Pilgrim United Church of Christ - Haiti Mission

Pilgrim Team Travels to Haiti
A team of eight volunteers from Pilgrim UCC traveled to Haiti April 24 -- May 1. The group was originally scheduled to go t in mid-January but their trip was postponed after a devastating earthquake rocked the country 10 days before their scheduled flight killing more than 230,000 people and leaving 1 million people living in tent cities. The trip was coordinated by Pilgrim Pastor Emeritus George Schowalter who traveled to Haiti for the 19th time. Pilgrim's Team brought much needed aid items including 19 tents, school supplies, water filters, hygiene supplies for a homeless shelter and clothing. The congregation collected $6,000 in monetary donations which went to relief organizations, area schools, an orphanage, a home for severely disabled boys, a hospital and mission houses. Bob Steckel and Bert Faase worked with Engineers without Borders inspecting buildings for structural soundness. Johanna Grover provided physical therapy to amputee victims of the quake. The volunteers also spent time clearing building debris from destroyed buildings and trees to make room for new buildings. Pilgrim donated hand bell sets to four area schools and led instrumental tutorials. They also had the opportunity to meet several of the school children that they have sponsored for many years. The team stayed in a tent city with 1,000 other people in a former soccer field.
Haiti was considered the poorest country in the western hemisphere before January's earthquake. The unemployment rate is around 70% and 54% of the population live on less than $1 per day. The damage has left the already impoverished country desperate for help. While hope can still be felt among the resilient people who have pushed forward to resume a sense of normalcy, it is obvious that Haiti remains in dire need of continued recovery and relief.
In addition to Schowalter, Steckel and Grover, the team consisted of Rev. Franz Rigert, Chris Hart, Heidi Jenkins, Bert Faase and Kathy Ellenbecker

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[h1morrow]

This is such a touching video. I'm SO proud of the group that went and the members that raised funds. Thanks so much for sharing your experience!