REACH containers

The two REACH containers finally arrived today.  This is excellent news as it means that the girls' homes will get built.  They should go up in a flash as all the metalwork is pre-cut and numbered.  Fifteen of our older boys are slated to work with Donald to learn this new construction method and chances are they'll be employed for years to come. 

Jeannine Oaktanvil

Please overlook the quality of these photos. Camera problems. Jeannine is a mother and grandmother who was living in a small shack/lean to until this past week when she moved into the small green home pictured above. She will no longer get wet when it rains and will be safe at night. Jeannine cannot stand straight and has been this way for years. Her son and his wife look after her (they live next door) but there was no room for her. Jeannine spends her days in this wheelbarrow (her wheel chair, she calls it). The new home was built by Ray Verreault who has been volunteering with us for six years. He has a team of young Haitians who help him provide basic homes for the very poor. Funding is provided by Cross International and private donations. A small house like this costs about $1,500 at this time. Remember the phrase from Matthew 25:40 "whatsoever you do the least of my brothers, that you do for me".

A gift of dignity

Mr Yvon Nocent and his son, Yvnel, stand in front of their home in Castel-Pere.

Even after the workers were gone for the day, Mr Nocent and Yvnel continued working to make their dream a reality.

Here's the simple but solid and safe home built by Mr Nocent , his son and our team.

The pride they feel in having been part of the process of building their own home shows in their faces. This new way of building homes for the poor including them in the dialog and in the work makes so much more sense. We can honestly say that the gift of this house was nothing compared to the sense of dignity and respect the Nocents now have. We want to thank Cross International for their support and funding of this project.