In our partnership with Haiti, Resurrection has focused on sustainable efforts that include community-based preventive health care training programs. We continue to work with the Methodist Church in Haiti to serve those most directly affected by the devastation of recent hurricanes. While we have tentatively planned itineraries for each of our trips, those plans will change according to our partner's assessment of the most critical needs of the people of Haiti.

In addition to serving the health care needs of the people of Haiti, we also built computer labs in schools, strengthened Internet connections in our partner churches and worked with Compassion International to enrich the lives of Haitian children. Learn more about our Compassion partnership in Haiti here or to sponsor a child at the Duclos Center in Haiti, you can sign up here and then visit them on a future serve trip. To learn more about how we are supporting Haiti, visit our blog.

Prayer Guide

We have a prayer guide available to remind you to pray for the people of Haiti. Download it and print it out and place it somewhere you will see it each day.

About Haiti

To learn more about our empowerment efforts in Haiti and Resurrection's partnership with the Eglise Metodiste d Haiti, check out this video from our volunteer context leader, Rudy Ehrenberg.

Haiti, the poorest nation in the Americas, is located southeast of Cuba on the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. About 8 million people live there, in an area just slightly larger than the state of Vermont. Most of the population speaks Haitian Creole, a French-based language with Spanish, Portuguese and African influences. Not only does Haiti have a history of political and economic instability, the recent geographic catastrophes such as the 2010 earthquake and terrible hurricanes in 2008 and 2016 have damaged much of the country's arable land, leaving the Haitian people unable to grow enough food to sustain themselves. Also, the weather damage has wiped out homes and destroyed sources of clean water, leaving thousands of people homeless, hungry and vulnerable to disease.

Explore the many opportunities available for partnering with Hondurans to transform their communities. Each trip has a purpose, some of which are listed below:

• Bless the School — Light construction and painting to keep the school in good condition.
• Bless the Youth — Engage with youth in sports activities and develop meaningful friendships.
• Bless the Teachers — Be a part of equipping teachers with resources and lessons to teach English and the Word of God. Teaching English creates bonds between people of different cultures and is life-changing for both.
• Medical and Dental – Provide needed care for the community.
• Cultural immersion – In addition to engaging with teachers and students, each trip includes time to explore.

2021 Trips:

• Resurrection Downtown Men's Trip: January 29 - February 5

School Sponsorship

For just $39.50/month ($474/year) you can provide a child with a private faith-based school education at the Juan Wesley School in Ciudad España.This amount will provide tuition, books and materials and a school uniform for your sponsored child. Your child will be able to write to you each year to tell you about their progress, and they will be monitored to assure that they achieve the school's academic goals.

Child sponsors who join a short-term serve team to Honduras have opportunities to meet the child they sponsor, interact with other Juan Wesley students and support the school. Learn more or sponsor a child by downloading and filling out this form.

To learn about other ways Resurrection is partnering with Hondurans, visit our blog.

About Honduras

Honduras, located in Central America between Guatemala and Nicaragua, is a country of mountains, forests and farms. There are more than 7 million people living in this country, which is about the size of Louisiana. Most Hondurans speak Spanish, although the Amerindian/mestizo population may speak other Spanish dialects. English is widely spoken in the north. Resurrection teams usually fly into the capital city of Tegucigalpa, and some take a day to visit the Maya ruins at Copán, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Honduras is one of the poorest regions in Central America; its economy is primarily agricultural and the annual per capital income is about $2,500 USD.

Resurrection partners with the Methodist Church in Honduras, working mostly with the Methodist Church in El Obraje and the Cristo Resucitado Methodist Church in Ciudad España.

The Church of the Resurrection is working to empower Malawians to give them a fighting chance for a future with HOPE. How are we making this happen? Through the Methodist Church, we partner to provide opportunities for abundant life, address basic needs, develop self-sustaining economic empowerment, offer health education and medical rehabilitation. Resurrection also works with our partners to support opportunities for spiritual formation and pastoral leadership, early childhood education, and life skills training. To learn more, visit our blog.

About the Malawi United Methodist Church

On January 1, 2009, the Malawi United Methodist Church celebrated their status as the new Missionary Conference of the United Methodist Church. Their status reflects the dedication, sacrifices and prayers of Malawian pastors and laity who have planted and nurtured this young church over the past two decades. They grew from a handful of churches to a thriving conference of 22 circuits and more than 140 churches, based on the passion and commitment of John Wesley to preach the Good News. They work to serve those in the most rural villages, hoping to set Malawi on fire for Christ.

