Most good things in Haiti are more expensive than in the states. Well, that's my opinion of course. 

Cheese, chocolate, bacon...are ridiculously expensive.

 And therefore rationed in our house.

But, there are certain things that are much much much cheaper here in Haiti. I never tasted Lobster in the states before. Mainly because of the price tag (and partially because I HATE shrimp and always thought they had the same taste). I have been buying lobster off a local fisherman here for 4 years now. He dives down and gets the lobster fresh in the morning and come by the house around 11 or 12 selling them. 

In the past he has always sold them for $1 US each. Today he came by the house and said he was sorry but he has to raise the price of the lobsters. 

My. Heart. Sank.

Until he said he was raising it to $1.25 US a lobster!

Of course I had to hide my joy deep down inside to not mess up the bartering/bargaining game played here in Haiti. And then I ran into my house and got 12.50 to pay for my 10 lobsters!

So we have no cheese, chocolate or bacon in our house...

but there's a pot full of boiling lobsters that are calling my name!

Coming along!

Here are the most recent pics (taken yesterday) of the depot!

This is the first building on Invest Hope's property in Peredo, Haiti.

We are still waiting on the door to be finished and for the outside walls to be smoothed with concrete. But it is looking good! 

This will serve as a place to store building materials for the other building projects and for general storage after construction is complete.

The best part of this project is that it was entirely built by Haitians. Me and the other Americans on the Invest Hope board raised the funds for the project and then it was turned over to Haitian hands. And they are doing a wonderful job!

Thank you for your support in our mission and for continuing to work to bring jobs to the Haitian people. 

The community in Peredo has provided us with lots of ideas of how we can come along side and help them help themselves. It is important for us to build functionally on the land to be able to provide these services. 

If you are interested in helping us financially...

Our website is now set up for online giving. You can give a one time donation or set up recurring donations.

Click here to be directly taken to the online donation link.

Happy 4th of July!

But...does it work?

This is the most frequently asked question by donors and potential donors after they listen to how the programs Invest Hope offers works.

Does it work?

Do they really repay their loans?

Do they really contribute to their child's school fund?

Does it really help Haitian families stay together?

And the answer is...

 Yes! Yes they do! Yes they do! Yes it really does!

 Amicie finished repaying her first loan this past Sunday!

 

 Rosemirline finished paying off her 3rd loan this past Sunday!

 Family who was reunited with help from Invest Hope and remains together through help from our programs!

One of the perks of our microloan program is that the funds are loaned out and then as they come back in, new loans are given out with the same funds that were originally given.

In 3 years, 60 Haitians have participated in our microloan program. Out of those 60 people, only 2 have not repaid their loans.

96% of our loan participants have repayed or are currently successfully repaying their loans!

You are directly helping families stay together!

That being said, we are currently raising funds to build on our mission property in Peredo, Haiti!

This land will house our mission office, which currently housed in a shoulder bag that I carry around!

 For the past 3 years, we have been setting up office under a tarp with a small table.

 

 As you can see, this is not the best set-up for a loan type program. Plans for the land include an office and a large gazebo to offer classes and waiting space. Haiti is very hot so the open sides of the gazebo will allow air to pass through while offering shelter from the sun.

This gazebo will also be open for the public to reserve for meetings, weddings and funerals. 

This is just a taste of what we dream of doing for the people of Peredo on the mission property!

To do this, we need the funds. This is the largest fundraising task I have ever taken on! But my Father in heaven owns the cattle on a thousand hills! Psalms 50:10.

 We are trusting in Him to provide!

If you would like to help us in this project, please contact me at ginnyandrews@hotmail.com. We are looking for new partnerships with new churches and further partnerships with churches who currently support us.

Direct donations can be sent to:

Invest Hope

1578 Dayton Rd

Newark, OH 43055

I look forward to hearing from you!