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Haiti Initiative Service (H.I.S.) Mission

Vision Statement
The Haiti Mission will help revitalize, rebuild, and renew programs for children,
education, public health, and medical missions.

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8/15/10  Rev. Rachel Moser and Bill Eubanks, after Bill’s Commissioning to Christian Service in Haiti.

Bill Eubanks joined Butch Huffman’s August 18 – 24 Haiti mission team.
Some details about this team and the Ryan Epps Home for Children 
(including a video of the building in process) are in the letters below.

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Update on Ryan Epps Home


Thursday, September 02, 2010

Dear Friends,

We had a very successful trip to Ryan Epps Home August 18 - 24. We were able to do most of the electrical work on the new building.  Outlets and light switches were installed as were ceiling fans and lights.  We carried in a 1 HP submersible pump and installed it in the well. We were blessed to see the water flowing out of the pipes before we returned home. Power for the building will be supplied by a generator as there are no power lines from the main road to the property. Connecting to the city power will be something we might want to look into in the near future.

Yvon, his family and the children moved to the Michaud site four days before our arrival. They are still in the process of unpacking and settling down at the new building.  It will provide adequate shelter until the permanent home is completed. We did note that there were a few rain leaks in the new building. The roof overhang on the back side is not wide enough, and the water seeps under the siding. Yvon's workers have put cement around the bottom of the siding to deflect some of the rain. It has helped. Some of the OSB is wet and needs to be removed before mold forms.

All the children were well and lively. Berneau did have a stomach ache one day and did not seem too happy. We learned that one of the children, Martine, has returned to live with her father. Yvon had spoken to the father many times and decided it was best for her to return home. In April, we met two orphaned children who were staying at Villa Mamika. We believed that these two might be the next children to come to REHC. While in Haiti in August, we learned that one of the drivers who works with Villa Mamika has taken them into his home. We were looking forward to seeing these two children, but pray that they are being provided a good safe home. Yvon has identified two other children in the countryside whom he believes may come to REHC.

While at Michaud, we marked the location for the foundation of the next building. Yvon will begin work on the foundation and slab soon. Yvon has also begun building an outdoor kitchen and has nearly completed an outdoor toilet. The kitchen is already being used to cook meals. This evening we sent funds to buy and install metal doors and windows.

On August 5, we mailed a signed contract and $20,000 to Compassion Alliance to begin fabrication of the next building. The fabrication is in progress. We will send an additional $21,000 when the fabrication is complete with the remaining $6500 to be paid upon completion of the project. We hope to ship the building container the week of September 21. That should leave ample time to get the building through customs in Haiti prior to arrival of the November team (November 15 - 22). We are currently working with Steve Williams of DB-Schenker Logistics to ship the building as well as the truck and several other containers of goods that Helen has at MERCI in Goldsboro. Helen first met Steve on a Mission To Haiti team and reconnected with  him through Inwood Baptist Church. He has been most helpful. Steve's company has offered to donate some of the shipping costs. While in Haiti, Helen made contact with the president of the Delmas/Aeroport Rotary Club,  Mr. Herve Denis.  He put Helen and Yvon in contact with a representative of the Haitian Salvation Army and with a broker who can assist with our shipments. The Salvation Army is willing to be the consignee and receive at least one shipment for Ryan Epps Home. We are encouraged by these developments.

We also carried to Yvon a donation from Bethel Baptist Church. Their donation was directed toward helping the entire Michaud community. Yvon is excited about working with other landowners and using these funds to help improve the road into Michaud. Bethel Baptist also donated funds for Pastor Brucely to use in his community at Fond Doux.

While in Haiti, some of the team visited Pastor Brucely at Fond Doux near Ti Goave. Pastor Brucely has been able to start a vegetable garden from seeds brought from the US. He is able to produce crops for the community as well as sell vegetables to produce income for Haitians who work the garden. Through the efforts of Dr. Jim Myshka of Arkansas, Brucely started a Talapia pond and also a bamboo garden. Both of these projects will provide income for the community and help them become self-sufficient.  We were encouraged by the success of these projects and would like the Board to consider starting similar projects at Michaud. Enabling the people to provide for themselves will give them a brighter future where the community can become more productive. Additional land would need to be purchased to provide room for these projects if they become a reality. 

The Clayton Rotary Club is interested in a project to carry carpentry tools to Haiti and train the Haitian men to use them. The tools will be left with the men who will then be hired to build desks and benches for the new church and school. The men can also use the tools to produce income from other jobs. Where possible, we believe putting Haitians to work to build the needed items will help them become self-sufficient and will help the local economy.
 



