Haitian Mission Trip in February A MISSION OF AID TO PORT AU PRINCE, HAITI By Shantia Wright-Gray Jonathan and I are leaving on February 25 for a workweek in Port au Prince. We have been working with Haitian immigrant workers in La Romana, Dominican Republic, for about 20 years. After the earthquake in Haiti our partners in the DR mobilized within months to sponsor multiple medical teams into the area. Two years ago some of the participants in our March trip to the DR joined one of those early teams. Last year I led a few of them back to Haiti with several new participants to continue their work. This year a small group returns. We will have a medical team with a doctor, 2 nurses and several volunteers. We hope to have a few individuals working with the children who gather around our worksites and a few helping with construction and building-maintenance projects. We work with the Concorde Baptist Church in Port au Prince. This is a church which is extremely mission oriented toward the city and its surrounding villages. Included in this work are a school on their grounds, 3 orphanages with whom they work, the sponsorship of an English Club for young adults, and food aid relief. We are fortunate to have a lovely reasonably priced mission motel in a secure compound with excellent cooks attentive to our needs. We have excellent translators and work with a local doctor and local builders. We worship with the church and they work closely with us. Haiti is a relatively expensive place to visit and do work. Our group pays all of its own expenses but the donations that our small group of participants is able to make are limited to the medicines we use and a small amount for the building of the school. Material donations and financial contributions go entirely to the people in need. We are grateful to Union Church for your willingness to contribute to these needs. Prioritized list: THINGS... Our biggest need will be children's vitamins - (chewable not gummies - gummies get confused with candy) But soon after that would be any kind of vitamins - adult, prenatal.... After that would be ibuprofen (Advil - Motrin) and acetaminophen (Tylenol) Then things for children (we hope to take our medical team to at least 2 children's orphanages) - underwear, used children's clothing in very good condition, washable small soft toys, school supplies... FINANCIAL: • Money to continue building the school we started last year: the Complexe Educatif Robert Raikes,a school for the neighborhood of the Concorde Baptist Church in Port au Prince,Haiti. (Needed: $10,000 for school and scholarships ) • money for medicines for the weeklong medical Team. (Needed: $1,500 - plus donated medicine) • money for a local medical provider and translators to work with the medical clinic. (Needed: $1,500) • money for distribution of food aid during the Week. (Needed: $3,000 minimum) PRAYERS: • prayers for the people of Port au Prince, many of whom still live in make shift shelters • prayers for the builders as they continue to create a sturdy, safe and practical school building • prayers for the volunteers as they travel down to help in this hope-filled project • and prayers for the Concorde Baptist Church as they work to help their people! Note: We have a box at the church and throughout the month of January we will be collecting the “THINGS” that Shantia suggested. Also: On Wednesday, January 25th, several folk will gather at the Mill office at 5:30 to cut up fleece blanket material that Jackie McKim purchased to make small, soft blankets for the children in the orphanages. Join us for a cutting party and pizza from the Pub!