Family and Haiti Update - January 7, 2014
  
                                                from: Kendra and the boys     
Dear Friends and Family,
 
Greetings and Happy New Year! This Franciscan Benediction is my 
prayer as I begin this new year! 
 
May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, 
half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you 
may live deep within your heart. May God bless you with
anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace. May
God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from 
pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach
out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe 
that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can 
do what others claim cannot be done." 
- A Franciscan Benediction

  

The boys and I are thankful for the Lord's grace and faithful care as we navigated the obstacles of 2013.
The year 2013 has been filled with some of the biggest trials and most 
unexpected challenges of our lives - the Lord continues to give His 
strength to face each new situation.  I have learned that even in the 
darkest moments, He is worthy of praise and we can always find something
to be thankful for. 
 
Andersen, Nathan, Kendra, Landon
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 Fishing trip w/ Grandpa & Uncle Kevin             
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ABOVE & BELOW - Nathan & Andersen - in the rain - harvesting watermelon from their garden.   RIGHT- Andersen & Landon making apple cider 
 
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History of New Life Village and the work in Haiti......
 
New Life Village is a community for 28 families which began two years ago in January 2011.  New Life Village is currently the focus project of Vision4Word, the non-profit organization which I am forming.  Click for a brochure Vision4Word. Vision4Word Facebook  Twitter 
Work on the village was begun one year after the January 12, 2010 earthquake which devastated the city of Port-au-Prince.  The Village was needed because families of the tent camp at Delmas 6, where I began coordinating relief efforts days after the quake, were being evicted.  By January of 2011, the tent camp at Delmas 6 was a dangerous place to live.  In this area, violence had increased and sanitation conditions in the camp were terrible.  The Cholera epidemic was in full swing and taking lives on a daily basis all over Port-Au-Prince.
numbered tents
Kendra at camp w van
Here, I coordinated relief efforts for 1,700 people for 18 months
                            
                         The Beginnings of New Life Village 
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field w thorns
Chopping the Thorn Bushes where New Life Village was to be built.

New Life Village -Temporary Shelters Built of Strong Tarp and Metal Roof
    CURRENT HAPPENINGS AT NEW LIFE VILLAGE:
 
We are working to provide livelihood opportunities for the New Life Village families through a co-operative family garden with the objective of decreasing malnutrition and increasing dignity.    
*  The garden was brought into shape with the help of the UN Paraguayan engineering division.  We mended the fences, resolved some plumbing issues, and  consulted an agricultural specialist. In September the garden was plowed and ready to plant.

  

 

   

 

My precious Village Friends!  We made major progress with the garden during my November and December visits! 

 

  

 

 

  

   

 

 

 

                                                                                                  
 In late November, the garden was almost ready for harvest.  The corn offered shade for melons, beans, okra, squash and other vegetables to grow below.  I was working with 
the people on the garden project one evening until 5PM; you can imagine our disappointment the next morning at 6AM when we discovered that there was no water!!  During the night, someone had climbed the pole and stolen two of the four solar panels!! There were two individuals who had previously lived in the village who I was quite sure were involved. These same individuals had previously threatened to burn down the village, convinced a judge to take me to court (the next day - 14 hours notice!) to try to get me to pay the judge a bribe!  I, along with the village people spent five hours at the police station only to conclude that we were wasting our time!  I experienced with the village people what they feel like when they are the targets of exploitation in a society that offers the poor no protection whatsoever!  It is so easy to lose hope in the face of this type of injustice.  
The Paraguayan UN military men volunteered, on their leave time, to install the replacement solar panels - plus razor wire for added protection! Thank-you PARENGCOY!!!
   
I had a decision to make.  If I did not replace the panels, there would be no water for the greater community and the garden harvest would be lost.  If the panels were not replaced, the other two panels and the pump (worth about $3500) would likely be stolen as well.  In order to replace the panels I would have to borrow $700.  The village currently has no funds.  I prayed about what I should do.   I decided to replace the panels if some of the village people would commitment to sleeping at the garden for security.  Beatude, Merita and Ti-nom (pictured below) now sleep at the garden for protection of the solar irrigation system and the crops. I gave them mosquito nets and some pieces of wood with which they made beds.  They sleep on these wood pieces with a piece of cloth as a mattress.  (When I flop into bed, on my four inch mattress, I am humbled by the reality of how my friends sleep!)  The garden is about one mile from New Life Village. The only concern they had with sleeping at the garden was for their security since there is no lighting.  Can you imagine trying to provide security without even a flashlight?  For about $375 I could hook up a small security lighting system for the garden.  If you are able to help cover the $700 cost of the replacement solar panels or make a contribution toward the $375 need for lighting, it would be greatly appreciated. Please drop me a line if you are able to help.  Below you will find details about how to give to Vision4Word.  Please keep praying for the village.  I was able to go work in the Village three times in November and December.  We are seeing God glorified as these precious people place their hope in Him and have their dignity restored!
I gave the garden security crew these solar lanterns until security lighting can be installed - They were delighted!!!
Beatude & Merita love Jesus!
Ti-nom with his wooden bed (no mattress only a cloth for padding) his mosquito net in the tarp shelter - protecting the garden!
Thank-you for your Care, Support and Prayers.
 
 Landon, Andersen, Kendra and Nathan Luna

  Make a Donation     * If you want to donate immediately through pay pal click the donate button.

 

  ***  If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to help the village families as we create self-sustaining livelihood opportunities, please drop us a quick e-mail at kendra.luna5@gmail.com   You can send your tax-deductible gift to: Davison Free Methodist Church, 502 Church St Davison MI 48423.  You should attach a note that says "Vision4Word."

    

If you are Interested in seeing what has happened in the village previously or forwarding them to a friend, please click on the link below...
                               Click Here for Previous Updates 
 Contact                                                  MAIL                              Kendra.luna5@gmail.com
Cell 810-820-1794                          3205 N Washburn Rd              
                                                      Davison MI 48423

 

                                                                                         Facebook:   Vison4Word                             
Skype: Kendra.Beth.Luna                                                    Facebook:  Kendra Trepus Luna       

Tax-deductible donations can be sent to:
Kendra Luna - Vision4Word
C/O Davison Free Methodist Church
502 Church St.
Davison MI 48423 
  
****Please write in the memo section of the check and attach a note stating "Kendra Luna - Vision4Word".  More to come on Vision4Word in another update.
Our deepest appreciation extends to those who have loved with their actions, prayers and given so generously! 
 
Kendra & the Haiti Team
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