January, 2013
We are writing this letter on the weekend of the third
anniversary of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti in January 2010. It
was an event that changed Haiti and it was an event that has changed our lives
forever.
Another year has passed and we look back with appreciation
and gratitude for all of the blessings we have received. The support that you
and other donors have given to Be the Power of One continues to touch the lives
of so many families in Haiti. Each trip we make to Haiti gives us a chance to
step outside the life of abundance and comfort that we have created here at
home. In Haiti it can be trying at times to live without electricity or running
water or air conditioning or many of the other comforts we take for granted.
The roads in rural Haiti are horrendous and too often lead to frustrating
travel delays. We are humbled by the fact that we only deal with these issues
for a week at time while for our Haitian friends this is their daily life. Many
times they have shown us grace and patience under conditions that others would
find unbearable. It is out of our respect for their faith, their hard work and
their friendship that we find the energy and strength to continue the work of
Be the Power of One.
Here is a quick update of projects that were completed
during 2012.
1.
Jean-Ronel Joseph, whose help in Pignon has been
invaluable, is in St. Vincent studying for a degree in theology. Be the Power
of One provided a $1500 grant through our “Higher Education Program” that paid
for his transportation, visa expenses and a portion of his new laptop computer.
He is enjoying school, his English is dramatically improving and we keep in
touch through Facebook and Skype.
2.
During our July trip to Pignon we formally dedicated
the well, which was drilled in October of 2011. It’s not only a blessing to the
school, the entire neighborhood benefits from this new, easily accessible
source of clean water.
3.
Also during the July trip we were able to
arrange for a consistent source of food for school lunches. Starting in
October, with help from Living Hope Haiti, 115 school children are now getting
a nutritious lunch everyday. This has been a focus of ours from the beginning
because, for many students, this may be their only meal for the day.
4.
Our summer program in Pignon continues to grow.
This year, by the end of the week, we had well over 200 students. Everyone
enjoyed craft projects, singing both English and Haitian songs, playing with
Frisbees and jump ropes and of course doing the Hokey Pokey. Thanks to generous donations from local
dentists we were able to provide a toothbrush and toothpaste for each
student.
5.
We had the opportunity to meet with the school
staff and administrator to hear their needs and concerns. This was the first
year that we were able to get a clear, written budget for the school. We have
often estimated that the school needs about $1000 per month in support and were
encouraged to see that the budget was just over $12,000 per year. In addition
to the money that is provided for meals we continue to send monthly support for
the school staff and are still well short of their budget.
So what does the future bring? On an ongoing basis we share
our story with anyone one that will listen. Local Rotary Clubs continue to support
Be the Power of One with words of encouragement and financial support. Other
service clubs including the Lions, Kiwanis and Soroptomist have invited us to
speak at their meetings and have been very generous in their support. We want
to focus on expanding our “Send a Student to School” program with a goal of 100
donors pledging $10 per month towards our educational programs. Beyond this we
have plans to expand programs for college and university students. With the
help of our Board of Directors we will be developing several fund raising
events throughout the year. Past events have been so much fun and they are a
great way to connect with all our Be the Power of One friends. We are currently
holding a raffle for a beautiful 3 liter special edition wine along with other
prizes. This generous donation is from
Vincent Arroyo Winery in Napa Valley and is signed by the winemaker. Tickets are available for $2.00 each or 3 for
$5.00. There are so many other plans and
dreams that more dollars, more time and more energy will bring to fruition.
We welcome and appreciate your continued support and
encouragement in 2013. We can all Be the Power of One with one dollar, one hour
of service or one kind thought for someone in need.
Many thanks,
Tim & Susan
