An Inspirational Contributor!

Well, it’s Friday again and time for me to post. I’m so glad that I made this resolution of “Friday posting.” I have found myself excitedly awaiting my date with the Hands for Haiti blog!!!

People have been asking when are we going to Haiti again and I have also been asking myself this question. It seems like the time has just been going by so quickly. Personally, I have had an ache in my heart to go back there. I can’t help it. I just love to be there!! If I had it my way, I would be in Haiti one week out of every month. But that’s not really possible right now, so I’ll have to settle for a few times a year.

Tonight I sat next to a wonderful woman at my son’s hockey game. She is an inspiration to me and I’m sure to many others also. She has three children. One is finished with college and is working, another is a marine deployed in Afghanistan and the other is handicapped. After her husband passed, she had the challenge of raising her children on her own. As we watched the game, we chatted about all the life lessons we try to teach our children growing up and the value of good, honest hard work. We also talked about how to instill in them the act of not only receiving, but giving of ourselves to others and how important it is for them to be thankful for what they have in life. I think the best way to do this, is live by what we preach.

This wonderful, giving friend, not only takes care of her handicapped son, but also organizes sending shoes and toiletry items to Afghanistan on a regular basis. She doesn’t have much, but what she does have, she shares with others. She religiously sends a check every month to support our mission. Her gift inspires me to persevere through challenges in my own life that prevent me from making this next trip to Haiti. I know that if I trust and persevere like she does, our plans will come to fruition and we will soon be on our way back to our friends in Haiti.

Thank you, Pam, for your belief and faith in us. Your life, simple as you may think that it is, has been a huge inspiration for me and for our small organization. You are a blessing to the Hands for Haiti family and your blessing extends across the ocean to a little village in the mountains on the island of Haiti.

Meet Roseline and her family...

This is what Jean Rony sent about the family who moved into the house,

"This family is living in the house now. They are four people, one lady and her three daughters. The lady's name is Roseline Euguene, age 50. She has 3 daughters whose names are Oseline Derilus, Orathanie Camelo, and Resue Dutervil.
The mother is so thrilled of having a place to stay now with her daughters as she had been sleeping out on a porch of a rice mill since people broke into the thatch hut they had borrowed. She says, sleeping out on a porch had always been a restless night for her. It is even worse for the family when it is market day. Mill schedule starts as early as 3 a.m. on market day.
The family thanked so much the project and whoever contributed to the house to be built. They also said many thanks to the team that came down to help with the construction. "

- Jean Rony

Additional note from Tom at Faith In Action International - "The oldest daughter was very ill when I first saw her. Not sure with what - skin and bones - dehydrated but not sure the cause. Got her to the hospital and she is doing much better. The family had their small thathed hut broken into when no one was home about four months ago. As it was secluded in the middle of a garden of millet (that gets to be 14 feet tall), they moved out to live on the porch of the mill. The mom works in our tree nursery and is helping graft avocadoes this week. The two youngest are in school (paid for by FIAI)."

Happy New Year!!! (a little late)

Hello to all of our faithful Hands for Haiti followers!!!

As you know, today at 4:53 EST marks the time one year ago that the earthquake hit the country of Haiti causing extreme devastation to an already destitute country. Please take a moment of silence today to remember all that died, were injured and lost loved ones.

Our Blog has been updated and we are ready to move forward with more projects. It has been my New Year’s resolution to update the Hands for Haiti blog site every Friday – keep watching. You may get some wonderful planning information or you may get my crazy thoughts for the day – you never know sometimes what goes on in my head so be prepared!!!

Thank you to all who have supported and inspired us throughout this past year! We are truly blessed to have you in our lives and so are the wonderful people of Haiti!!!

Have a blessed new year!!!!


***P.S. Stay tuned for the story on this wonderful family that now has a place to live, thanks to our own Hands for Haiti TEAM JUNE!!!!