2021 Report

 Greetings to our sponsors:

We have had a good year. We could fix whatever broke and nobody was hurt or killed. They are all safe. With the strife in Haiti, our operation has ground to a halt. Fuel can not be found. But our folks have been and are safe. On a sad note, here in the USA. Raymond’s wife Vera has fallen and is not recovering well in Bethel Home. This is handicapping Raymond’s ability to go to Haiti so we have been winging it. Raymond feels Keven is qualified to run the operation in Haiti. He is very honest, industrious, and, innovative. Raymond has appointed three successful men to run the operation when he cannot. They are Gary Jantz, Montezuma, KS, Lee Nikkel, Grant NE and, Dean Reimer, Ringwood, OK. The liaison will be Neil Toews of Montezuma, KS. Neil was in Haiti when was a young person with his parents and then went back as a youth and now has a water operation in Haiti. So, he knows how Haitians think. 

The last year has had a few problems. The transmission on the Cat needed repair to the tune of $21,000 which we needed to pay before they would order the parts which we have done. The dozer has been down for 8 of the last 12 months waiting for repairs. The track hoe is working very well. It makes road-building much quicker. They did break the pin on the bucket and it was going to be months to get a new one from Cat so Keven installed a temporary pin to keep working. The bridges have not suffered any damage from the rain in the hurricanes due to their design. They provided a means of crossing the river in flood stage. They have built 6 miles of new road and rebuilt 57 miles. Roads are being built.

 The water well drilling rig got the drill bit stuck at the bottom of the hole. They walked the track hoe over there to try and dislodge the bit and pulled the cable in two.  They had another bit but they had to replace the torn cable. The torn cable was too short after being pulled apart. We air-freighted a 500-foot spool of cable to Haiti. There was a loss of time waiting for the cable. But other than these repairs, things went quite well. They drilled 12 new wells this last year. The wells drilled earlier suffered very little in the earthquake. 1 well now produces colored water but they are hopeful that it will clear up.

We here that live in the land of plenty, don’t know the value of clean fresh water. We accept it as normal and our right. But the folks in Haiti it is different. Clear fresh potable water is a luxury.  It is not only appreciated but improves the health of the community. I thank God often that our water runs in and our water runs out at our house. Water wells are being drilled.

A couple walked several miles to visit Raymond’s one afternoon. Raymond thought they were coming to ask for the help of cash but they walked all the way just to thank Raymond for the road he had built. It made it so much easier walking to the market on the road rather than through the bush. In one project on the west end of the island, a farmer with only 1 arm, would meet Reymond traveling on his 4-wheeler to his place of lodging every evening. The farmer would give Raymond produce from his garden.  Raymond could not eat all that was given to him so he shared were the neighbors.

On the operational side, we greatly appreciate your support. We have managed to meet all the financial needs this last year with the help of another charity that feels compassionate about our projects. They have borrowed us $80,000 to keep going. We have 2 lots in a sub-division in Colorado which we have listed for sale. We hope this would retire our debt to the charity that is bankrolling us. Our operational cost run $150,000 and $200,000. There is still no administrative cost. Every dollar you give lands up in Haiti.

Canadians wishing to get a receipt and the full benefit of your donation with Revenue Canada, please send your donation to:
 Hope for Haiti,
 PO Box 4,
 Lakin, KS 67860

We will send your money through a Canadian charity and they will issue a receipt acceptable to Revenue Canada.
We will send you a US receipt for your contribution.

Hope for Haiti has operated because of your generous contribution and hopefully, it will continue.  Thank you for your generous support and we will make your contribution go as far as we can.

Ralph Reimer
Secretary/treasurer
11-11-21

Weskan Charitable Foundation/Hope for Haiti
PO Box 4
Lakin, KS 67860

Hopeforhaiti19@gmail.com
Web page: https://hopeforhaitinews.org
620-640-2857