Archive for the ‘How you can Help’ Category

Home Sweet Home

Over the last couple of days I have spent several hours with Matthew and his family, by way of computer and the cyber cafe, discussing the best way possible to assist them.  They are our largest family and in need of the most resources.  I have been very encouraged by our meetings and have learned many things about them that I did not know before.

First, I learned that the Dad, Previlus has his license.  He even had Matthew scan it and send it to me.  This is important because we did not know he had any job skills.  A license can be very valuable in Haiti if you own your own vehicle.  Though he does not, it leaves it open for consideration.  Previlus would love to have his own vehicle.  He is specifically wanting a van and would like to drive children to school and back home.  I do not yet know what the cost for a van would be, or if we can even consider this at this time.

I also talked to Venise about selling clothes.  She too offered me some very valuable information.  First, that she enjoyed selling clothes and secondly what items sold the best.  She told me that shoes and sneakers sold the best and that she could make $140 H dollars ($20.00 US) on them.  Pants sold for $40.00 H ($5.00 US).  She also mentioned that clothing for young people and children sold best.

We are trying to create a new life plan for Previlus, Venise, and their family.  They appear to be eager to work hard for themselves as well.

You might know that after the earthquake we were sending clothes to Venise to sell.   They had moved to Ouananinthe, a town near Cap Haitien and we Florida Coastal Airlines to ship there.  A problem arose with a shipment that we sent in July and they still have not received it.  Because we are unable to contact anyone at the airlines we have 100 pounds of clothes missing.  It has stopped our shipments and we are trying to create a way for getting clothing to them, without the use of a shipping company.  The clothing idea is perfect in so many ways.  It uses clothing we normally don’t collect and allows us to use it versus giving it to Salvation Army.  It is free and thus cost effective to get.  However, shipping as always is the nightmare.  To really make this work we need to figure out how to motivate people to take them into Haiti for us.

The Jean Previlus family consists of:  Previlus, Venise, Matthew, Vilia, Vilian, Sonel, Smith, Wilbert, David, Esterline, & Nadjea.  Most of the children are not in school and the family is presently living in a tent.  We have raised $500.00 so far to rent an apartment for them.  We will need about 1100.00 to rent  2 rooms with a bathroom for a year.  This will house everyone except Matthew who rents a room else where.

Please pray for the Previlus family as they move forward.  Even with both parents working it will take assistance to get and keep all their children is school, fed, and housed.  We hope to not only give them profitable work to do, but also teach them how to save money so that they can make rent payments and school tuition payments in the future.

Yesterday, Tyler and I had the opportunity to present Homebound Missions to Calvary Assemblies in S Windsor CT.

We had a big agenda, to talk about the situation in Burma with the Karen and Karenni and then to update them on the Heartline Birthcenter, talk about the Cholera outbreak and what Homebound Missions is doing in Haiti.  We were blessed to have a young Karen gentleman named Ktaw, who also spoke with us from a much more personal position about the atrocities in Burma and what it means for the Christian Karen and Karenni.  Ktaw is from Hartford, CT and we have been blessed to know him through family members.

After church we all met in the fireside room for a delicious lasagna dinner prepared by the Pastors wife Lois.  The afternoon was filled with fellowship and sharing.  What a great day.  Before leaving, Calvary presented Tyler and I with a check for Homebound Missions.  Thank you very much Calvary Assemblies; thank you Pastor Ken and Lois.

Jean and Venise’s home post EQ

When Tyler and I got word that Haiti had just had an earthquake one family immediately had our concerns, Previlus and Venise Jean.  There are 12 members altogether, with one child having been adopted, and now Matthew lives on his own, so we are assisting 10 members.

The earthquake totally destroyed their home which was a cinderblock apartment consisting of two rooms on the second floor and two extra rooms rented underneath.  To say their life was meager is an understatement.  And because the apartment completely collapsed they lost everything they owned and survived with the clothes on their backs.

