August 27th- Returning to Haiti for the fourth time since the earthquake, Yvens Brizard “Foe” was able to focus on a lot of repair work that needed to be done to the orphanage and school.
Although, a lot was accomplished there are still many repairs that need to be finished before it is safe to say that everything is close to being back to where it was prior to the earthquake.
Originally planning to return on August 24th, Foe decided to extend his trip for a couple of days in efforts to finalize everything that he began. The most important part of this process was to complete the roof over the school and then to begin working from the roof down. Another problem that he was faced with was needing to repair the power in the main house. We are happy to say that the roof of the school has been completed and the main house currently has power, but needs to be monitored on a regular basis by the house takers. It has been recommended that we eventually use solar power panels for electricity.
It took at total of 11 days for Foe to complete all of the repairs on the list, working from 7 a.m. util 7 p.m. everyday. He was able to complete everything on the list except for the containers, because they had not arrived in Haiti yet.
Traveling by himself to Haiti, Foe only had the help of his Haitian friends and Haitian workers to complete the work that needed to be done. Other things that played a factor into working on the repairs were: weather conditions (rain and downpours), horrible traffic, buying materials and negotiating pricing with EKO depots (due to different costs and pricing of materials) and trying to get Haitian workers on the same page (due to lack of education).
Also, during his time in Haiti Foe was able to spend time with the children in the orphanage. Throughout the days that he was working on the project, he educated the kids from the orphanage on what is being done and allowing them to participate on several miscellaneous jobs. Some of the jobs involved allowing the kids to organize screws and bolts together and teaching them how to use the correct screwdrivers that go with each screw and bolt. He wanted to teach the children what the work entailed and help them to build their self-esteem by creating a sense of self accomplishment. Foe was able to create self accomplishment through showing the children how the job is done and teaching them that once the job is completed, they will be safe in this zone. Foe described the project as making the kids very happy and enjoying learning and watching how things got built.
“I enjoyed my time in Haiti, because I was very busy every day and I was honored to have been able to have the opportunity to over-see this project,” Foe said.
The costs of the trip totaled to be $12,000 and it is estimated in order to complete the repairs an additional $20,000 will be needed. In addition to the school, repairs need to be done to the concrete home where the children sleep. All of the repairs are on a list that we would like to have mostly completed by mid October.
“We are thankful for Foe and what he has done to help us. We are also thankful for all of the donations that we have received, because without them none of the repairs would be possible. We are very hopeful to see what the future brings and we hope that we will continue to have the same ongoing support and aide that has helped us to get this far,” Founder, Michael Fedele said.
Fore more information on how you can help and to see updates on the children of Maranatha, recent trips to Haiti, Life For The World and recent and past events, you can also visit us on Facebook at Lifefortheworld Haiti.
Our most recent “Sponsor A Child” video was just prepared by Eugene Fedele in August, 2010 for LFTW. Please view it – the link is below and I think it’s really good. Eugene, myself, Dr. Mcintire, Ver Vanderzee, Bernie Zeman, Bob Radunzal and Alison Last just returned on August 10th from Haiti and this video was prepared from our trip. In this video we talk with many of the kids at Maranatha and you get to know them a little better. Dr. Mcintire did a great job once again doing several medical clinics with Vera as his nurse-aid and Simon translating. Bernie and Bob, as well as Eugene, did a great job as photographers and both Eugene and Bob said their lives were changed through this experience. We visited and spent time with the kids at Maranatha, visited our goat farm, visited several tent cities and distributed food and water, the land we are trying to purchase for rebuilding, interacted with people, and talked with them and listed to their problems. Please don’t forget your brothers and sisters in Haiti who need you now more than ever. About 25% of the people in this country are living under tents and they are really refugees living in their own country. We are working on our NGO status in Haiti and on purchasing the land for our rebuilding project of $2.2 million with will include trade schools, a restaurant, and sustainability for the kids at Mathanatha and the people of Source Matelas, Haiti. This is our vision!
Also, we are asking for volunteers to come in November assist with two building projects in Haiti. One at Maranatha and one at our goat farm, and possibly another place in we purchase the land and the paperwork is in place before then. It’s exciting , rewarding and fun to work with Haitians on building projects.
