The Mercy’s Threads story.

The 2010 earthquake that hit the southern peninsula of Haiti, left a path of destruction that continued for miles. Families lost loved ones, their homes, their businesses, and hope. Tent cities sprung up throughout the region, but only added more misery and pain to their already devastated lives. 

Fast forward to 2014 and a recently established village named Merci de Dieu, in Gressier, Haiti. Jean Axtell, along with her husband Alan, were invited to attend a celebration in Haiti for a close friend. The last day of their time in Haiti was spent in the small village, consisting of 64 houses and three dirt streets — with no running water or electricity. Jean decided to walk around the village on her own. What pulled at her heartstrings was the look of resignation on the mother’s faces as they sat on their front stoops braiding their daughter’s hair; they seemed not to feel much hope of their situation improving. Jean said a simple prayer and asked God to show her if there was something she could do to bring help and hope to these women. 

When Jean returned to the United States, God began to open doors for a ministry that eventually became known as Mercy’s Threads. A team of four women returned to the village in January of 2015 to hold the first workshop for 60 ladies. Their first hand-embroidery pieces were very elementary, but now, almost five years later, their pieces are true works of cultural art. Mercy’s Threads continues holding workshops and its team is traveling to Haiti up to three times a year to bring the participant’s earnings back to them and to pick up more pieces of embroidery to sell in the United States. One hundred percent of the sales goes back to the artisan after sales tax.

The annual income in Haiti is $450 for a family of four. But as individual ministries find ways to teach and help establish a means for making a sustainable income, the future looks brighter.  A number of our woman, and even a few husbands, are sewing such quality works of art, that their income is now $600 to $900 a year. Now they can afford food, cover the cost of educating their children, and provide medical attention when needed. It is a joy and blessing to serve the Lord in Haiti.