What will theHELPINGHAITI HEAL OFFERING do?

With the formation of a new conference structure come opportunities for organizations to bring their focus and mission to light before many new faces and churches. In the Upper New York Conference we present the HAITINETWORKto each of you. The Haiti Network is a pairing of the HAITI PARTNERSHIP and the HAITI CONNECTION.

The HAITI PARTNERSHIP was formed in 1995 as a partnership with people of the former Wyoming Annual Conference and the Methodist Church of Haiti. The HAITI PARTNERSHIP has worked with many communities throughout Haiti to construct and rebuild churches and schools in Haiti. Through this offering of HELPING HAITI HEAL we will continue our work to help the people of Haitirebuild from the earthquake and other devastating natural disasters. Each of your offeringsgo directly to help the people of Haiti in these efforts.,100% of each donation will benefit the people of Haiti. Through many previous years of generosity,much has been accomplished in Haiti:

Sent over 10,000 school bags to Haiti made by SundaySchools, VacationBibleSchools and United Methodist Women

Provided many hygiene kits, school scholarships, emergency relief funds and other needed supplies

Sponsored several older men and women living at Good Samaritan Home in Jeremie

Began a micro-credit program to begin local business opportunities

Provided salaries for eight teachers and a director at the Hermitage school first opened in Sept 2005

Sent over 80 teams of Volunteers In Mission (VIMs) to Haiti despite frequent political unrest

Sent over 600 people as VIMs (many of whom have gone several times)

In 2008, the HAITI CONNECTION started an agricultural project at the Methodist school in Banique. The purpose of this effort was two fold: To incorporate agriculture into the 5th and 6th grade curriculum so the students could learn basic farming methods and to inspire them to take responsibility of their land. Agriculture provides food and income for their families. Along with ag classes a nursery was built on the school premises where the students helped grow 15,000 trees. Three months after planting seeds, trees were a foot tall. The children took one half of the trees back to their homes where they transplanted and cared for them. The other half were planted on a hillside to reduce erosion. At the cost of $4,000 per year, the program has proven to be very successful.

Current Plans

The Haiti Partnership anticipates sending at least nine teams to Haiti in the next conference year. Each volunteer is responsible for providing or raising about $1,200 for their own travel, room and board, etc. as well as required immunizations, passports etc. The HELPING HAITI HEALoffering will pay for project costs and other ministries in Haiti.

In prior years, we have helped build a church, school and a teachers’ dorm. We have begun a water project along the southern coast of Haiti. This project is ongoing with large participation of local Rotary clubs and Pure Water for the World. This is an important project to provide clean drinking water for many communities.

The Haiti Connection would like to take their agricultural project to another school and start the program there. Our goal is to spread the knowledge and benefits of agriculture throughout the Haitian Primary schools.

When And How Is the Offering Received?

Each church in the Upper New York Conference is encouraged to support the HELPING HAITI HEAL Offering. Some churches take up a special offering; others promote it through their Sunday School; others include a line item in their budget. Your pastor or lay member will be asked to send your offering to the HAITI NETWORK in the special envelope that is provided to your church. The Haiti PartnershipUpper New York Advance Special number is 3148.Many churches have also assembled school bags or personal hygiene kits for Haiti.

How Can We Help You?

If you have any questions about the Haiti Partnership, please contact one of the following people. If you are interested in becoming a VIM, or you would like us to speak at your church or a church meeting, please let us know. The Haiti Partnership has many power point presentations, and would be happy to talk to your group, whatever its size.

Haiti Partnership:

Roger Richards, Chair –

– (607) 754-5735

Mike Willis, Communications Coordinator to the Methodist

Church of Haiti– – (607) 785-3367

Barry Watkins, VIM Registrar–

– (607) 687-1020

Lana Roske, Haiti Partnership secretary –

– (607) 785-3367

Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” In our mission work, we have found that we receive blessings both in giving and receiving.

Thank you for your support!

Goals for the HELPING HAITI HEAL2011 Offering

Through the years, the Church has served the people of Haiti offering hope and guidance. It is also the institution providing the best possibility for educating children in the country. It is with this hope that the HAITI PARTNERSHIP and the HAITI CONNECTION come to you with these goals:

Haiti Partnership goals:

$24,500 for project costs for 9 anticipated teams travelling to Haiti. With this project money materials are purchased and Haitian workers are hired.

$8,400 to provide school scholarships for the 175 students of the Hermitage school

$20,000 to support the clean water project for the village of Hermitage in cooperation with Rotary Clubs in our Conference

$10,000 to continue the partnership with the Methodist Church of Haiti as we work on community development and emergency assistance addressing the many needs of the people of Haiti.

$2,000 provide limited scholarship support for each of the other schools we have worked in through the years including Golbotine, Nicolas and Mellier.

Haiti Connection goals:

$8,000 to spread the knowledge and benefits of agriculture throughout the Haitian Primary Schools

$25,000 to provide a college education for students that yearn for education.

$20,000 to feed students in three Haitian elementary schools. This meal of rice and beans is often the only meal the students may have. It costs $10 per month to feed one child. There are 825 students in the three schools.

Historical Context

Haiti

Haiti has long been referred to as the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The country became the first black nation of the world but has seen a long history of exploitation by both fellow Haitians and outsiders. Yet, the VIMs that have travelled to Haiti have come to know of its great friendship, faith, joy and beauty.

The Haiti Partnershiphas been able to send ten teams to Haiti since last Conference. Those who have travelled on any of the mission trips to Haiti have been inspired by the Haitian people who work out of hope and faith rather than out of despair in the midst of their severe poverty, and in the face of great political unrest and the devastation of the earthquake, one year ago.

Both the Haiti Partnershipand the Haiti Connection look with faith to the futuregood that can happen through the gift of working together. We look forward with great expectation that God will continue to use us as vehicles for extending God’s love to those in great need.

Please pray for the people of Haiti and for our missions in their country.

HELPING HAITI HEAL

OFFERING

2011

to support our ministry through

AND THE

HAITI CONNECTION

of the

UPPER NEW YORK CONFERENCE