IMPACT Group Christmas Outreach

On November 13, 2013 one of our IMPACT night women's groups spent their evening preparing to reach out to the women and children of Laura's Home, part of the City Mission.  The ladies put together 100 BAGS of essentials for the women and 60 BAGS of goodies for the children.  The group then took the bags to Laura's Home and hosted a party for the women and children.  They had the opportunity to talk to the party guests about Jesus and then show them His love through the gift bags and party goodies.  This is the 4th year that this group has led this wonderful outreach.

2013 Men of PHBC Retreat

2013 Men of PHBC retreat was at Skyview Ranch on September 27, 28, 29. This year’s speaker was Pastor Dave Buncher and he talked to us about how we all FAIL. There were around 70 men at the retreat and we all had a good time with various activities from worship to shooting guns and yes, some even went swimming in the new pool in 56 degree water. Some did the same things they always do and some, AKA Cody (young man in a wheel chair), was helped up the hill to shoot a pistol for the first time, which made his year. But most of all we got down and dirty with the scriptures and with God and learned how to overcome failure. 

PHBC Pavilion Ground Breaking Service

Sunday, October 20, 2013 we gathered to break ground at the site of the future PHBC Pavilion.  It was a wonderful celebration of God's faithfulness, provision, and the dream He has given us to further minister to our community through the use of the pavilion.

 

Haiti Team Update - Day 8

Just a quick note to say we're all home safe and sound, and praising God for an amazing week in Haiti.  We can't wait to tell you all about it!

Haiti Team Update - Day 7

Today our team enjoyed part of the day at a beach resort. The ocean was beautiful, the swimming refreshing,  and the rest well earned. We look forward to our return late tomorrow night. 

Haiti Team Update - Day 6

Today was our last day of VBS, which was exciting and sad all at the same time.  The most exciting part was during the opening program and Bible story.  The leader presented the gospel, which had been building all week.  He gave the kids a chance to respond, and 117 kids came forward, indicating that they had received Jesus Christ as their person savior.  Praise God.

As we wrapped up our final VBS session, it hit many of us hard that this would likely be the last time we would ever see these kids again here on Earth.  I'm grateful that because of Christ, and the work this week, we will see many of them again for eternity.  Goodbyes were hard.  There were many tears by both Haitians and Americans.  They have left a lasting mark on our lives too.

During our afternoon ministry, we returned to Cabaret for some village ministry.  We went to a church playground and began playing soccer (football), American football, and basketball.  There was an instant swarm of kids. It's fun to love on these kids, many of whom don't have much to look forward to each day.  While we were there, we met a school teacher who was working on registering kids for school.  While education is important to the future of Haiti, only 2% actually graduate from high school.  While schooling is expected, it isn't provided by the government.  Mission of Hope runs a fantastic school, and is working hard to expand their Christian based schools in the 7 villages they are currently working with.

Our village ministry provides so many opportunities for each of us to connect with Haitians on an individual basis.  I can't possibly summarize them all hear.  All I can do is encourage you to talk with the team members when they return to hear the amazing encounters they had each afternoon.

Haiti Team Update - Day 5

Like each day this week, we started out ministry off with VBS in the morning.  It's fun to recognize names and faces as we get to know the kids, in spite of the language barrier.  As we connect with the kids, we have begun to think of some of them as "our own". As the kids pile off the bus, I find myself looking for "my kids".  I wish we could bring them home with us.  Each day they enjoy singing, crazy contests and games, and work on a memory verse.  While all of this is happening, we become human jungle gyms.  They love climbing, cuddling, and holding hands.  They're also fascinated with our hair.  They love braiding the girls and some of the guys hair.  They find male arm and facial hair interesting, as most Haitians don't have much.

We had a neat honor in the afternoon.  On Monday, we were at Bercy for our afternoon work project. (See Day 3)  Our team did such a great job working on the pastoral and teacher institute and conference center that the foreman asked for us to be reassigned to come back for an extra day.  So we got our sweat on, moving concrete block, backfilling parts of the foundation, trying rebar for the foundation, and a variety of other tasks. While we in no way completed the job, we were able to get large part of the project jump started.  Jake, the foreman, said we saved his crew weeks of work.  We're excited for how God is going to use that facility to further His Kingdom.

Thanks for your prayers and support!

Haiti Team Update - Day 4

Today we began wtih VBS, this time right here at the Mission of Hope main campus.  There were tons of kids.  Each campus runs the same 6 stations, some of which were described in yesterday's post.  Another station is lunch - every kids gets a meal.  For many, this is the only meal they will get all day.

In the afternoon, our team went to the city of Cabaret.  Mission of Hope is working to build a relationship with this city. So we spent the afternoon meeting, talking, and praying with residents.  We have some amazing stories and experiences from this time.  Be sure to ask a team member about it when we return.

