Category: News (Page 60 of 100)

Friends of Haiti,

Last month, we received extra giving ($1,000) to supplement the feeding programs. And we appreciate it–but we also appreciate those who give to any program. We added the extra to the existing programs in order to feed more kids, rather than starting a new program and then having to stop once that money is used.

We’d like to give you an idea what certain things might cost in Haiti. This is by no means the country-wide price; what you might pay in one of the villages would be different than in town or in one of the road side markets.

• 1 pound of chicken: $4.26
• 12 eggs: $4.39
• 16 ounces of cheese: $9.00
• 1 pound of potatoes: $3.56
• 1 quart of milk: well over $2.00 (but we don’t know anyone in the villages who would buy this)
• Tube of toothpaste: $5.40
• 1.5oz roll-on deodorant: $5.95

A 15-minute visit to see a private doctor will set you back, on average, $25.00. Most mission medical clinics don’t charge anything–or if they do, it might be $5-$10 Haitian dollars at the most, used to pay those helping in the clinic.

What affects our ministry and those who operate nutrition programs is the increasing cost of rice and beans. Prior to the 90’s and President Clinton’s flooding Haiti’s market with cheap American rice, Haitian farmers grew most of the rice they use. Even today the Department of Agriculture is planning to send our surplus of peanuts to Haiti, in an attempt to help. But all it will do is put the Haitian peanut farmer out of business as well. Currently, rice in Caberet, where we buy ours, is $35 (US) for 25 pounds, which is what we buy for one school for one time. Beans are $45 dollars for the same amount. It doesn’t take a lot of math to see that adds up to be quite a costly endeavor. And let’s not forget this is where an average person makes 3 U.S. dollars a day.

We tell you these things so you can see how much programs like ours means to the people they serve. As we have said before, we are not the only ones doing this; we’re all in the same boat. When we say thank you for helping, you can see why. We certainly couldn’t do this on our own.

Medical update: Terry is pretty much the same; she had 5 more shots this month. They changed her medicines again in an attempt to find one that helps with the leg and feet pain. So far, these aren’t helping that much either.

Thank you again for your faithful help and prayers. Let’s all pray for a quiet hurricane season here and in Haiti.

Serving HIM,

Steve and Terry

Friends of Haiti,

We are using this picture to illustrate what is going on in Haiti right now.

All of us know the effects of the weather patterns we are seeing in the U.S. now. In Missouri we had more rain in December than ever before, a very mild winter and more rain during March. In Haiti, it has been just the opposite…no rain at all and at a time when those who can farm are unable to do anything because of a severe drought caused by the El Nino weather pattern. According to the World Food Program, and in an article in the Miami Herald by Jacqueline Charles, those farmers are facing a 70 percent crop loss . This has doubled the number of “food insecure” people since September of 2015 and malnutrition rates have dramatically increased.

Of course, what all of that means is there just isn’t enough food to go around, and what food there is, is just too expensive for the average person to buy. As our friend Beaubrun told us, “Even if you have a few gourdes (Haitian money, sounds like ‘good’) there isn’t a lot you can buy with it now.” Just after the 2010 earthquake you could get 43 gourdes for 1 US dollar. Now a dollar is 61.25 gourdes.

Of course, our programs are operating normally, but it has got to the point we are having to turn people–kids and adults-–away, and we don’t want to do that. If anyone would like to help add to what we do, we and they would appreciate it.

Add to this the political turmoil. We had thought they had solved their presidential problems by appointing an interim president until new elections could be held. But those elections are being contested, as well. Now, no one knows where this is headed. To say the very least, Haiti country needs our prayers and help.

Medical update: Although there were no myeloma proteins in Terry’s latest tests her problems are far from over. A nerve conduction test showed the chemo meds badly damaged her leg and feet nerves, which are causing her to be in pain much of the time. She is also having problems with bronchitis, so keep her in your prayers as well.

Thank you for all you do.

Steve and Terry