Mercy League: Dominican Republic Children's Home

Dear Friends,

I am sitting here at the table writing this on my trusty Laptop, in Oregon. Yes I am back. There is too much to tell and too little space in this blog. I will do my best to spare you from the minutia.

My last voyage overseas consisted of:

• Repairing and upgrading the children's home
• Negotiating the use of an additional acre for gardens and fruit trees
• Interviewing and hiring staff (house parents and support staff)
• Moving our house parents into the home
• Expanding the Dominican board of directors
• Finding free schooling and health care in San Marco for our future children
• Putting in place a property search (by Dominicans) for a cash flow vacation property*
• Seeing the garden planted with about a quarter acre of yucca, available for our use
• Taking a small break in our work to help Angel and Jose get medical attention

I want to introduce Angel (Alex) and Elizabeth (De Rosarro Gomez) Raman. They are a young couple responsible for the administration of the sustainable children’s home project. Alex is a carpenter by trade, and a young pastor (27).

Elizabeth (24) is a school teacher and community child worker, thought hey have no children of their own. I met this couple about a year ago and have been praying about them since then. I knew that I needed to get to know them if we were going to be working together so… I spent quality time with them and their families. I ate at Alex’s parent’s home and got the low-down from his uncle, sisters and cousin. Alex is a stubborn idealist… that was the gist of the conversation. I met Elizabeth’s family at her home.(her mother was off collecting firewood in the forest and praying on the mountain).

When she returned she made coffee for me and we sat together. Later that day Alex and I travelled to the countryside to meet his grandmother. She was an amazing woman who loves her grandson. We ate again (pork skin-yum- and coconut milk). Later that day we went swimming in the river with the cattle and people washing clothes.

Here is one thing to keep in mind… We pay no salaries of any kind. We have no financial obligations of any kind because our model of project development is… “Sustainable!” This means that we partner with people and organizations.

Take care,

Shane

Angel and Jose Burned Dominican Children

Here is the Video I promised:




Shane

Relief at the Children's Burn Hospital in Santiago

April 17, 2008

Dear Friends and Family,

Today we travelled to the home of Angel and Jose to transport them to the Hospital in Santiago, an hour away by car. Their father, aunt and four siblings accompanied us. It was a great day today because we were able to initiate treatment for the two boys, weekly basis. We went in with them in the hospital (no photos were allowed in the hospital for good reason) and their father hugged me charged with emotion. The other great news was that the burn clinic, “Voluntariando Jesus Con Los Ninos,” is treating the children for free. We are paying for their transportation and medicines, thanks to our Friends at Vernon Alliance Church in Vernon, BC, Canada.

It gives me great satisfaction to make a difference in the lives of people. Angel cannot turn his head without turning his whole body, yet he tries to help his sister put their youngest brother’s shoes on. Jose would likely have died without our help. Today we made a difference for these little ones. Those of you who attend church should be proud that we still have churches who act on a moment’s notice so do what were first called to do more than 2000 years ago when Jesus Christ told the parable of the Good Samaritan who helped the man beaten and left for dead on the road. Christians are called to make a difference. Furthermore… what if all we had done… was pray, give a blessing upon the home and leave? I put my hand on little Jose while he was sleeping that first day and prayed earnestly that the Lord would heal him at that moment. I believed, but alas, perhaps I also have much doubt in me because when were finished praying I saw that the boys were still burned badly. As Christians is it appropriate that we show our love and care for people with more than fancy prayers and well wishing. It isn’t even enough to simply send money… We have to love and care, and take action.

Today we were able to do all of those things… I only wish you could have been here to carry the children to the hospital beside me. We all do what we can… when we can.

I have much more to tell about our first day of official occupancy for our own children’s home, but that can wait until another day. Good things are happening my friends… Thanks for your prayers,

Shane

p.s. Sorry about the lack of video... I spend about 2 hours making a video online only to have it crash on me... again... I will keep trying in the coming days...

Dominican Children Burned... We are Helping

--Tomorrow I will upload a video if possible... It is very sad... But we are helping

Dear friends and families,

This is why we are here in the Dominican Republic... to help. These two children, Angel Luis (8) and Jose Julian (2) were left home alone while their 13 year old sister went to the store, about 150 feet away, to buy something to put with the rice that was on the stove. Somehow the whole pot of boiling oil/water/rice mixture tipped over on the two children. The children were taken the the hospital until the money ran out. We found them laying in a bed this afternoon, and we promised to help.