We closed our day out with a powerful time of worship with the Church of Hope, here on campus.  It was over 2 hours of passionate and engaging worship.  Amazing.

We're grateful for your prayers and support!

Haiti Team Update - Day 3

Today has been an amazing and exhausting day.  We started early with breakfast, and quickly departed for the village of Bercy, where Mission of Hope has another campus.  We spent the entire work day there, and it was fantastic.

Our day began with VBS.  It's a lot like what you'd expect, because kids are kids.  We traveled from station to station working with the kids.  There were a couple of unexpected stations.  There was a hygiene station, where the kids were taught to wash their hands and brush their teeth.  There was also an agricultural station, where they learned some of the basics of planting basic bushes and fruit trees.  It was fun to work with the kids, even though we couldn't speak the language.

In the afternoon we stayed at Bercy, but began to do some manual labor.  We helped in the building of a pastor and teacher institute.  This will have a huge impact in the country for years to come.  They hope to have it completed by January, which is when they have their first conference scheduled.  A pastor can attend as long as he brings 5 farmers and 1 teacher to be trained.  Many of our team tied rebar for hours for the foundation.  Others backfilled gravel and dirt.  We also dug trenches for future footers.  Words cannot describe the intensity of the sun, or the gallons we both drank and sweated today.

We're back on campus, enjoying cold showers, and waiting for dinner.  We will sleep well tonight.

Haiti Team Update - Day 2

Today has been amazing and eye opening.  We started our day with a tour of Mission of Hope.  This took nearly an hour and a half, because of the large scope of their ministry.  The campus is 72 acres and it seems that they are using every inch of it for ministry.  We learned about their orphanage, housing 63 kids on campus, their medical clinic, their dental clinic, their food distribution center (69,000 meals a day), the prosthetics and the 3-cords ministry (a place for amputees to work).

Our tour ended outside of the church, just in time for service.  We joined nearly 1500 Haitians for a powerful worship service.  It was over 2 hours long, but never felt long, even when most of it was in Creole. Singing familiar worship songs in English while our Haitian brothers and sisters sang in Creole was moving.  Then the pastor preached, with energy and passion, about the importance of the biblical family, and the responsibility of the various family members.

The last part of our day was a tour of their village ministry in Bercy, followed by lunch a local Haitian restaurant.

Tomorrow we begin our morning VBS ministry and afternoon village and construction ministry.  Please continue to pray for us.  Not only that we would be heathy and safe, but that we would have an impact for His Kingdom, and that we would learn to see people they way Christ does.

Haiti Team Update - Day 1

We're here! After a long day of travel, we have arrived at Mission of Hope, in Titanyen, Haiti. (Click here to see it on the map.)



Before signing off, we would like to remind you of a few things:

• Prayer Meeting: There will be a prayer gathering for the team on Sunday, July 28^th, from 6-8 pm at the home of Ed and Lorraine Predota. You can contact the church office or the Predota’s directly for more info and directions.
• Return Info: The team plans to return to PHBC late on Saturday, August 3 (or possible after midnight). We are departing Port-au-Prince, Haiti at 2:31 pm on Delta Airlines flight #684. We have a brief layover in Atlanta, GA, and will arrive on Delta Airlines flight #1096, scheduled to arrive at 10:53 pm.  It will take some time for us to disembark and get through baggage claim. We will return to the Youth Center by church vehicles.  If you’re picking up a team member, they will call to let you know that we've arrived, and when to expect them back at the church, probably somewhere around or after midnight.  Please be flexible.
• Communication and Updates: No news is good news. If we have internet access, we will share periodic updates on this blog. 
• Tropical Storm Dorian: The PHBC Haiti Mission Team leaders and Mission of Hope are committed to the safety of all participants.  Currently, it looks like Tropical Storm Dorian may weaken to a "tropical depression" by the time it passes above Haiti.  Wind and rain are predicted along the northern coast (not our region.) We will take all prudent safety precautions.  

We are grateful for your prayers and support!
2013 Haiti Mission Team

Parma Heights Table Tennis Tournament and Exhibition Match

On May 10 & 11, PHBC hosted a USTTA Sanctioned Tournament.  The event began Friday night with Ohio’s #1 & 2 ranked players in the state demonstrating various skills at this very advanced level.  They concluded by sharing their testimonies and the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The tournament began at 9am Saturday with approximately 60 participants playing in a variety of divisions based on USTTA national player ratings.  The Brubaker Growth group served a meal and snacks (with cooking help from Dan Buncher) to all players and spectators.  David Peck was the tournament director and provided all of the tables, etc.  Even Pastor Kraig got in the act and entered his first tournament since college.  It was a beautiful day of bringing people together from several states, many ethnic, religious and linguistic backgrounds.

2013 Pinewood Derby

A great time was had by all at this year's Pinewood Derby!