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HHColminy, Columbus, OH (2026)

03/05/2026

VERY PERSONAL GIFTS FOR COLMINY’S FEMALE GUESTS

The women from Lianscourt were excited to receive a belated, essential, but unexpected personal gift. (These were for the 54 women who’d fled with their families from the gangs that torched their houses last November.) Beneath all the essentials that hadn’t arrived in time for HHC’s first boxes of donated clothing and essentials, we’d packed 54 menstrual kits -- 8 washable pads plus one pad-holder for each. While some of the women may be older and not in need of these, we suggested they give theirs to any of the few teen girls from Lianscourt.

Edly receives our packages and gives them to Richard. Then she met the part-time nurse in Village Noah (the poorest part of Colminy) and explained how they are to be used. The nurse, in turn, distributed them to these very appreciative women.

Photos 4 & 5 -- Looks like nosey men, struggling to find out what’s going on for the women.

NOTE: Not having such a basic item presents major hurdles to those who can ‘t afford disposable pads/tampons each month. The lack often keeps teen girls from school and women from chores away from home.

A special thanks to Suzanne (from our church) who provided her expertise with advice, materials, equipment and skill.

02/10/2026

ARBORLOO PROBLEMS AND PROGRESS

You’ve probably heard it one hundred times: “No community in the world has ever been able to sustain itself without WASH: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.”

Because HHC helped provide access to clean water to Colminy years ago, we shift our focus to arborloos (tree toilets with hand-washing stations) whenever possible. The plan is to keep going until every Colminy family has easy access to sanitation and hygiene. From January’s fundraiser, HHC received enough funds to providefor 15 more families. (Thank you, donors!!!)

When we asked Richard about their availability to build them, he confessed that 5 existing arborloos were in disrepair. Heavy winds had blown through the canvas walls of their protective “little houses.” As you can see from the photos, the frames and floor-slabs are still intact.

OK. It made no sense to build new arborloos while the original ones go unused. So… the first order of business was to repair last year’s structures and, in so doing, to make them more durable. So, here’s what workers are doing this week:
• Stripping away what’s left of the old canvas walls.
• Painting the wood structure (to prevent rotting).
• Creating new walls of corrugated tin (instead of canvas).
This galvanized steel or aluminum is affordable, durable, lightweight, weather-resistant, easily installed and readily available in Haiti. It’s a bit more expensive than canvas but should provide privacy and protection from the elements for years to come.

Great news: Some of these original arborloo pits are full! This means, once they’re topped off with good soil, they’re ready for a fruit tree sapling. It should be amazing to watch their growth in these compost-filled, nutrient rich pits. How exciting it will be for all when their first fruits appear!

Meanwhile, replacement pits have been dug and the old slabs moved over them. The little tin houses surround them for protection and privacy, while collecting more fertile compost for future fruit trees. Once these are complete, all new arborloos will be built strong and sturdy like those now being repaired.

02/03/2026

Praise the Lord!

Yesterday, a judge challenged The Administration’s order for the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to begin capturing and deporting all Haitians living in the US. This was scheduled to begin today! In the past (as you may know) when the President didn’t like a judge’s order, he’d refuse to enforce it. Or worse yet, he’d fire the judge!

So, it took great compassion, hard work, and especially courage for Judge Ana Reyes to challenge President Trump! But the Lord intervened. For now, all good Haitians living in the US can breathe a sigh of relief. Their stay remains “temporary,” without a new deportation date yet identified. But we are grateful for however long these wonderful, hard-working immigrants get to stay. [We feel the same way about all hard working and self-supporting (non-criminal) immigrants.]

Hopefully, prayerfully, the gang situation in Haiti will also end soon, allowing all good Haitians everywhere to live and work in peace. Once peace returns to their homeland, many Haitians look forward to returning. Please join us as we continue praying for this miracle too! And for our President to rule with Godly grace, compassion and wisdom.
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The alien who resides with you shall be to you as a citizen among you. Love the alien as yourself. [Leviticus 19:34]

If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength! Rescue t hose being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not He who weighs the heart perceive it? [Proverbs 24:10-12]

Remember the “American Way” inscribed on our Statue of Liberty:
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me.
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

12/16/2025

LIANSCOURT AND COLMINY BLESSED!

Thanks to you, many Haitians were excited yesterday. The 4 boxes filled with the good, used clothing and other essentials that you provided, had finally arrived. These were for the 99 people who’d fled to Colminy with only the clothes on their backs when gangs threatened life and limb and torched their homes.

