The photo is one of a garden / farm planted by a young man who has attended agronomy vocational school, sponsored by the Haitian Methodist Church. This is a typical garden on an island that is primarily mountains of coral rock and limestone. Crops are planted around and in between the rocks that can not be dug out.

There are protected trees on the island and some with valuable wood. An agency at Zabricot that is affiliated with Heifer Project gives hundreds of trees away each year for planting. Many are fruit trees that grow only in the higher elevations, but some are good sturdy trees that can survive pruning for charcoal and hold what little top soil is left.

Many gardeners use rock to terrace their gardens rather than the precious soil. Large rock walls also work to redirect water from roadbeds that become raging rivers in heavy rains. There are a couple of schools on the island that include farming and fishing in curriculum along with other practical classes. Information is not readily available to the general public without TV as 80% can not read.

Seeds are extremely expensive and sold only on the mainland. Main crops are peanuts, corn, melons, manyoke, sweet potatoes, carrots and beans of various types. Livestock must free range or they have no food and gardens are often targeted. In that event the goats are occasionally found sans head and hooves! That is the primary justice system that works.

We would like to see fenced range land as an industry but aren't smart enough to get that concept across. This year with no rain the forage is sparse, livestock are starving and dying from lack of drinking water. Our concern? Not only will livestock die if gardens do not thrive and cisterns are dry.

Haitian Prayer Angels - Industry for sud la gonav

As we look forward, as many third world countries, to a very lean year we ask for prayers for all God's hungry and thirsty. To help with that a young wood worker on sud la gonav has hand carved Haitian Prayer Angels. Others then spend many hours hand sanding them to a designed shape with each a bit unique.

The angels are made from a protected native tree that must be replaced when cut. The wood is expensive but hard and beautifully grained. Each angle takes over 6 hours to sand and are completely hand made. Workers will be paid daily for the angels completed.

Each Haitian Prayer Angel is intended to be hand held rather than hung on a wall. We ask on the tag that those who purchase one, hold the angel each day and pray for the millions who face a year of hunger and starvation. The original intent was to ask prayers for the people of south la gonave, who have no gardens, fish or water this year. Now, the famine will affect millions in Africa, Australia and so many other countries, including the US.

The cost per angel is $20.00 and we ask $5.00 postage fees if they need to be mailed. Any donation above that amount will be used for food for the poorest and unable to work.

As orders increase for angels we will expand the work opportunity along the south side of the island to involve as many workers as possible.

A voluteer will return to the US late May with angels to be distributed to churches and individuals. Another order of angels will be available for a Kansas team to take to the US in late June.

Any church that would like to take orders and collect money is invited to send us the number of angels needed and the money can be mailed to our Advance Special with "angel" on the memo line of the check.

Make checks payable to : Central UMC Advance #982465-6

Mail the check to: Lawrence Central UMC, 1501 Massachuettes, Lawrence KS, 66044

Email us at sjelagonave@yahoo.com to order if not ordering through your church.