A Land of Widows and Orphans

Our little baby with her crackers

What constitutes a widow? Is it only a woman who has lost her husband via death? What about the woman who has been impregnated and left to raise her child or children on her own in a country like Haiti? Do you think there are resources here for these women to tap into? Are there jobs here for single mothers? Out of the ten young people that I have been working with in Haiti, zero of these kids have two parents at home, and two have a dad at home.... because their mothers died.

What constitutes an orphan? Is it simply a parent-less child? What about the children who are left to raise themselves and run the streets day and night without care and concern from their (single) parents? There is an incredible disconnect between parents and their children in this country. Girls are not protected and boys are not taught how to be true men.... men who care for their family. I see that there is love between parent/s and their children, but it is at arms length. Children are fodder for this country. I can't stand it.

Most of the boys that are in my life here have never known a "father." They seem so anxious to hear about how to go about caring for their significant others "girlfriends" and "fiances." I speak the works of the Bible to them about what it means to be a husband and father. How to treat the women in their lives (mothers, sisters, wives, etc...). They are anxious to learn. I will perform a wedding on Monday for an engaged couple. They are going to have a baby in October.

Shane helping cook at the Orphanage

There are so many widows and orphans in this country that it boggles the mind. I can't keep up with all of the children I have by simply having a father's heart. I can't convey the emotions I feel as I look into face after face of young man, young lady, boy, and girl with expectant eyes. I literally touch dozens of young people and children every day. I am kissed on the cheek (traditional greeting) by the little girls and hugged by these big brutes all trying to mask their need to love and attention.

Children at the Orphanage

This evening I sat on a chair in a tent compound. I did nothing but sit, and soon there were children standing afar off looking and whispering.  I called a small one over to me, "vin pale ou - come talk to me,"I said. She came. She was about 10 years old, thin and timid. I handed her 20 Gourdes (65 cents US) and told her to go and buy me some candy(there are little street vendors everywhere, so I was betting there was someone selling candy close by). It is culturally acceptable for an adult-even a stranger-to ask a child to purchase something small like candy, water/coke, or other common items like batteries. She went of and returned with a handful of candy. She deposited the candy in my hand and was about to walk away, but I could see that she wanted to stay and talk. I offered her some candy, asked her her name and within about a minute I was surrounded by young people. We talked for an hour, and when I had to leave they asked me when I would return. The fields are white for harvest, but the workers are few.

There is so much more news about the orphanage, losing our house to a higher bidder, the Crow High School Tap Tap, and the need for generous person(s) to take on the ministry financially. 

I would type more but it is late and my eyes are heavy. I come home in 6 days... 

Shane

Getting Perspective

Dear Friends,

It's been a few days without an update from me...

Our wonderful team from Washington DC left Monday. I was sad to see them go. They, as many do, became friends of mine. I hope that I will see them again in Haiti. I have been invited to come to see them in DC in the future... My daughter Naomi has been in a DC kick for awhile now, so I think we will take them up on it the first chance we get.

I was feeling a bit under the weather the day they left, but chalked it up to fatigue. I wanted to render them the best service I could, so we worked day and night to make sure we procured fuel for the vehicles. Sometimes this entailed stopping at the side of the road to purchase wildly overpriced gas, and in two cases, sleeping in the truck at the gas station at night to be first in line for the mornings ration. Jeff, my friend since he was a skinny kids 10 years ago has always been willing to do these things ... no matter what they are. I have been pouring all my pastor-ly advice into him as he rights the ship in his life. He is getting married next month and having a baby in October.


The Orphanage

As many of you know, the orphanage has been an unexpected mission to me and our last team. It is the most downtrodden orphanage I have ever seen. Every time I go I am amazed at the woman who is operating it. She needs help!!! So much help. I want Mercy League to do something about these kids... Especially the little ones without clothes and so sick. I am taking a doctor out to the orphanage tomorrow and picking up more food to transport there as well. The pilots at MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) have been a great help by finding me food and supplies for the orphanage. My little special friend, Widmia, has no clue that I am coming to see her tomorrow.