I talked to Angel and told him to hang in there, and that many people care about him, including me. He was very shy. He waved goodbye when I left. Jose slept through the whole visit.













I visited these children with the co-directors(Alex and Elizabeth) of our children's home, which is opening imminently. They care deeply for children and as we prayed for the little ones, Elizabeth couldn't hide her emotions. I am thankful to have caring Dominicans whom care about their own, with such passion.

We are hard at work building our own "sustainable" children's home in an area not far away, but somehow that work needs to wait until we get these little ones into a safe and sterile environment. I received two telephone calls today promising help for these children (My aunt and uncle's church in Vernon, and my brother in Vavenby, BC).


I will tell you more about Alex and Elizabeth another day.. for now... Please say a prayer for Angel and Jose. If you can... tell me if you can help us pay for their medical treatment, but perhaps do not send it right away as we may have enough with the pledges from the Vernon Alliance church and my brother Jamie.

E-mail me at: mattenleys@mercyleague.org

I thank God for the opportunity to be here on your behalf.

Don't forget to pray for Angel and Jose,

Shane

Johnny made my day!

-------------------------------------------

Dear friends and family,

It was the middle of the afternoon and I was back from a meeting in San Marco. There were reports from my sources for plants/trees and the cost of beds. The plants and trees were not found and the bunk-beds were more than $200 each but didn’t include mattresses. It was day 4 here and nothing to show for my efforts. On top of that… The support raising aspect of the cause…. Both personal and project was not coming together. I sat at the table and played with my food as I pondered these things.

Finally I decided that I was going to go and find something worthwhile to do if nothing else was coming together for me at the moment. I was frustrated as I ironed my clothes (I was in my work clothes earlier) and readied myself for a trek into one of the little Haitian villages/bateys near Puerto Plata…. … Then I looked out the front door and noticed a young man standing on the front porch. He was Haitian, and in his late teens.

I went out to see what he wanted and he indicated to me that he came to the DR illegally to find work. Both parents were dead, his mother in 2001 and his father in 2005. He was thin and had that look of desperation about him. After we talked for a few minutes he asked me if I had any food. I brought him some food (cookies and water… that’s all I had). He seemed lost and alone.

He was there to work that day, though he said he didn’t have a regular job… He left with a new set of clothes and more than a week’s pay in his pocket. (600 pesos) I will see him again tomorrow. It made my day worthwhile. I know it is just a band-aid for a larger issue, but at least we were able to do something for the short term.

Living alone in a hostile country would be difficult at the best of times, but for some reason in my moment of frustration about the children’s home, a teen-aged orphan showed up on my doorstep. God gave me a chance to do something worthwhile as I wait on the Lord to supply our needs.

By the way, his name was Johnny.

-------------------------------------

I have many stories to tell you, but I don’t want to abuse your time… so… keep talking to people about our sustainable children’s home… yes you… reading this blog. Please do not think that someone else will do something about these suffering people. Each of us can make a difference by even connecting one person to our cause! I have been getting very little response to my cries for help for our cause as of late. (part of the reason for my frustration…)

Map of North Coast

~~We did not form Mercy League to rest on the abilities of one person (especially not me), but the talents of many… united for a common purpose… thus the name: Mercy (caring for people) League (a group/team working together)~~

May the Lord Bless you,





; )

Food riots grip Haiti

• Orla Ryan and agencies
• guardian.co.uk,
• Wednesday April 9 2008

This article was first published on guardian.co.uk on Wednesday April 09 2008. It was last updated at 10:57 on April 09 2008.

Haitian rioters block a street in downtown Port au Prince while Brazilian UN peacekeepers look on. Photograph: Kena Betancur/EPA

United Nations peacekeepers fired rubber bullets and used tear gas to control mobs rioting over rising food prices in Haiti yesterday.

Angry protesters tried to break into the presidential palace in the capital, Port au Prince, and demanded that President Rene Preval step down.

Preval was inside the palace at the time, aides said. The president has made no public statements since riots broke out on the island last week. Five people have died in a week of protests, Reuters reported.

Yesterday, protesters smashed windows and looted shops. The city's streets were blocked by burnt-out cars and concrete barricades, while violence forced the US embassy to suspend visa services and routine operations.

Food prices have risen 40% on average since the middle of last year, causing unrest around the world, with riots seen in countries such as Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Egypt.

For months, Haitians have compared their hunger pains to "eating Clorox [bleach]" because of the burning feeling in their stomachs.

