Feliz Navidad

It’s time to send out your Christmas greetings again, why not bless our ladies at the same time?

We have a limited supply of Christmas cards ready and waiting to be shipped to you!

Ismena, Anise and Jislena have been busy these last few months, making paper by hand, cutting up scraps of fabric and painting hundreds of Christmas trees.  We’ve Packaged them up in %100 biodegradable bags, and now all that’s left is for you to order some!

This year we will be selling Packages of 9 for $15 (This includes the shipping from us to you).

Spread some Christmas cheer! Give your loved ones a Beautiful Christmas card, and remeber our fabulous women this Christmas.

AHHHHHHH!

We Need Help (again)!

It’s been a tough month here for our Ladies and we need a miracle to keep us from going in the Red.

It’s the begining of October and we are going to need a miracle if we are going to be able to pay salaries at the end of the month.  So in an effort to keep ourselves afloat we our offering these lovely necklaces for $12.  (it includes shipping)

These necklaces are made with hand rolled paper beads and attach at the back with a chula clip.

To Receive this hand made necklace by mail click here.

Help keep our Ladies working and their children fed!  (Limited quantities available!)

The Fungus

There are always children everywhere in the village. Little brown children with bare feet, running to and fro, grabbing at your hands and shouting “HOLA!” at the tops of their lungs with big grins on their sparkling faces. If you stand still, in one spot, it wont be long until you are surrounded by children, dirty and mischievous and longing for any bit of affection you want to share with them.

I remember one time gently resting my hand on top of the head of a child standing directly underneath me, and then quickly removing my hand for shock of the sensation that greeted me; it had felt like I put my hand into a pile of mucus. This kid had a real bad case of some form of head fungus, his entire scalp was covered in open sores leaking puss but was still grinning from ear to ear. Head fungus the results from unclean living situation and no access to soap, maybe they get it in the water. The remedy is fairly simple, it involves a couple of washes with a special shampoo which is pretty cheap to purchase, but even cheap purchases can be vastly out of reach for the average Haitian or Dominican living in poverty.

This type of thing is an unfortunate reality that I’ve grown accustomed to witnessing, but it touched me on a deeper level the other day. My dear Jonathan and Rosairi have been staying with my friend Dudu for a little bit, while I was away at a wedding. Dudu takes such wonderful care of the kids, and they get to play with lots of other little kids, and keep up with their Creole. It’s a good situation for a “single mom”; our family is so blessed to have such a loving community around us.

Unfortunately, my darling Jonathan got head fungus. Dudu’s family is full of love, but still quite poor (by our standards) and therefore vulnerable to all the kinds of things that people are susceptible to, when hot showers and medical supplies don’t come easy. It’s really not a big surprise that Jonathan got the head fungus, he gets to play with lots of little kids and the infection is highly contagious, but none the less, my heart dropped into my stomach when I found out. I felt they way any mother would feel discovering their child’s head was covered in open sores. Jonathan will have to have all his hair cut off, as it is quit painful for him to have his hair pulled at when it gets washed; he cries anytime someone touches his head. Oh, my poor little baby.

Things like this always renew a resolve in me to keep serving my Haitian and Dominican brothers and sisters. They want to provide Anti-Fungal shampoo for their precious kids, just as much as I do. They hate disease and infections, and the suffering of their children too. My child is not more important than their children, and although they may not be as wimpy as me, the reality of painful circumstances hurt them just the same.

La Tienda, is currently serving 30 women, which is leaps and bounds over last years 20! Jesus has been blessing us with such provision. There are a few reasons we’ve been able to make such a huge increase in our numbers. First off, the truck has made my job a whole lot more do-able. It’s become increasingly easier to get supplies in and out of the village. Mobility has been kind of a life changing experience.

Also the number of people willing to through La Tienda parties in Canada and the USA has really increased over the past year, and projects just started getting better so things have sold a lot more easily. We’ve begun using all kinds of seeds found on the island, and people seem to really like the new stuff. Another reason things have been going a bit smoother is our new La Tienda Supervisor named Tati. I’ve told a bit of her story on my blog deraquel.wordpress.com. She has been great for increasing productivity due to her intelligence and passion for the job.

