Hi everyone,

Recently we had some people and a church donate money to buy a pig to give to a person in Haiti. We mentioned doing this in the past and it’s a very good way to help someone; then they can pass one of their pigs on to someone else. However, we do have some rules doing this. First, they must promise to give the first-born female to someone they or we know. Then, that person must promise to do the same and so on. They also must be able to do the things needed to raise animals and have a place to do it.

One of the best examples of this, is Ophelia (yes, Ophelia was the name of a character in Hamlet). Ophelia is a woman in her 80’s, living in Haiti with no family and too old to work. Saying “too old to work” and “living in Haiti” really don’t go together since just living there is hard work, but Olivia has made the best of it. She sets up her cooking tools by a road and sells food she cooks there to people coming and going from a market in Caberet, a larger town near all our villages. It didn’t make her rich, but it does give her an income that pays her rent along with food to eat and buy the things she needs to live.

The one we bought, which is pictured with Beaubrun, is still young so we know it doesn’t have any “pig issues!”

Last month we mentioned the women and girls who are expecting or have a baby fathered by one of the UN troops that were there. Beaubrun and his wife are seeking out those who may live within the area or villages where one of the schools or churches are. If possible, we are planning to do what we can to help them get on their feet. If nothing else, we can get them in church and the church community help them. It may surprise you, but they do the same kind of things there that we do here. At the very least, if they are still expecting, we can get the Mother on pre-natal vitamins; if they already have a child, we can get him or her in the nutrition program. Whichever it is, it will be better than turning our heads the other way and doing nothing.

Thank you to those who provided the funds to buy the pig and to everyone for everything you do to help our friends in Haiti.