Rev. Daniel Mhone, the Church's District Superintendent, supervises 24 pastors appointed in largely rural circuits where 85 percent of the church members survive day-to-day as subsistence farmers.The 22 circuits of the Malawi UMC are each served by one pastor who is responsible for 3 to 20 local churches within a 150-300 square mile region. The pastors work tirelessly as advocates for vital infrastructure in the communities where they serve, such as borehole wells that can provide clean drinking water for families as well as water for washing and irrigation for gardens.

Our Partnership with ZOE
The Church of the Resurrection partners with ZOE, a three-year program developed in Africa that empowers orphans and vulnerable children around the world to overcome extreme poverty, become fully self-reliant, and learn of God’s love for them. ZOE is currently active in Kenya, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Liberia, Guatemala and India.

ZOE’s indigenous program facilitators ensure children know about their rights, are free from abuse and exploitation, and can find a safe place to live. Children learn skills such as farming and animal husbandry at monthly meetings. ZOE then provides tools, seeds and farm animals to the children so they can grow and raise their own food.

Learn more at http://www.zoehelps.org

About Malawi

Malawi is a landlocked country of 10.5 million people, most of whom live in rural areas east of Zambia, west of Mozambique and south of Tanzania. Like Zimbabwe, it was colonized by English-speaking Europeans in the 1800s. Malawi gained its independence from Great Britain in 1964, and became a democratic republic in 1994. Lilongwe is its capital city. The annual per capita income is $800. Some 80 percent of the population is Christian, 55 percent of whom are Protestant.

To learn more about what previous trips looked like, visit our blog.

About Our Puerto Rico Disaster Response

Puerto Rico is often referred to as the “Island of Enchantment,” a direct result of the warm people, excellent cuisine, and picturesque scenery, including the most beautiful beaches. Paradise is what the local people call it, as they get to see and live into GOD’s creation and beauty every single day.

On September 20th, 2017, Hurricane Maria (a category 4 hurricane) pummeled the island of Puerto Rico. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection mobilized quickly to help with immediate needs. After contacting the Bishop’s office of the Methodist Church in Puerto Rico to determine the best way forward, Church of the Resurrection sent $10,000 for emergency supplies, and partnered with Heart to Heart International in sending an additional $20,000 worth of food and supplies.

The Methodist Church of Puerto Rico also immediately responded to the call to action, developing a culture of lay and clergy Early Response teams, implementing a Brigade of Hope (food, solar lights and water hand delivered to homes) and partnering with other local denominations, non-government organizations (NGOs) and FEMA to help those in need.

In January, a small leadership team from Church of the Resurrection went to Puerto Rico to walk alongside the Bishop Hector Ortiz Vidal and his team and see first-hand the devastation left in the wake of this natural disaster. The team learned staggering statistics about the situation on the island, including:

• 250,000 homes damaged
• 100,000 completely destroyed
• 40 Methodist Churches damaged
• 10 Methodist Churches destroyed
• Several hundred thousand left the island for the mainland

Bishop Hector Ortiz Vidal recommended that Church of the Resurrection partner with a local church in Puerto Rico. We are happy to share that Samuel Culpeper Iglesia Metodista in Hatillo has been selected for this partnership.

There are 235 public schools across the island that are slated to permanently close the fall of 2018, including Joaquin Rodriguez, Samuel Culpeper's church partner school. The Methodist Church in Puerto Rico will be enhancing social programs to assist those families with children who are no longer able to attend school. The remaining funds collected from the Special Offering for Puerto Rico held last fall have been allocated to the reconstruction of the church roof, a priority from the bishop’s office, enabling them to provide help to all those in need.

Resurrection teams have already been deployed and have worked alongside our Puerto Rican brothers and sisters repairing the church roof, repairing local homes, and assisting with painting and clean up. Returned team members have shared that the experience has made a dramatic impact on their lives, and the hospitality is unmatched and inspiring.

Consider joining a team today, your life will never be the same. It is said that one’s treasures are most valuable when they are those of the Kingdom of GOD. Where does your treasure lay?

Frequently Asked Questions about Puerto Rico Serve Trips:

Who can go?
Just about anyone! Individuals, couples, families, retired persons, members of Church of the Resurrection and non-members alike. The minimum age is 16, and all trip participants must complete the Safe Gatherings online course. Team members under the age of 21 must have their parents/guardian complete a notarized Parental Consent Form.