Although there are many reasons on a practical level to explain why things have been going so well I would feel foolish to say that there wasn’t something deeper going on. For now the Lord has seen fit to bless the work of our hands, even through trials and tribulation. We are so very thankful for his great care for us, and would hope that it would be used to turn peoples hearts towards him. Wouldn’t it be marvelous if the entire village saw the good things that God was doing and turned to serve him?

Since last winter the attendance at church has greatly decreased. Peoples’ attitudes have been, that God abandoned them in December during the riots. How UNTRUE! Not ONE person was killed! Not one. Many of the women recognize the faithfulness of God and stand firm in the TRUTH, even through difficulty. Please, please pray for these ladies. Pray that they will be kept strong in the faith and full of hope. Please check my blog deraquel.wordpress.com to hear all the recent news about my kids, and the stories of some of the individual ladies. My “Truck Fund” really needs more funds, for wear and tear from driving through sugar cane fields, so if you know of any one who would be willing to contribute to that we would be exceedingly glad! (contact inquiries@iatw.ca)

As always I can be emailed at Raquel@Latienda.ca if you had any questions. We are so thankful for your continued support for us as a family and this project.

Thank you thank you THANK YOU!

Much Love Raquel

And the Judge said…..

Keep them! 

When I said “I’ll find out today about the kids.”  I didn’t take into account the fact that NOTHING happens on schedual.

But I’m happy to say, that as far as the Dominican Republic is concerned…. these kids are Mine : )

 

(Now it’s on to Passports, and trying to convince the Canadian Government.)

Praise the Lord

 

(compliments of gigiphotography.com)

What is it … JUNE??????

(All Photos’ compliments of gigiphotography.com)

 Hello all.  Is it really already June, and when is the last time I wrote, April?  I apologize for the lateness of this update, but it will be good one!

 

First of I want to talk about Gillian, and Tamara.

(I feel pressured to ensure anyone looking at this photo of me in a Hollister shirt, that I got it here  REALLY cheap, and it’s a second.  Just incase any of you are wondering why I would brandish a flashy name brand, to be honest I never even thought of it, I just really like green, but someone mentioned something about it to me so I thought I would explain)

Now usually I try and avoid too many visitors throughout the year.  Especially people I don’t know.  We have a lot of Fabulous organizations in the area which bring down short term volunteers who really long to exposed to the Haitian Village and long to put their hands to good use.  I, on the other hand, have been called to a different purpose down here, so I try to discipline myself accordingly.

 When Gillian contacted me about wanting to take photos of the village, it seemed like a good idea.  It was Gideon who proclaimed it to be a very necessary task to be undertaken ASAP for the sake of the website.   We are hoping to completely rework the website in the next year in order to make everything more accessible for people wanting to sell La Tienda products and have home parties on behalf of our Lovely Ladies.  We also need to be able to keep people more updated on what is available.  But I still had some apprehensions.  The people get so MANY photos of themselves taken by passerby’s and tourists and short term missionaries, after awhile it seems almost dehumanizing.  I’ve actually had discussions with group leaders and facilitators about the importance of limiting the photo’s being taken.  Village life isn’t entertainment or a cool story to tell, it’s Real people’s REAL lives!  So I agreed that we could work on this photo project under the one condition that If we were going to be photographing the women’s lives in all it’s broken ness and beauty, that we make a point of doing a beautiful family portrait for each Lady, that we can give to them as a gift.

 Can I just say that Gillian (and her lovely traveling companion Tamara) humbled me to the GROUND!   They worked so hard to ensure that the month before they came down, enough stuff was sold that the women all received their full salaries!  They brought all kinds of gifts and medical supplies, and even took the extra time and thought to bring gifts to ME as WELL!!!!

 They were so willing to get down in the MUD and stay busy busy, as get all.  After the first day of photo’s I realized very clearly that Gillian was giving the Ladies and I, a great gift that would benefit this project from here on after.

 Here are some of the shots she took of village life, and the Ladies of La Tienda. (I’ve kept the pictures small as to not overwhelm the blog)

The Women LOVED the family portrait part.

