Homebound Missions April Newsletter
God has been so faithful in providing for the needs of Homebound Missions and the families we work with in Haiti. Since the Earthquake (EQ) we have seen an increase in donations beyond our wildest dreams; financial and gifts of kind, along with numerous offers to become part of our volunteer processing staff. Thank you so very much to all of you who make the work of Homebound Missions possible.
Save the Date
On June 5th, 2010 Homebound Missions is having a Thank You Picnic at the West Thompson Dam. It will be a fun family day. Bring your own picnic lunch, fold out chairs or blankets, along with your canoe or kayak. There is also a 4 mile walk around the lake.
We will be giving out gifts all day as our way of saying Thank you. Make sure to mark your calendar. More information is forth coming.
Our Vision Post EQ
Homebound Missions has been provided with resources for our families that we have never had before, and we are faced with the question: Do we provide a fish or do we start a fishing school? We think we can do the later, and so we are seeking ways in which we can turn this disaster into a positive life changing event for our families, not just a sustenance program.
Here is what we are trying to accomplish for our families:
Mimose Lubin- Mimose is Magnalie’s mother and still cares for two children, Rebekah and Junior. Both children are still in school and live at home. Mimose is attending sewing school and this year, in the Fall will begin to earn money from her sewing. We expect that within a year she will be able to totally support herself and her children. HM will of course be there as her safety net.
Jean & Venise Previlus- Venise is no longer attending sewing school. She and her family lost their home and have had to move to the countryside. This will be a great loss for them in the long term.
We hope to put Jean into the clothing business (selling used clothing). Our plan is to get his first lot of clothing to him, assist with setting up a bank account, and teach him a simple money management plan. We want Mr Previlus to put a percentage of his earnings away in the bank for purchasing clothing in the future. Although he will not be actually buying the clothes, as we will be donating them, he will need to pay the Customs charges which will be steep. HM’s will then send him a new bundle of clothing whenever he requests one.
Jean & Venise’s children are: Sonel, Jn Penez, Vilia, Villan,Smith, Esterline, Wilbert, David, and a baby daughter.
Job- has a wife and daughter. His son was tragically killed in the EQ. By trade Job is a driver. Today, yes today we were able to send him the funds needed to purchase his first vehicle. Job is now able to work and support his family. We will be sending his family food this week to help them get started and we will also make sure his daughter is in school.
Hyppolite- has a wife and three children and is a vendor of tourist trinkets by trade. He is a very hard working gentleman who takes great pride in his work. We have approximately $1000. worth of jewelry (from our WORK Haiti Program) that we are going to bring to him to sell. This will significantly increase his inventory.
Hyppolite’s home sustained damage during the EQ and we are also hoping to help him with repairs.
Obenson-has a wife, twin girls and three older children. We hope to set Obenson and his wife up selling clothing together. It seems like it would be a good fit for them. Again we will set up a bank account for them, a savings plan, and some money management training. They will also be able to ask for a new bundle of clothing whenever they want one.
Michaud-is new to us, although we have known him for years he has only recently asked for our help. We have recently secured his place at the school he was attending and will help Michaud with food when needed.
You might be noticing some names missing. Stanley is in Argentina where he works to support his family, Jean Penez and Sonel receive help through their parents, and Hilio no longer receives our help.
Communication has been difficult. Magnalie and her mom have been vital in getting messages to our families and maintaining contact.
We are also committed to the organizations we have been supporting all along. We have presented Coastal Haiti Missions with a $1500.00 matching grant for their SunNight Solar Flashlight Campaign, and are providing a $5000. 00 matching grant to Heartline Haiti, to assist them in raising $300,000.00 to start rebuilding homes for families in Haiti. We are also working on aprons for all the nannies at the Maison orphanage in Haiti. Next week we will be sending out medical supplies for Dr Jack from Three Angels who is in Haiti caring for patients.
What Else Have we Been Doing?
Homebound Missions is an organization that assists other organizations. Until recently, this meant sourcing orphanages, medical clinics and schools, helping new organizations with shipping strategies, discussing fundraising ideas with organizations trying to get funding, and these types of things. Then, this year we began to help on a much deeper level.
It began with a gentleman named Felix. He began calling me last year asking for our help with a ministry, Ministry For God’s Disciples that he was starting in Florida that also had a Haiti piece connected to it. At first, I didn’t really know how we could help, but we continued to talk.
Then a few months ago Felix called again and we talked briefly. I ask him if he had started his ministry and if he had a web site. He then told me they had been trying to get a web site, but had not done so yet. That is when I knew exactly what we could do for Felix. I spoke with Tyler, who then called Felix and shortly after MFGD had a fully functioning web site.
Tyler was able to provide this ministry with a web site for a mere $10.00, the cost of hosting for 1 year (a special offer). Felix could not believe that we were giving him a website for $10.00 and inquired many times to be sure. I finally sent him a letter in writing to assure him that $10 was payment in full.
MFGD is a ministry that provides food for families, a shelter for those in need, and resources for a school in Haiti. Tyler and I are thrilled that our efforts could help them in such a great way.
We were then given the opportunity to help another ministry with their website. This was really fun because this time we were working for very dear friends. Clint and Connie Goddard and Ken Johansson are no strangers to Haiti. For years they ran another non profit in Haiti and recently decided to step out on their own with Coastal Haiti Mission. Tyler and I were able to get their web site up and running and now have the joy of seeing them at work.
Their first promotion since the web site has been completed is a solar flashlight offer. If you donate a solar flashlight your donation is matched ( a privilege for HM's to do) and so you actually donate two. Ken Johansson is in charge of this program and has been bringing solar options to Haiti for many years. Ken donated solar flashlights to Tyler when he went to Haiti right after the EQ. Everyone who received one was absolutely thrilled.
Donations Needed
We have several items that are in high demand for Haiti right now. Remember gently used items are always welcomed.
We are actively collecting the following donations:
Crutches
Walkers
Canes
Prosthetics
Left over, Unused Medical Supplies (No Expired Items)
Formula
Clothing, New and Gently Used, Children Through Adult (Summer Only)
Tums (Huge Need)
Over the Counter Antibiotic, Antifungal Ointments
Personal Hygiene Items
Bed Sheets
Shoes (New and Gently Used)
All Baby Items (Diapers, Small Toys, Bottles, Diaper Pins, Sheets, Pacifiers, Sippy Cups)
Girls T-Shirts and Dress Shirts
Thank you for your continued support. Because of your donations we continue to send much needed supplies to Haiti.
Don't forget to Save the Date, Saturday, June 5th as we are looking forward to visiting with all of you at our Thank you Picnic. It will be a great day of family fun and activities as well as old fashioned relaxation.