I had a really hard time sharing this, and agonized over it for days. So I’m just going to pour out my heart, hit send and let God take it from there. Thanks so much for reading this – and for helping if you can.
But let me explain what happened…

On April 6, 2010, we got word that our Laga Handbags were going to be on Oprah April 13, 2010. OMG, we were over the moon with excitement. Orders poured in and the women in Indonesia were celebrities – they were making a difference for the whole community. And you – our customers – you were their heroes!

This year on April 11, 2012, our team and the people we are helping had an 8.6 earthquake that reminded them of the 9.3 earthquake on December 26, 2004 that caused the largest tsunami in my lifetime destroying 90 miles of coastline, killing over 230,000 people with waves as high as 98 ft. It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history. Indonesia was the hardest-hit country, followed by Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand.

Our team drove out to some of the mountainous areas – and today there are still families living in temporary barracks built by the government after the first tsunami. These barracks have been declared inhospitable, but people are still living in them almost 8 years after the tsunami. I cannot even imagine what it must be like to be still homeless and living in a temporary shelter eight years later.

And it’s not that we aren’t making a difference, because we really are. We’ve grown from our little team of 12 women sewing handbags to over 300 who have income and hope again because of you and all the people carrying a Laga handbag. When we say we rebuild lives one handbag at a time, we really do!

Everyone at Laga Indonesia is smiling and singing while they sew and package handbags. There are children laughing in the streets again. But the devastation was horrendous, and there are still homeless people 8 years later, and that hurts. We are again compelled to do something drastic.

So here’s what we did. We committed to some really big orders again. Orders like we placed when we were on Oprah March 13, 2010. We are unpacking 17 boxes of handbags. We now have over 600 handbags in our condo showroom in Irvine – and we have 1,000 more arriving over the next few weeks.

It’s exciting, but it’s a bit scary, too. Because we need to move handbags like Oprah Winfrey moved handbags. But I know that together, we can do it. I know we can. And when I think about the people living in condemned buildings, I know we have to.

But we need your help. If you can find room for another gorgeous Laga handbag and/or accessory, maybe a new style or a gift for a friend – we’re offering 25% off and FREE shipping on all orders, no matter how big or small. Everyone benefits and, together, we can make a difference, one handbag at a time.

We’re offering this special for everything we currently have in stock with the exception of sale items! The only thing is – we have to do this first come, first served, so if you have something specific in mind, please don’t wait.

To get the free shipping and discount coupon codes, please call 888-524-2224 or 949-654-8360.
And if you can, maybe share this with a friend who’s admired your Laga handbag?
Thank you so much!
…and God bless you!

Sincerely,

Roy & Louise
Laga Designs International Inc.
92 Tangerine
Irvine, CA
92618-4576
949-654-8360

louise@lagahandbags.com or roy@lagahandbags.com

http://www.laga-handbags.com/

May 3, 2012

Laga bags carry hope for Indonesia

By Brenda Ruby

Brenda RubyCentre_Daily_Times

Laga handbags, purses, book covers, key chains, iPad sleeves, cosmetic bags, travel bags and wallets are more than fashionable accessories.

Handmade by women who survived the tsunami in Indonesia, every bag sewn and sold brings hope for a better tomorrow.

Embraced by the media with headlines like “Look Good, Do Good” (Accessories Magazine), “Giving is in the bag!” (Orange County Register) and “A philanthropic home- party business model” (The Earth Times) – Laga Handbags combines philanthropy with fashion.

From the Indonesian women stitching their lives back together, one handbag at a time, to every woman carrying a Laga Handbag, beaded purse or wallet, we are about people helping people.

Together we can make a difference, one handbag at a time.

Laga Designs International Inc.

Roy Van Broekhuizen
92 Tangerine
Irvine, CA 92618-4576
(949) 654-8360 phone

(714) 623-3671 cell
(888) 305-4056 fax

roy@lagahandbags.com

http://www.laga-handbags.com/

From Laga Handbags team in Indonesia-

“Situation today, 10 people killed so far in earthquake – 2 of them were thieves caught stealing things in the chaos (taking the law into your own hands)!

Two buildings seriously damaged in Banda Aceh – a recently completed prison complex and the new ANTI earthquake (twice as expensive as it should have been for this benefit!) mayor’s office.

Tsunami warning system in the capital city of Banda Aceh did not function.  It never went off.  Serious allegations beginning to fly, Vice President of Indonesia visited Aceh today threatening to fire government workers over this (we have the most expensive tsunami warning system in the world and it does not work).

296 houses completely destroyed or washed away in SE Aceh by a massive flood, another 1,800 seriously damaged.

Four government offices and six vehicles burned or destroyed in protest to accusations of voting irregularities (Monday there were provincial or statewide election for everyone from the governor on down).

Sort of getting back to normal I guess “

Thank you for supporting our cause.

Together we can make a difference, one handbag at a time.