The Tap Tap


The Tap Tap is a hole that I have been pouring money into. It has a bad wheel, so we sent Jeff to fix it. He ran out of gas (fuel shortage), purchased some fuel off the street that was mixed with kerosene and blocked up something (I am not a car person) that in turn wrecked some big square computer unit and ended up costing $50-$60 more. It is being repaired again tonight for a tire and an electrical problem so that we can leave for the orphanage tomorrow at noon.

Low on Funds

Ya, I had to make that a topic... sad huh? I can't believe how much money it takes to just make the program work here. During the seven days that our DC team was here we spend about $100 per day just to keep the work moving forward. Then there are so many miscellaneous items like cell phone minutes, unexpected costs (like the orphanage: delivering food and paying extra salaries). I try to be a good steward of all the donations that I get... so when someone sends us money, it may go to gas that transports the ton of food we delivered to the orphanage. Should I have purchased food with the $30 or used it to transport the truckload of food.... These are the daily decisions that I make about money. It is not fun to make these decisions, but in the end... None of it goes into my pocket... none/zero. I just received a call from Brener (one of the masons) who is working at the orphanage to make a new outdoor kitchen (the house is a wreck) and Depot. They want to be paid tomorrow. This was not something that I had budgeted, but the children need to eat... so I said go ahead.

I know that many of you have sent money already, and you may be tapped out... so talk to someone about what we are doing and find someone to help. OK... enough about that.

Discipleship Training

It's astounding how much the youth of this culture have to face growing up. You cannot imagine what kind of things they see from birth to 15 years old. Young girls sell themselves to boys for 95 cents. Youth of all ages are left to run the streets with little thought on the part of their parents. There are precious few "fathers" in the lives of the young people. The youth who are in my life here: Jeff, David, Samuel, Roman, Valerie, Beatrice, Ruth, Jessica, and Vanessa all look at me with expectant eyes. I get called Daddy every day. The young men want advice and direction.... they sit and attentively listen to me. The teenage girls are starved for father figures... today I was even asked by a 15 year old girl if she thought Kristie (my wife) would be willing to take her as a daughter, because her mother died and she needs a mother. Their pleas are earnest and heartbreaking. They think that they are hiding their pain, but I can see it in their eyes. I scoff at the hard hearted who say that it is all about them wanting money etc... I give them very little monetary assistance... It is more about love and encouragement. Like being a pastor I suppose. Much of what I saw in my mind's eye when I felt the call to return to Haiti, has come to  reality for me.

What can you do?

Kristie and I are living on about one income... I should go and get some work... and forget about the call if you are looking at the literal grid of life. This is what I am prepared to do, because my family must come first, especially after all of this time away. It has to be for something that we are apart so much. May and most of June will be used for raising personal support. This means that we are searching for partners to share in burden of starting off in Haiti... financially. We are looking for monthly pledges and one time gifts so that we will be able to live and work in Haiti and build a business that will enable us to be self sustaining within a two to three year window. This May I will be looking for people to "book me" to speak in their churches, potluck dinners, living rooms, clubs, schools, and even with personal friends. We have given myself to the task for the next couple of months. Usually people plan for these things for a year or two. We have a few months... Are  you willing to send us a note about hosting Kristie and I for a briefing about our ministry? All in all... If we are called, He will make a way. 

She asked me if I would take the baby, I said... yes.

Dear friends,

It is a good feeling to spend your last ounce of energy in the day to do things you feel are at the core of your value system. I see value in people and relationships as we navigate the process of caring for orphans and the disenfranchised. The members of this current sojourner group are amazing people. I feel as though we are creating lasting bonds with each other. They are Coptic Christians - Americans - who are of Egyptian descent. I love the way they approach their faith,and relate to people here regardless of the status of the people. Hat's off to Joe, Minard, Miriam, Dave, Monica, and Terry!!