For a short while they lived on the street near where their apartment used to be and then they decided to move out into the country near family.  They traveled hundreds of miles north near Cap Haitien to a town called, Ouanamithe, Station Cite Bover.  At first I was relieve as we had one of our families out of Port-au-Prince.   Venise could no longer go to sewing school as she had no way to go back and forth.  This was a great down side.

Soon after they moved Smith and Esterline became ill with Typhoid.  Smith was so ill, he needed to be hospitalized which Homebound Missions was able to pay for.  Esterline was sick for a very long time but never went to the hospital.  Then the other members started falling ill and Venise sent the baby and the girls back to PAP to stay with Matthew.  She feared for her family.

The entire family except for the dad is now in PAP.  Sometimes they stay with Matthew and sometime other places.  Homebound Missions has been sending them food, but what they are most pleading for is the resources to find a place to rent.  Just like with Obenson we do not have these funds available though we so wish we did.  Please pray for Previlus and Venise that they will be able to find a place to live and that the resources will come in to meet this need.

Haiti isn’t in the news much anymore, but real people are suffering for real.  The destruction hasn’t gone away, the new homes haven’t come, there is no more free food and water, no welfare or government assistance.  The Haitian people are on their own except for the organizations that are there serving to the best of their abilities.  Homebound Missions is serving to the best of their abilities.  Please help us to do more.

Evans, Idora, Kathi, Kathiana, Obenson and Roscaline

Obenson and his wife Idora lost their 1 room apartment during the earthquake.  They were very blessed to walk away with their family unharmed.  They have been living in a tent city ever since.  They have twin daughters Kathi and Kathiana, and older children Evans, Roscaline, Bernard and Charlene.  Only the twins have been fortunate enough to go to school, thanks to Three Angels.  They have not been able to afford to send the others.  It has been so difficult that two of the boys were sent to live with a relative.

Now the land owner for which their tent city stands is evicting everyone off of his property.  This month he wants everyone gone.  Without land and other resources Obenson’s family has nowhere to go.  They have contacted Homebound Missions for funds with which they could rent a place to live.  Typically in PAP you can find a 1 room apartment for $800.00 US a year, however there is nothing typical about the number of people who have been displaced and who are looking for a home to rent.

Because Homebound Missions does not have the resources at this time to pay Obenson’s rent we have not sent him out to find a place.  Though we recognize that this is an urgent relief type need requiring action.   Please pray for Obenson and his family; not only for resources to pay his rent, but also that we might find a place he could rent.  The burden here is two fold.

This became Matthew’s home after the earthquake.  Because of the generosity of a neighbor he was allowed to set up a tent and tarp on their roof. Inside was was his meager belongings, a mattress and his few pieces of clothing.  That was until last week, when an unpredicted storm blew through Port-au-Prince destroying his tent and tarp and soaking his bed.  This storm was so violent that it killed 5 people and has left the Delmas area without power for the last week.

The same neighbor who gave Matthew the roof has offered him a room to rent for $300. US for 6 months and $550.US for the entire year.  Homebound Missions has sent rent for 6 months to secure a place for Matthew to live.  Please continue to pray for Matthew as he moves forward in his life.

When we were in Haiti, we had Job as our driver every chance we could.  We wanted to support his new taptap business.  Everyday we were witness to the struggles that the poor face.

After the earthquake Homebound Missions purchased a vehicle for Job,  that he turned  into a taptap.  Great, hurray, Job is now in business for himself and will soon no longer need Homebound Missions, right?  Not so fast.

Everyday we were witness to the trials that Job faces.  First, someone stole his battery and he needed to rent one for the day at $10. US.  On another day, driving along the “roads of craters” we hit something and the oil pan began to leak, and then on another day his front wheel just fell off.   Job continues to have one trial after another as he struggles to stay in business.

His vehicle repairs are now $700.00 US and Homebound Missions is working towards assisting with this need.