Please, if you haven’t, sponsor a child at Maranatha Orphanage and School for $30 a month and forward this to everyone you can to support us by sponsoring a child on our website. You can sign up in 5 minutes through pay pal, your bank account or credit or debit card and the $30 will be deducted each month automatically. You will get correspondence from your child and will be able to visit if you so desire.
Remember, give, and in ways you can’t imagine, what you give of your time, resources and love will always return back to you much greater than you gave.
Sincerely,
Michael S. Fedele
Founder and President
www.lifefortheworld.com
It was six months ago today that Haiti was devastated by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. It was six months today that 160 children lost their home and school. It was six months today that Haitians lost everything that they had.
The people of Haiti lost their homes, their family members and they lost their friends. Now, six months later they are still trying to pick up the pieces and rebuild their homes, families and spirits.
Since 2002, Life For The World has worked hard to build the Maranatha School and Orphanage and bring aide to the Haitian people. Now we are picking up the pieces, just as the people of Haiti are.
Even before the earthquake occurred, Michael Fedele and members of the New York Satelliete Team and Indiana team have worked endlessly in efforts to help to maintain Maranatha. We have also worked hard help to feed, support and bring aide to the Haitian people.
Now, Michael Fedele and both teams are trying to rebuild and relocate the orphanage on top of trying to keep up with the everyday living expenses that Marantha has. There are so many things and expenses that go into operating and providing care for the children.
We are working on negotiations for land to relocate and rebuild. The land that we are working on purchasing is $27,000 U.S. dollars. The total relocation and rebuilding process is estimated to total $2.2 million dollars. Our goal is to maintain and care for the children of Maranatha and to construct a living situation for Haitians in which they will be able to create sustainability for themselves.
After six months, the orphan boys at Maranatha are now back in their house. We have had to use money that was donated for the relocation to repair the building. We have also repaired many of the classrooms including all of the classrooms on the second floor. We still need to repair the stairs and build a roof for one part of the school. Otherwise, most of the necessary repairs have been made and the buildings of Maranatha are about 75% of what they were before the earthquake.
The children are now out of school and will resume at the beginning of the school year.
Over the past few years, Life For The World has been dedicated to making a difference. Now more than ever we have had to rely on fundraising efforts and donations. Every single person has made a huge impact and every donation has helped in more than one way.
Many people are involved with our organization and the following are words from team members from the New York Satellite Team and Indiana Team.:
(Giovanna Oriol, New York Team) My journey to Haiti with Life for the World has changed my life completely. I saw children & families without shelter, food and water. It brought tears to my eyes to see the devastation of what took place after the earthquake and it also brought a smile to my face when I saw our brother and sisters thank me helping them during this hard time.
While fundraising in New York, I knew we had to raise a lot of money so we can bring the necessity items such as: tents, food, clothes, water, pampers and anything to help them. All the endless hours and days, selling tee-shirts, finding ways to come up with different events or being part of an event that would donate to the Organization is worth my time. I knew that I would have to continue fundraising for a HOME for our Brothers and Sisters.
Our Last Project, Our Children’s Art Show, brought many tears to the Public eyes. They were amazed on how children at that age could paint such great art during this tough time. The children knew that if they were to get through this emotional time of their lives, it would help them rebuild there home from scratch. They are motivated and willing to work twice as hard to do something positive for their lives. Our NY Satellite team had so much support from friends & families and we really could not have done without their support and for that I would like to thank you all.
(Soleil Laurent, New York Team) The March trip that I took to Haiti was one of many that I have taken. This trip to Haiti was very accomplishing and up-lifting. The children of the orphanage as you know made artworks. The children were so happy and joyful. For the first time they were able to make images from their hearts and put it on canvas. I am very happy I went on this trip it showed that whatever you do does mean something. The children were helping to rebuild their school and orphanage (which would made them very proud). I love everyone in Haiti and I can’t wait to go back.
(Vera VanderZee, Indiana Team) Blog about March trip to Haiti
I made a new friend in Haiti this trip. Jean Michel Porfil (a young man in his thirties, father of two) the person who oversees the outreach at Tiplas Kazo, where Dr. Chris and Josephina gave free consultations, where Donna distributed some of the wooden cross necklaces and where a couple others of us helped an assembly line of local Haitians as they dished up plates of rice and beans to an approximate 800 people.
Jean Michel met our team at the airport and also accompanied us to Maranatha, to observe the painting project and the other work that Life for the World is doing, by God’s grace, for the orphans and the whole community at Source Matelas.