In a country controlled by gangs, the boxes’ safe arrival wasn’t guaranteed. Twice, the shipment was put on hold. Initially in Miami until Haiti’s airport was deemed safe enough for landing. Then again, waiting for the roads to be gang-free for overland transport. But one can never be sure, and danger still lurked! The delivery was blocked at gunpoint with a gangster demanding a $150 “toll.” Of course, the Haitian driver paid. (He valued his life!) And, of course HHC paid the half he requested. Finally, all 4 boxes arrived in St. Marc where Edly received them, intact. From there, Richard took them to Colminy.

Yesterday, in Richard’s own translated words: “Today, after church, we did the distribution. We thanked God first for making the boxes arrive safely. We are covered with His grace! And thank you [donors] very much. May God bless you. You helped everyone a lot. I’m so very happy because every newcomer was in such great need.”

This morning he wrote again: “I’m so very happy because yesterday was such a wonderful thing for me, giving all this to the people of Lianscourt. Colminians were not included, but giving everything to these people made Colminians very happy. It is the first time we gave clothes to these people.

Each recipient now has at least two outfits… the one they came with and the ones donated by HHC’s friends. At least now they can wear one while the other is being washed! And with the sheets given, everyone now gets to sleep warm throughout Colminy’s cool nights.

Richard also provided 30 towels bought from donated funds -- 1or 2 per family. (Buying them in Haiti cost less than shipping them would have. And, as a bonus, the purchase benefits the local economy!)

All 99 also received new underwear and a toothbrush! Plus there’s the shampoo, conditioner, soaps and lotions to choose and share that folks here gave above and beyond the items requested. Plus 41 other things -- Christian necklaces, each hand-made by a Tower Lakes craftsman for the women and girls. (It’s a bit long for the shy little girl modeling it here… obviously borrowed from her mom.)

Lastly from Richard, “The people here are very happy with everything you gave. [Mesi anpil! …Haitian Creole for ‘Thank you very much!’]”

May the Lord bless greatly each giver as well as all who received!

12/03/2025

AN AMAZING RESPONSE!

Our last FB post concerned 99 people who’d fled from brutal gangs that terrorized and destroyed their homes. They arrived in Colminy with nothing but the clothes on their backs. We’re so proud of these Colminians who welcomed them warmly and gave what they could from their own desperations.

Nevertheless, they couldn’t cover all their needs. Neither could we! So we asked the seniors at our community chapel to consider helping by donating good used sheets, shirts, and shorts that they no longer desired.

What an amazing response we got! By the time we returned (a bit late) from church, our driveway was lined with overflowing bags and boxes of wonderful, needed items. And more arrived each day throughout the week! The local Care Center voluntarily supplied all the kids’ clothes (which seniors didn’t have), and others generously donated cash to purchase essential new items (such as toothbrushes and un**es) and to help pay the shipping for the nearly 180 lbs load. Thank you! Thank you everyone, for your quick response and generosity!

Much to our delight, a shipping employee voluntarily picked it all up as he passed by on his weekly Thursday trek to Miami. We thank him too!

So, all was on its way a week earlier than planned. Or so we thought! Turns out, that weekend Haitian gangs riddled small planes with bullets while landing at their main airport. For security reasons, all flights have been put on hold. However, this delay may not really matter. (See why in this weekend’s update below).

12/02/2025

GANGS HIT HOME!

Brutal gangs have been inching their way along Haiti’s National Rt. 1. This is the road we travel between the airport and Destiny Village, then through St. Marc to Colminy. Along their way, they spread fear, death, and destruction. [They come only “to steal, kill and destroy!” John 10:10]

In Bercy, they killed numerous men, women, and children, then torched homes, forcing displacement as survivors fled. (Bercy is the home base of EXTOLLO, the school that first trained several Colminy students in construction skills.)

Barreling down Rt. 1, the gangs then shot their way into Destiny Village. This is the orphanage where we stay while in Haiti. The little kids and girls were preemptively hiding-out elsewhere. The boys that remained were badly beaten, receiving broken bones, concussions, and a bullet wound. All have since been treated and released from the hospital… grateful to be alive! But DV’s beautiful campus remains under gang control from which they have stolen everything of value: vehicles, laptops, personal belongings… everything.

Over the weekend gangs began targeting the cities of St. Marc and nearby Pont-Sonde. Colminy lies off Rt. 1 between them. Richard picked up a young couple on Rt. 1 who were fleeing with children in the dark of night. This was 1:45, Sunday morning. (They’d already survived last year’s Pont-sonde massacre.) Again, St. Marc’s town square (photo attached) became the temporary sleeping ground for survivors who hoped to find shelter, food, and other essentials from… someone, somewhere, anywhere.

