Journal Bios

On Tuesday I explained the "rules" of Gift of Hope. I made sure to express the importance of being on time since Haiti is a very relaxed (late) culture. Jiniole for Gerlande were definitely listening! They both came at 8:30am this morning and the program doesn't start until 10:00am! I guess they are as excited as I am!

I have been receiving questions about how to order journals and their cost. The journals are selling for $15. You can order them by emailing us at haitipoverty@gmail.com. If you would like, you can request a specific woman or color. Our first shipment of journals will arrive to Michigan on October 9th. They will make great Christmas presents! We have some with fall paper, winter paper, and Christmas paper. We also have every color of the rainbow with very cool designs and some "manly" ones as well! I will be bringing them with me to various speaking engagements throughout Nov and Dec. If you are interested in taking some to your church or work to sell, please contact us! Every journal sold helps these ladies provide food for their families!

MIDELINE

(Mideline is in the white shirt holding her journal)

My name is Mideline. I am 22 years old. My parents died when I was very little and I grew up working for my aunt. When I was 20 years old I had a baby girl named Shellsie. Shellsie's father died before she was born. I struggled to care for her and she became very sick. Haiti Foudnation Against Poverty helped me care for Shellsie and kept her until she was healthy again. After the earthquake my life was very hard. Shellsie and I were both positive for HIV. In April 2010, just before her first birthday, Shellsie died. I have been very sad and depressed since April.

The Gift of Hope program is the first good thing that has happened to me. I have always wanted to be able to do something for myself and now I can! When I graduate from the program I would like to sell things on the street so I can continue to afford my medication, eat food, and have a place to live. I am thankful to God for this opportunity. He is my life.

FLOREMICHELLE

(Pictured with her two daughters)

My name is FloreMichelle and I am 29 years old. I have two daughters, Victoria and Alexandra. Victoria is 5 and Alexandra is 2. Last year when my mom died I thought my life was over. I had to sell everything we owned to pay for her funeral. We were living with her in a house she was renting, and the owner took it away from us even though we paid a whole year. I was living on the streets with my daughters. I asked the director of Haiti Foundaiton Against Poverty if she could keep my youngest daughter because I could not afford to feed both of them. Instead, she began helping me sell things so I could keep my daughters and find a place to live.

When the earthquake happened my irls and I were at my cousin's house. We made it out alive by my cousins died inside. I am thankful to God because he saved my life.

I am so excited to bein the Gift of Hope program. When I graduate from the program I would like to open a small shop selling slothes and shoes. I would like to see my children grow up like other children, having food to eat and a place to sleep.

JINIOLE

(Pictured holding her son, Benley)

My name is Jiniole Pierre and I am 20 years old. Since the earthquake on January 12, 2010 I have been living in a tent city with my son Benley. His father was killed in the earthquake, and he was the only person in our whole family who had a job. Benley and I lived in a house made of sticks, tarps, and saran wrap. I was very afraid that he might die in the tent city because there are many sicknesses where we lived, and other babies his age are dying.

Benley is living at HOPE House, Haiti Foundaiton Against Poverty's infant care center, until I can earn enough money to move out of the tent city and care for him. I would like to tell you how thankful I am for the Gift of Hope program because it has taught me how to do something to make my life better. When I graduate from the program I would like to open my own store selling hygiene items to other women. I am thankful to God for this new chance at life with my son. I love God very much.

GERLANDE

(Pictured in Tuesday's post with her children in front of their house)

My name is Gerlande and I am 35 years old. I have four children and a husband. My husband does not have work and we struggle to find enough food to feed our children. Sometimes we do not eat for 2 or 3 days.

I would like to tell you why I love God so much. My youngest son, Jivenson, was very sick. I took him to the hospital and they said they would not let dead people in. I sat outside the gate all day saying, "Lord, this is your business, not my business, your child, not my child." At 10:00pm the hospital opened the gate and let me in. I sat by his side with the nurses telling me he was going to die. We were sitting on the third floor of the hospital when the earth started shaking. They asked me to take Jivenson home to die because they needed his bed for trauma patients. I took Jivenson over to Haiti Foundation Against Poverty's clinic and they agreed to help. He has been living at HOPE House ever since. My family calls Jivenson "Lazar" which means Lazarus in English. I am so thankful that God gave my baby a second chance at life. Without God and Haiti Foundation Agaisnst Poverty he would be dead. Now all of my children go to church and thank God for all He has done for us.

I am so thankful to be part of the Gift of Hope program. When I graduate I would like to sell rice and beans in my neighborhood because we are all very hungry.

Now that you have met our amazing ladies send us an email and order away! :o)