Home Global Outreach Update
Update
Report for GMLT and ELT
October 11, 2010

Introduction

It has been a good year for the Lord’s work. We have made solid progress towards rebuilding our earthquake-damaged Haitian churches and to build God’s kingdom in Haiti. It is our goal to see Haiti eventually join the other conferences as a full, vibrant conference of the United Brethren church. We are excited that we now have our first official school!

Haiti

Review of Recommendations from Fact-Finding Trip

  • Four Main Projects to be funded:
    • Complete Delmas 33 Church / Conference Centre / School
    • Rebuild Citie Soleil Church 1 and 2 - requirements:
      • Engineering drawings, must have papers in UB church name, land purchase needed for #2)
    • Replacement of roof of Chevalier church (“Hill Church”) – need engineering drawings or some assurance of Hurricane-proofing
    • Explore land purchase for Lanbe church (North of Gonaives – Requirement: papers in UB church name, 10% locally raised)
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  • Croix-des-Bouquets church:
    • Pastor Wilbert has raised the $600US for land purchase (a requirement from us after issues with mis-application of the feeding funds). The remaining $500US has been sent to Pastor Richard. This is a possible site for a future US construction teams.
  • We came to agreement on cost per guest per night at Pastor Richard's house “The Guest House” for future ministry trips.
  • New projects will be accepted when the following have occurred:
    • The local churches have raised 10% of the project costs – local accountability
    • Haitians match US/CDN work teams 1/1 – providing “sweat equity”
    • A Project Plan is filed with GMLT/GOLT – this is our accountability to our donors
    • Engineering drawings are required for any construction – new construction should be more able to withstand earthquakes and hurricanes.
    • The Haiti United Brethren Church has the land deed in the name of the UB church – this will avoid losing the church building once completed (this has happened before)

Building Trip in October

  • The Canadian team under the leadership of Joan Sider and Jeff Gordon helped the building of the Delmas 33 church / conference centre. It was a week of intensive physical work
  • Due to unrest in Citie Soleil, they were limited to Delmas 33.
  • The team age ranged from two 16 year olds to several over 50.
  • They were able to attend several nights of a week-long revival meeting, several young Haitians came to Christ during the week.
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Future Haiti Teams

  • The annual Canadian Multi-purpose team is set to return in January/February 2011. There will be construction and medical components to this ministry.
  • GMLT has postponed involvement by US teams until next spring at the earliest because of lack of clarity in the projects. GOLT and GMLT are working together to solve this.
CH Global in Haiti
The joint ministry with CH Global is proving to be very fruitful:
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  • The Delmas 33 School (funded by CH Global and Global Ministries) officially opened Oct. 4, 2010! This is a key step to official recognition of the United Brethren by the Haitian Government.
  • Over 100 children have been sponsored, new target is 200 children.
  • “Micro-business” start-up help has been provided to a local seamstress so she can provide low-cost
  • school uniforms (a general requirement in Haiti) to those of low income.
  • We are working on a partnership to link North American and Haitian churches by providing monthly funds for a “Development Activity Centre” that would provide sports, games, Bible teaching and a feeding program for up to 150 children. Linked churches will be asked to provide $100/month to support

Update on Missionaries

  • Polegatos are proceeding with their plans to begin a ministry with unreached groups. They had a very good experience with a group ministering to Yemini living in the Detroit area. Plans are in place for a longer internship in the summer.
  • Rob Miller and Ken Kells had a very successful trip to Mainline China to help teach English with the GMLT-sponsored trip.
  • The Klines have returned to Macao on a one-year assignment

Spring GOLT Missions Day

  • Date for “Missions Day” is April 9, 2011
  • Jeff Bleijerveld is confirmed as keynote speaker
  • Possible seminars on Haiti, Macao, Russia