2009 Youth Trip Set for June 16 - 23rd

The 2009 Haiti Youth Mission Trip has been set for June 16-23rd. Check out these photos, and the slide show (at the right), and you'll see what a great experience the last trip had.

The last group had a soccer game, painted some classrooms, gave flouride treatments, and made the long trek up a mountain to visit the famous "Wilkens", who many know came to Carmel several years back.

Although there will be plenty to keep everyone busy, one of the main activities is always just making friends with, connecting with, and just generally hanging out with the people of Petite Riviere de Nippes.

One of the projects on the last trip was to paint some recently constructed classrooms at one of the local schools.

Here's our twin parish pastor, Father Rebecca, with some of the youth from OLMC and Ti Riviere.

Elaine Grimm hanging out with some friends at the big soccer game. (We lost).

Betsy Reckelhoff and some more smiling faces!

This year's trip will also be led by Rex Rund. Rex spent 3 years living in Haiti while in the Peace Corps, and is fluent in the local language of Creole. The group will be working hand in hand with the youth of Ti Riviere in various work projects, and to be sure, they will be ministering to their Haitian brothers and Sisters. But they'll also come home having learned much...and received SO much. For more information, contact Cathy Penno 843-0667 cathy@penno.com.

OLMC 4th Grade PRE Kids Raise Funds for Haiti

This article was submitted by Laura Moehling:

"I went to Gary Solomon's 4th grade PRE class yesterday. They received $15 from the social justice committee at their retreat to be used for seed money for a social justice project of their choice. The students purchased Papa Johns pizza coupons and sold them door to door and to family.

As you see from the photo, they presented me with an oversized check (that they also created) made out to the Haiti Committee in the amount of $250. It is to be used for the school lunch program in Haiti.

We had a wonderful discussion about sharing what you have with others who do not have as much. They asked me many questions about Haiti and the children there. We read Matthew 25 and talked about what God is calling all of us to do... It was a morning I will not soon forget. I so wish that everyone could have hearts as pure and loving as those 4th graders.

They informed me that they are not finished selling and they hope to present me with another $250 check before the end of the year to be used for water purification units."

The Building of a New School in Ti Riviere

BEFORE: picture shows the remnants of another building, long since blown down by a hurricane.

AFTER:

In about 9 months time, our contractor in Haiti, Abdou Fall, had completed this beautiful 3 story school.