Old House/New House for Three Sisters

Meet Alineda, Ynise, and Mirelanda. They are three sisters living in the same 'house' with their children. Many Hands became acquainted with this family a few years back through some medical help offered, at that time, for Alineda's baby boy, after the father died in a motorcycle accident. 

Their 'house' was barely standing even then. During the months, turned to years, that Many Hands has been in relationship with this family, a set of tarps were given to help protect the family from rain. 

A tarp inside the house as well, to keep the family dry. But still living on a dirt floor. 

And below, just an average laundry day. 

This is the 'road' to get there from Many Hands Campus. Not an easy trip. However, there has been a group of willing community members that have been putting their efforts together to work to improve the road bit by bit. See the drums alongside the road. This is part of the work... called a Konbit. The benefit in this is to keep a good steady beat to offer a good 'pace' to the very exhausting work.

All the photos and story to follow here are an attempt to help each reader fully experience this process, to try to imagine and appreciate the unbelievable effort by so many, and to be able to celebrate the beautiful end result.... a NEW SAFE HOME where these beautiful children may have the chance to grow and develop and have HOPE for a better life ahead.

 

We feel it is our privilege, as well as our responsibility, to bring awareness to these intensely dire situations. In doing so towards the latter part of 2025, God reached out to touch the generous hearts of 'friends of Many Hands' to offer the HUGE gift of shelter for these three sisters and their children. 

However, that was the FIRST of many other HUGE steps to seeing this project to completion. Remember those 'road' conditions? The location of this house offered unique problem solving opportunities. Jean Rene is MH SAFE HOMES coordinator. It was his job to figure out HOW the building materials would arrive at the site. No vehicle could be used because of the terrain.  

Starting with concrete block, materials were unloaded at a location which was still a good distance from the site. There were two sizes of block used in this construction project. 20" block are used for the foundation; 15" block constructs the rest of the house. These block were carried on heads and shoulders of numerous family members and neighbors, the 20" size - one at a time and 15" - possibly two at a time.

The work effort of the three sisters was augmented by an older fourth sister, Edwidge (seated to the left of the tree in the blue skirt), who lives in Cap Haitien. She came to add strength to the numbers!

Alineda's two sons are offering 'security' by 'guarding' the sacks of cement that need to arrive at the construction site.  BUT.... How do you get these 93 pound sacks of cement to the site?

MAYBE that is what sisters Edwidge, (l) and Ynise, (r) are pondering together... as they traverse the route.

The ANSWER.... Beasts of Burden that are so essential in Haitian society. But still each person does their part... plastic tubs and buckets full of sand and gravel - a literal uphill climb - as is often the case with life in Haiti. The walk from the location of materials to the jobsite probably takes 15 minutes but not an easy 15 minutes.

And then of course WATER is needed. A concrete block house build project requires drums full of water. And these are also carried one five-gallon bucket at a time. Here is Mirelanda doing her part. Below are the 55 gallon drums that are kept full throughout the course of the project. 

AND the project begins! Finally, the BOSS and his crew have the materials they need to start the work.

Stakes and string made level to identify where the foundation will be dug with picks and shovels. Below, rebar is cut and bent in the appropriate fashion. Each person executing their part of the job.

Each day the ladies cook up breakfast and lunch for the hardworking crew who are making it all happen. Meal preparation requires wood to be gathered; more water must be carried up from the ravine.

Day by day, block by block, shovel by shovel, bucket by bucket, log by log, the project advances. MH Safe Homes coordinator Jean Rene makes the daily journey to the job site to ensure all is progressing. 

In LESS than four weeks time, Here we are! MH and the family gather for what we term the "Pay and Pray".  The family, the boss and a couple workers, and representatives from MH gather to focus on God's goodness, the way in which God provides through generous donors, and then asking for God's blessing to be upon the family as they inhabit their new home. 

