"generational.......haitian.......legacy"
a Severn Covenant Church mission outreach

On January 12, 2010 an earthquake devastated Jacmel,
the Haitian town Moline's family originally came from.

A Jacmel radio station estimated that at least 5,000 are dead from the quake itself, although mayor Zennie Edwin later reported that the figure was closer to 300-500 deaths and 4,000 injured. In the earthquake around 70% of the homes were damaged, with most of the heavier damage being suffered in the poorer neighborhoods of Jacmel. City Hall was so severely damaged, that though it survived, it has to be demolished.    A small Tsunami hit Jacmel Bay, with the ocean receding, leaving fish high and dry on the sand of the seafloor, and rushing back in, four times. Among the facilities destroyed in the earthquake is Pazapa (Creole for "Step by step"), a charity run from two buildings in downtown Jacmel, which helped disabled children. The charity's two rented buildings suffered condemning damage in the quake -- just after the children had left for the day.

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N E W   H O M E   F O R   H A I T I A N   F A M I L Y

   Like most who viewed the devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti in 2010, we were wondering, "What could we do as a group of American followers of Jesus who care?" We watched the same images on CNN, Fox and other TV channels, looking for ways to help. Our contribution of medical supplies and other items seemed so insignificant and impersonal when compared to the situation in front of our eyes. We decided to select one family and help them the best way we could. God chose Moline's family.

   When TV cameras leave to cover the next crisis, we tend to forget. We do not want to forget...nor do we want to get so overwhelmed that we do nothing. We will do what we can.

   Our desire is to build a long term relationship with Moline's family built on flexibility and shared strengths, that will hopefully continue for decades. Our objective is to help them help themselves as much as is possible. During this time of adjustment, we realize that it is important to help with housing, food, transportation and education. Our prayer is that each of Moline's children will submit their lives, gifts and talents fully to the Lord and will make an impact in their generation.

   First step. They needed adequate shelter, so we bought them a home. To them it is a castle. A place of rest and hope. Below are some photos of "moving day" day for Robinson's mom (Moline) and family. The extra $500.00 allowed them to purchase beds, a few storage bins, dishware, glasses, utensils, dining room with 6 chairs, cookware, utensils, some food, light bulbs and candles, shower curtain for the toilet area, laundry soap, sheets, buckets, mop & broom, charcoal, trash bins with liners, a couple of locks for the doors, wood with concrete blocks for shelving and a few other items. This family is all smiles. "Thank you Severn Covenant Church"

L to R: Garry (16), Dania (11), Louina (14), friend they brought from the previous
Haitian village (girl in white T-Shirt), Robinson (19), Moline, and Jeff (6) is in front.
SCC members provided everything in the photo (dishes & table)
They prepared a bit of rice & beans and meat  to celebrate their first night in their new home!
Notice the sparse conditions. No refrigerator. No electric stove. In spite of the uncertain conditions
they still brought a young girl from their previous Haitian village to live with them. Giving out of their own need.

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G E N E R A T I O N A L   L E G A C Y

Please pray and ask God to include this family in your heart.
"Lord, help me remember to pray for them by name every day..."
Moline. Robinson. Garry. Louina. Dania. Jeff.
 

Overview of Specific Ways We Can Help...and Why
(The 1st year (2010-Sept 2011) essentials have been covered by anonymous benefactor). Thank You!

1)      Food allowance….with the aide of a local ministry, for $75.00 per month the family will receive food supplies delivered to their door 3 days a week. Any additional monies you wish to allow monthly would go directly to Moline. This would cover staples such as oil, rice, beans, milk, potable water, etc. Considering the food package they will receive and the daily feeding program at school, $125.00 per month would be a considerable allowance. It is advised that these monies are dispersed weekly instead of a lump sum. Although Robinson is capable of purchasing bulk, which is considerably more for the $$$ with $100. or more.

2)      Approximately RD5000.00 will supply the kids with the required uniforms and shoes along with book bags, paper and pencil. RD5000.00=$135.00US. (See their new school uniforms below)

7)      A combination washer dryer typical in this country would run approximately RD8000.00 ($216.00) for a medium unit. She presently washes everything by hand with a small plastic bucket.

8)      There is a lovely lot adjacent to the house that they would like to put a garden in. See photo below. Moline can garden. With supplies for soil, seeds, tools, and possibly a garden hose this could be accomplished immediately. $$??? Approximately $50.00.

9)      There is also a need to fix the existing water line to the house. They have no running water in the house and Robinson has a friend that can run the pipe for the cost of a shovel, pvc, and caulking. I am guessing approximately $20.00 because of the shovel.

HERE ARE MORE IDEAS:

• An entrepreneurial project: For $500 we can purchase a sewing machine, thread and material for a sewing business. The girls had four months of sewing classes and would very much like to continue. -- DONE! (we thank the Burkhardt family (Jim, Rose, Emily)

• For about $400 we can purchase a laptop for Robison so that he can do his schoolwork and develop a business. -- DONE!