 

I

It’s hard for them to understand why we would want pictures of them, doing their laundry, but they all got behind it and just tried to act natural.  But when Gillian would show them an example of the family portraits they were so pleased and giggly it was hilarious!  On the last day of photo’s we thought of doing a group shot.  One of my quietest ladies, Anise (makes paper) who barely says two words and acts like an Amish lady with all the appropriate prudish tendencies, came waltzing down the village hill in a BRIGHT golden BALL GOWN!  It was about 15 sizes to big.  My guess is, it was given to her in a donation bag and she had it saved in her house for a very special day.   It was TOO sweet.   The Ladies really got into what Gillian was doing because Gillian’s attitude towards them was one of service.  She made everything she photographed beautiful, and the women really FELT it.  The thing that really made our time together PERFECT was Tamara.  If she hadn’t come down we never would have gotten done what we aware able to get down.  Tamara was so grounded and patient, and really had understanding of poverty life before she got there (She’s had some experience living in the developing world).  She got sick one day and had to spend the time flattened out on my couch while Gillian and I headed off to the village, and I nearly let Gillian DROWN in the river when she was taking a photo, which NEVER would have happened if Tamara had been there.  (I may have slightly exaggerated the drowning part, she did however drop so low for the shot that she dunked her ENTIRE CAMERA BAG under water and all I did was think “ooooooooooooh that will be a nice photo”)

 

And The TRUCK!  You know I’m really quit thankful for my lovely vehicle.  It makes creaky noises when I bump over things and the turning radius is less the generous, which is probably what I love so much about it.  What a FABULOUS gift from the Lord given to me by the hands of his children.  I want to thank you all again and AGAIN for this gift.  Thank you all for blessing me this way. It has truly changed my capacity to be able to serve these Ladies in a whole new way. It has needed some repairs as of late, it gets a lot of ware and tare going through the river and my “truck fund” with Into All the World” is a little low (and by low I mean empty) so if it is in your heart and capacity to give, it would be wonderful to have those needs met. 

 

I had the custody hearing for the Children this month.  I’m supposed to find out today what the answer is.   I’ve committed it to the hands of the Lord, and whether the answer be yes or no, I am so thankful that we were at the very least able to procure birth certificates and therefore legal status for these children.  They are actually currently going around Monte llano  (my town) with big trucks (like today!) and just pulling random people off the streets and shipping them off to Haiti.  It doesn’t matter if you were born here or not, if you don’t have the paper work (which they don’t even GIVE you, you have to PAY for it and no Haitian could afford it) they send you off.  This year none of the Haitian children without birth certificates will be allowed to attend school.  That means Rosairi would currently be refused an education had we not been able to fight for her legal status!

 I have recently acquired some new sewers to the project.  Now I take them on with GREAT fear and trembling as the more women that are added, and the more money that comes through my pay pal account for the Ladies of La Tienda, the more I get that this project is growing beyond my capacity to handle it, just little me.  But the Lord has blessed me with Tati, the Lady who took over Dudu’s job, and she has been so faithful and hardworking.  Also, a fellow missionary here living in Monte llano, has decided to start helping in the Co-op when the summer gets finished up.  If this works out I will be SO relieved to finally be able to partner again with another English speaker.   No matter how long I live down here, I still find so much comfort in the familiarity of someone who speaks English and works along side me.  Aside from that Cara has been a wonderful friend, and the hands and feet of Jesus to me many times.

 Speaking of Jesus, I’ve been going to and English bible study for a couple of months and let me tell you it has been SUCH a gift.   MAKARIOS is a mission group who works with education programs here in my hometown of Monte llano.  They have graciously invited me to join their bible study, and I have exuberantly participated.  I love having a group of people to study the Word with in a language I understand, and a group of people I can discuss my sin with, and have it be fully understood.  (Try to explain to a Haitian lady your compulsion to shop at the mall or your anxieties about flying, and you will be met with a polite blank stare).

