Haiti Mission
Haiti Mission
The understanding that “we are called” and “we are sent” is at the foundation of our faith. The scriptures are full of stories of people who responded to a call and were sent on a mission for God. The Volunteers in Mission (VIM) program enables volunteers to be part of short-term mission ministries nationally and throughout the world.
The New York Annual Conference has had a long history of ministry in Haiti including Rev. Bob and Nancy Osgood who served as resident missionaries from 1994 to 1995.
In 2002 a connection with Haiti was re-established. In May of 2004 the Connecticut District formally adopted Haiti as a mission priority and in 2005 it became a Conference priority.
In 2005 a Haiti Task Force was formally established to develop and oversee our Conference’s mission in Haiti. In September 2008 the name of the mission was formally changed to Mountains of Hope for Haiti. MOH is part of the overall mission of the New York Annual Conference and functions under the guidelines of the Volunteers in Mission Ministry of the Board of Global Ministries. When we travel we represent our Annual Conference and are in Haiti at the invitation of the Methodist Church of Haiti.
The history of Haiti includes years of foreign intervention and manipulation born of fear and greed; of promises left unfulfilled; of projects begun and abruptly halted; of political, social and economic corruption and unrealized reforms. Haiti is a land of inconsistencies, where the very rich live in close proximity to the very poor and where the poor are often exploited for the needs and wants of the rich. It is a land which forces one to wrestle with deep and controversial issues. 
Haiti has been recognized as the poorest country in the Western hemisphere and one of the most corrupt in the world—80% of the population lives on less than $2 US a day. It is also a land of great beauty, once described as “mountains beyond mountains.” Yet a closer inspection reveals mountain-sides devoid of trees and vegetation, the result of years of clear-cutting wood, needed for cooking fuel and heat sources. It is this lack of vegetation that makes the spring and fall rains so devastating, resulting in damaging erosion and landslides.
In the midst of all that works against Haiti, there are continued signs of hope. Haiti’s greatest resource is its people. A proud, faithful, and resourceful people, who seem to make the best of the worst situations, carry water on their heads, eat one meal a day and walk for miles to market.
There are signs that some foreign aid is now reaching into the general population—the airport has been upgraded, the streets seem somewhat cleaner and private commerce continues to grow, all through the efforts of many, both private and governmental, NGO’s and the dedication of the Christian faith community.
However, the recent hurricanes have taken a great toll on the country. As Edwidge Danticat, a Haitian novelist, commented, “A country on the edge has been pushed over the edge.” In our most recent trip we saw much more hunger and concern among the people we know than in prior years.
Current Projects
“Friends of Furcy”
The main focus of our work has been in the small village of Furcy, a mountain village southeast of Port-au-Prince. In February 2005 a team from the New York Annual Conference began construction on what has become the Furcy Medical Clinic. Construction was completed and the Clinic began seeing its first patients in September 2006. The clinic provides basic medical care to the more than 10,000 people who live in the valleys and mountains around the village. Through the Bishop’s “Partners in Mission Fund” and our Superintendent’s “Haiti Initiative” we now provide a doctor once a week at the clinic as well as a “mobile clinic,” a field agent offering inoculations and other programs for villagers. MOH also supports the small Methodist Church and School in the village through scholarships, supplies and other projects.
The main focus of our work has been in the small village of Furcy, a mountain village southeast of Port-au-Prince. In February 2005 a team from the New York Annual Conference began construction on what has become the Furcy Medical Clinic. Construction was completed and the Clinic began seeing its first patients in September 2006. The clinic provides basic medical care to the more than 10,000 people who live in the valleys and mountains around the village. Through the Bishop’s “Partners in Mission Fund” and our Superintendent’s “Haiti Initiative” we now provide a doctor once a week at the clinic as well as a “mobile clinic,” a field agent offering inoculations and other programs for villagers. MOH also supports the small Methodist Church and School in the village through scholarships, supplies and other projects.
This past fall, in response to the hurricanes, we were able to provide two offerings of rice and beans to villagers. Through the Furcy Methodist Church a Farmer’s Association was formed and we provided two installments of seeds to replace those crops lost from the flood waters. It is imperative that planting be done before the dry season begins.
Holy Angels
We support a small, privately-run orphanage called Holy Angels outside Port-au-Prince which has many children with special needs. Over the years we have brought the orphanage medical supplies, school supplies, food and lots of love and care. Our work has also taken us to other churches, schools and orphanages.
We support a small, privately-run orphanage called Holy Angels outside Port-au-Prince which has many children with special needs. Over the years we have brought the orphanage medical supplies, school supplies, food and lots of love and care. Our work has also taken us to other churches, schools and orphanages.
Jeremie
We have sent several teams to Jeremie, a city on the southwestern arm of the island which has a long history of Methodist presence and ministry. Our work there has been with Good Samaritan (a Methodist “senior home”), a small privately run orphanage, and Missionaries of Charity, an organization begun by Mother Theresa.
We have sent several teams to Jeremie, a city on the southwestern arm of the island which has a long history of Methodist presence and ministry. Our work there has been with Good Samaritan (a Methodist “senior home”), a small privately run orphanage, and Missionaries of Charity, an organization begun by Mother Theresa.
We have also done work with Grace Children’s Hospital and other Methodist-based mission agencies in the Port-au-Prince area.