The numbers of confirmed dead continues to increase, at this juncture they are saying over 1300 dead, and thousands more injured, we assume those numbers will increase for quite some time. Meanwhile, the hurricane season is well upon us and tropical storm Grace already dumped rain and wind on the earthquake damaged cities, causing great fear of deadly landslides that could result in days to come. The mass quantities of displaced people cannot find shelter and the rescue efforts become more complicated with weather issues adding to the stress. 
In times like these, as humans, we want to help, we want to reach out to those in need, and we want to be generous. But the struggle is, how can we be generous? To whom do we give? How can we best make a difference? Where will our money go if we do give?
If you are struggling with these questions, you are not alone. Unfortunately, there isn't a magic solution, and wrestling with how we can do our part to make the world better is, indeed, an integral part of life on this earth. 

But to assist in the enlightenment of how “helping” and “giving” can come in different forms, and end with different results, we share a few stories. Over 11 years ago something similar happened in Haiti when the well known earthquake struck near to the capital, and millions upon millions of dollars were donated. Some of that financial assistance indeed helped the victims; there is no doubt in that. 

However, it must be known that MUCH of that money went into the hands of large companies in developed nations who operated agencies and businesses to “repair the damage.” But in reality, most created more chaos and trouble than they were able to repair. Money often does not find it's way to the locals when such large amounts of these aid organization's expenses are needed to pay for international staff salaries, housing, transportation and bonus hazard pay for living in conditions in hardship location. The expenses of buying materials and shipping them in is not only financially costly, but supports producers in their own nation and business gurus with shipping companies rather than putting that money into the hurting local economy. These outside purchases and “donations” end up crushing the already devastated local economy. When you add in the costs of paying bribes, these imported goods financial cost is exorbitant, while the cost on the local economy and dignity of the people is even greater. 

Meanwhile, locally there are so many aspects of Haiti that are not known by outside entities. For example, the area of the nation that was most severely affected by this August 14th earthquake is the South West peninsula which has long been, in essence, cut off from the capital by gangs who have blocked the only entrance/exit into/out from Port-au-Prince. During the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew several years ago, huge trucks filled with provisions, supplies, and even money would drive through these areas and bandits would attack the trucks stealing the items inside, and often attacking the drivers and aid workers. This behavior has already begun in the aftermath of this earthquake with many people overtaking trucks filled with provisions saying they are also in need of assistance. 


In addition, the nation is desperate, so even though massive help is needed in one area due to a natural disaster, the truth is, help is needed everywhere... so many take the opportunity to take advantage of the situation and benefit from the many aid organizations in any way they can. These efforts to distribute medical supplies, food, lumber, water, anything that can be monetized – is often thwarted due to lack of understanding the lay of the land, social norms, and reality of desperation of brutal poverty. 

So, over and over again, in Haiti, huge amounts of money pour in through the generous donations of kind people around the world. The money filters through the hands of rich people, much or most of it stays there, the little that makes its way into the local area is often dispersed poorly, and for sure is seldom distributed in a way that maintains dignity for any receivers. 

There aren't easy answers, and we don't pretend to have them, but what we have found over the years with PeaceCYCLE is that the local people really do have the ability to make things better in times of crisis. The problem is that they do not have the resources. 

We have been working for nearly 8 years with a goal of “restoring dignity” in Haiti.... and that is not a goal that an assassination, an earthquake, or a hurricane can diminish. 

Each human has the desire to be generous, and to give when we see others in trouble. This is the exact feeling you are likely battling with as you sit comfortably on your sofa wondering how to help in this world. 

During the tragedy of the earthquake in this past week (the crises in Haiti are getting hard to keep track of) we are blessed to report that our immediate staff is safe. Many have friends and family in the badly affected areas who have lost homes and lives. The information is still coming in with details of some. 


Aid is best distributed by friends, relatives, and neighbors. When we receive a gift from a fellow human that we know, we feel the shared burden and we understand the reciprocal solidarity. There is a gentleness, a personal connection, and a sensitivity that comes from this expression of concern of a fellow human who understands your pain and suffering and chooses to travel the path with you. In contrast, aid that is air dropped, delivered by armed soldiers, or given in a line of fighting and pushing resulting in brutal violence for fear the quantity will run out before they reach the line is as undignifying and impersonal as it gets. 