Fears exist that the rioting could destabilise the fragile island state. Peacekeepers came to the country in 2004, following the overthrow of former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

"I compare this situation to having a bucket full of gasoline and having some people around with a box of matches," said Preval adviser Patrick Elie.

"As long as the two have a possibility to meet, you're going to have trouble."

What progress has been made in stabilising Haiti "is extremely fragile, highly reversible, and made even more fragile by the current socio-economic environment," UN envoy Hedi Annabi said yesterday, after briefing the security council.

The World Food Programme (WFP) made an emergency appeal for donations for Haiti. It said on Monday it has received only 13% of the $96m (£48m) necessary for its Haitian programme.

"Riots in Haiti underline the additional need for lifesaving food assistance," said WFP executive director Josette Sheeran.

"At this critical time, we need to stand with the people of Haiti and other countries hardest hit by rising food prices."

World food prices are not likely to fall in the near term, Jacques Diouf, director general of the Food and Agriculture Organisation, said today.

"There is a risk that this unrest will spread in countries where 50% - 60% of income goes to food."

Dominican Republic April 7 and 8

Dear Family and Friends,

When I was at the Miami airport I met a Haitian group from the US travelling to the Dominican Republic (DR) to do a work for the poor there. In the process of our conversation and sharing each other’s goals one of the pastors took me aside and asked if he could donate some money to the cause. He gave me a check and sent me along with his blessing. I was quite shocked…. and thankful.

I arrived in the DR yesterday afternoon (April 7th) and began the trek from Santiago to Puerto Plata. Along the way we visited one of Mercy League's 7 churches (I don't talk about them much because they are not part of the children's home project because they are the work of Mercy League-Dominican Republic). There is also much need in these small churches as they are in some of the poorest areas on the DR. The video that I have put up here is a little church in Beya Gonzales. The pastor there hugged me and then scolded me for not visiting sooner.

I met the couple we are considering as house parents for the children’s home (more like house “grandparents”). We also have a young couple who pastor one of our churches in San Marcos who will be intricately involved in the running of the children’s home. They are really nice little people (They are a cute little couple in their sixties). Things are coming together in that regard.

When I got to the children’s home today it was a mess. The yard was unkept and full of trash. The garden was planted already with the land lord’s potatoes and the fence was down. I have some work to do. The good news is that someone came and worked on the walls of the house and put in a shower and bathroom in the back.

I helped out with the construction of a new church in San Marcos (same town as the children’s home) today as well. The pastor of the church will work (as it stands now) in the children’s home with his wife. Everyone is very friendly and welcoming as usual.

As far as building the beds… It may be that I have found some metal (a local art/craft) beds that may be as little as $120 per bunk-bed including the mattresses. I will let you know… I will begin to work planting banana, papaya, and plantain trees on Thursday, God willing, but tomorrow there will be political demonstrations in the area so I will have to stay home or possible go crayfish hunting in the mountains with the folks I am staying with. ( I know... weird.)

I hope that you are following along,

Please continue to pray for:

Children's home staff
Finances (God will provide)
Health

Shane

Making Hay When the Sun Shines!

Yes, its the old saying that I used to hear from the farmers and ranchers in Canada. If it was a wet summer then time was of the essence when the sun was shining.

I see my whole life that way.

I have a friend named Dan Snyder. He was a Doctor in Haiti, but now lives in Michigan (Hi Dan and Dee-Anne). Dan is the kind of guy who lives deliberately. What do I mean by that? Well... He makes decisions about life based on faith and wisdom rather than letting life dictate to him. He is an example to me because he works very hard at his calling but never forgets his family. He's taught me not to take life as it comes, but make life what I am called to make it... About God, family and calling. He always plans out his life to make sure there is balance.


We don't have enough time, money or energy to do the things that we dream about because we let life force us into ruts. If you want to live out a purpose you have to live deliberately, plan for it, and take a leap of faith.

What if you started making different decisions about your time, money and energy? You could follow your dreams too. --you might be thinking... I feel like doing something but I don't know what? Don't worry about that, start living differently, even in small ways, and prepare like you are saving for a long trip... The calling/vision will find you!--

I spend the day with the fine people at the Refugee and Immigrations Services in West Palm Beach, a division of Catholic Charities. The director of the program is Anne Marie Alexandre, who lets me help out whenever I am in Florida. I make myself available to do anything that can help them accomplish their good work.

I am pictured with Ann Marie and Ernest Duval, a pastor as well, in the office photo and again with Claudie Eloi, a great worker for people in need.



I'd better go for now...