By The Rev. Barbara Libby
Interim Conference Minister

The RICUCC Haiti Task Force was founded 28 years ago when now retired Conference Minister The Rev. Dr. H. Daehler Hayes partnered with the Rev. Jean Dorisca, the founder of the Mission Evangelique Baptitise Bethesda (MEBB) churches.

The latest Mission group to travel to Haiti departed early on Tuesday, Jan. 16, and will return after a week of service, on Jan. 23. The group included the following persons from three of the RI Conference UCC churches:

• From Seekonk Congregational Church: Rev. Dr. H. Daehler Hayes, Linda Sable, Lori Ferreira, Lena Correa & her daughter, Mark Johnson, Fred Thorne, Ruth Graham
• From Peace Dale Congregational Church: Patricia and Barry Gross
• From Newman Congregational Church: Paul and Suzanne Swanson

Many groups have traveled to Haiti since 1990!  The RI Conference UCC continues its ongoing Mission with Haiti - providing education, quality health care, orphan relief, and community-based services for the people of Haiti.  Engagement with Haiti includes student and school sponsorships, financial support for medical clinics, a nutrition program, sustained friendship and joint advocacy for positive change. One of many projects that is included in the RI Conference outreach to Haiti involves the Nutrition Program which feeds children a hard-boiled egg five days a week as a supplement to their diets with high quality protein. This program currently serves over 600 children in 8 sites throughout Haiti.

Folks who travel to Haiti on these Mission trips testify to their visits as both transformational and inspiring. They return to our churches to encourage ongoing support for our Conference's work in Haiti.  If you or your church has interest in learning more about the RI Conference Haiti Mission Project, please contact Shirley Hardison (member at the United Congregational Church of Little Compton & Divisional Vice President of the Haiti Mission Task Force on the RI Conference Board of Directors) or visit this website for more information: www.richaititaskforce.org

Let’s celebrate the wonderful work and support for this ongoing Mission Outreach program of the RI Conference United Church of Christ!