First Trailer En Route to Haiti!

Word has come that our first trailer has set sail and is on it's way!!

From Jim Frankenfield's Facebook status earlier this afternoon..."The ship actually left Port Everglades, Florida at 2:30 this morning en route to Port Au Prince, Haiti, for arrival March 30, 2010. On April 5, 2010, there are 5 of us going to Haiti to unload this trailer and feed, house, give relief buckets and Bibles for 3,500 people, am I anxious !!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

This is exciting news for us here at TENTS FOR HAITI Project, but we also need to stay focused on what we need to be doing to get the 2nd trailer on it's way! Please help us keep the momentum going forward and also, please pray that the customs process for our first load is expedited and that our team members would have safe travels next week!

I got a really great phone call on Friday from John Yoast, the morning host of another local Christian radio station, WBYN 107.5 FM, and he told me they are giving us 220 tents and he is sending me checks that were sent to the station, which he is signing over to the TFH Project!! Thanks to WBYN and their GM, Doug Meyer- we appreciate your help & support!!

We are so thankful to God and to the great listeners of the station for donating their tents and monies to this cause! God is moving and we are finding doors opening that are helping us in our efforts to send much needed aid to our Haitian friends.

Is there something your business could be doing to help the TENTS FOR HAITI Project? We are open to any suggestions you may have for helping us raise monies to keep financing this project...maybe you could promote a day that your employees could bring their lunches and donate what they would have spent at a restaurant, or maybe you could "charge" a donation for coffee that might normally be free, or maybe you have a service type business that could donate a portion of your proceeds for a certain amount of time.

Any or all of these ideas would be a way to generate funds that are helping to keep people alive- I am not exaggerating about this. During rainy season, especially this year with circumstances being what they are, disease runs rampant. People will die if they are not provided with clean water and medical supplies, both of which our project is able to give them.


Even though we are suffering with a bad economy, we Americans are so blessed. We have more money slip through our fingers in a month than many Haitians will see in a year, or two! What small sacrifice can you make so that a life can be saved? Personally, I stopped getting my nails done so I could donate that money to this project, and believe me when I say this is no small sacrifice for me! Could you make coffee at home and donate whatever you would normally spend on coffee at Wawa for a week? Or could you make dinner at home and donate what you would have spent at dinner at a restaurant for a month, or just a week?

Everybody can do something, in a big way or a small way, and as we are fond of saying "Every motion forward, whether a jump, a step or a crawl, is a move in the right direction."

Please consider a donation to the TENTS FOR HAITI Project- we promise that 100% of the money donated to us will go to Haiti and the Haitian people to help them on the long road to recovery.


Thanks so much for whatever you can do!

Revision of Drop-Off Schedule at Souderton Mennonite Church

Just wanted to let you all know that we are revising the drop-off schedule for the West Street Community Center at Souderton Mennonite Church.

There will be NO donations accepted there during the entire week before Easter (March 29-April 2). After that, we will only be open at the WSCC for donations on Saturdays from 9-11 a.m. Those dates are April 10, 17 and 24.

If you, or someone you know, needs to drop off items at a time other than that, please feel free to bring your things to the church office during normal business hours (the entrance is under the carport on W. Chestnut St.). You may also drop off items at any of the other drop-off locations listed in a previous blog entry.

Please help us spread the word of this scheduling change, as we do still want to receive your items as we continue to work to fill our second trailer! Thanks!!

...and a Baby Step Backward...

This morning, I got word that, in fact, our trailer was NOT on the ship that sailed for Haiti yesterday. While our paperwork was in perfect order, there was a glitch somewhere else that delayed the release of our trailer from the port until next Wednesday, March 24. We don't know why this happened, and to be honest, we are a bit disappointed, but we do know that God is in control of the timing of this whole project and we trust Him to get this aid to the people of Cotes de Fer exactly when they need it.

In that vein, we are going to let God worry about that issue and we will continue doing what we have been doing- collecting tents, tarps, blankets, sheets and hygiene items to load into our second trailer.

We have partnered with the WordFM 88.9, our local Christian radio station, to work together at this process. If you go to their website at www.wordfm.org, you will see all the drop-off locations where donations are being accepted. We'd ask you to patronize these businesses as a way of saying "thank you" to them for working with us and also, when you do, drop something off to send down to Haiti!