• For about $800 we can purchase a motorbike so that Robinson can have greater mobility to get a job. -- DONE!

• Robinson can speak English quite well. The rest of the family speaks French and can use any materials that help them to learn English and Spanish. At the moment they are spending a lot of time learning Spanish. I was amazed at the size of the blackboard they had gotten! It had Spanish all over it!! They are taking their Spanish very seriously.

• They can use more living essentials: kitchen utensils, bedding, candles, stove, more dishes, etc.

• Clothing for each family member (see approximate sizes below):
        Louina (14 years) is a size 14 and has a size 38 shoe (size 8 US).
         Dania (12 years) is a size 12 and also wears a size 8 shoe.
          Jeff would wear a size 8 in clothing and a 10 or 12 shoe.
           Garry is easily a size 16 in clothing. 
            Moline comfortably wears a size large and prefers a simple sleeveless dress.

• Perhaps your home group would like to take on a particular project or would like to offer ongoing help in some way. We are wide open to any ideas you may have.

• Read the rest of this web page and the contact us via email (or call Aaron Mayhew) with what you are thinking: email

• Joel Freeman's brother (Steve), his wife (Pam) and family live in the Dominican Republic six months out of the year, about 20-30 minutes from this family. Anyone who wants to visit Moline and her family have a standing invitation to stay with Steve and Pam in their beautiful home.
   

 
Thankful to the Lord.
Happy. Joyful. Contented. Learning. Riding. Sewing. Full stomachs. Smiling.

Jeff with his new bike	Dania, Jeff and Louina in their new school uniforms
Louina and Dania with the new sewing machine and material	new Singer sewing machine and material/supplies

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Just below is a letter from Robinson before experiencing the
reality of the material blessing that was about to come to his family

(in his own words and edited a bit by Pam)

Note from Pam (July): I went back to Ascension yesterday after church. I found out that Robinson was able to do some translating this past week for a local mission group, in addition to negotiating on their behalf for some food supplies to go to another village. By doing this he was able to secure some food supplies for his family. Then as we arrived in Ascension (Stevie & Dave went with me) Robinson came in with a guagua (van) full of soccer players. He had recruited them to spend their Sunday afternoon teaching the young kids in the village to play soccer!!

email

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Ascension, their new home in a new village!

   Ascension is the first village that was built outside of Sosua, in the municipality of Montellano, half way between Sosua and Puerto Plata. The village was built in an area called Caraballo, where hundreds of families lived in shacks in deplorable conditions. 263 families from amongst the poorest in the Province of Puerto Plata have received a new home to date.

   The inspiration and help from Dr. Bob and Jana Amelingmeier has been irreplaceable. They officially joined efforts with the Foundation El Samaritano at the inception of Ascension and have been providing help and leadership ever since. They are very appreciated and integral to our work.

On the day they moved in, Dr. Bob was holding a dental clinic in the village with a short term mission team, so Moline was able to get her toothache looked at right away.

GENERATIONAL LEGACY
The motivation to provide the kind of prayer support, resources and opportunities that will impact a family system for generations...

Another picture of Moline and the kids	Sleeping area for Moline

An overview of situation and opportunities to help
                                             -- written by Pam Freeman (Joel's sister-in-law)

  I drove back out there after visiting with Robinson's family and spoke to Dr. Bob's wife, Janna. They are the American couple that really oversees everything in Ascension, including the medical teams and all other short term mission groups. They lived in Haiti for awhile and have a real heart for their communities. Anyway, I would say that Ascension would be the best community for Robinson's family. It has all they need within the community itself. Primarily there is a great school sponsored by Kids Alive to continue the education of these children. On my visit to his family I learned that each of the siblings are at grade level!!! This is a huge factor and benefit to their family. They would first have to learn Spanish before being accepted in the kids alive program, but that is also available and our experience is that these kids learn very fast.
There is a couple that offers the feeding program for sponsored families. That cost is approximately $75.00 U.S. a month for a large family like Robinson's and provides food three times a week for the entire month. They give out food packages consisting of rice, beans and chicken. Additionally, the kids get a meal at school and the feeding program I have participated in is free and given to the kids twice a week. This leaves more food in the household for other family members on those days....Wednesday & Friday. For a single mom, who will likely not work for awhile, this community will help her stay on track with the kids education. The children are 14, 11, and 6 years of age. Robinson is 19.

   Dr. Bob has been to Haiti several times this year and will be taking another team in April. He is probably one of the most active mission groups providing relief for Haiti. He has held free clinics for the Haitian people twice a week for years in the D.R.  Elio does have another new village called Los Algodonez that he is constructing for the Haitians. The price to sponsor one of the new homes is $4,000. U.S.