If anyone can understand the pain of Haitians suffering the loss of life and housing and security, it is those who lived through the atrocity in 2010 in Port-au-Prince. We now have one group of Haitians who has not suffered greatly, but has first hand experience (those here in the capital city) and a group who is experiencing great loss (those in the south western peninsula). We want to send these messengers of sensitivity and personal generosity to help. 


In the past, we have occasionally empowered our staff to “give” by giving them a small bonus and saying they are not permitted to spend it on themselves. This typically resulted in someone paying taptap (local public transport) fees for everyone on board with them, or giving towards medical costs for a neighbor, or helping with the final expenses of a house repair. A contribution towards school fees for a neighbor, or purchasing street food for some children in the neighborhood are ways that our promotions to encourage the staff in reaching out have been lived out. 


When we have been asked by some how they can help, we have prayerfully and intentionally pondered this question. We would like to propose two options:

1. Purchasing wholesale product from us allows our staff to keep working, continue providing for their family, and maintain dignifying purpose in life. This is an amazing way to “give” in these depressing times. It is a boost of moral for all when they have to pack boxes and count products filling orders of the wonderful items they themselves created. If you would like to do this, please email us at peacecyclellc@gmail.com for info about wholesale purchasing. Unfortunately, due to shipping costs and logistics, we are only able to ship large wholesale orders direct from Haiti at this time. Perhaps, if this is more than you are able to manage, you could combine with other groups in your area for one large order. 
2. We would like to provide an opportunity to empower our employees to be the helpers. We know that they have friends and family and childhood neighbors and others who have lost homes and family members. Funeral costs, blood transfusions, medical supplies, cement, roofing, food, clothing, ….. so many expenses will be incurred, and the one with a job is looked to for support in these times. We know that our staff will be generous with their salary, but we want to empower them to help beyond what their means allow. If you are interested in giving a tax deductible contribution, we plan to give the staff a surprise bonus along with a paid week of time off of work to go into the areas where they know people struggling, and personally make a difference with their time, talent, and treasure! They will be instructed that with their salary secure, they are to spend none of their bonus on themselves, but to find ways to help those who have been severely affected by the earthquake. As we count our blessings that this has not gravely affected our workshop nor our immediate staff. We are looking forward to blessing others in a personal way rather than relying on foreign aid organizations. 
   We are pleased to say that we have been given the opportunity to partner with the Foundation for International Development Assistance (FIDA) with charitable status in both Canada and the USA and with whom we share similar values for development in Haiti. In order to receive a charitable receipts, please write a check out to FIDA with “PeaceCYCLE' in the memo line. Mail that check to: PeaceCYCLE, 323 N 4th St, Decatur, IN 46733 (online donations are possible and accepted through our website here, but unfortunately we can provide tax deductible option only through a paper check at this time).  
   
   
   

Thanks for considering sharing in this way, allowing the PeaceCYCLE PeaceMAKERS be your hands and feet to deliver your gift in a personal way.

Day 19:

Today we invite you to enter into Maison Handal, a brand new store in Tabarre, an area of town about 4 miles from our PeaceCYCLE workshop. This new store could be compared to a Target in the US. A little bit of everything.
Some amazing features of this store include that it is:
-Huge
-Clean
-Bright
-Organized

We try to give our staff experiences to help open their world view. We have gone up the mountain to see the city from above and experience the cool breeze of the elevation, we have gone to museums, and visited parks. The idea is that the staff begins to learn that there is a bigger world beyond their small cinder block home, and that there is both hope and a future for them and their country. Often times, culturally, they feel that they must leave Haiti to experience any of these things, and we are striving to help them see the beauty in their own home.

This pre-Christmas outing was one for the memory books. The idea was to see cleanliness and organization and appreciate that. The idea was to see something that seems “foreign” and realize it is within reach. In addition, it was a great chance for our efforts to empower our staff with the joy of giving.

We rented a tap tap (aka: a beat up small s10 pickup that would long ago have been illegal on the roads in the US) packed 13 people in, and headed out to our adventure. It was a surprise, no one knew where we were going.... there were guesses all along the route..... from afar, they saw the tall building as we waited in traffic due to horrible road conditions, they commented on the beautiful building and discussed what it was......but they never realized until we were in the parking lot, that it was our destination. They gazed up at the looming 2 story building, and no one dared to enter the door.

This is the door we discuss today - - the door of opportunity. Not that entering the “Target” - a place were we can purchase more material possessions that we probably don't need, but the freedom to enter any door (a store, a part of town, an office, etc...) no matter the “social level” that it represents.