The day I left Haiti, Jean Michel gave me a souvenir: a stone carving of a Haitian woman sitting with her legs folded under her. Her back stretched up and forward, long, curved, and smooth, with an indentation that marked her spine. Her breasts were perky and full. Her hair was pulled back around her head, in an intricate texture suggestive of braids. She was solid and heavy, and, I thought, pretty much unbreakable.
When I got home, I unzipped my luggage only to find my Haitian beauty in two pieces, cracked right through the middle. I felt disappointed. Even if glued it, her “skin” would never look smooth and unblemished again. Suddenly the symbolism struck me: the Haitian body, broken. I thought of the people—the real people with blood in their veins–that are broken in Haiti. Some bodies are simply beyond repair. Others may be mended but never fully restored. The brokenness goes deeper than the physical, to matters of the heart and spirit and soul. These broken people are made in God’s image, and they are of so much more value than my not-so-solid stone souvenir. Truly, they need our love, our compassion, our support, and our prayers
These are just several of the many people that have traveled to Haiti or are a part of the Life For The World family. Look in future newsletters and on our website for more feelings from Life For The World.
Currently there is still room for you to join our family. There is a wide range of opportunities for anyone who wants to make a difference. Our current needs include:
Sponsors for the children (now available on our website, www.lifefortheworld.com, for $30.00 a month). This is a great way to get involved on a more personal level.
Two trucks or SUV’s for use in Haiti (we accept donated or reasonably priced vehicles)
Financial assistance for the continuing university education of our school’s director, Joseph Maurice.
Final preparation and submission of our NGO documents for approval by the Haitian Embassy
Contacts with NGO’s in Haiti through which we can obtain food for our orphanage and for distribution to nearby villages
Volunteers to assist in shipping materials and resources to Haiti and finding best companies to do it.
Please consider how you could be involved in these opportunities.
Together we are making a difference in this broken land. Don’t give up on Haiti. Don’t give up on our kids. Already over these past nine years together Life For The World has made a huge difference and saved thousands of lives. To continue to make a difference we have to look at the problems with both eyes of the soul and not back down. Even though Haiti is fading from the headlines, it doesn’t mean that it has to fade from our hearts.
Knowing that she could make a difference and inspired by the passion and accomplishments of Michael Fedele and Life For The World, Sue Rock, Founder and Executive Director of Sue Rock Originals Everyone, Inc. gathered 200 people together in efforts to be able to make a donation to The Maranatha School and Orphanage.
Looking for an organization that had shown a commitment to Haiti prior to the earthquake, Sue came across Life For The World. Blown away by the passion and inspired by talking to Michael Fedele, Sue decided that this was the organization that she wanted to help.
Wanting to make a difference, Sue decided to call for volunteers to help make wrap skirts to donate to the children of Maranatha. The response was phenomenal. Over 200 people volunteered 8 hours of their time in the spirit of volunteerism on January 18 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) to help the children of Marantha; some people even brought along their own sewing machines in efforts to get more accomplished. Using fabric donations from individuals and companies such as Liz Claiborne, Marc Jacobs and Van Heusen, over 300 skirts were lovingly created!
“What Sue has done for the children of Maranatha is an act of compassion and generosity. She is an amazing person and we are grateful to the contribution that she has made to Life For The World,” Fedele said.
Sue Rock Originals Everyone, Inc. is also a not-for-profit organization. Her organization is based in Brooklyn. For five years she has been able to help and encourage women to leave the cycle of abuse in the New York City area.
As part of their mission, this organization teaches the women to build a self-sustainable life for themselves. Their mission is to help to support battered women with volunteer hand crafted new clothing and an opportunity to be a part of a textile training program.
Sue Rock Originals Everyone is committed to fiber arts, but also extends other programs to families and the community including: knitting, weaving, crocheting and needle arts.
“This remarkable woman was able to gather 200 volunteers to help the children of Maranatha. Life For The World is about bringing hope and healing and so is Sue Rock. Together we are making a difference,” said Fedele.
“Its the heart afraid of breaking, that never learns to dance.
Its the dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance.
Its the one who won’t be taken that cannot seem to give.
And the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live….But,
just remember in the winter far beneath the bitter snow, lies
the seed that with the sun’s love in the spring becomes The Rose.”