Tap Tap Trouble

This morning I awoke early and drove up to the guest house to pick up the team. We were headed to church with the church but as we rolled down the road, there was a clanging sound coming from the rear left wheel. We looked to see of something was caught in the tire... but could see nothing. On we rolled but the sound didn't go away... Finally I pulled to the side of the road and we discovered that there were only two nuts holding the wheel in place. Upon further inspection, one of the of the nuts was loose on a broken bold. so actually there was only one bold and nut holding the tire on. Soon we also discovered that someone tried to steal the rims off the tap tap, but succeeded in breaking off the bolts instead of being able to remove all of the nuts. All of the wheels were missing nuts and bolts. Good thing that the chrome rims were ill maintained, and the nuts tightened too tight. The morning was taken by that so we returned to the guest house and called it a day...


Negotiating the City, Weather, and Bad Drivers

The plan was to return to the mountain in the early evening to have our parting dinner with the parents of one of our team members (happens to be a Haitian). One of our young translators (Ruth), our all around driver/go for guy (David) and our logistics man (Jeff) were spending the afternoon doing their own thing until Monday. The problem was that the team was leaving Monday and would need a vehicle to transport them. Jeff took the truck downtown for new bolts and nuts while David and Ruth tried to figure out transportation back up the mountain... We settled on two motorcycle taxis, one being David and his borrowed junker of a bike. To add to it, he didn't really know how to drive so I didn't let Ruth ride with him - she is becoming like a daughter to me... Soon it was apparent to me that I was going to die on that motorcycle. I was actually relieved when the back tire abandoned us in the middle of the road. To make matters worse, the black clouds coming down the mountain were full of rain. The driver of the other taxi - our friend Roman, told me to get on the bike with he and Ruth. I declined.

I sent Ruth up the mountain to be with the team, while David and I dealt with the broke down motorcycle. Soon I realized that we were near a small tent compound where we knew a family. We went in to visit for a moment to let the rain pass over us. Two and a half hours we got word that Ruth made it up the mountain... drenched. The tent I was sitting in was one we had earlier donated to a family in need. It was a large 10 person tent. Inside were sisters, cousins, and one aunt. One of the kids was vomiting and had a high fever. I did my best to supply her with fever meds and water. We talked about all kinds of  things about God, Haiti and the upcoming marriage of Jeff to his fiance. They have asked me to pay for the wedding and be the God father to their first child.

She asked me if I would take the baby, I said... yes.


While I was in the tent, one of the young women, Ketia, informed me in an "oh, by they way..." sort of fashion, that she had a baby to give me? "Give me a baby," I asked her? Wondering if she meant her young daughter, I asked her, "What baby?" She explained to me with her sister and boyfriend looking on and verifying her story, that she knew a young lady who was planning to kill her baby. She, six months pregnant, confided in Ketia that she would kill the baby the same day it was born. She already had two children and the man she was with now wasn't the father. Ketia closed her hands in a strangling motion to show me what she meant. All of the young people explained to me that this was not all that uncommon in Haiti. Ketia asked me what I wanted to do. Did I want the baby? She said that she had to pick up the baby as soon as it is born. I said yes. What else could I say? A life is a life, and this baby isn't going to die... not if I can help it.

Widmia


Many people have asked me about Widmia... I love this little thing. She is so precious, and I have noticed that she isn't cared for well. There is a small group of us planning to work together on this project... We want to see these kids find a sustainable program and much love. I truly believe that this has come about because we have been called into this work... without a doubt. I am not to sure what say about Widmia... I just know how I feel about her, and that I want to care for her... It is not the rational part of me it is the sentimental/love part of me.

More to tell, but it is 1 am again... can't get it all done

Shane

What Greater Treasure Than This?