What skills do I need?
The most important skills are a desire to serve God while working side-by-side with Puerto Ricans; to be a team player; and to be flexible for whatever comes our way. You don’t have to know Spanish (you will certainly learn a few new words and key phrases) or construction: you just need a big heart and willingness to serve.

What projects will we work on?
We strive to work on projects that are deemed of most importance to our local partners, but most likely we will be working on light construction alongside our partners from the Samuel Culpeper Methodist Church.

What does the cost cover?
The cost per person includes housing, meals, in-country transportation, insurance, gasoline, construction costs, local labor, cultural day activity and food, donation to the local trip administration. Airfare will be booked after the trip has closed and will be added to your total trip cost.

What’s not included?
Personal expenses, souvenirs, extended travel past the official trip conclusion.

Are there any discounts?

Yes! There are two ways to receive a $100 discount (they cannot be combined!): apply before the Early Application deadline; OR be a repeat Global Impact Ministries Resurrection serve trip participant.

How do I get to San Juan, Puerto Rico?
Global Impact Ministries will reserve airline tickets so that the team travels together. Your airfare is tax-deductible and will be added to your total trip cost in our online team portal, Managed Missions.

Where do we stay?

Team members stay at the Arecibo Methodist Campsite. Approximately 1.15 hours west of San Juan, where the team will be spending the week. The campsite has 4 bunk rooms with 9 bunkbeds each (separated by gender), private indoor bathroom facility, a large indoor dining pavilion, Chapel, Garden of Gethsemene, and much more.

Will we get to see the beach?
If all goes as planned, yes! Both Hatillo and Aresibo are located on the Northwest side of the island minutes from the Atlantic Ocean. On our last day (Saturday), and on our return to the San Juan area, we will travel to El Morro and Old San Juan, a beautiful destination rich in history, beautiful landscape, restaurants and much more. Afterwards we will head to the airport to head home.

Is Puerto Rico safe?
Puerto Rico is safe, as with any tourist destination, there are cases of petty crime and driving can be a challenge. Generally, outside the capital of San Juan, the country resembles a clean, tropical, laid-back place.

I have some questions that aren’t listed here.
Please feel free to send an email to Rod & Sharon Hennig - rhennig12@gmail.com. Rod & Sharon are our context leaders that oversee our partnership with Puerto Rico.

Resurrection has been partnering with the Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA) since 1998 with a strong focus on children and families – specifically through education and training. Educational efforts include support for the Ditshego House of Laughter in the community of Mooiplaas. Serve trip team members work with the students, teachers and other staff to deliver requested lesson plans and participate in light renovation projects at the school. Resurrection also works with West View and Elim Methodist Churches in Centurion, South Africa where worship and the ministry of presence come together. To learn more specific trip information, click on one of the links below for one of our upcoming trips. For more about the experience of serving on a team, visit our blog.

About Ditshego House of Laughter

Ditshego House of Laughter is a non-profit organization providing multiple services for approximately 350 vulnerable children in the informal settlement of Mooiplaas. More than 16,000 people make their home in Mooiplaas at the base of a landfill in the area between Johannesburg and Pretoria (now Tshwane). Among Ditshego’s services are a pre-school, an Open School for older children, a House of Safety for foster children, and after-school services. Without Ditshego these children would not have a chance for an education because many are undocumented or immigrants.

About South Africa

South Africa is the southernmost country on the African continent. It covers an area of approximately 472,000 square miles or slightly less than twice the size of Texas. Although it is a developed and modern country with roughly 57 million people and 11 official languages, South Africa struggles with high unemployment, HIV/AIDS, slow economic growth, crime, and corruption. Even in the post-1994 era following the end of apartheid (racial separation), social and economic inequality remains a significant challenge and South Africa is one of the most economically unequal countries in the world. Despite this, South Africa is making progress toward broader prosperity and a peaceful democracy.

Change Lives Through Education:

• For just $39.50/month ($474/year) you can provide a child with a private faith-based school education to a child in Honduras. This amount will provide tuition, books and materials and a school uniform for your sponsored child. Your child will be able to write to you each year to tell you about their progress, and they will be monitored to assure that they achieve the school's academic goals.
• Child sponsors have opportunities to meet the child they sponsor,  interact with the students and support the school when they join a short-term serve team traveling to Honduras. Check our Serve Trip Calendar for this year's opportunities.

Learn more and sign up to sponsor a child here. (Fill out the form the "print" function on your web browser)

Check out the writing guidelines for sponsorship letters.