- Bette Midler, The Rose
I have just returned from my second trip to Haiti after the earthquake and have much to tell you. I will do it in several e-mails and blogs. First, from the bottom of my heart I want to thank those of you who have acted before and after the earthquake by showing your continued support of Haiti, in particular the children of Maranatha Orphanage and School, the people of Source Matelas, Haiti, and the many others in villages we have befriended over the past 8 1/2 years and whom we continue to give food, education, love, a listening ear, capital for business and other necessities. Short video of Mike and Simon with Hungry Children in Haitian Tent Village pt. 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMMkO60Ub3o. Without YOU what we do would not be possible and we need your continued support for sustaining the orphanage and school and the exciting rebuilding project that we have planned for our kids, which includes sustainable projects such as a restaurant, goat farm, bakery, and trade schools.
I am not poor. But our friends are. I do not pass four days or even a week without food like many of our friends are living in tent villages right now. Millions of people in this country are at risk every day for disease and death. I don’t live in fear of getting TB, AIDS, meningitis, malaria, or pneumonia. But they do; I don’t worry that I will die and leave my children wandering the streets for food and a place to sleep. But these mothers do; You and I have the comforts of the American life and we should not only be grateful, but see it as an opportunity and indeed a privilege to help the rest of the world that is not as fortunate. One secret to a happy life lies in giving from our hearts. And I want to encourage you to see the possibilities for your life through helping the poor and giving from your heart. When you give until you are happy it will change your life. Think bigger about your life. Don’t focus on the negative, the problems, but on the solutions. See problems not as walls that stop you but as opportunities to change people’s lives and your own life to make a real, lasting difference in our broken lives and in our needy world.
While nearly 1/2 the people in Haiti are at risk of dying from hunger, malaria, AIDS, malnutrition, and bad water, we are far too comfortable. Our bellies are too full. It has been wisely said “If you always do what you always did you will always get what you always got.” Our hearts need to be inspired to make a difference so that your life will be better and more fulfilling. LFTW is about Haiti and helping the poor. LFTW is also about helping you to change your life and giving you something that will give you a fulfilling life where your own dreams are made possible. LFTW is about healing ourselves and healing others through our lives. LFTW is an organization that allows people to be free to share their gifts and talents to help others help themselves and transform both ourselves and others. We focus on healing the whole person, including ourselves. We are very open about that and desirous of you traveling to Haiti to use your talents as well as raise support for our work. Short video of Mike and Haitian Friends with LFTW feeding a Haitian tent village pt.1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NCtTlTh3oM
My brothers and sisters in Haiti are poor, yet never poor in spirit. They cannot speak for their problems. Therefore, I must say something that helps you realize the magnitude of the current problems in Haiti. First, Iim afraid we have already forgotten the monumental tragedy that occurred this past January, and the 300,000 plus that died in the earthquake and the millions of our hungry, displaced, homeless brothers and sisters are in this broken land called Haiti. Our sound bite, entertainment-drenched generation has had its fill of the spectacle of Haiti, and wants to move on, but I will not let let that happen. We look at the images and pictures, video and newspapers, and mostly remain silent. We hear the cries, and hear the reports of hundreds of thousands and even millions in tent villages with no food, not jobs, sicknesses and no money. And we continue to fill our bellies till we are bursting. We have no right to do that without doing something and making a difference. What if you were living in a tent village without food, a job, your children hungry, no home and sick from TB or AIDS. Would you want someone to help you? Of course you would. Video of Mike going inside an extremely poor tent village in April, 2010 to meet people, give and feed them Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CPZrvdOV54
Mothers are afraid of dying, because they don’t want to leave their children on the streets. Communicable diseases like tuberculosis and meningitis are now more rampant than ever and are killing people off daily. You have clean water, but imagine having to drink dirty water as they do? Your air is clean, but theirs is unclean. They still breathe it. Your children are fed, but theirs are hungry. Children eat dirt and concrete to stay alive. Your children go to school, but these little ones have no one to teach them. You have beautiful clothes. They have rags. You have a beautiful place to live, but they have bedsheets for a roof and sticks to hold it up. You have air conditioning and fans, they have mosquito carrying malaria to fight every night. You have a bed, they have an uneven dirt floor with a piece of cardboard over it if they’re lucky. You have TV, they pray to their God by the light of a candle each night. Mike goes inside an extremely poor tent village in April, 2010 to meet people, give money, and feed them Part 2 :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMMkO60Ub3o Our orphanage and school building is destroyed, but the children are doing well; the school is functioning. but we don’t have clean water. The children are presently living under tents and tarps and we have done some modest rebuilding to the school to make it reasonably safe and so that authorities won’t shut it down and take our license away to operate. Many schools and orphanages have been shut down, but ours has not and we were given the go ahead by the authorities to continue operating. We are presently building a small concrete structure for the girls to sleep in. The boys will sleep under tents and tarp. All of this will continue until we can find a place to rebuild a strong, safe facility with trade schools and full child and adult facilities. This will be part of our $2.2 million dollar rebuilding project.
