Mission Volunteers, General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church 

Haiti Response Plan

Volume 2, Number 4c

December 14, 2010

In This Issue
Many blessings...
UMVIM teams & staff headed back to US
Team leader shares experience

This experience has brought many blessings...

 

While the recent elections and subsequent demonstrations brought us many challenges, they also provided many opportunities for blessings. All team members were brought in safely from their sites, and were able to successfully find seats on flights home. They, and those who were here on campus, each had their own unique stories and experiences. 

On Sunday, the four teams worshipped in four different churches. On the night before the last team members left, we shared a time of singing, reflection and communion, which included prayers and a song from our Haitian kitchen staff. It was wonderful. All in all, the teams responded with grace to the many changes and inconveniences, the team leaders were outstanding, and our staff, both Haitian amd American, went out of their way to make their stay a good one. I offer my thanks to all those here, and those in the States who stand behind us with their prayers, guidance, support, and administrative skills, for all that they have done during this time. Again, despite the challenges, there were many blessings.

Our American staff is heading home for the holidays and will be back at the end of December and first week of January. May God, during this time of Advent, pour his healing presence on the people and land of Haiti. This season may we once again ponder, and take to heart, the incredible gift of love that God has given us. 

 

Tom Vencuss

Volunteer Management Coordinator

Haiti Response Plan

 


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Please pray for the people of Haiti and the UMVIM teams who are traveling to work alongside the Methodist Church of Haiti in rebuilding. 

 

We give thanks for all the volunteers in mission who are called and sent.

Greetings!
Thank you for subscribing to the bi-weekly newsletter of the Haiti Response Plan, a program of the Mission Volunteers unit of the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church. 

This is the final special edition relating to the political unrest surrounding the recent presidential elections and the safety of UMVIM teams.
UMVIM teams & staff headed back to U.S.UMVIM Haiti Response logo
Tom Vencuss, Volunteer Management Coordinator, reports that all teams present in Haiti during the recent political unrest are home or on the way home this week. The team from the Western PA conference, led by Jim Bickford and Diane Miller, were able to fly home on Saturday, December 11.
The remaining four teams from Kansas East, South Georgia, New England and West Ohio flew home on Monday or will fly home today, Tuesday, December 14. Staff member Beth Guy was on her way home Monday, along with Individual Volunteer Barry Mickey. Staff members Vencuss and Deanna Hawkins will fly out later in the week.

 

Vencuss and the staff in Haiti emphasized that no one on the five teams in Haiti over the past weeks were ever in imminent danger. However, the staff could not retreive teams at field locations or move teams within Port au Prince (due to road closures); teams' stays were extended beyond their expected departures (due to flight cancellations); and in some cases, stays were extended beyond team members' comfort and anxiety levels.

 

Vencuss and others involved in the UMVIM Haiti Response Plan are actively discussing the appropriate next steps in light of the announced run-off election in mid-January.

Team leader shares experience

An UMVIM team from Indian Run UMC, Dublin, Ohio, West Ohio Conference, was originally scheduled to be in Haiti from December 3 - 11. The political unrest that unfolded after the presidential election results were announced late last Tuesday, December 7 directly impacted this team, which was stationed at their project site in Mellier, about 40 kilometers from Petionville. The staff at the Methodist Guest House could not pick the team up as planned, due to road closures. In addition, the team's flights were cancelled.

Tom Vencuss, Volunteer Management Coordinator, has reported that the team was moved back into the Guest House on Saturday, and will be able to fly home today, Tuesday, December 14. Howard Baulch, team leader, took a few moments to recount the team experiences in a team report on Sunday evening.  In his comments, Baulch remarked that the UMVIM staff at the Methodist Guest House was "wonderful in all respects in caring for our needs."

A story from the Western Pennsylvania team is posted to the conference web site, "Stranded Haiti Mission Team Heads Home."
Find us on Facebook

The best way to keep in touch with time-sensitive information related to team safety, including the presidential election and the cholera situation, is to be our friend on Facebook. Just go to the main web site, www.umvimhaiti.org, to connect.

 

Team leaders and members can use the Haiti Response Plan web site to find resources to plan their UMVIM trip. Others who are interested in following our ministry can access project status, volunteer testimonies, and more.

  

A recent web site addition is a moving Advent/Christmas reflection from Mike Willis, the first Volunteer Management Coordinator, God is at Work in Unmistakable Ways.

 
Find archive copies of this newsletter and earlier editions on the Newsletter page.

 

Please send suggestions for the web site and newsletter or general comments on the Haiti Response Plan to Susan Meister, US-based Calendaring Coordinator, at [email protected].

 

Find us on Facebook

 

The Facebook link will be used to post time-sensitive information relevant to the Haiti Response Plan.

Matching 

Grants Available 


Teams who raise $3500 in project funds are eligible for a matching grant of $3500. For more information on how to apply for matching funds, contact Susan Meister, US-based Calendaring Coordinator.