The police are trying to control the gangs, but they are out-numbered in both personnel and fire-power. All roads in and out of St. Marc are blocked. People are hungry and thirsty. This morning, we sent funds via Western Union. Too late! All Western Union offices in St. Marc are closed. (I imagine stores and markets are too.) Richard says the whole city is low on food, everyone is on edge, gripped by fear and unable to sleep.

Where are You, Lord?
Haiti’s Christians (and those of us who care about them) have fasted and prayed. Together our hearts are breaking. “How long, O Lord? Will you forget [them] forever? How long will you hide Your face?” [adapted from Psalm 13:1]
Lord, they need you now!

11/28/2025

BLESSINGS and DANGERS!

Exactly two weeks ago we posted the desperate needs of Haitians who’d fled from terrorizing gangs that destroyed everything they owned. They arrived in Colminy with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

We’re so proud of the Colminians! They welcomed these strangers with open arms, providing whatever they could from their own meager supplies. But Colminians couldn’t fill every desperate need. So, we made a plea to you, our FB friends, and personally to those in our senior community.

What an amazing response this received! Within 2 hours our driveway was lined with bags and boxes of good, used adult clothing and sheets, plus bundles of sample-sized toiletries. More arrived each day. Our town’s Community Care Center then donated all the kids’ clothes required. HHC also received several cash offerings. Thank you! Thank you, everyone!

became a flurry of sorting and counting, organizing and packing. By Tuesday, we’d boxed at least one change of clothes for every man, woman and child, along with sheets, toothbrushes, 41 beautifully hand-crafted Christian necklaces and underwear for almost everyone. Four stuffed medium-sized Colminy-bound boxes left for Miami on Wednesday. Besides things already mentioned, 6 tubes of caulking and a caulking gun were included to repair their leaky roofs, plud spark plug wires to repair the “ugly green car” we’d given Richard for Colminy’s needs.

Men’s boxers should arrive on Tuesday. We plan for a small shipment with these and the washable menstrual pads still being made.

Please continue to pray! This box-journey is fraught with danger. Last Sunday gangs shot two Sunrise Airway planes as they attempted to land in Port au Price (PaP). They received bullet holes, but fortunately no one was injured. Even so, Amerijet (our cargo carrier) suspended all flights to Haiti “due to recent security concerns.”

Hopefully… prayerfully… flights from Miami to Haiti’s capital will safely resume by the end of next week. Once the boxes arrive in Haiti, the shippers will monitor the gang-infested road linking PaP to St. Marc, ensuring safe overland transport.
After hearing all this, Richard responded (translated):

“Thanks for the info. We pray to the only God. What can I say to you? We are waiting for God’s answer. Everything that is impossible for us is possible for God.”

May He get all the glory!

Photos:
• Richard today
• Women’s Sandals from Colminians (x2)
• Village Noah’s houses 2021, when we were last there.
• Notice the holey tablecloth hanging from the ceiling, intended to catch rain water. (Sadly, not very efficient!)

11/15/2025

DESPERATE NEEDS FOR DISPLACED HAITIANS

As planned, Edly visited Colminy last Saturday to learn from those who had fled from the murderous gangs that terrorized their commune. She met with 40 women, 16 men, and 20 kids. Others remained “at home” in Colminy. While we don’t know how exactly how many, we presume these were the elderly that Richard mentioned and others who stayed with them. Those at the meeting ranged in age from 0 - 40.

Besides burning their houses, the gangs stole their land, businesses and vehicles. Before this invasion, these families lived in peace. Some sold goods at the market. Others managed subsistence farms. And now… well, of course, they miss their own houses, along with their friends, memories, and belongings! But without homes to return to and unable to afford life in the nearby city, they’re likely to be in Colminy for the long-haul.

Initially, their greatest need was for water. Of course, they shared the drinking/cooking water from Colminy’s water stations which, obviously, empty much faster now than before. To make matters worse, fill-ups suddenly cost 50% more.

Meanwhile, the nearby Artibonite River, in which Colminians often bathe, has been running dry. And what little water remains “stinks!” Those who have recently bathed in it have become sick! So HHC provided 8,000 gallons of cheaper “wash water” which they store in a local cistern.

Having arrived with only the clothes on their backs, Colminians loaned these newcomers some of their own clothes. As mentioned in the last post, they also provided sufficient rice from their recent harvest and bought sandals for the kids. What a fantastic blessing! …a “widow’s might” coming from Colminians’ own meager means.