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  I spoke to Dr. Bob yesterday and he said he would have a list of the exact homes available in Ascension this coming weekend. He also said that we can expect the tenants to take their belongings or sell them. I will even need to insist that they leave the electrical wire as they can even sell that outside! I am going to try and negotiate for the family to leave some things. If they don't we have researched a price of $200.00 per bunk bed, including the mattresses. Two or three of these would be most sufficient. I have some spare sets of sheets here but not extra blankets. Maybe in the future your group could pay a visit to Wal-Mart and pick up lightweight bedding to send through Agape Flights. I could put together a list of their needs after we get them in with the bare essentials. A table with 4 chairs can be purchased in the local town of Montellano for $100.00 U.S. and the brace for the large cooking pot will only run about 100 pesos. This will allow them to have a charcoal fire outside for their cooking. They will need basic kitchen things that I can go to the 10 Peso store and buy.

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   We are now starting to see how different mission groups are serving Haiti. There are those putting together medical teams, those flying from Santiago to Haiti four times a day with small planes loaded with donated cargo, and those ramping up with new homes in existing Haitian Villages.

   In church Sunday I was able to speak with Elio Madonia regarding his preparation for the influx of Haitians to the Dominican Republic. Elio is a gentleman that retired here over 20 years ago and in his retirement has built six villages for Dominicans and Haitians. He raises the funds for these homes throughout North America and Europe. There are now 6 completed villages with as many as 250 homes per village, as well as a new one (called Paradise) he has recently finished the first 70 homes in. His villages are called Trinity, Nazareth, Ascension, etc.

   You can see the work of Elio Madonia on www.thesamaritanfoundationdr.com --  I'm certain you can see Ascension on his site. He has property and plans to begin the next village as soon as he raises the money to put the much needed water line in! An amazing man in his late 80's!

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   I have just come from Ascension with Robinson and his mother. We took care of the purchase today as the other family was ready with a truck to move all their belongings out. I had the sale written in Molina's name (mother). I took a new padlock and secured the building until we could figure out the necessary items to equip the house with so they can move in. Based on your groups commitment, my husband felt it was OK for us to go ahead and pay until your funds arrive. The total purchase price was 33,000 pesos ($917.00 U.S.). I will take pictures when they actually move into the house to send you. The house number FYI is #7 (yes, seven) God is so good!! I love it when he lets us know it's in his hands!!

   I checked out some prices at the nearest stores to Ascension for beds & tables. For bunk beds the cheapest price I found was $355.00 and for a double $250.00. However, after talking to Dr. Bob he told me he has bunk beds for $200. with metal frame & mattress. I think this is a great price. Two of those will be sufficient for the kids and a I found a new double bed with a box spring  in a local store for only $80.00; that would be sufficient for the mother for now as I can put some cinder blocks under it to raise it slightly off the floor. SO.........price of beds approximately $480.00.

   A kitchen table with 6 chairs will cost $250.00 U.S. They do not need other furnishings as the table and chairs are the living and dining area.I have some cinder blocks and will get a few pieces of wood cut to create a three tiered shelving area to get things off the floor in the kitchen area. I also have a table cloth. Cookware, I believe, will run approximately $50.00 as they will cook with the cast iron pots over charcoal. There is an 10 peso store in Puerta Plata where I can buy plates, cups, utensils, buckets, broom, etc. I think $50.00 U.S. is sufficient for these things. I will be stopping in at the 10 Pesos store tomorrow, so I will get some exact figures.

   With this additional program the kids get one hour of Bible class daily in addition to tutoring in all classes to ensure they are prepared for the 8th grade National Exam, which allows them to continue to high school. At Kids Alive they receive a meal everyday at the school and uniforms are provided. With this extra help with meals, if the church decides to augment the family food with the $75.00 per month feeding program, this will take a lot of stress off the mother to provide more food.
 
   Robinson did ask me this morning if Ascension has a sewing school as his two sisters had started classes and would like to continue. I know Ascension had one, but will need to see if it is still ongoing. I have a dear friend here who runs such a school in Sosua and has had success with her students making money to provide for their families in a very tangible way.

   I can buy a new singer or brothers sewing machine in Santiago (along with thread and plenty of cloth for US$500.00.. Anyway, just thinking of ways to help them help themselves!!

I am scheduled to go to two of the Universities in Puerta Plata tomorrow, one public and the other private, in order to get an exact cost of attending each. I hope to go next week to the Christian University in Santiago to do the same.

email

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There are some of the other SCC mission outreaches
Click here to learn about them

• Michele: Sisters in Service

• Joel Freeman: Return To Glory

• Lee and Carol Short: Life Savers Ministries International

• Chris Peeler: Making the Gospel Known

• Jonny and Jenn Clark: Ireland...Youth With  Mission (YWAM)

• Nepal

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"Some Motivate to Mobilize. Why not Mobilize to Motivate?"
                                                                                                                             -- Quote from Rev. Phillip Nelson, SIM