HHColminy

VERY PERSONAL GIFTS FOR COLMINY’S FEMALE GUESTS

The women from Lianscourt were excited to receive a belated, essential, but unexpected personal gift. (These were for the 54 women who’d fled with their families from the gangs that torched their houses last November.) Beneath all the essentials that hadn’t arrived in time for HHC’s first boxes of donated clothing and essentials, we’d packed 54 menstrual kits -- 8 washable pads plus one pad-holder for each. While some of the women may be older and not in need of these, we suggested they give theirs to any of the few teen girls from Lianscourt.

Edly receives our packages and gives them to Richard. Then she met the part-time nurse in Village Noah (the poorest part of Colminy) and explained how they are to be used. The nurse, in turn, distributed them to these very appreciative women.

Photos 4 & 5 -- Looks like nosey men, struggling to find out what’s going on for the women.

NOTE: Not having such a basic item presents major hurdles to those who can ‘t afford disposable pads/tampons each month. The lack often keeps teen girls from school and women from chores away from home.

A special thanks to Suzanne (from our church) who provided her expertise with advice, materials, equipment and skill.

AN AMAZING RESPONSE!

Our last FB post concerned 99 people who’d fled from brutal gangs that terrorized and destroyed their homes. They arrived in Colminy with nothing but the clothes on their backs. We’re so proud of these Colminians who welcomed them warmly and gave what they could from their own desperations.

Nevertheless, they couldn’t cover all their needs. Neither could we! So we asked the seniors at our community chapel to consider helping by donating good used sheets, shirts, and shorts that they no longer desired.

What an amazing response we got! By the time we returned (a bit late) from church, our driveway was lined with overflowing bags and boxes of wonderful, needed items. And more arrived each day throughout the week! The local Care Center voluntarily supplied all the kids’ clothes (which seniors didn’t have), and others generously donated cash to purchase essential new items (such as toothbrushes and un**es) and to help pay the shipping for the nearly 180 lbs load. Thank you! Thank you everyone, for your quick response and generosity!

Much to our delight, a shipping employee voluntarily picked it all up as he passed by on his weekly Thursday trek to Miami. We thank him too!

So, all was on its way a week earlier than planned. Or so we thought! Turns out, that weekend Haitian gangs riddled small planes with bullets while landing at their main airport. For security reasons, all flights have been put on hold. However, this delay may not really matter. (See why in this weekend’s update below).

DESPERATE NEEDS FOR DISPLACED HAITIANS

As planned, Edly visited Colminy last Saturday to learn from those who had fled from the murderous gangs that terrorized their commune. She met with 40 women, 16 men, and 20 kids. Others remained “at home” in Colminy. While we don’t know how exactly how many, we presume these were the elderly that Richard mentioned and others who stayed with them. Those at the meeting ranged in age from 0 - 40.

Besides burning their houses, the gangs stole their land, businesses and vehicles. Before this invasion, these families lived in peace. Some sold goods at the market. Others managed subsistence farms. And now… well, of course, they miss their own houses, along with their friends, memories, and belongings! But without homes to return to and unable to afford life in the nearby city, they’re likely to be in Colminy for the long-haul.

Initially, their greatest need was for water. Of course, they shared the drinking/cooking water from Colminy’s water stations which, obviously, empty much faster now than before. To make matters worse, fill-ups suddenly cost 50% more.

Meanwhile, the nearby Artibonite River, in which Colminians often bathe, has been running dry. And what little water remains “stinks!” Those who have recently bathed in it have become sick! So HHC provided 8,000 gallons of cheaper “wash water” which they store in a local cistern.

Having arrived with only the clothes on their backs, Colminians loaned these newcomers some of their own clothes. As mentioned in the last post, they also provided sufficient rice from their recent harvest and bought sandals for the kids. What a fantastic blessing! …a “widow’s might” coming from Colminians’ own meager means.

Some of the newbies have found houses that provide a roof over their heads. However, many of these roofs leak in the rain. Those without a house sleep in the village school or clinic. All yearn for sheets to cover them in the cool night air.

We have spent the last several days contemplating all this. As amazing as the Colminians’ gifts are, they don’t meet all the newcomers’ basic needs. While HHC also provided funds for Richard to buy other foodstuffs and various hygiene supplies in Haiti, sadly, there’s simply not enough left to cover the needs of so many.

We are praying that some of you can find it in your heart and wallet to help us meet some of these essentials. (Any portion of the 100 personal items needed will be greatly appreciated!) As will some of your intact used but no-longer needed items or services if you live nearby. We will furnish caulking essentials to plug the leaky roofs and all shipping costs from Miami to St. Marc, Haiti. (Please see the attached list of needed items and time schedule below.)

Even if you can’t assist in this way, please pray for an end of Haiti’s gang warfare and for those suffering under their reign!

