Homebound Missions December 2009 Newsletter
This year, Tyler and I would like to wrap up 2009 with a detailed account of how you have fed the poor, clothed the orphans, provided shelter, kept children in school and healed the sick, because you so generously gave of your time, talents, and finances to Homebound Missions.
The Organizations you sourced.
Three Angels Children’s Relief
There are three programs we source at TA’s: The Angel House Orphanage, TA’s Christian Academy, and The Halos Clinic.
We were able to send TA’s 671 pounds of donations. We actually have another 1000 pounds to go, but due to the economy, and available teams to get the donations to Haiti, we have slowed down. We supply TA’s with school supplies, orphanage supplies, and medical supplies for their clinic.
Three Angel’s has been very generous to us in return and have provided medical care to our families free of charge. This is a tremendous financial help to us. It has been a real pleasure to work with TA’s. Although we are trying to bless them I definitely get that they want to bless us back. It is truly great to grow this kind of relationship with them.
There are two programs we source at Heartline: The women’s Sewing Program and The Women’s Birth Center.
We were able to send Heartline 1059 pounds of donations. We also have another 1500 pounds of donations waiting to go. We provide them with fabric and other sewing supplies and medical supplies.
Heartline has also reciprocated very generously. They fast track enrolled two of our moms, Mimose and Venise into their women’s sewing program. Both women now go to school every day and are learning a skill which will allow them to support themselves within the next year or two. This will of course relieve us from supporting them and allow us to help others.
Angel Missions is a hospital for children. We were able to send them 178 pounds of donations.
We were able to send 141 pounds of shoes to Shoes to Share.
One of the largest expenses that Homebound Missions has is shipping. When we first began we shipped all of our donations directly to Haiti. This meant paying to truck the items to Florida, paying for the items to be flown to Haiti, then paying more for Customs. The frustration with this process was that in Customs a large amount of our items would be stolen. There always seemed to be a reason why our items were delayed there, and the longer they sat, the less that actually got to their destination.
Our solution to this problem was to utilize the mission’s teams that are visiting the organizations we have donations for. For example, Three Angel’s has mission teams that go to Haiti pretty regularly. When they have a team going in they call me and let me know how many pounds of donations they can take in. I then send those items directly to that team whether it is in Maine or California. How this helps is that there are no Customs charges, there are no flight charges incurred and the items all get there.
This takes some organizing. I sometimes have to remind my missionaries to keep me posted. They are busy and I understand. However, working together we can do more for less.
Another trick we have learned is that the more I ship the less it costs. So everyone knows to ask for as many donations as they can possible take. It actually costs me the same to ship 1000 pounds as it does a box or two.
The Families You Blessed with Food
The following families received food for 6 months from January until June. Homebound Missions ordered each family rice, beans, oil, v-8 juice, and spaghetti each week and it was delivered to their homes. This ensured that the money was used for food.
Millen’s Family
Stanley’s Family A Note about Stanley: Stanley went to Argentina just as our food program began. He had gone there hoping to be able to provide for his family, (wife and daughter) in a better way. The food provided for his wife and daughter was a true blessing as he was away and worried about them.
Mimose’s Family
Fanfan
Obenson’s Family
Matthew
Pierre Sonel
Hyppolite’s Family
Jean and Venise’s Family
Job’s Family
Families You Blessed with Housing Assistance
Mimose’s Family
Job’s Family
Steven’s Mom
Families You Blessed with Medical Assistance
Mimose’s Family
Matthew
Hyppolite’s Family
Because of the generosity of so many, Homebound Missions was able to add three more ministries to source this year.
The Apparent Project teaches work skills through the arts. We are presently collecting all manner of art, craft, & beading supplies. If you check out their web site you will find an array of supply needs.
For His Glory is an orphanage with over a hundred children. So plentiful have our orphanage supplies been that we were looking for one of this size to source. We have already accumulated a few hundred pounds of donations for them.
RARA Bags is a program that teaches men and women how to make various items out of chip, coffee and other bags. We are presently collecting such items for them and will make our first shipment soon.
Creative ways that Homebound Missions Support Other Ministries
Not all the ministries that we work with need us to source what they are doing. Sometimes all they need is a little encouragement, specific skills, or information. This is one of the most enjoyable parts of our work. They give us little short term projects that bless another person or organization, so they can do what they do better.
This year we designed a logo for the Heartline Haiti Birth Center. They didn’t ask for it. We just felt that we wanted to offer it. They loved it, and gladly accepted it.
Sent funds to a New Tribes missionary in Cambodia to purchase diapers for an orphanage.
For several weeks now we have been working with the folks who direct YES Children’s Ministry in Liberia. We are helping to give them a PR face lift of sorts. This is truly more fun than I can tell you and because we are helping them it doesn’t cost them a thing. Soon we will send them back to Liberia ready to move forward. You can check them out at www.yeschildren.org
We are also working with a gentleman in Florida who is looking for ways to fund a school for children in Haiti. Our job has simply been to talk and encourage him, to give him a place to discuss ideas.
Tyler is designing a web site for another ministry in Haiti called Coastal Haiti Missions. These folks just happen to be dear friend from way back and we are just thrilled to support them in this way.
What is so nice about this part of Homebound Missions is that we meet so many new people and it is always a joy to hear others talk about their place in changing the world for Christ.
Homebound Missions is a completely volunteer organization. Not one person cuts a pay check. This is what enables us to do so much with what we are blessed with. Tyler and I want to thank all of you who have contributed your time, talents, resources and finances that enable this awesome work to get done. Truly, thank you!
Our Vision For 2010
As you know, on January 12, 2010 an earthquake devastated the country of Haiti. Because of this great crisis all of our original goals for 2010 have needed refocus. We are presently on a plan to assist our families and many others through this crisis, for as long as possible. You can keep up with what we are doing on Kathy’s Blog and through the newsletter.
Again, thank you.