I was talking to the team members from DC about some of the Biblical references that our organization is built on. One of those verses is found in the New Testament book of James, chapter on and verse twenty seven. It tells us what "True and undefiled religion" is... to take care of (visit) widows and orphans and widows in their distress and keep ourselves uncorrupted by the world. True and undefiled religion.... this is something special. It is the church being the church. It is a cornerstone to our philosophy as an organization. What good are unspoken words of hope or consideration without fruition or action. All the sentiments in the world do not amount to a grain of rice, or a truly encouraged heart. There is always the act of faith which connects the sentiment to the power source. Changed lives are the result.

We visited the orphanage again today. I again looked for my baby - Widmia. She was nowhere to be found until one of the older girls, who knew I was partial to her, found her under a bench in the dirt again. She is always alone. She doesn't allow many people to hold her... she bucks and cries when some of the other team members tried to hold her. She was placed near me and I called to her. She looked at me with her usual unaffected stare, but when I asked her for a kiss on the cheek (the traditional morning greeting... "Bumwe bah!" she turned to me and kissed my cheek. The first kiss from this cute little girl. She held onto me again today. We sat and talked for awhile... well I talked to her and she sat there staring out, though relaxing in my arms.

She has long eyelashes and dainty little hands. I hold out my palms and she holds my hands for as long as I hold them palm up. I wonder if she realizes that I am becoming attached to her?

It seems that each person on our DC team have one or two children who seem to gravitate towards them. They are truly servants of God. They are considerate and sensitive to the Haitian culture.

I can't stay awake any longer : )

Have a good Sunday,

Shane

p.s. too sleepy to edit tonight, sorry

Zero Percent Chance

Mercy League has no designs on creating an orphanage program, but apparently God has designs for us to be involved at some level. Out of thousands of orphanages in this country three unrelated groups intersected at Mercy League in a way that can only be described as Joe Azer (Mission Life Center) puts it, "a zero percent chance that this could happen this way." It must be God. The orphanage is an amazing opportunity to make a difference in the lives of these children/teens without having to take on the responsibility of carrying the full load. This elderly Haitian woman, Madame Paul, has been mothering these children since 1992 with little help from anyone. She said that our org is the first on that has reached out to her to offer her any kind of partnership. Today we delivered more than a ton of food (rice, milk, sugar) and NFI (non food items) like clothes, dolls, water filters, and footballs. More to come in the morning.
I found a little girl hiding behind the orphanage yesterday. She had nothing but plastic sandals on her body (most of the small children walk around naked). She was holding a plastic bottle in one arm and a tin can in the other - her toys. She is a loner. I saw her on my way to the "potty" and returned to find her crouching in the shade in the same place. I went to her and bent down to talk to her. I said, "come to me "cherie(sweetie)", let me hold you." I picked her up and told her that she didn't need the bottle and the can. I removed them from her hands and she clung tight to my neck and placed her head on my shoulder. She didn't let go for a long time... My heart was touched... uh oh Kristie...
I fed her and gave her a new plastic bottle... a bottle . I also fed her some cookies... : ) Today I found her laying half naked in the dirt and picked her up. I sat her on my lap for awhile and then stole her away the the truck so that I could feed her again... and give her more water without the rush of other children... it is like that. She most likely has internal parasites, and diarrhea. She vomited on me at lunch and soiled me in the afternoon, but that's OK, it's worth it... I am a little worried about her health. The house mother is really pushing me to take her... Yikes.
Her name is Widmia.

Random Notes
The gasoline shortage is becoming a bit of a drain on us. This is the first night that I've returned home before 8 p.m (looking for gas and descending the mountain). 

Tonight there is yelling and shooting in the Delma 83 area. part of me wants to go down the hill and stop whatever is happening... I bet Kristie would be against me doing that.

The response to my heavy heart was overwhelming. The reaction was varied, with most people telling me that my expectations were too high. Others responded in their own defense... not needed I assure you, and still others offered their condolences and valuable advice. I appreciated the response from everyone. It might have been about 25% of the list that responded. I plan to create two groups one which will receive a monthly update... those who are currently reading this, and another list that you must opt (ask) into. So far there are zero people on this list. This way my heart may stay intact. Please email me if you want to be on the new "Co-worker" list. This list will receive more notes and updates... but I will expect some kind of participation - correspondence, and other forms of participation. Those of you who are already swamped can remain of the "Friends" list and check in when you can. Do you think that is a good idea?