Roy & Louise van Broekhuizen

Founders of Laga Designs International, Inc.

http://www.laga-handbags.com/

“Together we can make a difference, one handbag at a time.”

From our team in Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia-

“On Wednesday April 11, 2012 about 3:30pm we had a massive earthquake strike (8.6 on the Richter scale) here in Aceh where I am. When books start falling off the shelves – it is time to run! Chaos and extreme panic do not begin to describe the situation that unfolded for the rest of the day.
Hundreds of people were injured, not because buildings are collapsing or from the direct effects of the earthquake, but simply because of panic.
This panic resulted in many car and motorcycle accidents, people falling, and people getting trampled or injured for a host of other senseless reasons.
Our team from various locations when the earthquake struck, gathered quickly at the home of one of the families on the team.
We had previously designated this home as a gathering location in the event of a disaster (or when the next disaster strikes might be more accurate)!
We also did what we could assisting people with simple medical needs (bruises, cuts, scratches mostly).
A bigger problem seemed to be stress and trauma.
People that experienced the December 2004 earthquake and tsunami (which is most people) simply went crazy.
God seems to have brought tremendous healing to the team members who experience the Dec 2004 earthquake as for the most part they were fine.
Amen! Thank you for your prayers for them!
There were people all over that seemed to be “losing it.”
People who were near a nervous breakdown and others seeming to almost go into a state of shock.
There was a young woman (I do not know who she was or how she got there, but a friend of someone from our team brought her) that was amongst the group that we had gathered.
She seemed to be having a nervous breakdown.
She was eight months pregnant and I became quite concerned and not sure what to do.
We did what we could to calm her down and prayed for her.
We were able to contact other family members for her to let them know she was safe and where she was. This still took a couple of hours.
About two hours after the first earthquake, (just when things were settling down) a second earthquake struck (8.2 on the Richter scale) again sending the city into an extreme panic.
When the second earthquake hit, it became obvious it was going to be a long, long night as it was nearly 6 pm. The entire team all slept together (about 40 of us) in two secure locations that night. Power was restored to us about 4:30 am, 12 hours after the first earthquake.
The tsunami warning system in Banda Aceh did not function. Tsunami warnings were issued and everyone near the ocean was told to evacuate to higher ground. The sirens here never went off. We have the most expensive and supposedly sophisticated tsunami warning system in the world and it does not work.
Four hours after the first earthquake the tsunami warnings were cancelled as no tsunami occurred – THANKFULLY! We were kept updated about developments from my wife Ria via cell phones.
The ability to contact her via phone was inconsistent and often interrupted, but it was good enough to provide us with the information we needed.”

Thank you for supporting our cause.
“We can make a difference, one handbag at a time.”
Roy & Louise van Broekhuizen- Founders of Laga Designs International, Inc. aka Laga Handbags

Celebrate Memorial Day at Boal Mansion

featuring Laga Handbags

Monday, May 28th from 9:00am to 5:00pm

163 Boal Estate Drive, Boalsburg, PA

Laga handbags will be on sale providing a livelihood to women who survived the 2004 tsunami in Sumatra and benefitting the Five Alive Fund of the Centre County club of Altrusa International

For more information, visit the Website or call Boal Mansion at 814-466-9266

Laga Consultant Jill Lillie

Or feel free to contact Laga Consultant Jill Lillie at hmmbird [at] comcast.net

Seven Mountains Wine Cellars – Spring Mills, PA

featuring Laga Handbags

Saturday May 5th from noon to 6:00 pm

Stop by and pick out a purse or wallet to give your Mom for Mother’s Day! Proceeds benefit Altrusa International of Centre County’s Five Alive Fund supporting local non-profits AND provides a livelihood to women who survived the 2004 tsunami in Sumatra.

324 Decker Valley Road, Spring Mills, PA

For more information, visit Website or call Seven Mountains at 814-364-1000

Laga Consultant Jill Lillie

Or feel free to contact Laga Consultant Jill Lillie at hmmbird [at] comcast.net

Rocky Mountain Quilt Festival – Denver
featuring Laga Handbags in booth #610

Thursday, February 2 – 10:00am to 5:00pm
Friday, February 3 – 10:00am to 5:00pm
Saturday, February 4 – 10:00am to 5:00pm

Denver Merchandise Mart
451 East 58th Avenue, Denver, CO

More info

featuring Laga Handbags booth #2411 – second floor

Dates/Times:

Wednesday, March 14 – 9:00am to 6:00pm
Thursday, March 15- 9:00am to 6:00pm
Friday, March 16 – 9:00am to 6:00pm
Saturday, March 17 – 9:00am to 5:00pm

Lancaster County Convention Center
3 East Vine Street, Lancaster, PA

More info

featuring Laga Handbags [booth # TBA]

Friday, February 17 – 10:00am to 6:00pm
Saturday, February 3 – 10:00am to 6:00pm
Sunday, February 4 – 10:00am to 5:30pm

The Lakeland Center
701 West Lime Street, Lakeland, FL

More info