ITEMS NEEDED FOR HAITIANS WHO FLED FROM THE GANGS
THAT BURNED THEIR HOMES AND
STOLE THEIR PROPERTY, VEHICLES, AND BUSINESSES

At bulk rates, here’s the items HHC would like to provide new:
• Un**es for all (men’s, women’s and kids’) for $1.50 pr. (100 are needed for one change of un**es/person. Assuming folks arrived wearing un**es, having a 2nd pair allows them to wash one while wearing the other. Adults sizes M - L. (No S or XL)
• 100 wash rags @ .25/each. One per person.
• 100 Toothbrushes @ .25/each. Again, one per person.
• Hairbrushes/combs - 35 for one per family (These must be brushes or combs specifically for the “tight” hair of black people.)
You are welcome to buy any of these items yourself if you let us know what you plan to buy and can get them to us by the end of November. Or you can provide us with the funds to purchase them in your stead.

Good used but no longer wanted items:
• Flat sheets (any size). Minor stains or flaws accepted.
• Bras (any size)
• Men’s and/or women’s shorts (size M - L)
• Kids’ shorts (toddler - teen)
• Men’s, women’s, kids’ T-shirts (or any other tops ideal for hot weather), with or without writing or images (Variety of sizes infant - adult L).
• Women’s light weight skirts/dresses (not essential but useful)

Old wash clothes and terry towels
• These may be stained and/or tattered. They will be cut into broad strips to use as washable menstrual pads that will be placed in a snap-around-the-panty holder
• Please let us know if you have any scraps of cotton or waterproof material you’d like to donate for making the holders.
• Also, please let us know if you are willing and able to make (sewing) one or more “holders.” (A pattern, waterproof lining, and snaps can be provided.)

We plan for everything given to be shipped during the first week of December.
Anything you are willing and able to donate will be greatly appreciated!
For questions, suggestions, or concerns, call Glenda: 614-615-0778.

COLMINY’S “WIDOW’S MITE”

If you remember, folks from Lianscourt fled to Colminy when the gangs ravaged their community (per our last FB post). HHC was preparing to donate funds to help them get desperately needed food and shoes. But, praise God, Richard and other Colminians pooled their funds to do this themselves! They also invited these strangers into their “rice storehouse” to take whatever was essential for their survival, then provided all the kids with sandals (last photo before the “storehouse). Considering their own desperation, this was, indeed, Colminains’ “Widow’s Mite.” [Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4]

From the rice photos/video included, it appears Colminy salvaged more of their crop than I’d imagined, despite the endless problems that had plagued them from early planting to the late harvest.

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Edly went to Colminy today Saturday) to learn more about the Lianscourt people: the community they left behind, the gang encounter, how many are sheltering in Colminy, their current greatest needs, plans for their future, etc. We’ll post whatever she learns sometime next week because… early tomorrow we’ll be heading to Nicole’s (our granddaughter’s) wedding in FL’s panhandle, expecting to return Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, we thank the Lord that that the Colminains have opened their heart and hands to receive these precious people and pray the Lord will bless them greatly.

BTW: Next week they’ll be planting for an April harvest.

HUNGER!

“I don’t know how many days this weather will last.,” Richard wrote this morning. “People haven’t seen the sun for 2 weeks. It wasn’t always raining, but the storm [Hurricane Melissa] brought a lot of rain these past two days and it is still falling steadily.”

FYI: Their harvested rice was spread out to dry in the sun. But being overcast and/or rainy, it hasn’t dried yet. And they can’t finish processing it until it is.

“There are a lot of people,” he added. “A lot of people from Liancourt [a nearby community] have come to live in the area. These people escaped [a gang invasion] without anything. Hunger is beating them. I must give them food too. I will take the leftovers and buy food for the others.

“The price [of food urgently needed] would reach 100,000 Haitian gourdes [$764 US] because rice is selling expensive in the market. You can hardly find any food to buy now.”
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What a sad difference this harvest is compared to last October’s. Back then their rice harvest was amazingly large and lush -- enough to feed the entire community for six months, then sell or give to others. Although the farmers have worked much harder this season than before, the crop has experienced a perpetual series of crises -- everyone on them beyond these farmers’ control.

A quick overview:
• Spring’s sudden man-made flood that killed sections of the newly planted fields
• Followed by a short drought.
The lost rice sections were replanted.
• Late summer’s rat infestation that was stealing the young rice kernels (destroyed by baiting).
• Followed by swarms of small birds doing the same (battled with a full-time bird-chaser).
• Early fall rains that delayed the harvest
• Gun-wielding gangs demanding payment before allowing the harvest (further delay).
• Heavily overcast skies (with and without rain) that have prevented the essential drying.

Please pray for Colminy and, if possible, please consider helping HHC provide funds for the food and clean water these diligent, desperate and deserving people need to survive. We met this first payment today and are prepared to meet another. But clearly, however much food these provide won’t fill in all the gaps until their next harvest in April.