On Sunday we attended a worship service at Church of God of Sinai at Clercine. Yvon preached the message. This church is a small metal building that is situated on property that the church does not own.  They are essentially squatters. Several people have committed money to help buy the property for the church. The cost is $6000.











There are a lot of good things happening with Ryan Epps Home and with the Haiti recovery from the earthquake. We saw groups of men and women in yellow shirts cleaning streets of garbage and earthquake debris. We later learned that funds from USAID were used to hire these workers. The Haitian spirit is still strong with a willingness to carry on under difficult circumstances. There is a desire to work and to make things better for their country. Many fields and hillsides remain covered with tents and tarps. We pray that one day all Haitians will have suitable housing and a way to provide for their families. We are happy that we, and you, are a part of this recovery.

God bless,
Al and Valerie

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Thursday, August 05, 2010 4:51 PM

Dear Friends of Ryan Epps Home,

We are writing to give you an update on the progress of the second building at Ryan Epps Home for Children (REHC).

The first building (Phase 1), erected in April, was in cooperation with Compassion Alliance (CA) a nonprofit organization located in Ocala, Florida.  We were pleased with the results of our partnership with CA and are working with them on the second building. Plans for the building include the children's dormitories, a kitchen/dining area and Yvon's (the director's) living quarters. We had hoped to include dormitories for visiting missionaries but are trying to keep our costs down. The building will be about 3,700 square feet. The quote from CA for the cost of the building is $46,500.  A deposit of $20,000 is due for CA to begin fabrication. An additional $21,500 is due when fabrication is completed. After assembling the building in Haiti, the final $5,000 is due. The pricing is similar to Phase 1 with a slight increase due to our request for a higher ceiling height and a different style (note the "U" shape). We anticipate needing shipping and customs fees and an additional $10,000 for the cement slab.

We currently have funds in the REHC account to cover the $41,500 for the two initial payments to CA. Horne Memorial United Methodist Church in Clayton has funds to cover the cost of the foundation. With a team scheduled to be in Haiti November 15 - 22 to assemble the building, we are moving ahead with fabrication and the slab so we will have the building on site in time for the November team. We are trusting the Lord for the remaining funds for shipping the building to Haiti and for construction supplies that will be shipped with the building. 

We will accompany a team of ten to Haiti August 18 - 24. The team includes members who will install the wiring in the first building. Yvon will soon complete the plumbing, a septic system, an outdoor kitchen and toilet, and a walkway around the exterior of the building. He hopes to have the children and his family moved into the first building in time for our arrival this month.

A fundraiser for Ryan Epps Home is planned for September 17 at Garner United Methodist Church. The event includes a music concert by Music4Haiti. We attended one of their events last March in Swansboro, and it was a great evening of entertainment. We have attached an image of the billboard that will be located in Garner. We also have posters that we will be placing in churches and businesses. Additional information is available at www.music4haiti.org.

Thank you for your interest in Ryan Epps Home.

God bless.
Al and Valerie Carpenter

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Spring 2010 Haiti Mission with Butch Huffman

From: Butch Huffman [butchhuffman@netzero.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2010 8:43 AM

Greetings:

It has been a couple of weeks since I returned from Haiti and wanted to let you know what happened. You need to go to the following http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6M0VUDSfP4 and you can watch the building (24'x188') being erected in four days.

As soon as I get dates that Yvon will be in the USA I will look at other teams going this summer hopefully before the hurricane season begins. There is a need for the next team to have some electrical and plumbing knowledge to wire and plumb the building. If you are interested please let me know.

Pictures can also be seen by going to the Ryan Epps http://www.hornememorial.org/ministries/missions/ryanepps0 and http://www.ryaneppshome.com/.

Blessings
Butch Huffman
919.931.4304


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Listen to the Haiti Prayer Service held at SUMC on January 16, 2010 at 5:30 pm.

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MUSICIANS 4 MISSIONS

Visit www.Music4Haiti.org for details about upcoming concerts!

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Another Musicians 4 Missions Concert!

For the September 17, 2010 Music4Haiti concert at Garner UMC, Garner NC, car pools/bus will depart SUMC upper parking lot at 4:00 PM. Contact Frank@Cizerle.com or 910.326.7997 to volunteer to drive or to reserve a seat on the bus.

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        ~ photo taken July 2009 by Al Carpenter, 
    missionary to Haiti, in the village of Cotin, Haiti.

Musicians 4 Missions 2010 - Composing a Future for the Children of Haiti

A dinner and concert was held on Friday, March 5, 2010 at Swansboro UMC. The SUMM hosted and served a delicious BBQ and the trimmings.