When you are at the WordFM's website, you can also listen to the podcast we recorded a couple of weeks ago. Look for "Moms Helping Haiti" and then let us know what you think! We'd love to hear from you, either by posting a comment here or emailing us at tentsforhaiti@hotmail.com

Please keep praying for the people of Haiti and for this project, that we can be the hands & feet of Jesus! Thanks!

Another Step Forward on This Journey...

Today, another "hurdle" was crossed...our 53' trailer, loaded with tents, food, relief kits and more, made it to the port in Florida on time and breezed through all the checkpoints. The bill of lading was perfect, the documentation all correct, and everything went as smoothly as could be expected!!

So, our 79,500 lbs. of love sets sail for Haiti tomorrow!! (Expected arrival in Port au Prince is March 22 or 23.)

We also extend a HUGE thank you to Glen & Sylvia Derstine, for driving the tractor trailer down to Florida and having it there on time! God continues to bless this project, even in the small things, as we found out that Glen will be able to backhaul a load from Georgia and won't have to return all the way with an empty truck!!

As we anticipate the arrival in Haiti of this first load of supplies, we are so happy to be able to look back on this quest to help the people of Cotes de Fer, but we also must look forward. Our role in this project is far from over and as we look ahead down the road, we again become excited to start all over. We become energized as we discuss the fund-raisers we are planning and as we list the groups, both civic and church, who have come along side us to make "Hope in a Bucket" relief kits.

People stop us wherever we go, and thank us for our efforts in this cause, but if we're to be truthful, most of the thanks goes to you, our community, for catching our vision and helping us run with it. We have become so much more mindful of the generosity of spirit in the people with whom we live and work. Thank you for all you have done and all you continue to do to help us aid our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

A Trailer Loaded With Love

Wow- what a day we had yesterday. We loaded (and re-loaded) our donated 53' trailer with relief supplies bound for Cotes de Fer, Haiti!

We started out the day with about 30 people all working together- the women made a few more relief kits, then folded and counted blankets, sheets, sleeping bags, sweatshirts, etc., while the men unloaded what had been stored on the trailer, in order to pack it better for the trip

We formed a bucket brigade to load the 435 "Hope in a Bucket" relief kits and then 451 tents, along with food, medical supplies, blankets, etc. and got that trailer all loaded up. It was very emotional to see all that stuff in there! Everyone felt good about things and most of the folks went home, happy that they were part of this adventure.

Then, the trailer was taken to be weighed and we found out we were 1500 lbs. overweight... So, while the excruciating decision was being made what to take off, a few of us pulled out our cell phones and made frantic calls to "re-rally" the troops. We ended up with about 30 people again, but many new faces and new backs!

Once again, items were off-loaded, things removed and then everything else re-loaded. When the last item had been replaced, we all took hands and had a prayer of dedication for the trailer and the items in it, and the trailers doors were closed. This time, the scales showed we were in the acceptable range! Tears flowed, hugs were exchanged, then another trailer was moved into place to hold the items that hadn't fit on this time....but no worries, they will be following very, very soon!

We had a wonderful day of working, singing and praying together and we know that God is going before this trailer to "make the rough places smooth and the crooked places straight"!

This trailer, as of this morning, is on its way to the port in Florida where it will be loaded onto a ship bound for Port au Prince in the middle of this week.

Mission accomplished, "Game Over"? Not by a long shot! We have access to three more trailers and we plan to fill them as well. Relief kits are still being made by local area church groups, donations are still promised from school clubs, businesses are still saving buckets and we are still excited about sending more aid into this devastated country.

We invite you, our community friends, to join our effort. It is very costly to send these items so if you want to donate to our project, you can send money by going to our Facebook page "TENTS FOR HAITI Project Donation Page" and clicking on the "Donate" button, or you can go right to Paypal and send money to tentsforhaiti@ hotmail.com. You can also mail a check made payable in any amount to Souderton Mennonite Church, with "Haiti Relief Fund" on the memo line. Mail it to SMC 105 W. Chestnut St. Souderton PA 18964.

You are also welcome to drop items off at various locations around the area: Indian Valley Public Library, Yours, Mine & Ours Consignment Shop in Telford, Tylersport Post Office, Green Lane Post Office, Double Dipper Deli in Vernfield, Franconia Square Cafe and Market, and of course, Souderton Mennonite Church.

(Email tentsforhaiti@hotmail.com for hours).

Thank you again for your generosity and words of encouragement as we continue to help our brothers and sisters in Haiti!

Two Month Anniversary...

