Resistance and Change...

“This is my father’s land, and you won’t clear it!”

The last two weeks Lemuel has provided some funds to help encourage a community near Samuel’s Trees land to clean out all the thorn bushes so it can be prepared for planting trees. While most are seeing how important this is others are fearful.  Some fear that their land is being taken from them.  In addition, it is believed that the thorns protect you from roaming evil spirits.  Jinel stood by the man and listened, then explained why they were clearing the land. The man started to relax and soon the men were on his land working.

Our desire to have a tree nursery filled with trees ready for this community to start planting trees.

If you would like to help us build this tree nursery we are praying we will have all the funds needed by August. 

CLICK HERE, Designate donations to: Lemuel –Samuel’s Trees

a way we can help...

They planted and the worms ate…

Two weeks ago the inch and a half of rain was enough to encourage people to go to their gardens to plant! Last week WORMS came and have eaten most of what they planted. One man was so discouraged he said he couldn’t go back out to the garden again. We take time to encourage those around us.

Our drip irrigation system is still working and the WORMS have not yet come. We have a tree growing called Neem that we can make a natural pesticide with the seeds. 

The Tree Nursery will be a place where we can provide trees like the Neem tree to farmers around us.

To give to the Tree Nursery now:

CLICK HERE, Designate donations to: Lemuel –Samuel’s Trees

ANNOUNCING TODAY!!!

WE WANT TO ANNOUNCE TODAY that ALL funds will be NOW going through Lemuel’s partner Extreme Response. They are a North American non-profit organization dedicated to providing relief and support to people living in extreme conditions.  We are grateful for all the money raised on GoFundMe! We will now close those sites.  

 

IN YOUR HONOR…

We have planted a tree in your honour, and placed a rock with your name on it. Those of you who continue to give through Extreme Response will have a tree planted in your honor as well. This is our way to say THANK YOU!!!

AND NOW…

WE ARE READY and SO ARE THEY!!!

A lot of families have been working very hard through this drought to clean their yards and prepare for planting trees. WE NEED A TREE NURSERY, so that we can start seedlings. WHY? Trees need a good start if they are going to survive. WE want them to SURVIVE! SO…with your donations to Extreme Response we want to start raising the $15,000 we need to construct the tree nursery. Our goal is to start construction by this August! Can WE DO IT??? 

CLICK HERE, Designate donations to: Lemuel –Samuel’s Trees

“You will SEE!”

Walking over to the land this afternoon, I saw Manès starting to fill the buckets for the irrigation system. “Bonita, you will see! I am going to work very hard and you will see!” Manès told me. “What am I going to see?” I asked him. “A beautiful garden!”

  This may be true! Today the beans are starting to push out of the ground and others are already 2’’ high!  

Still not sure…

Almost a week ago today Samuel and Michael finished designing the drip irrigation system. They were determined to find items here in Haiti that others in the community could one day purchase: large buckets, elevated platform, medical syringe, and black hose.

Thursday, the system was set up.

 Friday evening, we all planted millet, beans, corn and other vegetables.

 Early Saturday morning, it RAINED! Not much, but it was enough to soak the ground.

Monday evening, we finished planting.

Tuesday….the first plot of millet is COMING UP!!!

There is still speculation among the community as to how and if it will work. One commented, “If there is no rain, you will lose your crop.” It’s hard to understand something so different then what they are used to. If there is no rain will we still have a crop? We think, “YES!”  

Muddy FEET!!!

Last night we got almost a ½ inch of RAIN!!! WE ARE SO THANKFUL for this blessing as the guys finished planting another 500 TREES and we were able to plant a variety of vegetables and millet in our new drip irrigation system.

What is so amazing is that the only seed we had was a small stash that Bonita and Krischelle had. Then early this week, Ben Loyer called telling us he had two 50lb bags of MILLET!!! It’s a fast growing millet that only take 3 months! 

 God knew what we needed and provided just at the right time! 

unexpected…

While visiting some families in the community today we had a unexpected surprise waiting for us. In April Celisa had a water cistern built for his family. We encouraged him, along with others to start cleaning their yards from thorns so it can be usable again. Celisa’s family not only cleaned their yard but started to build a fence. When asked why they were putting up a fence he shared that he sees how our land has a fence to keep out the animals so they won’t eat the trees. YES!!! HE’S PLANNING ON PLANTING TREES! We were so encouraged to hear this!

Everything we are doing at Samule’s Trees is with this in mind that one day others in the community will see that it is possible for them to do what we are doing!

FIRST: have a source of water CHECK

SECOND: make your fence and keep them crazy animals OUT! CHECK

THIRD: PLANT A LOT OF TREES!!!

The motivation to keep raising funds for the TREE NURSERY is there because the community is getting ready to plant!

Waiting to see how God will provide.