la tienda

Some of you know that our Clinton church family supports a young Canadian woman who now lives mainly in the Dominican Republic. Rachel Sticklee is devoting her life to working with a group of Haitian refugees who live in the DR. She has started an art co-op called LaTienda and has taught this group of about 20 women how to make beautiful jewelry and other art items so that they may sell it in order to support themselves and their families without resorting to prostitution or rummaging through garbage for food. Her ministry has had a profound effect on the lives of these women.

Over the Christmas holidays there was a murder in the village where Rachel works. As a result, the Haitians have all been displaced and most are in hiding as life is very unsafe there right now. Therefore, the future of the co-op is uncertain. (You can visit Rachel’s blog for a more detailed account of the situation.)

During this time, the women are producing red hemp bracelets in order to raise funds and keep the co-op from “going in the red”. If you feel compelled to help this mission, please let me know and I will order you a bracelet ($11 each). There is also a wide selection of other jewelry made by these ladies, if you’d like to help in a larger way. It's gorgeous stuff, and makes for a great gift -- for any woman in your life and for the women that Rachel supports. Just pop me an email if you'd like to order any, or would like to know more.