This is from Aaron Rohrer, he owns Shotzi (Orbit vom Tronje x Faye vom Kirschantel), he just came back from helping out in Haiti along with his father, sister, and some friends.
I am writing this because of what I have seen, heard, and felt while on my recent trip to the country of Haiti in the city of Port au Prince. During my time there we worked with several hundred kids and families doing physicals with 2 nurses from Midland, food distribution, interacting with the people of Haiti and their way of life and also sharing time with our missionaries in Haiti. During my time down there I saw many things from homeless children and families, tent cities, countless piles of trash, too many workers doing what no one in America would ever dream of doing, and for very little compensation.
The “Haiti Foundation Against Poverty” is the organization that we went and stayed with while down in Haiti. Mallery Thurlow is the founder of the foundation that is located right here in Grand Rapids MI. A graduate of Cornerstone College she felt the Lord calling her to move there permanently, and after the tragic earthquake in January she moved there. They are right now living in a rented house outside of the inner city of Port au Prince. The foundation has already purchased a piece of property an hour outside of the city of Port au Prince. Attached is a photo of what the property looks like now.
Now keep in mind this property has to be cleared and leveled ALL by hand before they can start building! There is absolutely no equipment for them, and to try and get things such as a bull dozer, or back hoe is somewhat impossible, besides the cost of running and fixing it would be much too costly. What I am proposing is to raise enough money for Mallery and her workers to be able to get and deliver an ATV (4 wheeler) and trailer (5′ by 8′) along with enough money for parts and oil as well. With this piece of equipment they would be able to move rocks, trees and move soil around much easier; also since there are no rules in Haiti for transportation (brake lights, turn signals, etc) they would be able to use this for transportation of one person as well when running errands into town. This trailer is able to either hook up to the ATV itself and move around the property or hook up to the truck they have and move the ATV for longer trips. Keep in mind the cost of fixing machines down there is much more expensive than here. As an example 2 wheel bearings for their truck now are over $600 plus the cost of fixing them. The cost of the ATV and trailer will be around $8500.00. As far as the shipping goes, Haiti Foundation Against Poverty sends shipments in semi truck containers every couple months once they have enough to make it worth the money to send it, and we would be able to send it with the semi truck container.
I know that this is short notice but we would like to have it bought by the 19th of July. Mallery and her finance Frentz will be getting married that week here in MI and I would like it to be their wedding present before they return to Haiti. They do not know about this so for those that keep in touch with Mallery and Frentz please do not tell them.
I know that this seems to us like a small piece of equipment but please keep in mind that they have NO equipment down there now, and this would be something that they could use for years to come. You can send your donations to Kentwood Community Church; a fund has been set up there so that your donations can still be tax deductible. If we do exceed our goal then the rest of the money will go to the continual up-keep and fueling of the ATV as well as their truck down there for the ministry of the Haiti Foundation Against Poverty. You checks can be made to Kentwood Community Church. The address is 1200 60th street SE, Kentwood MI, 49508. On the front of the envelope put attention “Haiti Vehicle Fund”. All I ask of you is that you prayerfully consider giving to this cause. With all the charities going on out there, it’s nice to know that this is going to someone from our town living and doing their ministry in Haiti. If you are not familiar with the work in Haiti, you may check out the work of Haiti Foundation Against Poverty online at http://haitifoundation.com/. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely Aaron Rohrer