Sponsor Project
We have completed our sponsor project and now you can go to our website and for as low as $30 a month chose a child to sponsor. You can chose either a girl or a boy and see their brief bio. If you want to you also have the option to chose two children for $60 a month. This project will help your child with food, clothes and education. The link to SPONSOR A CHILD AT MARANATHA TODAY IS: http://www.lifefortheworld.com/sponsor.html. Link to girls pictures: http://www.lifefortheworld.com/sponsorGirls.html. Link to boys pictures: http://www.lifefortheworld.com/sponsorBoys.html. We really appreciate your help. We really want you and need you to connect with your child. You will receive letters throughout the year translated with the child’s letter in creole and pictures and video of your child. You will also have the ability to communicate with your child through e-mail and have the ability to write to your child. You are invited to come on a trip to Haiti to visit your child. This project is crucial for our children to live and receive education.
Rebuilding Project
We are presently completely rebuilding the orphanage and school. This is part of a $2.2 million dollar rebuild project that will include trade schools such as electrical, masonry and auto mechanic schools, full dormitories for children and adults, a restaurant to create income, a sewing school, a bakery and a medical clinic. We have the personnel and property to create this project. We are in need of the financial resources. Right now we have approximately $45,000 in our rebuilding account. We are in land negotiations for a piece of property in Source Matelas right across the street from the present orphanage and school. The price of the land right now is $40,000, not including surveying, notary and lawyer fees. We are interested in this property but want to look at other possibilities and need to determine if we will be able to build on this land. So we are going to hire some people and hopefully find qualified volunteers to evaluate the suitability of this property.
NYC Art Benefit
Our Art Benefit was a great success. The benefit was initiative of Kevin O’Hanlon, art gallery owner of Rogue Space Chelsea. It was held on the lower West side of Manhattan in NYC from April 27th through May 5th. The NY Satellite group of LFTW hosted this incredible event. We grossed over $20,000 from the sale of paintings done by the children. You can still purchase one of the paintings for $300 on the website. Look for an article, pictures and blogs about the “Art For Haiti” event on the website soon. Documentary on the children of Maranatha creating the 209 masterpieces. http://vimeo.com/11692948 . Included in the event were performances from Richard Laurent http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJOSS0×1cF8 and The Mama Foundation Gospel For Teens performances during the event http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3k7yUmDeFY
Upcoming Newsletter
On June first we will be featuring our first newsletter. We will feature a monthly newsletter that will be e-mailed the first of every month. The newsletter will be informational and will help to keep everyone informed about the children of Maranatha and Life For The World.
Feeding the Poor in Other Villages
During our trip in April we spent a considerable amount of time feeding the poor in tent villages in the areas where the displaced Haitians are living. THE PEOPLE IN HAITI TELL ME VERY FEW ORGANIZATIONS ARE FEEDING THE POOR AND I SEE THIS BUT LIFE FOR THE WORLD IS FEEDING THE POOR IN MANY VILLAGES. Many of these people have no one giving them food. I asked the Director of UNICEF at the airport where all the NGOs reside why these people are starving with so much money given and he said they are “working on it”. I told him that hundreds of thousands of people are starving to death and that I don’t see enough people being helped. There are over 1.5 million Haitians living like this. I see almost no groups feeding these people and they are dying. My opinion is that humanitarian workers are afraid of going into these villages because of rampant communicable diseases like TB and meningitis. Mike goes inside an extremely poor tent village in April, 2010 to meet people, give them money, and feed them Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6yqMZfqu9U
WE ARE FEEDING THE POOR, AND WE HAVE FED TENS OF THOUSANDS SINCE THE EARTHQUAKE HIT AND CONTINUE TO DO SO BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS ACTING IN LOVE TO RISK OUR OWN HEALTH TO FEED THESE PEOPLE. People in these villages carry communicable diseases as AIDS, TB, Meningitis, and others, and have malaria and many other medical problems. However, with proper precautions taken you can significantly reduce the risk of contracting diseases and at the same time do the work of keeping dying people alive until a large scale solution can be realized, which involves the work of the Haiti, the United States, other countries and private NGOs like Life For The World.