If you missed the concert or would like to see your favorite parts again, you can Watch videos of performances

Concert: Hosted by Haiti Initiative Service (HIS) Mission
Concert was free and open to the public. Donations to benefit the children of Haiti were collected during the concert.

Sponsored by: Public Radio East, Professional Yoga Therapy, Emerald Isle Parks & Rec, Thomas Cook Designs, The Print Fish, and Fairway Outdoor Advertising.

Master of Ceremonies: Finley Woolston of Public Radio East

Additional information and photos are at www.Music4Haiti.org.

 

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Summer 2009 ~ Our congregation collected $7,324.24 for the Haiti ARK (Heifer Project) and 453 pairs of flip-flops/sandals for Kids in Haiti! Our children led the way with their collection boxes and donations. Special thanks to adult leadership by example and inspiration!
          …our UMYF donated $700 for Solar Ovens for Haiti!
          …many of our UMW have been sewing 100’s of dresses for Girls in Haiti!
          …coming: “Adopt a Child” initiative and “Newborn & Birthing Kits” for Haiti!

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Our First Mission Team To Haiti


Our first Mission Team ~ Rachel Moser, Lynn Rouse, Adele Hyla-Brewster, and Deanna Scroggs ~ was in Haiti November 5-10, 2009 under the leadership of Helen Little. They took dresses made by our Sewing Sisters (see below) and undies and sandals for children. They conducted "Vacation Bible School‟ at the orphanage, helped distribute food to the needy, visited local clinics and hospitals with a view to future medical mission teams, helped with the purchase and distribution of goats, and traveled to several regions of Haiti.




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Sewing Sisters - Dressing Haiti

The UMW Sewing Sisters made many dresses for little girls in Haiti and our Mission Team delivered them in November 2009. 
This project continues, meeting at the church on Tuesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Contact Lynn Rouse at LRouse@ec.rr.com
to inquire about this mission. 

September 2010: Several of our ladies have been sewing all summer, completing over 140 dresses for girls in Haiti. A special "Thank you" goes to Sharon Rutan, who has completed over 115 dresses and also to Nancy Hewitt who has made at least 50 dresses! The August mission team took as many as they could to be distributed by Pastor Yvon Pierre at the Ryan Epps Home for Children in Michaud, Haiti. Also, we thank all the United Methodist Women Circles and others folks who donated little boy's clothes this summer. We have two suit cases, 50 pounds each, which are full of boys’ shirts and shorts. Please keep bringing the boy clothes (can be slightly used), along with light weight fabric, ribbon, lace, thread and any other sewing items. Collection boxes are located outside the church office door. Thank you!  
Visit again soon for pictures.

Click HERE to view 2009 Sewing Sisters in Action

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Stop Hunger Now - Meals for Haiti

Phase 1
  

The fund raising portion of our Stop Hunger Now event was fantastic – we raised $7,500 to purchase the ingredients for the meals that were packaged on Sunday, October 4, 2009. We packaged 30,000 meals – that’s right – 30,000!    It was a great afternoon. We packaged those 30,000 meals in about two hours. Participation was fantastic - both financially and physically. Swansboro UMC really stepped  for this event. Feedback from those who were there - more than 130 people - was very positive. I heard talk of "next time we do this..." - so I would say this was a positive experience for the folks who were there - and for the folks in Haiti.
    Thanks to everyone who answered the call to be a blessing to those who need a blessing. 
Peace and Grace,
Jimmie Bean


January 5, 2010 ~ Stop Hunger Now notified SUMC that our pre-packaged meals were destined for Haiti.


January 22, 2010 ~ The meals we packaged last fall are feeding earthquake victims.


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Phase 2
   In this phase of fighting hunger and feeding needy children, SUMC and “Stop Hunger Now” united to make large, sturdy, 100% organic cotton bags. Your purchase of one ‘green,’ reusable, shopping bag will feed 40 school children in Haiti. This in-school program encourages parents to get their children in school so they’ll have at least one good meal per day, as well as new educational opportunities. Using your bag is a green, sustainable, responsible way to feed hungry children and be a good steward of our planet earth.
   These bags are available for $10 each via the church office. They may be available for purchase at local merchants soon. These bags make great gifts too!
   Please make checks payable to ‘SUMC’ and write ‘Haiti Bags’ on the memo line.
Thank you for supporting children of Haiti!

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To serve on a Haiti Mission Team or for more information,
contact Adele Hyla-Brewster at hylabrew@embarqmail.com or 910.478.9727.