Why should we invest in Job?  Job is a hard working motivated individual who will do anything not to have to ask for something.  But more than that he is a giver.  Job shared with me while I was in Haiti that when the vehicle is running, he makes enough to support his family and also to help his cousin and uncle.  Yes, you have heard that right.  He isn’t saving for a nicer home or better anything for himself.  He is sharing his blessings with other family members.  Do the math, if we help Job we help at least 5 people.  Sounds like a solid investment to me.

On our recent trip to Haiti, we had the awesome privilege of delivering beautifully made aprons to the nannies at Maison des Enfants de Dieu (Maison), an orphange that we source through another sourcing organization called For His Glory.  For His Glory carries all the responsibility for the needs of Maison.  The President, Kim Harmon had asked if we could help with this project.

The aprons were a true gift of love and hard work.  First, the fabric was donated by Edith from Kansas, then the pattern was cut by Darlene in Rhode Island, and finally the 40 aprons were sewn together by Deborah in Illinois.

My sister Debbie and I visited with the nannies and when we showed them the aprons they were delighted.  We assisted them in putting them on and gave each room their own color.  Though the fabric pattern was the same, we had been given it in many colors which allowed for some choices for the ladies.

Here are some pictures of the event.

Our apron project continues as the number of nannies at Maison continues to grow.  Darlene is presently working on a sample that we are considering for our next design.  The number of aprons needed this time is in the 60′s.  If you are interested in being part of the apron project please feel free to contact Darlene Hurst.  She is the sewing coordinator for Homebound Missions and serves on our Board of Directors.

This is just a small portion of the shoes donated.  Here they are drying after a vigorous machine washing. 

Thank you Creation Church of Thompson, Ct for your generous outpouring of clothing for Homebound Missions and the people of Haiti. 

 It has taken 2 days to process the huge amount of clothing that was donated and I am happy to report I am finished. 

There were so many beautiful items.  Darlene Hurst, our sewing coordinator will be thrilled when she see the bin full of items for her to transform.  Items like t-shirts, shirts and shorts that are too short get a remake into dresses and skirts.  They are truly awesome when she and her group of sewing friends get finished with them.

Again, thank you Creation Church for your love and encouragement.

Thank you, Jay Baptist Church, Jay Maine for creating the lovely baby bundles that I was able to deliver to Beth at Heartline.  They will be given to the new moms who give birth at the birthcenter.

The baby bundles consist of an assortment of diapers, pins, T-shirts, and receiving blankets and they were just adorable.  Beth says, “Thank you, the mom’s will love them.”

Here is an updated list of clothing donations that are needed at this time.

All of the clothing donated to Homebound Missions goes to Haiti.  For this reason we specifically need summer clothing, as the weather in Haiti is consistently in the 90’s.

New and gently used items are welcomed.  Baby clothes with stains are also welcome as we will treat them to remove the stains.

 

Baby Clothes (all sizes)

Onnsie’s

Diapers

Rubber pants

Diaper covers

Diaper pins

Baby socks

Receiving blankets

Toddler Size Clothing

Shirts

Shorts

Skirts

Dresses

Light weight footwear

Underwear (girls and boys)

Socks

Children’s Clothing (up to size 14-16)

Shirts

Lightweight pants

Shorts

Dresses

Skirts

Light weight footwear (flip flops, sneakers, dress shoes)

Socks

Underwear (boys and girls)

Adult Clothing (S,M,L, and XL; no Plus sizes please)

Shirts

Pants (light weight and dress)

Shorts

Dresses

Skirts

Bras

Underwear

Socks

Lightweight footwear (flip flops, sneakers, dress)

Misc Items

Hand-held baby toys

Unopened baby formula

Formula samples

Baby bottles (used are fine)

Baby spoons and forks

Hair items (combs, barrettes, small elastics)

Crib sheets

Bed sheets (all sizes)

No Thank You Items

Winter clothes

Plus sizes

Excessively heavy items (some shoes and pants)

Large toys

Not sure?  Call 508.731.5642, Kathy 

 

 

Homebound Missions is a not for profit 501c3 organization.  If you would like a tax receipt for your donation simply attach your name and address to one of your donated items.

 

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