 Jesus Jesus Jesus.  Jesus has been teaching me so much lately.  I’ve been struggling in the Co-op at the loss of Dudu.  Her organizing skills were FAR less than adequate but her ability to teach about the word was just wonderful.  So I kept her in her position because I new it benefited the Ladies. Her absence has left a whole; but Let me tell you about Anise.  I try to feel the Ladies out to discern who the spiritual leaders are.  Who is to be given the platform to speak and pray? Who needs to teach us something? Anise (the lady in the golden dress) stood up to pray the other day in Creole (which I don’t understand because I can only learn one new language at a time) and something about it floored me.  She’s such a quiet lady, but she prayed with such strong confidence and certainty that God was listening I could help but cry. Her tiny frame let out this BOLD voice, I’d never heard before.  Sometimes I identify better with the more “modern” Christians in our village.  The Haitian Evangelical Christian can be bone crushingly legalistic.  But for some reason, the rules and regulations seemed more like reverence and worship coming from Anise.  She obeys the lengthy rules out of a heart of submission, as though she was free do so and loved to obey in humility.

 Okay I could write all day, but I fear my writing style will become more and more indecipherable so I will try to update more frequently as opposed to one big run on random explanation of what life has been like.  I hope to send a mail out to many of you in July.

 

Till then Much Love

Spring 2009

 

There is a certain stillness in the village.  I find my self having a difficult time trying to determine whether the stillness is a lasting peace, or the strange silence before something wild takes place.  The unknown brings about a sense of apprehension, so while there is little movement in the streets there is an unending spinning of questions in the mind, and an uneasiness of soul that is being felt and communicated quit clearly by the people.

 

After the big “run” into the sugar cane fields last December, most people have returned to  their homes. While others remain scattered in shanty villages around the area trying their best to find enough money to pay rent to their “slumlord”.  The ones who have stayed have resolved not to run again if something happens.   Hopefully by “standing their ground” they mean it in faith, and not with machetes raised in passionate opposition.

 

Dudu and her family have opted to not return to the village.  This decision has been met with some criticism as they are the pastor-ing family.  Please continue to keep them in your prayers as they struggle to make ends meet and strive to do the right thing.

 

We have foolishly (and I mean it in a lovely way) raised the salaries of all the women and added a couple new Ladies.  It just seemed like the perfect timing for s “step in faith”.  The Lord has always provided our needs, and he is GOD so if our needs increase it is not much work for him to meet them, what is money to the GOD of creation?  I am convinced that as we follow him he will keep us in his hands, to what ever end.  Since the decision was made, the funds have come in! HA! Very encouraging in deed.  (Which reminds me we must have a meeting this week to discuss and marvel at God’s goodness to us lest we forget).

 

We have made some COOL stuff recently!  The heavens have opened up and rained down ideas.  We’ve been using beans and seeds ans all kinds of natural things and working them into the jewelry (like BRIGHT red seed called Jumbie seeds, that fall off of trees).  It’s all very exciting.  We’ve been using a lot more garbage of late as well.  We are turning plastic bottles into pretty beads in blues and greens, and bottle caps into bangley earrings.

 

Speaking of change, Dudu was offered a full time position at the Christian sponsor school in our village.  This is a wonderful opportunity for her, and I was pleased that she accepted.  It’s a bit of a downer for me though, as it is a lot of extra work to train someone in her place.  I chose to offer the job to a woman named Tati.   She is a lovely lady who is quit smart.  Because this role is mostly administrative I needed to find someone who could read and write. 

 

Tati is married and has 6 boys!  For those of you who saw the video interview of Tita, you may remember her mentioning that when she was in great need for a job (before La Tienda)  a women paid her a bit of money to wash dishes and laundry. It was Tati that showed her this kindness.  Tati doesn’t have any extra cash, if you go to her home you will see for yourself that she lives in poverty, and the last thing she would want is to spend what little money she had to pay another women to do something she was perfectly capable of doing herself for FREE.  But Tati is a good women, and she showed mercy on Tita by helping her in her time of need.

 

This is a good type of woman to have serving all the women of the art co-op.

 

It’s also so interesting to me to see how God knits al these things together.  I’ve been AMAZED (truly!) by the amounts of money that have been coming in from La Tienda sales abroad.  To the small handfuls of you who have been throwing parties and making displays- THANK YOU.  You have been 100% of our livelihood.  Had you not sold our stuff, our women’s cooking pots would have been empty and the children left unfed.