Here, Jean Rene leads with the singing of a song about putting our TRUST in our Lord. If we trust in the Lord we will triumph in the end. The song talks about persevering 'little by little' and that if we TRUST beyond measure we will not fall. Everyone present could relate to those words. We laughed at the literal meaning that we will not fall. We gave thanks to God that throughout the whole process, during all the trips up and down the ravine for water and carrying block, sand, gravel, sacks of cement, there was not a single injury. We also laughed that only God knew just exactly how many trips on foot were made in order for us to be standing in that house on that day. Followed by the reading of Psalm 91 and 103, we concluded with Psalm 121:1-2 to open our prayer to thank God for sending the financial gift to make this project possible and asking that God's Holy Spirit remain to guide and direct the household. 

Above, is the eldest sister from Cap Haitien, Edwidge, and the project Boss in the corner. What a sense of gratitude in the air. First for a new home, but also for the chance to have WORK. Oh the number of people that also benefitted by earning a wage during the construction. Everyone was expressing so much JOY!

Hopefully this has been a captivating journey for you, the reader, to experience the home build process through these pictures and the very real, true story of these three sisters, Alineda, Ynise, and Mirelanda. Can you imagine the work load, the comradery, the sense of JOY with the end result, the benefits for the future of this family?

Consider these words from Isaiah....

Isaiah 58:7

Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

A safe home is just a dream for many Haitians enduring the hardships of abject poverty.

If you would like to help build a home in Haiti and bring security to a family in need, please reach out to Tyler Kamerman.   (copy and paste the email address into an email)      tkamerman@mh4h.org 

or click the following link

https://www.mh4h.org/product/house-building-in-haiti/

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU.

Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Many Hands... Haiti. 

The past several days here have been nothing like what the media persists in reporting. Since a picture is worth a 1000 words, here we go!

SATURDAY....20 Brides and Grooms, Guests, Vows, Prayers from their pastors, and a little reception. 

SUNDAY... A visit to little baby Doux Elyce at a nearby hospital. 

His grandma has been such a SOLDIER for him. He had surgery and is recovering. He is not yet 2 months old. Doux Elyce is part of the Me Bel Mer First Thousand Days program. MH has been able to support the family through this very scary time. Baby and Grandma are still at the hospital. 

MONDAY.... Many Hands Haitian Staff participated in an all staff training event.

 Nearly all 140 staff, arriving from five different locations, were present. "COMMUNICATION" was the first topic shared. Imagine the communication challenges with unreliable phone signal and less than unreliable internet connection. Next was a presentation to encourage MH staff to believe that they CAN make a difference. Even when others may say otherwise. And finally, good, solid information shared according to the Haitian Labor Code about procedures that should be followed by an employer and employees to ensure good work ethics, improved work performance, and ways mutual respect can be demonstrated.

TUESDAY.... Many Hands gathered again for the All Staff Christmas party.

A Christmas meal was shared together, 

fun and games including "Bowling", and "Bags"

Each staff member recieved a Christmas gift of 

a 25-pound bag of rice and a gallon of cooking oil

A developing MH Christmas tradition... 

friendly 'Futbol' challenge between departments. 

Here The Agronomy Department and the Spiritual Development Department 

are fairly evenly matched. 

WEDNESDAY.... Christmas food gifts shared.

The father of this family described how hard he works to provide for his family. 

He continued by saying, "but actually today, I didn't have anything for them." 

God's timing is perfect. 

The man also exclaimed, "I don't have a house!" This house for a family of six is barely standing.

 But strong faith carries them from day to day. 

The next stop was this family. Mother and two sons who have mobility impairments.

 

Both young men are participants in MH Raised Bed Garden program. This was one of those moments where you go bringing a blessing to others and YOU yourself leave being blessed MORE. 

All the family members expressed how they pray for MH. Mom says, "I pray to God for MH that God would open all doors that are closed so that the ministry can grow so that the people who can't make it alone can find the help they need." SHE concluded by proclaiming to US, 

"May God Bless You. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!"