See the blog of our DC Team (MLC) http://www.missionlifecenter.org/index.php/International-Blog/

Dear Friends,

Gas Shortage in Haiti

I am here in Haiti... Delma 83 at a friend’s house. Our Washington DC team is up the mountain in our guest house about 45 minutes away. I am here because there is a gasoline shortage in Haiti that began a day after we arrived. The gas stations are not able to sell fuel and we are almost at a standstill here. I have been spending the late afternoons and evenings facilitating the effort to procure fuel.

The young men who work with us here in Haiti (Jeff, Roman, and David) have been searching day and night to find gasoline any place that they can. It is pitch black outside, and raining, and Jeff just called me to tell me he is waiting outside the house. I need to go and give him some money because he is heading out to look again  later tonight. They talk to friends, and visit gas stations... combing the city. He found 6 gallons of gas earlier this evening...

Our Tap Tap’s fuel gauge was on empty when we discovered that there will be no deliveries to the country until the 26th of April. This means that we have to go 12 days without gas.

What to do... We have a team of volunteers from DC here to who have come for a purpose (airline tickets, support raised by their organization, medicines and other donation items ).


The Search for a House

I arrived Monday April 12th, here in Port-Au-Prince. I have a few definite goals in mind for this trip. The first is to facilitate the Washington DC team, the second is to find a decent house to rent for my wife and family... preferably one with a couple of separate dwelling areas so that we are able to host teams without disrupting the family unit. This was going to be a tall task, because the availability of houses has decreased and the demand for houses has increased... The criteria we are working with is definitely tough too. We need a something out of the norm for a decent price. A fella I know has been looking for weeks and hasn’t found anything less than $2000 per month that his wife feels comfortable renting. Some of these houses are renting for $5000 - $8000 per month.

The first day Jeff picked me up at the airport and brought me to a house in a good area of the city to see a house. This is the house he brought me to:


I looked at the house and wondered if he really knew what I could afford. The caretaker showed me through the house and I realized that this 5 split level home has enough bedrooms for all of my children and family to live upstairs on the top two floors with the rest of the house practically including two bathrooms and a dorm and two common areas available for hosting friends from abroad etc... The house is quite large, but does need work on the walls... and security features, like walls. There have been no noticeable repairs since the earthquake, but the house looks fine. We will have an engineer look at the house as well. When all was said and done... the asking price was $9600... per year. That is about $800 per month. I couldn’t believe that price. “That is too low...” I thought, so I decided to talk the owners. They asked me to come today, so I talked with them... Here they are. They confirmed the price and would like us to rent the house as soon as possible! They rent houses here per year, so that is my next challenge.

I emailed the photo’s to Kristie and she wants the house, so we are going to try to make it work as soon as possible.

Orphanage

I visited with a friend Ricot today. He is a long time friend who was once a youth group member, then a leader, and now a pastor. He works on the south coast of Haiti with his wife. He talked to me about an orphanage near PAP that is run by an elderly Haitian woman. She has 87 children and no outside sponsorship. She needs help and is quite ill with diabetes. I really was impressed to do something and take a look, but alas, my DC team already has plans to work with an orphanage they heard about.... and it turns out that it is the same orphanage... out of how many orphanages in PAP?

More updates to follow... must sleep : )


Shane

Calling all Friends of Mercy League!!!

 MERCY LEAGUE

Dear Friend,


You may be sitting at your computer reading this update and like many other updates, think that someone else will do something to help us. you enjoy the updates, but perhaps you feel like you are too busy to do anything to help... not so. Everyone can/should do something. Please take a moment and read today's special message to you!

Mercy League is doing more, so we are spending more. We don't generally leave funds in our general fund for long, because money in our account can do the job is was designed for. That said, we are in need of more donations from our friends than in the past.