 

We are currently experiencing some lovely technological advances so if your on Facebook be sure to become a fan of La Tienda!

 

Don’t forget to check out our website                         LaTienda.ca

Or my Blog                                    DeRaquel.wordpress.com

 

If you are interested in supporting us regularly please contact

 “Into All the World”                                    inquiries@iatw.ca

Phone: (519) 763-6147

 

With Gratitude

Raquel

 

Raquel@latienda.ca

Spring 2009

 

There is a certain stillness in the village.  I find my self having a difficult time trying to determine whether the stillness is a lasting peace, or the strange silence before something wild takes place.  The unknown brings about a sense of apprehension, so while there is little movement in the streets there is an unending spinning of questions in the mind, and an uneasiness of soul that is being felt and communicated quit clearly by the people.

 

After the big “run” into the sugar cane fields last December, most people have returned to  their homes. While others remain scattered in shanty villages around the area trying their best to find enough money to pay rent to their “slumlord”.  The ones who have stayed have resolved not to run again if something happens.   Hopefully by “standing their ground” they mean it in faith, and not with machetes raised in passionate opposition.

 

Dudu and her family have opted to not return to the village.  This decision has been met with some criticism as they are the pastor-ing family.  Please continue to keep them in your prayers as they struggle to make ends meet and strive to do the right thing.

 

We have foolishly (and I mean it in a lovely way) raised the salaries of all the women and added a couple new Ladies.  It just seemed like the perfect timing for s “step in faith”.  The Lord has always provided our needs, and he is GOD so if our needs increase it is not much work for him to meet them, what is money to the GOD of creation?  I am convinced that as we follow him he will keep us in his hands, to what ever end.  Since the decision was made, the funds have come in! HA! Very encouraging in deed.  (Which reminds me we must have a meeting this week to discuss and marvel at God’s goodness to us lest we forget).

 

We have made some COOL stuff recently!  The heavens have opened up and rained down ideas.  We’ve been using beans and seeds ans all kinds of natural things and working them into the jewelry (like BRIGHT red seed called Jumbie seeds, that fall off of trees).  It’s all very exciting.  We’ve been using a lot more garbage of late as well.  We are turning plastic bottles into pretty beads in blues and greens, and bottle caps into bangley earrings.

 

Speaking of change, Dudu was offered a full time position at the Christian sponsor school in our village.  This is a wonderful opportunity for her, and I was pleased that she accepted.  It’s a bit of a downer for me though, as it is a lot of extra work to train someone in her place.  I chose to offer the job to a woman named Tati.   She is a lovely lady who is quit smart.  Because this role is mostly administrative I needed to find someone who could read and write. 

 

Tati is married and has 6 boys!  For those of you who saw the video interview of Tita, you may remember her mentioning that when she was in great need for a job (before La Tienda)  a women paid her a bit of money to wash dishes and laundry. It was Tati that showed her this kindness.  Tati doesn’t have any extra cash, if you go to her home you will see for yourself that she lives in poverty, and the last thing she would want is to spend what little money she had to pay another women to do something she was perfectly capable of doing herself for FREE.  But Tati is a good women, and she showed mercy on Tita by helping her in her time of need.

 

This is a good type of woman to have serving all the women of the art co-op.

 

It’s also so interesting to me to see how God knits al these things together.  I’ve been AMAZED (truly!) by the amounts of money that have been coming in from La Tienda sales abroad.  To the small handfuls of you who have been throwing parties and making displays- THANK YOU.  You have been 100% of our livelihood.  Had you not sold our stuff, our women’s cooking pots would have been empty and the children left unfed.

 

We are currently experiencing some lovely technological advances so if your on Facebook be sure to become a fan of La Tienda!

 

Don’t forget to check out our website                         LaTienda.ca

Or my Blog                                    DeRaquel.wordpress.com

 

If you are interested in supporting us regularly please contact

 “Into All the World”                                    inquiries@iatw.ca

Phone: (519) 763-6147

 

With Gratitude

Raquel

 

Raquel@latienda.ca

Some News

Time for an Update

 

So everyone is feeling a pinch these days. Some are feeling less of a pinch and more of a hammer pounding them on top of their heads.