Today marks the two-month anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti- January 12, 2010.

I can still vividly remember getting the phone call that informed me that there had been a "bad" earthquake...I also remember the fear that gripped me, knowing that my daughter, son-in-law and 25 other very good friends were on that island. We had no idea if they were safe, let alone alive. I got home as quickly as I could, but getting there is a blur. For the next few days, I was glued to CNN and Facebook, as I tried to convey information to other friends so they could pray with and for us. During this time, I was afraid, yet strangely calm, knowing that the group that had gone to Haiti, went there to help others and whatever the outcome of this tragedy for our family & friends, God knew all about it even before it happened. I had to put my children and friends into His hands.

As I thought about what the situation might be for our team, I found some peace in knowing that in the group was a doctor, a nurse, an Army Reservist, plus many others that had been to Haiti before and had made some connections there. This is the first time there has been medical professionals along on a service trip- that in itself is amazing.

When we received word that every person in our group was alive and unharmed, we were so thankful that God had spared them. But then the worry set in anew....now our group was "trapped" in a foreign country with barely passable roads into the capitol city, which now lay in ruins. Prayers began in earnest for a way to get them home. That was what was happening here on our end.

Things were very different for our group in Haiti. Yes, they had experienced the earthquake and the aftershocks, but at first didn't really know what was happening. When they could make sense of it, they simply continued to do what they had gone to do in the first place- help others.

They were able to take rice, vegetable oil and canned meat (some of which was processed here at Christopher Dock High School, through the Mennonite Central Committee's "Canner") to the people of Cotes de Fer, who had lost most of the buildings in their village.

The doctor and nurse were able to treat some of those injured during the quake and many of the women on the team just did what came naturally to them, caring for the women and children of the town.

Later in the week, Dr. Freed and Tom Nace, who is in the Army Reserves, were able to accompnay the doctor and nurses from Labaleine, as they took medical supplies into Port au Prince. The medical professionals were able to attend to some very serious injuries while in Port and Tom was able to go to the Embassy and speak to someone in the military about the needs in Cotes de Fer and Jacmel. This contact with the military gave important information, which then led to the military landing on the south shore of the island and getting much needed aid to the people of Cotes de Fer.

Yes, our group was concerned about how and when they would be able to get home, but they didn't just sit around waiting and wondering. They went to serve the people of Haiti and ended up being exactly where they were supposed to be when they were supposed to be there. The connections made in Cotes de Fer were not by chance- we believe it was a divine appointment and lives were changed, both in Haiti and here at home.

The team did make it home, each forever changed by the events of two months ago. Many of their family members are also changed- we all again realize the importance of reaching out, putting ourselves out there and living lives that give to others. That is what we've been doing with the TENTS FOR HAITI Project- giving our time, our money, our hearts. We each have found that just the time we think we're helping someone else out, WE are the ones who are getting blessed.

Our first trailer is going to be packed and closed tomorrow. We will all have a sense of "mission complete" when that tractor pulls away from the dock and heads to Florida, but we are not done. We already have things ready to load into the second trailer and we are excited to see what more we can do with your cooperation, to help rebuild the lives of the people of Cotes de Fer and beyond.

God bless us all!

I want to help, but what can I do?

We are looking ahead to March 13, the proposed date to finish loading the first trailer and getting it started on its journey to Cotes de Fer. So this week, we are in our big push to complete 400 health kits.

Each kit will contain the following items:

4 large bars bath soap (leave in wrapping)

1 plastic bottle shampoo (13-24 oz., place in resealable bag)

1 squeeze tube toothpaste (min. 6 oz., leave in box)

4 adult-size toothbrushes (leave in packaging)

4 new bath towels (27" x 52", medium weight, med/dark colors)

2 wide tooth combs/picks (6-8 inches)

1 fingernail clipper

1 box adhesive bandages (min. 40, asst. sizes)

1 pkg. sanitary pads (18-24 thin, small pkg.)

(Right now, we are in desperate need of towels, combs and nail clippers to continue filling kits we have already started!)

Our goal is to give one of these health kits to each family unit along with a tent.

