Manifestations and trying to make progress

Haiti is not usually on the radar of the main stream media, very few people know of the unrest down here if they don't know someone who lives here.

I try to keep my social media posts positive, I don't want to give the negative actions of a few any more attention.  There have been many days of protests here lately.  Here they are known as manifestations.  They can be peaceful marches with people carrying signs and tree branches or they can be road blocks with whatever debris can be gathered and some burning tires.  We have had all types here in Gonaives.

Port au Prince has all types too, but on a much larger scale and more frequently.  Gonaives has been pretty quiet until recently.

When these occur, the safe thing to do is to stay home.  Most of the time, there is some notice...you just prepare like you do in hurricane season.  Make sure you are stocked up on the essentials of life - drinking water, food, gasoline, propane.  When the manifestations stretch for longer periods of time, it becomes difficult to get supplies.

Earlier in the year, there were lots of manifestations in Port au Prince, but Gonaives was relatively quiet.  But, with problems in Port au Prince, it became difficult to get fuel and food items that are not local.  The power plant in Gonaives shut down most customers due to the inability to get critical supplies from the capital.  The gas stations had no gasoline, black market gas got to around $12 a gallon.

What this all means to us is we have to be more cautious and conservative.  We don't take any unnecessary trips.  The lumber yards don't get supplies from Port, so my work slows down.  We have to spend less money if I can't work.  It is summer now, but when school was in session, it was usually closed for expected manifestations.  We run the generator sparingly, only having a limited supply of fuel.

So, life goes on, just a little slower.  Patience is a prerequisite for life here. If you have been here, you understand exactly what I mean.  Things that you think should not take a long time or have any degree of difficulty become day long or week long endeavors!  I pray daily for patience and He has not let me down.  Patience will get us through this rough period and then we can get back to concentrating on our mission.

What is the mission?
Creating jobs
Training job seekers
Training job providers
Investing in Haiti
Investing in Haitians

Thanks for following us,

Scott, Ruthcher, Victoria, Abby, Christopher

A little help from my friends?

Hello from Haiti

Things are moving along down here, but not fast enough!  There has been political unrest and restricted travel.  There has been very little grid power and shortages of gasoline.  Things have been quite difficult lately.

I am writing today to ask for some help to get this project moving a little faster.  I believe that once the carpentry school and business has a solid foundation, it will be able to support my family and our mission on its own.  But we are not there yet.

I have lots to work with, I just need some help to get it going.  I have a carpentry business with a solid product line and many happy customers.  I have land with clean title for the school and our home.  I have countless future students begging me to start teaching them carpentry.

How can you help?

• Monthly support - I could use a little more monthly support for the basics of life
• Donations toward a specific project...If you are interested in seeing your support go directly toward a goal, I have several projects that are not fully funded yet.
• Your hands - come down and give me a hand for a while
• Connections - if you know of someone who is interested in vocational training and fighting poverty in a third world country, get us connected!
• Prayer - I know God is watching out for us, tell Him thanks for us and ask Him for the patience to see this through.

Monthly support and one time donations can be made with the links at the top right corner of this page.  Or, you can get a check to Tools for Success, a 501(c)3, in Nebraska.  Send me an email for the address...blueteamleader@gmail.com.

Specific projects I have in mind are:

• Solar power for the shop - $9,000
• Security wall for the property - $8000
• Workshop area on the property - $3000
• Temporary place to live on the property - $5000  (We will use the building for something else when we have built our house)

For the most part, this will be investing money in me and in Haiti.  For example, when I build the security wall, that money goes into the pockets of hard working Haitians.  The guys that make the block, load the truck, deliver the materials, build the wall...etc.  The solar equipment will be purchased from a Haitian company in Port au Prince.

Please consider investing in Haiti.  Please consider investing in me!

Also please contact me if you would like to know more.  Again, my email address is blueteamleader@gmail.com, I am on Facebook, or you can just call me +509 44-96-97-08!

Thanks,

Scott