The Canadian dollar has dropped, so I quickly went from getting 35 pesos for every dollar to getting 25! That’s like getting a pay cut of 28%!!!!  Ha! But never mind that, how about the women needing to sell more items to make the same amount of cash (which was barely enough to begin with)!  Financial crises is a heavy load for the poor, I’m pulling my hair out trying to make ends meet.

 

I just decided last week to increase the women’s salaries, despite seemingly hard times.  The women need it!  They are so depressed with their struggles, there is no work for anyone, and everyone spent what little teensy savings they had hiding out during the mad dash out of the village in Dec.  They need to be paid a bit more, and I did it in a step of faith.  The women have been asking for it for awhile.  Rice prices went up last year, so their meager food supplies became even more meager, and sometimes you need to move towards hope.  So far, God has provided.

 

We are all a little anxious about the future.  No one really knows what will happen (if anything) with that anti Haitian mentality.  Are things still brewing on the Dominican side?  Things seem peaceful, but we are all a little nervous that the mob is just recollecting it’s strength.  My paranoia tells me that someone is waiting around every bend to slit my throat for loving Haitians.  None of us really know what to do but just try to keep at it and not get too worried.  (GAHHH!)

In other news, I made a 12 hour trip with a Truck full of Haitians and Gideon, to Bavaro to continue with getting the paperwork for the kids sorted out.  Let me tell you, Bavaro is a dusty hot and bothered slum, and we stayed in the center of it in a tiny room with no door on the bathroom. (can’t beat $12 a night though), and I wouldn’t be to eager to head there again.  The whole coast is hidden by a wall, and any nationals from the area live in a desert wasteland.  If you go as a tourist make sure you have an “all inclusive” bracelet because other wise, you wont see a thing.   I had no such bracelets in my possession so all I saw was walls and dirt. But it was one of the best experiences I’ve had.  When I snubbed my nose at the seemingly unsafe “hotel” room, God whispered in my ears, “don’t think so highly of yourself” and although I tired to find another place to stay before resigning myself to our Center-Slum room, I did eventually lower my head and acknowledge my sins.

 

We are coming up with new Art Co-op Projects. The more things the women know how to make, the better chance we have at survival.  So I keep working away, and trying to maintain what we have going on already.  We keep adding more women (inadvertently).  We have a couple of ladies making paper beads and a new sewer! 

 

I’d love to add more but I seem  to be having some computor troubles! 

 

Much Love

Raquel

Feb 2009

Everyone has been asking for an update, and I agree that it is long overdue. Most of the women have returned to there homes in the village not because they feel it is safe, but out of necessity. Obviously if they could afford rent on a suitable home, they wouldn’t have had to receive the free home given to them in the village, in the first place. So while most of the women still feel very unsettled, they are all returning to their homes. I’m sure have village invaded, must feel similar to having your house robbed. You lose your sense of innocence and security in your home. Things have calmed down though, and missions groups are beginning to come back to the area and begin working a bit more on the Dominican side. The idea is that if we serve the Dominican community along side of the Haitian one, that perhaps the Dominicans will not feel so angered that resources are being poured into the Haitian community. We have been training one of the Art Co-op women, Ingris, in all things “de la Tienda”. This will hopefully take some of the load off and help things move along a bit easier. Elena, one of my best art co-op workers is currently laying on my floor on a mattress very ill. So as much as I would like to keep on updating you all, I need to go figure out how I can help Elena. Much Love Raquel

You may have heard that our Ladies are struggling, as many were driven out of their village this Christmas by an anti-Haitian mob.

Trying to continue our work at this time is very difficult: The ladies are now living in a few different places, and we have limited access to our Art Co-op building (located in the Haitian village) which we use to organize our work. We are selling these lovely red bracelets/anklets (they can be used as either).

 

For $11 we will send you one of these hand-made-in-the-Haitian-Villa Anklet/Bracelet (you can use it either way).

We will ship it at no extra cost!

 

 

 

Thank you for supporting us as we strive to stand behind the dignity and creativity of the poor.

 

Blessings

Raquel