I present to you, Richard Abbenbroek while many of us know Richard well
(sort of) and in fact we call him “Sir Richard”. There are a few
wonderful and perhaps, unknown tidbits that I would like to share about
our delightful cousin from Canada. As we remember from going through
Team HOPE training, we were asked to provide our fingerprints to the
FBI. Richard, shall we say had a “concern” about being asked to give his
fingerprints during his training in 2003 in Alexandria. The reason? He
thought that somehow the FBI would learn as NCMEC checked his background
that one of his ancestors assisted in burning of the White House during
the War of 1812 along with the pillaging and burning the city of
Washington, DC with his fellow Canadians. A historical note: we
Americans and Canadians back then finally resolved our differences in
December 1814 with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent and we have been
loyal friends since. https://youtu.be/llCtrzmF96I
Nevertheless, Richard wanted to become a Team HOPE volunteer so fervently that he worried about the direly past deeds of his ancient relatives. During training one night, while other Team HOPE volunteers to-be went to a local “hang-out,” Richard took a night bus tour of Washington DC. When he was the Vietnam memorial, he became so overcome with emotion that he started to cry, as he once served in the Royal Canadian Air Force. A US Nam Veteran who was there told Richard that “It’s OK, Brother” grabbed him which startled Richard and said come with me.” The Vet then took Richard up to a group of other Nam Veterans who did not believe he had never been in Vietnam. Richard continually said that he was just an ex-Canadian Air Force person who had served only in Canada. The Nam Veterans thought Richard was just in denial and gave him a wooden nickel, which said;
“Welcome Home, Brother!” https://youtu.be/HNjEPHvDxZQ
Along with his commitment to Team HOPE, Richard volunteers his time and heart admirably to other organizations and human crises. To those in need of a supporting hand, Richard is there to help. For a number of years, Richard was a Volunteer Intake Worker with Child Find Alberta and supported parents of all missing children 300 in total from 1989 - 2003. This position ultimately paved the way for Richard to become part of Team HOPE (as of this date Child Find Alberta plus Team Hope Referrals 300 + 108 = 408 Referrals that he had worked on to date). https://youtu.be/LRP8d7hhpoQ
He has also reached out via his church. When Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, he traveled with his church as part of Samaritans Purse Canada to, Mississippi/Louisanna. For a few weeks, Richard and his team cleaned more than 70 resident homes, salvaging personal effects and restoring the surroundings. On another mission trip to South Africa, Richard worked with his team installing a computer lab in a local High School. As Richard says, while his help and others are “drops in the bucket,” they are “planting seeds that one day they may make a difference!”
Oh by the way I am from Calgary Alberta Canada.
This song in memory of his late Wife Joyce. https://youtu.be/l0XDTgfCCKA
from Sir Richard... http://bayo-hunter.blogspot.ca/
Richard Abbenbroek aka Sir Richard...
Nevertheless, Richard wanted to become a Team HOPE volunteer so fervently that he worried about the direly past deeds of his ancient relatives. During training one night, while other Team HOPE volunteers to-be went to a local “hang-out,” Richard took a night bus tour of Washington DC. When he was the Vietnam memorial, he became so overcome with emotion that he started to cry, as he once served in the Royal Canadian Air Force. A US Nam Veteran who was there told Richard that “It’s OK, Brother” grabbed him which startled Richard and said come with me.” The Vet then took Richard up to a group of other Nam Veterans who did not believe he had never been in Vietnam. Richard continually said that he was just an ex-Canadian Air Force person who had served only in Canada. The Nam Veterans thought Richard was just in denial and gave him a wooden nickel, which said;
“Welcome Home, Brother!” https://youtu.be/HNjEPHvDxZQ
Along with his commitment to Team HOPE, Richard volunteers his time and heart admirably to other organizations and human crises. To those in need of a supporting hand, Richard is there to help. For a number of years, Richard was a Volunteer Intake Worker with Child Find Alberta and supported parents of all missing children 300 in total from 1989 - 2003. This position ultimately paved the way for Richard to become part of Team HOPE (as of this date Child Find Alberta plus Team Hope Referrals 300 + 108 = 408 Referrals that he had worked on to date). https://youtu.be/LRP8d7hhpoQ
He has also reached out via his church. When Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, he traveled with his church as part of Samaritans Purse Canada to, Mississippi/Louisanna. For a few weeks, Richard and his team cleaned more than 70 resident homes, salvaging personal effects and restoring the surroundings. On another mission trip to South Africa, Richard worked with his team installing a computer lab in a local High School. As Richard says, while his help and others are “drops in the bucket,” they are “planting seeds that one day they may make a difference!”
Oh by the way I am from Calgary Alberta Canada.
This song in memory of his late Wife Joyce. https://youtu.be/l0XDTgfCCKA
from Sir Richard... http://bayo-hunter.blogspot.ca/
Richard Abbenbroek aka Sir Richard...
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