Summer Teen and Adult Trips to Haiti
We will be taking at least two teams to Haiti this summer for a 6 day “Experience Haiti” trip which will include visiting our orphanage and school, spending time with the kids, connecting and feeding people in the villages, visiting the markets, visiting our goat farm in Sibert, visiting downtown Port au Prince to see the devastation and work being done, and to get inspiried for our work and learn about Haiti. On this trip we will not do a building project. Haitians do the building for us and we pay them. The purpose of these trips is to understand Haitians, their culture, and experience how the poor live, as well as to see the work we are doing. The purpose of this trip is to help you see the problems, feel compassion, and get inspired. Total cost of trip is $1,000 plus airfare. You will need to get your passport and book the flight yourself. The down payment of $600 is due by June 10th and the final payment of $400 is due by June 22nd. It takes up to six weeks to get your passport so you should move on that immediately if you want to go. If you need help preparing a sponsor letter we can help with that and we can help you find sponsors if you need help.
We will take up to 15 people for each trip. Right now we have openings. The teen trip is mostly for teens, but if there are adults who can’t make the August trip you are welcome to come on the June trip. Also, if you are a teen who cannot make the June trip you may come on the August trip. We are flexible.
1st Trip Date is Wednesday July 7, to Monday, July 12th
2nd trip date is Thursday Aug 5th to Tuesday Aug 10th.
How YOU Can Help
If you are interested in doing any of the following or something else not mentioned, contact me via email or phone (219-781-7618). Some of these positions will be paid if we cannot find volunteers. If you are interested either as a volunteer or as a paid position please let me know. The pay will be modest but fair.
2. Looking for a volunteer “Shipping Coordinator” who will do all of the footwork shipping our containers and all the logistics A – Z. This person will also coordinate getting our NGO status in Haiti which we are presently working on.
3. Visit Haiti on one of the trips above to get inspired to make a difference!
4. Looking for a few volunteers for help as “Sponsor Coordinators”
5. Looking for people who want to help us plan the rebuild.
6. Looking for volunteers to help us set up “Haiti Presentations” at schools, clubs, churches, and a variey of venues both as educational presentations and to raise support through our sponsor program for operating expenses and our rebuilding project.
7. Looking for volunteers to help us raise support for our rebuilding project in a variety of ways including auctions, fashions shows, dances, dinners, or through any other ways. Please fill out fundraiser volunteer sheet on website if interested (will be available on website soon).
8. Looking for volunteers to help us with grant writing.
9. Looking for people who want to teach English at our school.
10. Looking for people to help in all phases of the rebuilding project.
Please look at all of our videos posted recently on You Tube to get a picture of what is happening in Haiti and a vision of our work. There are about 20 posted in the last three weeks from our last tow visits and we will be posting a lot more. We don’t want you to forget our brothers and sisters in this broken land. We don’t want you to forget the work we are doing together in LFTW. In order to realize these childrens dreams and our own dreams, we must continue. Give and it will be given back to you in ways you can’t imagine. If you sacrifice you will find a better life. Anything that matters is going to cost us something – our time, our fears, our money, our life. But what you get in return will be more than you could have ever imagined.
Mike goes inside an extremely poor tent village in April, 2010 to meet people, give money, and feed them Part 2:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnKtY0njPS8 Mike goes inside an extremely poor tent village in April, 2010 to meet people, give them money, and feed them Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6yqMZfqu9U
Thank you so much for your compassion, generosity and perseverance with us. Together we are making a difference!
Best Regards,
Even with Haiti fading away from the headlines, Orphanage founder, Michael Fedele is still able to be thankful for the outpouring of generosity given by the Northwest Indiana community. Initiative of Tina Cantu, this past Saturday, Life For The World held their First Annual Feed Haiti Event at Post 66 in Griffith.