The staff felt uncertain if they were “allowed” to enter. They knew that within those doors was a world that they had never seen and wouldn't understand. They knew that there were uncertainties within that building and didn't want to get a furrowed look from security.


But, they were armed! Armed with a band of other fine looking co-workers prepared to experience the surprise! (and armed with a $20 bill - fancy stores such as this sell their items in US dollars because it is more stable). This was a part of their Christmas bonus. A chance to either keep the money or have a small shopping spree.

The experience was more likened to that of going to a museum. It was mid-day on a weekday, so the store was rather empty of other customers, and due to its massive size, it seemed vacant! The staff clustered together in groups at first, afraid to meander on their own. Eventually, some got the courage to explore independently. The concept of being in the store was an experience in itself. There were lots of pictures taken, and lots of giggling. Many huge smiles, and a WHOLE lot of perfume/cologne sampling (let's just say we were one fine smelling crew on the way home!)

A few of them chose to save their money for other plans, but many spent some or all of their shopping spree money on gifts for their family!


Today's Challenge: Think about the first time you ever went to a department store. Hard to remember, eh? Likely you were toted through one as a small child, long before your memory was formed. But imagine if you were 46 years old when that first took place..... imagine how your life would be different simply without the experience of regularly walking through the isles of a department store, and being able to purchase a wide array of items at any given moment. (note: not all results of having this experience are positive, it has the tendency to turn us materialistic, always wanting more things, and never satisfied, and for that we must be careful). However, seeing and knowing that things exist, and that they may be available to help us complete a task; knowing that you can just “run to the store” and grab the needed items to finish something today, and knowing it will be available, and the price will be relatively the same as it was yesterday!

Today we encourage you to go to a store. Not so much to BUY anything, but to just take a deep breathe, and recognize how amazing it is to have access to these many and various material goods.

Day 14 & 15:

Due to technical difficulties, you get the day off of opening doors..... .but we challenge you today to be thankful for your access to electricity and internet.  

Day 12:

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​This is Rosianie. Each day, she carries her sewing machine outside. This gives her space so she can sew where there is natural light. Her tiny one room house with a tin roof is enclosed with minimal natural light making sewing difficult, because there is also no electricity.

In addition, she hauls out a large box of miscellaneous used clothes she has purchased to resell. These clothes, sold in bundles of unknown content, are cast-offs from US thrift stores. She purchases a bundle and places them out to sell while she is sewing! We are proud of her for her multi-tasking and entrepreneurial efforts!

This type of sales (almost like a perpetual garage sale) are common all along the streets. Some have clothes, others sell miscellaneous kitchen utensils, still others have an assortment of tools. With a 70% unemployment rate in Haiti, many people attempt to buy such bundles and re-sell them. Very few people have an income they can rely upon. They may sell fruit or vegetables on the street, praying that it sells so they can make a few Gourde (The Gourde is the Haitian currency) to pay for personal needs, but often do not consider the need to hold back cash to re-invest in buying more murchandise and thus they cannot continue.. With minimal or no education, very basic business skills are lacking, and often they will even sell their items at a loss, just to “have a sale” - not really understanding the costs involved supersede the price they sold the item for. When they do not have enough money to continue business the next day, they don't attribute that to poor business skills, but “lack of business” thinking if they had only sold more, then they would have more money.

Today's Challenge: As you rise on this Monday morning, and you are gearing up for a new work week, wishing it was still the weekend, we encourage you to just take a moment to be thankful for your employment.

Consider your work space.. Think about the physical area and accommodations (furniture, utensils, tools, machines, electronics, etc..) that enable you to do your job. Imagine doing your job without some of those accommodations.

We also encourage you to be thankful for the regularity of a paycheck, and the assurance that it will come. If you have your own business or have ever made an investment of such, think about the graces of being able to take out a loan to help you get started and keep afloat when times are difficult.

Take a moment to imagine the weeks leading up to Christmas and not knowing if you will have any money to buy food to prepare a Christmas meal for your family or to buy a small gift for your child. This is not intended to create a false sympathy for others, but to encourage us to be grateful as we start a new week. To put aside the begrudging Monday morning blues, and put on a spirit of joy as we kick off this new week!
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And thank you for being a part of the CYCLE of Peace that helps us to give our employees regular income that they can depend on! Your support and encouragement and purchases truly make a difference!