The Haitian Road

Sometimes events come together in our lives to assist in nudging us into doing what we are supposed to. Last week, I had one of those days. Sunday evenings at the Garland house mean a family dinner and relaxing on the couch with a new episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. We are definitely moved by the stories and reminded just how fortunate we really are as a family. The Frisch family had taken it upon themselves to adopt 5 kids from a Haitian orphanage, as well as 3 from the inner city of Toledo, Ohio.

Monday morning over coffee, after I read my daily dose of Skip Moen, I visited his website to learn of a project he is trying to fund in Haiti. Skip has taken a keen interest in the plight of arguably the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Putting his hands and feet where his heart is, he has helped to fund the building of an important road that allows a small village access to market their meager wares to nearby towns. Recently, it was one of the only passable routes in that area of the country during the hurricane season. A fact that he says saved real lives!

Continuing in his work in the small town of Ranquitte, Haiti, Skip is looking to fund some very important community projects. In the near term, their water pumps, school and medical clinic need a better source of power than the generator that is typically without fuel. They are looking for funds to install solar panels that can provide this power cheaply and cleanly. Longer term, there are hopes to build a bio-diesel processor, as their source of fuel is over 50 miles away.

Hesitant to do the easy thing and donate $50 ($20...$100?) to his efforts, I asked Skip what kind of budget they need for their solar project. They really need 8 panels at $500 each, as well as batteries for each of the panels at $150. This $5,200 will give them a constant source of energy where today there is none. They are also looking for about $3,500 for repairs for a security wall that was damaged during this hurricane season.

There is no better time than now to reach out to our fellow man, who cannot help himself. I am Thankful in this season for all that God has blessed me with and will work to fund these projects going on only 450 miles from Miami, Florida. Who is with me? This is an awesome project for youth groups, men's groups, Sunday school classes, etc. I would love for Ranquitte, Haiti to begin 2009 with the power they need for clean drinking water, their school and medical clinic.

I am Thankful for the opportunity to help, contact me if you want to assist or want more information.