My mother-in-law, Michele, passed away in December 2012. A lifelong crusader for the poor, she volunteered for six different assignments with Doctors Without Borders (MSF), her first being at Jude Anne Hospital, an obstetric hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Before committing to a nine-month term with MSF, Michele spent much of her spare time and money organizing medical brigades to Haiti. Several times a year, she led groups of volunteers to work at clinics around the country. Prior to leaving on a trip, Michele coordinated the efforts of many people; together her home-support team sewed cloth diapers, collected and sorted medical supplies and created sewing kits for the women and children of Haiti.
My globe-trotting parents continue to work on behalf of the disadvantaged, selling jewelry made by Ugandan women at fairs, public markets and special events. Bead for Life creates an outlet for the work crafted by this women, giving them both business training and an income. My father is on the board of Community Intergration Services Society, providing meaningful work and social interaction for adults with disabilities. My mother serves as secretary for Colony Farms, a community garden. In 2009, they spent five-weeks in Nicaragua where they learned a lot of Spanish quickly, and read bedtime stories to little boys at Casa Santiago, an orphanage run by Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH). Retirement does not mean sitting still for long.
My writer, actor, director, guitar and banjo playin’ brother. He has so much going on all the time, it would be impossible to catalogue it all and keep the list current.
A groovy friend and slick graphic designer, illustrator and web designer. Jeremy taught me the basics of html and css several years ago, making it possible for me to catalogue our early family life. I owe it all to you J.
How do you describe in a few words an organization that has touched so many lives? I volunteered at the NPH home in Haiti for eighteen months (’96-’98); worked for Friends of the Orphans, a northwest nonprofit that supports them, for two years (’98-’00); and have worked as their webmaster for the last seven years. The work I do for NPH will never be my bread and butter, but it feeds my soul. It is also thanks to NPH that I met my partner in life, Lance.
HomeWork 
Aw, shucks!
You’ve taken this a lot further than our neglected blog. This is awesome!! I really liked your bit on the freezer paper stencils – we’re going to have to try that. Site is looking good.
I just clicked on this part of your site, and what an inspiration your circle of loved ones are…including you. Aren’t people amazing, generous, and caring when we take the time to really look at their lives. I need to closely examine mine as I think I have been far too selfish with my time since retiring.
Thank you, I really enjoyed reading about you and your family.
Well, felting brought me here but now I discover a whole new world! Im latinamerican, Argentinian, now living in The NEtherlands where I came following my heart. My husband is dutch.
I, unfortunately, didnt know about NHP before. I find it inspiring and frankly overwhelming… I have tears in my eyes. Lately, I had lost a bit of faith on the human kind, but I see that there is indeed people that are busy trying to make this world, a better place. Not defeated yet.
Im going to learn a bit more about NHP and see about contacting their chapter here, in The Netherlands.
And Im sure I will be comng back here for some felting projects and food for the soul!