Mountains to Mountains

July 2012 Mountains to Mountains Mission Plans:

Two groups of folks will be traveling together to Haiti in July. Once on the ground in Port au Prince, one group will be going up to Mizak to conduct eyeglass clinics with Haitian Artisans for Peace International and do construction work as they have in past years. The other group will travel up to Cazale to volunteer at Real Hope for Haiti. Both teams will travel back to Port au Prince, staying at Heartline Guest House (Heartline Ministries)and conduct an eyeglass clinic before leaving to return back home. Needs for the teams include: eyeglass readers (1.0 and 1.75 for men), sunglasses, safety goggles, or monetary donations. The Mountains to Mountains teams are hosting a Mission Event at Trinity United Methodist Church in Roncevete on May 11 to help raise funds for the building projects in Mizak. This event will include an international meal (donations accepted), a silent auction, sale of items to raise funds for missions, a time of sharing and intercession and prayer. Jim Dick, local resident and recent missionary to Senegal, will be the guest speaker. Please plan to attend! You will find out more about short-term missions and have an evening celebrating the work God is doing through His people. We are all very excited about the work to come in Haiti!

January 2012
A group from Huntington led by Steve Hamrick, board member of Mountains to Mountains, will be traveling to Haiti beginning January 4, 2012. The team is composed of 5 women and 6 men from Community of Grace United Methodist Church, Barboursville First United Methodist Church and Milton United Methodist Church [including three pastors – Rev Steven Hamrick (team leader), Rev Lynn Cartwright (with ministry experience in Haiti each year for the last 10 years), and Rev Judy Fisher].
The itinerary (as much as one can plan for trips to Haiti) is as follows:
Wednesday, January 4, 2012 – flight from Reagan National Airport at 6:00pm and arrive in Miami approximately 9:00pm
Thursday, January 5, 2012 – Fly from Miami 7:00am to PAP 9:00am. Travel directly to Mizak and unpack supplies. In the afternoon, the entire team will work on excavation for the Merlet Center Building site. The team sent $5,000 to HAPI for the cost of excavation.
Friday, January 6, 2012 – Mizak Eye clinic all day and work on site excavation
Saturday, January 7, 2012 – Mizak Eye clinic all day and work on excavation
Sunday, January 8, 2012 – Worship and fun afternoon at beach in Jacmel – then pack.
Monday, January 9, 2012 – 7:00am travel to Bainet and set up eye clinic – start seeing patients at noon. Miscellaneous construction or repair work (unidentified as of now)
Tuesday, January 10, 2012 – Bainet Eye clinic and miscellaneous construction or repair.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 – Bainet Eye clinic and miscellaneous construction or repair. Evening travel to hotel in LaVallee
Thursday, January 12, 2012 – Leave LaVallee early and travel to airport in PAP for evening flight to Miami. Spend night in Miami
Friday, January 13, 2012 – Fly from Miami to Reagan National and drive back to Huntington.
The team is taking 150 pounds of hand tools (handsaws, hacksaws, hammers, levels, gloves, pliers, etc) to leave with the local workers, 100 early pregnancy tests, 14 cots to remain in the Methodist guest house in Bainet, craft supplies, birthing kits, educational material, 270 Creole New Testaments, 600 pocket crosses, and 600 pairs of sunglasses along with the regular eye care supplies. Please remember these folks in your prayers! Photos and a report of their experience will be posted upon their return.

And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone." Mark 16:15

Dr. Stout shown here during a medical mission.

WHAT

WE

DO

We have a ministry of service and friendship between the people of West Virginia and the people of Haiti. This ministry began in 2003 when 2 people visited an orphanage in Haiti. Their efforts have grown over the years to include teams of as many as 14 working together to conduct eyeglass clinics, conduct medical missions, support microfinancing lending projects, provide earthquake relief, and support construction projects. Mountains to Mountains team members also deliver birthing/hygiene kits to community clinics, promote the sale of products made by the women of HAPI (Haitian Artisans for Peace International), the women of Haitian Creations from Heartline Ministries and the building of relationships with the people they serve.Our teams work closely with HAPI (Haitian Artists for Peace International), Child Hope International, Real Hope for Haiti and Heartline Ministries.

The gang's all here!

THE JULY 2011 Mountains to Mountains team poses in Mizak for a group shot. Great looking group, aren't they? This group worked at Child Hope International and at HAPI to provide eyeglass clinics, construction and to build relationships with the people in Mizak and Port au Prince..

WHERE IS
MIZAK? Mizak is a mountainous, rural section of La Vallee consisting of 23 localities, situated in the Southeast section of Haiti, 80 km south of Port-au-Prince and 12 km west of Jacmel.

The total population is just over 35,000. 70% are peasants living under the poverty level of less than $1 US per day. 63%of the population is under the age of 18.

Matt Daily, Kelsie Forren and Abbey Estep-Haiti July 2011.

4 Pastors from the WV conference worked in Mizak in July. They are:
Mike Estep, Steve Hamrick, Dave Peters and Jim Malick...good going guys!!!!

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John McHoul (Heartline) and Marjorie

On the June 2011 trip to Haiti, members of Mountains to Mountains met Marjorie. She was an earthquake victim whose lower arm had to be amputated in order for her to be freed from the rubble. Marjorie now works at Heartline. She was recently fitted for and received a prosthetic arm. Her plans are to go to school to study medical technology

Claudette

This little girl's name is Claudette. She lives at the Real Hope for Haiti Mission. She came to Real Hope after she was badly burned in January. Her abdomen and legs were burned when an oil lamp overturned and burned her. The 2011 June Mountains to Mountains team met her and were happily surprised at how well she is doing and how happy she is.

Stephanie

Pictured here with Rhonda Stout (Mountains to Mountains) is Stephanie. Stephanie had begun her studies as a medical student when the earthquake hit. She volunteered at Heartline Hospital helping earthquake victims. That is how John McHoul met Stephanie and how her need for financial support to continue medical school became known. Stephanie needs $3000 per year to become a pediatrician Last year, an anonymous donor gave the $3,000 needed for last year's tuition. She would like to stay in Haiti and help children. Another $3,000 is needed for this year's tuition--$1000 needed by October 1. If you are interested in helping Stephanie continue her studies to become a doctor, please contact us.

UPDATE on STEPHANIE--an anonymous donor has provided the support Stephanie needs for her medical schooling!! We are so grateful for this generosity!

Isaiah 41:17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

Could you live here? This is what many of our Haitian friends and neighbors live in daily. Read about this little girl and her family's new house in the houses in Corail that Mountains to Mountains helped build. Go to http://johnmchoul.wordpress.com/2011/08/31/a-new-house-and-a-new-well-or-goodbye-leaky-stinky-muddy-tent/