbuda, Donaldson was in his small wood framed house he had built himself. With 220mph sustained winds, the nails began to work their way out of the wood and became like bullets shooting across the room, he knew he had to get out! Almost immediately after he got out, Irma ripped Donaldson’s home off the foundation and took it up in the sky. Since that fateful night my brother had not had a home of his own.