Global Ministries Visit to DR & Haiti

February 18^th - 28^th 2013

Jim Moos, Co-Executive Director of Global Ministries, and Felix Ortiz, Area Executive for Latin America and the Caribbean, traveled to the Dominican Republic and Haiti the last two weeks of February in 2013. Along with Global Missions Intern, Ashley Holst, the Global Ministries team traveled around the Island Hispaniola to introduce Moos and Holst to the seven partners and four missionaries in the two countries. Conversations ranged from family, violence against women and children, and education systems to political corruption and neoliberalism in post colonial economies.

Felix and Jim at United Evangelical Churches of the Dominican national offices.

Two themes continued throughout the week:  first “Mangoo Flavor” meaning, always remembering as Americans and missionaries in other cultures that putting the local culture first will help ensure a successful and sustainable project. “Mangoo flavor” also helps build character and ownership of a project or organization. Second, “see, judge, act, celebrate” is a methodology that allows for observation, critical thinking, execution of a well planned project, and lastly celebration of the results whether they are perfect or in need of adaptation. Nearly all of Global Ministries partners in Hispaniola are using this methodology to develop their organizations and create new and impactful projects. As Americans we often forget both the “see” and the “celebrate” of this equation, jumping too quickly to judge and moving on without celebrating the successes or the realization of need for growth. This seemingly simple, but incredibly powerful process can and should be used worldwide, especially when working in a new country or culture!  

Beautiful view of the mountains outside of the Haitian Cultural Museum.

In Haiti, CONASPEH bishops shared the importance of working together saying, “if you want to go fast travel alone, but if you want to go far travel together.” Along with “Mangoo” and “see, judge, act, and celebrate,” this philosophy is one that all the partners in Hispaniola and Global Ministries hopes to follow in the coming years. All seven partners visited clearly expressed an interest in working better as a coalition to serve each other as companions of social service and the Christian community but also as education, personal tools, and support systems for one another.

Jim giving a short lecture to pastors at CONASPEH

Extra adorable kindergarden class at CONASPEH!