Donations from Target and Mejer helped to purchase the food for the event and Post 66 generously donated the hall for free. Local businesses such as Red Lobster, Round the Clock and Creative Hair in Highland donated gift certificates for the raffle. Cantu also obtained a professional clown for free.
“It is the fundraisers and donations that have helped us to be able to provide for Maranatha and the Haitian people,” Fedele said.
The event included something for all ages. Live entertainment was provided by the band “Gather” and four solo singers; including one of the ten contestants from last year’s Latino Idol, Kristy Burciaga. Face painting, a clown and games were available for children to enjoy. As part of the experience people were able to shop at the event while enjoying food and music. Vendors such as Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, Kiss my Bubbles and LeVive antioxidant supplements had tables set up to accommodate anyone looking for something special.
Exceeding her goal, Cantu was able to raise over $1200 for Life For The World. The donations from the event will be used to purchase food for Maranatha. The orphanage and school spends over $3,000 monthly feeding the children.
“I feel overall the event was a success, it brought people together for a good cause. It was an enjoyable time and I feel that it couldn’t have worked out any better. There were so many people who contacted me who said they wanted to help in some sort of way. I really couldn’t have done it without the volunteer’s” Cantu said.
Life For The World is a not-for-profit organization founded by Hammond resident Michael Fedele. It funds The Maranatha Orphanage and School and the surrounding Haitian villages. The orphanage and school is the home to over 150 children and 20 Haitian workers.
“Our local community has not forgotten about the severe devastation and poverty in Haiti. It was rewarding to see local members of the community show how much they care by participating as volunteers, vendors and guests,” Julia Fedele said. .
Founder of Life For The World, Michael Fedele, was recently invited to speak to the Highland and Northbrook Woman’s Guilds. He spoke in regards to Life For The World, our mission, goals and accomplishments. A slide show also accompanied the presentation so that the women were able to see actual footage of Haiti.
“I would like to personally thank the Highland and Northbrook Woman’s Guilds for giving me the opportunity to speak to them and allowing me to be able to give them a glimpse of Maranatha and what Life For The World is about,” Fedele said.
Also, The Calumet College of St. Joseph College recently donated all proceeds from ticket sales to their annual dance to Life For The World. The donation was initiative of The President of The Black Student Union of St. Joseph College, Crystal Phair.
“Being able to attend the dance and see all the enthusiasm was very touching. I want to thank Crystal for everything that she did. I had a fun time with all of the students and it was a great experience,” Fedele said.
Installing the “seven bricks of love” Founder of Life For The World, Michael Fedele, recently spoke to Highland and Illiana Christian Schools. Fedele spoke in regards to how it is important to accept each person for who they are.
The seven bricks of love included: encouragement, acceptance, friendship, humility, determination, listening and compassion. Fedele spoke about how these bricks are different than the bricks that hold a building together.
As part of the presentation Fedele spoke about how there are two different kinds of bricks, the kind of bricks that hold a building together and the kind that hold a person together.
“The bricks that hold you together are the kind of bricks that you can’t see, they are the kind that you can only see from the eyes of your soul. These bricks make you who you are,” Fedele said.
Fedele described the bricks as something that will carry you through the stormy seas of life.
“The bricks will give you faith when you are afraid; they will heal you when you are hurt; they will give you strength when you are weak; they will lift your heart when it is broken; they will raise you up onto the mountains and help you walk on stormy seas; they will raise you up more than you can ever thought you could be; these bricks will hold you together and keep you strong,” Fedele said.
Wanting to help the children of Maranatha, Illiana Christian High School is hosting “The Taste of Illiana.”
During their lunch period, the students of Illiana will be able to purchase tickets which will allow them to taste foods from different cultures.
Included in the tasting will be Haiti. To represent Haiti, Founder of Life For The World, Michael Fedele will be making smoothies with fruits that are native to Haiti. The smoothie is described as a chilled drink that will include fruits such as papaya, mango and banana combined with canned evaporated milk, vanilla and crushed ice blended together.
“The Taste of Illiana” will be occurring on May 11th. All proceeds will go to Life For The World.
I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your sacrifice, your generosity of spirit, your passionate work, your joy and enthusiasm, and your unfailing love for the people of Haiti; especially Maranatha Orphanage and School and the villagers of Source Matelas and Cabaret. My words are profoundly inadequate, but my spirit is filled with hope for a broken past in this needy and forgotten land called Haiti. I know that I do not fully comprehend the work and time you have put into making this happen. But I know that it is transforming our world right now. It is truly remarkable what you all have done since the earthquake in Haiti.