Drop off point for hygiene items are as follows:

Indian Valley Public Library, Telford

Yours, Mine & Ours Consignment Shop, Telford

Tylersport Post Office, Tylersport

Green Lane Post Office, Green Lane

Double Dipper Deli, Vernfield

Franconia Square Cafe & Market, Franconia

Souderton Mennonite Church's West Street Community Center, Souderton

We are also collecting:

Tents: 4 person or larger, in new or good condition, with all parts

Tarps: 8' x 10' or larger, to protect the tents from the elements

Blankets: new or used in good condition & clean, fleece are fine

Sheets: any size, new or used in good condition & clean

Sleeping Bags: clean, used condition

These larger items are only being accepted at the West Street Community Center of

Souderton Mennonite Church, which is located at

105 W. Chestnut St.

Souderton PA 18964

Hours are:

Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-9 p.m.

Saturdays from 9-11 a.m.

We look forward to meeting many of you as you bring your items to help in this effort. If you'd like to be sure your items get along on this first trailer, we need to have them here before March 13!

Oh yeah! I almost forgot the other thing we need......MONEY!! You can donate financially to our project in a couple different ways, some of which are as easy as sitting at your computer and clicking a button.

If you are on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/TENTS-FOR-HAITI-Project-Donation-Page/358595298265?ref=ts, where you will find a "Donate" button on the left hand side of the page. If you don't have Facebook, you can still go to www.Paypal.com and "send money" to tentsforhaiti@ hotmail.com.

The other way to donate financially is to send us a check in any amount, made out to Souderton Mennonite Church, with "Haiti Relief Fund" or "Tents for Haiti" in the memo line.

All monetary donations are tax deductible and you will receive a letter of receipt from the church.

If you have any questions that haven't been answered here, please contact us at tentsforhaiti@hotmail.com

Thanks and God bless!

So just how is our community connected to the village of Cotes de Fer?

In our "About Me" section, I made reference to the hurricane that struck Haiti on October 2, 1963, "Hurricane Flora", and the connection to a local block company. That company was Landis Block, of Souderton, and this is the story of how it all fits together.


In early October, 1963, Arlin Hunsberger, who lived part-time in Haiti, but was previously from this local area, was contacted by Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), headquartered in Akron, Pennsylvania. He was asked to travel to Port au Prince and check on conditions in the wake of Hurricane Flora, and see if there was any way that Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) could offer some assistance to the victims.


Following is an excerpt of an email written by Hunsberger's wife, Naomi (nee Derstine), recounting that time.


"Arlin went to Port [au Prince] and contacted the US Military [who were] helping to work on hurricane problems. When he told them he had men who wanted to come to Haiti to help the hurricane victims, they told him they would help him to see what could be done. He flew with them in a US helicopter over the devasted area. They decided to help a village that was completely destroyed. The village was called Cotes de Fer.


MDS sent 15 men down and they took a ship to the village. They had supplies to build houses, cement, wood, food, cots, and blankets- all the things needed to build the village back to what it had been.



They knew they needed to make cement blocks to build the houses. Marvin Landis, from Landis Cement Block in Souderton, designed and built a hand- operated block machine. The men cleaned up the debris, put up tents and got to work. After they left, they left the two machines they had made there and people started to build machines just like Marvin had designed."



Marvin Landis, then plant manager at Landis Block, had designed and built a machine that formed 3 blocks at a time. This machine has been replicated by the Haitians and can still be seen in use all over the area to this day. Marvin was a member of Souderton Mennonite Church and upon his return from Haiti, was able to share his experiences with his friends there.


Forty-seven years later, a team of 27 people, most of whom attended the same church, were on a missions trip to Haiti, working with the Water for Life and Tree of Life ministries when, on January 12, the 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit the island of Haiti. To be more specific, half of the group was in Cotes de Fer the morning of the quake, trying to drill a well near the elementary school. The drill hit sea water and it was determined that there was no clean water to be had, so the well was abandoned. A few hours later, that elementary school sat in ruins.


I recently had the opportunity to speak to Marvin Landis' grandson, Doug Landis, who is still carrying on the family tradition of working at Landis Block. He told me that although he was only six years old at the time of the hurricane, he was proud of his grandfather's involvement in rebuilding Cotes de Fer. He also said that over the years of knowing Jim Frankenfield, the leader of the service team that was in Haiti during this year's earthquake, he finds it ironic or "kind of weird" that Jim and the group would have been in the same village that his grandfather worked so hard to help, at the very time the village would need such help again.

So, here in 2010, once again, the village of Cotes de Fer is in need of being rebuilt. Just as before, people from this community are stepping forward to do what they can to help our "sister" village get back on its feet. Cotes de Fer may seem to be a world away, but through the years, our communities have become connected by heart.