-We recently started selling peanutbutter to the American teams that come in. Daphney is teaching Madanm Stephen how to do this so that the family will actually be able to thrive and not just survive.
-We are currently in the process of talking with Seinsein, Anachemie's mom, about starting a business selling girls clothing (this was her idea not mine:)).
-Some of you responded to my last visit and I now have catheters for the elderly man we visited. I am currently searching for a nurse to help me put the catheter in. :)
Do you remember the evening Saturday night program for children that we went to with Shane's cousins? They recently asked for small gifts to give the children's moms for Mother's Day (it is the last Sunday in Haiti). I told them I didn't have anything to give but if something came to me, I would share. One day later, a team leader called me and had an entire suitcase of sample shampoos and lotions. She asked if we could use them, to which I replied, "Yes! It will be perfect for the moms." So the other day I went and delivered them so that they would be ready to celebrate with the children and their mothers.
I thought this program started with the children but as I was dropping the items off, I learned that is not the case. Their program is actually all about the moms. This Haitian couple, along with a single Haitian man, have partnered to put together their own micro-financing plan. They have 54 women from the Titanyen Baptist church that they have identified as needing assistance. They have met with these women to get their family history, what kind of business they would like to run, etc. After this, they have given out loans in the amount of $55. This loan is to be used to purchase items to sell at the market or other forms of small commerce. The women are then required to pay the loan back, a little at a time, each day.
This is a beautiful system. Money management is not something that is part of the Haitian culture. Basically, there is not enough money or resources to go around so if you have extra, you are required to share. This results in people not knowing how to save, or how to plan ahead, because if they did this the community would consider them selfish or worse. This way of repaying allows them to live and work in their culture but also pay back the loans.
The result has been amazing. They have been doing this for one year and every loan has been paid back in full. I think some of this is because all 54 women know each other. I also think that they are so incredibly grateful for the chance of advancement that they don't want to mess it up.
After almost a year of mentoring these ladies, the organizers realized that they want to help more than just the moms. They want to influence the family (um...yes!!). So they began the children's program on Saturday afternoon. They talk about Jesus, about forgiveness, about love. They give a little piece of candy and sometimes they give a small meal to the children. The children's program started out with 65 children (approx) but last week had over 127. Children love it. The parents love it. God's Spirit is in it.
They are looking for someone to partner with them so that they can give bigger loans. When I asked what these loans would look like they said about $106 American dollars. They said that this would allow the moms to really get ahead. Currrently they are able to make enough to pay for food, to put money aside to pay for the childrens' school, and to purchase clothing. A bigger loan for some of them would give them the chance to potentially get out of the program completely.
How cool is this?! We have been feeling like micro-loans might be what God is calling us to and while this isn't a complete answer, it is a pretty great program. I really like the idea of working with families to show them that the gospel is real. God is real and He has heard their pleas.
The micro-financing program decided to celebrate with the moms and their children for mother's day. They made food, had gifts prepared and cards that the kids could give to their moms. This a picture of Kaket as they prepare the plates...you can't even see half of them as there are 54 boxes for the moms and 127 plates for the kids.
Then it started to rain... a lot. In Haiti it is hard to complain about the much needed rain but they ended up having to give the moms and children the food and canceling the party. The tarp wouldn't stay up and there was no place to stand or sit that was not covered in mud.
Just a little example of what the clay looks like on sandals. :)
The T12 organization stayed at Global for 5 days. When they had a little car trouble we visited people in our little Nissan Exterra...10 people. Who knew they would all fit?!
When we were visiting an elderly woman, her grandson and his friend decided to take my picture, while I was standing there, without asking. It surprised me! It did lead to a very interesting conversation about why he wanted to take the picture and then into other things. I enjoy just being with the Haitian people and learning about their culture and thoughts.
Shane working on a beautiful roof. It helps to have a tall guy around.
Global has a wedding dress program. Women are able to rent wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses and mother of the (groom/bride) dresses for 1000 goudes, approximately $21 American dollars. If they return the dress clean, they are fully refunded. One of our short term mission groups helped us organize the trailer that hold them all. This dress...any of you have one like this???
There is a lot of serving as missionary kids and not a lot of 'fun' in the typical American society sense. But one thing we do have, the Caribbean. We visited a local resort and they were selling cotton candy. Landen said, "This is the best day of my life. Family time, swimming and cotton candy!" That kid.
The boys playing legos.
The girls practicing their dance moves while they 'babysit' the little brother.
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