You represent a group of several hundred friends who have been with us through the various years of ministry. Shane and Kristie are taking their family to Haiti in July. In the meantime Shane has been traveling back and forth between Port-Au-Prince and Oregon. We are a at a crossroads and we need the help of the people who are with us. I hate to even mention this, but it is a fact. Without funds, we are not able to continue to do what we do.... I mean, we do things on the cheap, but cheap still takes money.

Mercy League is having their monthly board meeting tomorrow night (6 pm at Aquila and Priscilla's) in Springfied, Oregon. We will be discussing a successor for Shane Mattenley, and making plans moving forward. We ask that if you have ever wanted to make a small sacrifice and donate towards our effort to care for the disenfranchised, abandoned and exploited.

Now is the time to do something for Mercy League! Please take a moment to dedicate something towards our program. Shane and Kristie are in need of personal support for a two to three year window until their sustainable project gets off the ground. Mercy League is in a small financial crisis and is in need of immediate assistance... A little goes a long way in an organization like ours.

Mercy League generally does not hold fund-raising campaigns, but there are times when it is appropriate to do so. The crisis in Haiti has left our general fund in a poor state of affairs. Please help today by using the donate button on the blogsite: www.mercyleague.blogspot.com or go to the website: www.mercyleague.org

If you can see this donate button you can also click here:

You can also send a check to:

Mercy League International
P.O. Box 86
Drain, OR 97435

All donations are tax deductible : )

Shane will be back from Haiti at the end of April. When he returns he plans to hold as many events and speaking engagements about the new program in Haiti as possible. Please contact him via his email: mattenleys@mercyleague.org and schedule him to come to speak to a group of friends in your living room, church, or other group. He will come to you if he can!

Please respond to this with a note to Shane and tell him that you are on-board!

Sojourner's Inn: Shane and Kristie Mattenley's Sustainable Business for Haiti

Associated Content

April 7, 2010

It is common place for large organizations to dump incredible amounts of money into relief efforts across the globe. Many people send in their donations and trust that the work is being done. These foreign aid agencies, USAID, the UN and other large multinational organizations have one thing in common--obscene quantities of money, politics, and red tape floating through the air in all directions during a crisis like the disaster in Haiti last January.

Some small organizations, like Mercy League International, have a different approach, though more difficult to implement. They believe in the power of grass roots and sustainable development. Similar to the concept of Paul the apostle... the tent maker, the this small organization has plans to create a self perpetuating program with realistic start-up costs. The difference is that this program plans to maintain as much of the overhead as possible through a solid business model designed to create opportunities for people like you and I to enter into the equation.

It should be noted that Mercy League was about to send the director and his family to North Africa in July of this year, but on his birthday, January 12th, the earthquake hit Haiti with a natural disaster the world has not experienced in our lifetime. Plans changed quickly and Mercy League decided to send them to Haiti instead. This was a definite change in course, but the need was far more evident in Haiti than Morocco.

The plan for Morocco was to create something they called "sojourner's Inn," a sustainable business model for travelers from abroad. The plan was designed after the concept of a business run by volunteers and local staff to create a home base for international work teams, independent volunteers, University and college students doing field studies, and seminary students completing the international portion of their programs. The facility will hold 80 beds, a cafe, an internet communication center, a laundry facility, and classrooms. The main purpose of the facility is to create opportunities for people to find a safe and reasonably priced venue to stay while working or volunteering in Haiti. The money generated within the business will pay for the salaries of the director and paid staff, though the largest percentage will be used to fund an education program serving Haitian students who will attend a discipleship training program and life skills center designed to give Haitian nationals formation in spiritual/moral character and marketable trades.

The plan is in its infancy, but dozens have already signed on to help. Volunteers will pay a weekly fee to come and volunteer, and in turn help build the capability for Mercy League to create a self sustaining solution for a country with a great need for educated young men and women of character.


More information can be obtained by contacting Mercy League International through their website: http://www.mercyleague.org or emailing the director: admin@mercyleague.org