random June news...

Tynan & I (Rebecca) finally received physical DIPLOPMA's signifying our graduations from LeTourneau University in May and bringing an end to our studies for a while...well at least mine! We even took a few courses together, such as CS Lewis, the man & his works and Non-verbal communication. FUN times!

Tynan received his Associate in Interdisciplinary Studies degree.

Mine is a Bachelor of Human Services.

It's always nice to have a little hard work pay off with tangible results...!

Father's Day was generally a quiet one here, since Haitian Father's Day isn't until the end of the month and most Haitians tell us they don't really ccelebrate it much here...poor dad's.

Ted did enjoy a promised gift of more planters for his ever expanding patio garden, and dined al fresco with two of his kiddos over a home cooked dinner of lemon noodles, Haitian fried chicken, veggies & and a 7 layer oatmeal, coconut, chocolate chip dessert!

This month Emma also started the final leg of her high school education, including a Senior Practicum that she is very excited about! She is going to be slowly taking over full household management over the next three months. Not only is she getting credit, enjoying the challenge, and learning a LOT, but it has been a ministry that helps lighten the load for the rest of us as we focus on our new tasks.

Look at her latest creations:

YUM!!!!! Nice "working" breakfast for Ted & I this morning...

as if creating goodies to nourish us isn't enough...she designed this for her online art course as well:

Last Friday Tynan & I rolled out a new event at the Apparent Project boutique, cafe & book nook with the first ever STORYTIME! It was a great turn out, allowed moms to enjoy the cafe and a browse of the artisan's work, while the kids were absorbed by several "animal" stories. This week it will be Dr. Seuss!

 If you're in Port Au Prince on a Friday morning this summer drop by the Apparent Project and join us at 10 am...with (or even without) your kids!  @ Rue Cassagnol Prolongee #16, Delmas 75  

Last news worthy event up to date was a very special birthday party for one of our favorite people...

Little Miss Phoebe Kate turned FOUR!

Phoebe & her mommy, our dear friend Jessica Williamson, lived with us for most of last year before moving up the hill to Thomassin. We still miss having a little one in the house, but they are like family now, so it was an honor to enjoy another birthday with our little unofficial "niece". Looking forward to many many more!

So....that's a random summer news from Haiti wrap!

Rice farmers & orphan care

An unplowed field produces food for the poor,                                                                                    but injustice sweeps it away.  Psalm 13:23

This week Emma and I had a chance to go visit a rice farmer's cooperative about 1.5 hours outside of Port au Prince. Located out near an area called Thomazeau, it looks a lot like the rice fields and farms in the valley surrounding Sacramento, California where I grew up. Here's a farmer tending his field of carrots.

The cooperative is housed in a small concrete building with an office, and a bigger room which houses the 2 rice mills. There is a large concrete pad outside for drying the rice and a larger mound of old rice hulls.

When we visited, there was a large group of local women who brought their harvested rice on the backs of donkeys to dry it out and to run it through the mill. These women represent local farming families that plant a total of 2,000 acres of rice each year. Here is a dry field ready for flooding and planting.

The cooperative provides a tractor, expertise, and the drying and milling facility so they can prepare their rice for their own use or to sell in the local markets. The cooperative takes 25% of the rice as payment for their services and sells it to local food programs and resellers.

We are looking at possibly purchasing this local rice for our food distribution program. This particular area is an up and coming rice farming location, not in the part of Haiti that is typically known for growing rice. They are in need of more markets to sell their rice in, so that they can continue to grow their farms and provide stable income for these local families.

rice mill from Ted Barlow on Vimeo. 

So what does this have to do with orphan care? This rice will be distributed and resold in Port au Prince, providing "living wage" jobs for parents and other caregivers in our communities. These individuals represent families that are at risk for having to give up their children if they can't earn enough to take care of them. Their children could end up in local orphanages, where more than 80% of the kids are "economic orphans", children who were given up to the orphanage because their families couldn't provide for them. This rice will be an important part of our micro-finance and small business programs that will help prevent these kids from being abandoned in orphanages. 

Our goal is to tackle the orphan care problem here in Haiti at the source: and this new farm-to-table project aims to do that by creating opportunities, resources and jobs for vulnerable families. 

Ted

joining forces...

Here is a link to the official announcement last week that we are now on staff with The Apparent Project in Port Au Prince, Haiti. 

We treasure your continued prayers & support!!!!