Some of the newbies have found houses that provide a roof over their heads. However, many of these roofs leak in the rain. Those without a house sleep in the village school or clinic. All yearn for sheets to cover them in the cool night air.

We have spent the last several days contemplating all this. As amazing as the Colminians’ gifts are, they don’t meet all the newcomers’ basic needs. While HHC also provided funds for Richard to buy other foodstuffs and various hygiene supplies in Haiti, sadly, there’s simply not enough left to cover the needs of so many.

We are praying that some of you can find it in your heart and wallet to help us meet some of these essentials. (Any portion of the 100 personal items needed will be greatly appreciated!) As will some of your intact used but no-longer needed items or services if you live nearby. We will furnish caulking essentials to plug the leaky roofs and all shipping costs from Miami to St. Marc, Haiti. (Please see the attached list of needed items and time schedule below.)

Even if you can’t assist in this way, please pray for an end of Haiti’s gang warfare and for those suffering under their reign!

ITEMS NEEDED FOR HAITIANS WHO FLED FROM THE GANGS
THAT BURNED THEIR HOMES AND
STOLE THEIR PROPERTY, VEHICLES, AND BUSINESSES

At bulk rates, here’s the items HHC would like to provide new:
• Un**es for all (men’s, women’s and kids’) for $1.50 pr. (100 are needed for one change of un**es/person. Assuming folks arrived wearing un**es, having a 2nd pair allows them to wash one while wearing the other. Adults sizes M - L. (No S or XL)
• 100 wash rags @ .25/each. One per person.
• 100 Toothbrushes @ .25/each. Again, one per person.
• Hairbrushes/combs - 35 for one per family (These must be brushes or combs specifically for the “tight” hair of black people.)
You are welcome to buy any of these items yourself if you let us know what you plan to buy and can get them to us by the end of November. Or you can provide us with the funds to purchase them in your stead.

Good used but no longer wanted items:
• Flat sheets (any size). Minor stains or flaws accepted.
• Bras (any size)
• Men’s and/or women’s shorts (size M - L)
• Kids’ shorts (toddler - teen)
• Men’s, women’s, kids’ T-shirts (or any other tops ideal for hot weather), with or without writing or images (Variety of sizes infant - adult L).
• Women’s light weight skirts/dresses (not essential but useful)

Old wash clothes and terry towels
• These may be stained and/or tattered. They will be cut into broad strips to use as washable menstrual pads that will be placed in a snap-around-the-panty holder
• Please let us know if you have any scraps of cotton or waterproof material you’d like to donate for making the holders.
• Also, please let us know if you are willing and able to make (sewing) one or more “holders.” (A pattern, waterproof lining, and snaps can be provided.)

We plan for everything given to be shipped during the first week of December.
Anything you are willing and able to donate will be greatly appreciated!
For questions, suggestions, or concerns, call Glenda: 614-615-0778.

11/08/2025

COLMINY’S “WIDOW’S MITE”

If you remember, folks from Lianscourt fled to Colminy when the gangs ravaged their community (per our last FB post). HHC was preparing to donate funds to help them get desperately needed food and shoes. But, praise God, Richard and other Colminians pooled their funds to do this themselves! They also invited these strangers into their “rice storehouse” to take whatever was essential for their survival, then provided all the kids with sandals (last photo before the “storehouse). Considering their own desperation, this was, indeed, Colminains’ “Widow’s Mite.” [Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4]

From the rice photos/video included, it appears Colminy salvaged more of their crop than I’d imagined, despite the endless problems that had plagued them from early planting to the late harvest.

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Edly went to Colminy today Saturday) to learn more about the Lianscourt people: the community they left behind, the gang encounter, how many are sheltering in Colminy, their current greatest needs, plans for their future, etc. We’ll post whatever she learns sometime next week because… early tomorrow we’ll be heading to Nicole’s (our granddaughter’s) wedding in FL’s panhandle, expecting to return Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, we thank the Lord that that the Colminains have opened their heart and hands to receive these precious people and pray the Lord will bless them greatly.

BTW: Next week they’ll be planting for an April harvest.

11/02/2025

HELP FOR DISPLACED PEOPLE IN COLMINY

I received such a sad message from Richard last night. As mentioned before,” about 40 people” fled from the nearby Lianscourt Commune when vicious gangs torched their houses, chasing them out. They arrived in Colminy terrorized, ragged and worn, with only the clothes on their back.

Besides the hunger which Richard says “is beating them,” not one, not even the elderly, have shoes. They also “have no water to bathe in.” (We believe they’re also without any change clothes.) Can you imagine?

