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Mission Volunteers, General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church |
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Haiti Response Plan/UMVIM Haiti |
| Volume 5, Number 2 |
Special Edition, November 1, 2012 |
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Volunteers welcome Guest House renovations
In response to the increasing demand on the Methodist Guest House, the Haiti Response Plan has also been at the forefront of renovations for this well-used facility. In August and September 2012, over $135,000 was spent to remodel bedrooms, bathrooms, the dining area and more. The renovations were funded by an UMCOR grant and the Methodist Church of Haiti.
A seasoned team leader from Virginia, Bob Weeks, was pleased with the changes when his team served in Haiti earlier this month. "The Methodist Guest House gets better with each visit. The expanded bathroom space is great - what impresses me most is the cleanliness and organization of the bedrooms, bathrooms, and the entire facility," he said.
"While our teams come to Haiti expecting to 'rough it,' the Guest House provides them with a respite both at the beginning and end of their trip, a calm place to collect their thoughts and organize their luggage before their trip home."
Returning team leader Sharon Parker, New England Conference, echoed the praise: "The Guest House looks very fresh and clean. The extra sinks and shower stall in the bathroom are very welcome, as is the additional space and seating in the outdoor dining area."  Patti Joiner, North Alabama Conference, added, "We were pleasantly surprised by the updates. Thank you for trying so hard to keep us comfortable. "Now if the roosters would just sleep in a little longer!"
Photos by Bill Borah |
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Greetings!
 Thank you for subscribing to the 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. The UMVIM community and the staff of the Haiti Response Plan continue to work at the invitation of the Eglise Methodiste d'Haiti (EMH). This special edition highlights the Haiti Home Assistance Program and the Guest House Renovation Project. Please prayerfully consider a monetary gift toward the completion of the Guest House Annex. Thank you and God bless your support of all the ministry of the Haiti Response Plan. |
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A special thank you and request for the Haiti Home Assistance Program
Over the past 2 ½ years, UMVIM teams have done remarkable ministry in Haiti under the umbrella of the Haiti Response Plan. The staff and I are so appreciative of the prayers, preparation, time and financial support you have given to help our Haitian brothers and sisters recover from the January 2010 earthquake.
Many of you who have traveled to Haiti and stayed at the Methodist Guest House have had the honor to meet and develop relationships with the Guest House staff who work so hard to welcome and care for team members and full-time Haiti UMVIM staff. As you know, homes of the staff were lost or severely damaged in the earthquake.
Individual Volunteer Bill Borah undertook the task of writing a proposal to UMCOR in January 2012 to find a permanent housing solution for these staff members. The Haiti Home Assistance Project (HHAP) has two priorities. The first is to build new homes or make repairs on existing homes. The second is to build the Guest House Annex, an eight-unit building on the Freres campus, behind the current Guest House. Four of the units in this building will be used to house staff living behind the kitchen who need to stay on site due to their work schedules. Four of the units will be used for UMVIM staff.
The total funding for the HHAP is $230,000. $115,000 is for the individual homes (14 total), and is being funding by UMCOR. The remaining $115,000 is for the Guest House Annex, funded one third by the Methodist Church of Haiti, one third by UMCOR and one third by UMVIM. To date, the UMVIM community has contributed about $18,000 toward our portion.
We are writing today to ask if you would please consider making a contribution to the completion of this important project. We are convinced that the Annex will not only provide necessary housing for the Guest House staff, but will also be a much-needed solution for our UMVIM staff who give so much of themselves in mission in our program. If you or your church would like to make a contribution, you can do so through the Advance by going to http://www.umcmission.org/Give-to-Mission/How-to-Give and specifying Advance #3020761 or click on Support for International Volunteer Coordinators - Projects. Alternately, you may send a check to Global Ministries/Haiti Home Assistance Program, GBGM, and mail to my attention: Una Jones, Mission Volunteers Office, 475 Riverside Drive, Room 314, New York, NY 10115.
The HHAP is just part of the continuing efforts of our
program and staff to be in mission not only in the EMH project sites, but with the greater Methodist family and outside community. Thank you and God bless you.
Una Jones, AGS, Mission Volunteers, General Board of Global Ministries
Haiti Response Plan staff, Tom Vencuss, Danette Segroves,
Mario Fils-Aime, Bill Borah, Susan Meister
The Guest House Annex under construction, Sept 2012.
Photo by Bill Borah |
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