Our brothers and sisters in Haiti have truly changed us, they have healed us, and given us a richer life. They have taught us that true riches lies in a loving and humble spirit, even though we may be materially poor. And for this we can be inspired to make an even bigger difference and be a huge part of transforming this country and continuing on being transformed ourselves. Transformed to love rather than hate. Transformed to accept and celebrate people that are different from us. Transformed to give and receive healing. Relationships are what makes this happen. Relationships built on mutual respect, equality, love, friendship and kindness, which lifts our spirits out of poverty and into a richer way of being. Relationships among each other and relationships with our friends in Haiti are the foundation of all that we are and all that we do. People are what makes this happen. And you have made this happen. You have made this happen with so little material things, but with a huge heart! Thank you a million times and million!!!!
Merci boucoups pou tout bagay ou te fe pou ti moun yo nan Maranatha. Petit mwen, petit nou nan Maranatha di merci anpil anpil anpil……qwe mwen, si nou pa genyen ou tout bagay nan Maranatha and LFTW pral termine, finis. Mwen konnen ou se zamni de moun yo pov Ayiti. Anpil moun yo di mwen yo remen ou pou anpil bagay ou fe nan Ayiti. Bondeye konnen tout bagay ou fe. Bondeye beni ou net net net. Mwen remen ou, ti moun yo nan Maranatha remen ou chak jou. Yo panse avek ou chak fwa. Vini anko sil vous ples. N’ap tann ou. N’ap Kanbe.
I love you and the children and our poor friends who are rich in spirit love you for who you are and all you have done!
Grand Avenue School has been working collaboratively with a former parent, Mrs. Johanna Laurent. Mrs. Laurent runs the New York Chapter of the organization Life For The World. Life For The World funds theMaranantha School and Orphanage in Source Matelas, Haiti and contributes to helping the Haitian people.
Members of the Grand Avenue School community, various schools, groups, and individuals have made our fundraising efforts possible. Many people contributed generously and we wish to acknowledge them and thank them for their hard work and humanitarian efforts. These people include: Faculty and Staff of Floral Park Memorial High School and the Floral Park Key Club, Garden City High School… and the work of four very special students, Charlie Lee, Alex Kutulos, Matt Sullivan and Teddy Spanos, Ms. Eileen Alexander of STARS Rehab, Tiny Tots Kollege, Rabbi Marc Gellman and members of Temple Beth Torah, and Sgt. O’mara of the Baldwin 1st Precinct.
We are extremely proud of the students, families, and faculty of Grand Avenue School and of the other schools and organizations. Together we stepped up to the plate in “GRAND STYLE”. Through our collective endeavors, we have raised over $4,000 to help the Haiti relief efforts. With this money, Life For The World has purchased over 50 tents and over 6000lbs. of food to feed orphans and villagers. We also collected coloring books, crayons, toys, stuffed animals, and over 45 suitcases and duffle bags. When the organization travels to Haiti, they pack the suitcases with tents, clothes, medical supplies and other items and take them directly to those in need. Suitcases are then left with families who use them to store their personal belongings.
To date, this organization has made several trips to Haiti and plans to make one trip per month. Amazingly, they are in the process of starting to rebuild, and restore hope to children and families.
The voices of our brothers and sisters in Haiti have not gone unheard, and we will continue to hear the cries. Many have and will continue to give of themselves to better the lives of those in need. We at Grand Avenue School are committed to continue to make a difference in the lives of others and continue our work with “Life For the World”.
A rewarding by-product of their fundraising efforts have given the students of Grand Avenue Elementary School an opportunity to develop their characters and an opportunity to personally experience generosity, compassion and a sense of worth that brought new meaning to their lives. We are so proud of them.
Again, a special thanks to the students, faculty and families of Grand Avenue School and all others who contributed so generously.
To view the work of Life For The World, please view their website at www.lifefortheworld.com.
Juanita Bryant-Bell, Principal Nadine C. Patterson, School Social Worker Anna Filardi, Assistant Principal
August 27th- Returning to Haiti for the fourth time since the earthquake, Yvens Brizard “Foe” was able to focus on a lot of repair work that needed to be done to the orphanage and school. 