What to do?

Edly believes she can buy sandals in nearby St. Marc for $5/pair. (These may be used. But good-used is better than none!) She’s accepted the mission of going to Colminy to determine the exact number of people and the shoe sizes each would need. We’re also looking into the possibility of shipping good used shoes from here …maybe used clothing too.

As for bathing, I explained to Richard how they can take sponge baths using very little water, which they can get from Colminy’s water stations. But even this requires things they don’t have: soap, washrags or sponges, small containers, like bowls (for the water) and towels. I’ve asked Edly to find out if these are available and, if so, at what price.

We thank the Lord for Richard and Edly… Godsends for us and the people we serve!

Please pray for these people, who are even more destitute than Colminians! And that, somehow, HHC can help in ways Colminians desire to but can’t.

10/30/2025

HUNGER!

“I don’t know how many days this weather will last.,” Richard wrote this morning. “People haven’t seen the sun for 2 weeks. It wasn’t always raining, but the storm [Hurricane Melissa] brought a lot of rain these past two days and it is still falling steadily.”

FYI: Their harvested rice was spread out to dry in the sun. But being overcast and/or rainy, it hasn’t dried yet. And they can’t finish processing it until it is.

“There are a lot of people,” he added. “A lot of people from Liancourt [a nearby community] have come to live in the area. These people escaped [a gang invasion] without anything. Hunger is beating them. I must give them food too. I will take the leftovers and buy food for the others.

“The price [of food urgently needed] would reach 100,000 Haitian gourdes [$764 US] because rice is selling expensive in the market. You can hardly find any food to buy now.”
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What a sad difference this harvest is compared to last October’s. Back then their rice harvest was amazingly large and lush -- enough to feed the entire community for six months, then sell or give to others. Although the farmers have worked much harder this season than before, the crop has experienced a perpetual series of crises -- everyone on them beyond these farmers’ control.

A quick overview:
• Spring’s sudden man-made flood that killed sections of the newly planted fields
• Followed by a short drought.
The lost rice sections were replanted.
• Late summer’s rat infestation that was stealing the young rice kernels (destroyed by baiting).
• Followed by swarms of small birds doing the same (battled with a full-time bird-chaser).
• Early fall rains that delayed the harvest
• Gun-wielding gangs demanding payment before allowing the harvest (further delay).
• Heavily overcast skies (with and without rain) that have prevented the essential drying.

Please pray for Colminy and, if possible, please consider helping HHC provide funds for the food and clean water these diligent, desperate and deserving people need to survive. We met this first payment today and are prepared to meet another. But clearly, however much food these provide won’t fill in all the gaps until their next harvest in April.

10/19/2025

COLMINY’S 3rd RICE HARVEST

April and October are Colminy’s rice harvest seasons -- always extremely busy months. However, having struggled to survive a rough start, and a costly diligence that overcame most of the recent rat and bird infestation, this harvest season has also been delayed by persistent late September/early October rains. (First photo of flood waters invading the rice fields.) The surviving crop was beginning to rot!

Time was of an essence, and they knew it. As soon as the muck dried enough, they scurried to work. Normally, they’d harvest the rice and thresh it out in the field (beating the stalks against a hard surface, collecting the kernels on a tarp). Next they winnow it (letting the wind separate the rice kernels from the chaff), then spread them out in the sun to dry.

Knowing this all had to be done quickly (to prevent rotting and/or over-ripening), Richard hired a fellow with a winnowing machine (as per video -- sorry if this is sideways, we don’t know how to rotate it!). That was a few days ago. Fortunately the field work is almost complete.

Sometime in the midst of all this, the gun-displaying gangs returned, demanding “their share” of profits before letting Colminians proceed with their harvest. “Pay up, or else!” Not really a choice. So, as before, desperately wanting Colminy to reap all benefit possible from their labor, we volunteered and paid it instead.

Meanwhile, the rains had also totaled Richard’s young veggie garden. Besides managing the rice fields and workers, he rushed to buy seed, then replanted the onions, eggplant, etc. “Exhausted!” A word I’ve never heard Richard admit before. But we understand …its been rough!

I just asked Richard if the rice is now out in the sun for drying. I presume it is (at least most of it), but I haven’t yet heard back to be sure.

Colminy, and all of Haiti, continues to be in our prayers. We hope they’re in yours too. Blessings to all of you!

HHColminy

03/05/2026

02/10/2026

02/03/2026

12/16/2025

12/03/2025

12/02/2025

11/28/2025

11/15/2025

11/08/2025

11/02/2025

10/30/2025

10/19/2025

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