Compassion International is a holistic Christian child development ministry dedicated to addressing the needs of children around the world. Compassion focuses on the real life needs of children – spiritual, physical, financial and social – by partnering with local churches in 26 developing countries.  Resurrection partners specifically with a center in Duclos, Haiti.  If you are interested in sponsoring a child (and perhaps visiting them on a future serve trip), visit the Compassion website to sponsor.

Compassion works through local churches to provide child development programs to enable them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults. When you sponsor a Compassion child, you will give them hope by giving them access to an education, medical care, supplementary food, and the chance to learn about Jesus and the Gospel in a safe Christian environment. You will send and receive letters from your child; building a relationship with the child and watch them grow and learn. The hope you give them will last a lifetime. Your monthly contribution, letters, and prayers will mean the world to your child. To sponsor a child, click here.

If you sponsor a child, you also have the opportunity to become an advocate with Compassion International. These dedicated individuals are trained by Compassion International to initiate activities to change lives through Compassion, staff sign-up tables at Compassion events, and engage in training and enrichment opportunities.

To learn more about sponsorship, joining Resurrection's Compassion Team, volunteering at special events, becoming a child advocate, or joining the Compassion prayer team, email Jane Long at mjanelong@aol.com.

Heart to Heart International, based in Lenexa, works to strengthen communities around the world by providing access to health care and providing humanitarian relief during times of crisis. Providing preventive care, emergency response, and medical treatment in crises such as the recent Ebola outbreaks in Africa, Heart to Heart works to improve global access to health.

The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection partners with ZOE, a three-year program developed in Africa that empowers orphans and vulnerable children around the world to overcome extreme poverty, become fully self-reliant, and learn of God’s love for them. ZOE is currently active in Kenya, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Liberia, Guatemala and India.

ZOE’s indigenous program facilitators ensure children know about their rights, are free from abuse and exploitation, and can find a safe place to live. Children learn skills such as farming and animal husbandry at monthly meetings. ZOE then provides tools, seeds and farm animals to the children so they can grow and raise their own food.

The shortage of clean water claims more than 3 million lives every year; nearly 5,000 children die every day from water-related illnesses. Malnutrition and inadequate hygiene contribute to the illnesses and deaths; and women and girls are often denied access to education and economic opportunities because they must spend hours of each day fetching water. In many places, it’s not because there is no available source of water – it’s because there is no simple way to reach it.

Water4 partners with local communities around the world, training men and women to drill wells and install water pumps, creating ongoing human resources with the knowledge and skills to sustain lives, agriculture, and economic empowerment in their own countries.

Resurrection partners with Compassion International to support children who need education, medical care, and vocational skills to rise out of poverty. Each year, our ministry needs volunteers to staff special events - you might greet people and help them sign up for sponsorship before or after worship services, or help in other ways. To learn more about Compassion International, please visit their website.

Do you have experience creating and managing social media content? Are you a great editor? We are looking for volunteers to help manage our social media platforms, write/edit for our newsletters and blog, and come up with new and creative ways to send our message. You can even work from home! Please be prepared to give us a short summary of your social media experience, and tell us what you would most like to work on. We hope to find volunteers willing to commit to at least one year of service.

Support the Global Impact Ministries staff by helping us with a variety of clerical, administrative and support tasks. You might help us address thank-you cards for our trip leaders, create or update trip documents, assemble trip notebooks, or act in a skit during a team training session. You can volunteer to work on a regular basis, or come in once or twice a year. Basic skills in Microsoft Office are welcome, but not required - we have lots to do!

Help us with special events throughout the year - work once or as many times as you like. We often need extra volunteers to staff information tables before and after worship services, to help prepare for big events like Sacred Steps or Compassion Weekend, or to help our staff present training for serve teams.

Would you like to help our staff with our serve team training? In this support position, you might be asked to do a variety of tasks, from clerical work like assembling team notebooks to acting in a training skit. There are 4-8 training sessions a year, depending on when serve trips are scheduled. International trip training sessions are on Saturdays; most U.S. serve trip training sessions are on weekday evenings.

Learn more about our global and domestic partnerships, and be part of our long-term strategic planning - volunteer to serve as a leadership team member. Opportunities are available for Haiti, Honduras, Malawi, South Africa, Steering Committee, Trip Preparation and Training, United States Serve Trips and the Water Advisory Board. This volunteer position requires attendance at four (quarterly) meetings during the year, and additional participation in context-specific planning and special events is expected. We ask for a commitment of at least two years.