Blog

Recently, The Orchard EFC paid for and initiated their second annual Deworming Clinic in their partnership community, Astruc, Haiti. RMI Pharmacist Becky Thompson, Nurse Denise Joseph (Benson’s wife), RMI Translator Marie France, and RMI Administrator Benjamin Altema completed this clinic. Every child and adult in the Astruc church and school received deworming meds. The Orchard EFC team will be arriving in Haiti in less than one week to do deworming clinics (among other things), including prevention training, to deworm 2 more communities in their Sister Church Partnership District. According to Deworm the World, “Over 600 million school-age children are infected with parasitic worms. These infections are chronic and widespread, harming children’s health and development and limiting their participation in school. School-based deworming is universally recognized as a safe, simple and cost-effective solution. The benefits of school-based deworming are both immediate and enduring. Regular treatment can reduce school absenteeism by 25%

Recently, The Orchard EFC paid for and initiated their second annual Deworming Clinic in their partnership community, Astruc, Haiti. RMI Pharmacist Becky Thompson, Nurse Denise Joseph (Benson’s wife), RMI Translator Marie France, and RMI Administrator Benjamin Altema completed this clinic. Every child and adult in the Astruc church and school received deworming meds. The Orchard EFC team will be arriving in Haiti in less than one week to do deworming clinics (among other things), including prevention training, to deworm 2 more communities in their Sister Church Partnership District. According to Deworm the World, “Over 600 million school-age children are infected with parasitic worms. These infections are chronic and widespread, harming children’s health and development and limiting their participation in school. School-based deworming is universally recognized as a safe, simple and cost-effective solution. The benefits of school-based deworming are both immediate and enduring. Regular treatment can reduce school absenteeism by 25%

Recently, The Orchard EFC paid for and initiated their second annual Deworming Clinic in their partnership community, Astruc, Haiti. RMI Pharmacist Becky Thompson, Nurse Denise Joseph (Benson’s wife), RMI Translator Marie France, and RMI Administrator Benjamin Altema completed this clinic. Every child and adult in the Astruc church and school received deworming meds. The Orchard EFC team will be arriving in Haiti in less than one week to do deworming clinics (among other things), including prevention training, to deworm 2 more communities in their Sister Church Partnership District. According to Deworm the World, “Over 600 million school-age children are infected with parasitic worms. These infections are chronic and widespread, harming children’s health and development and limiting their participation in school. School-based deworming is universally recognized as a safe, simple and cost-effective solution. The benefits of school-based deworming are both immediate and enduring. Regular treatment can reduce school absenteeism by 25%

A point in time that changed the history, landscape and the national psyche of Haiti. Today is the 2 year anniversary of the 7.0 earthquake that hit just to the southwest of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Every Haitian was affected in some way, if not by losing family, friends, homes or jobs, then by being injured, or having to take in homeless family and/or friends. Having their governmental buildings and office destroyed, the places they shop, go to church, or school destroyed has irrevocably changed life as they knew it. There are still over 500,000 living in tent cities. Just think of that! That’s the size of Lee County, where the RMI office is located. All those people still, 2 years later, living in tents. It is mind boggling to think of what it means to live like that for so long. RMI is happy to be a bright spot in

A point in time that changed the history, landscape and the national psyche of Haiti. Today is the 2 year anniversary of the 7.0 earthquake that hit just to the southwest of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Every Haitian was affected in some way, if not by losing family, friends, homes or jobs, then by being injured, or having to take in homeless family and/or friends. Having their governmental buildings and office destroyed, the places they shop, go to church, or school destroyed has irrevocably changed life as they knew it. There are still over 500,000 living in tent cities. Just think of that! That’s the size of Lee County, where the RMI office is located. All those people still, 2 years later, living in tents. It is mind boggling to think of what it means to live like that for so long. RMI is happy to be a bright spot in

A point in time that changed the history, landscape and the national psyche of Haiti. Today is the 2 year anniversary of the 7.0 earthquake that hit just to the southwest of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Every Haitian was affected in some way, if not by losing family, friends, homes or jobs, then by being injured, or having to take in homeless family and/or friends. Having their governmental buildings and office destroyed, the places they shop, go to church, or school destroyed has irrevocably changed life as they knew it. There are still over 500,000 living in tent cities. Just think of that! That’s the size of Lee County, where the RMI office is located. All those people still, 2 years later, living in tents. It is mind boggling to think of what it means to live like that for so long. RMI is happy to be a bright spot in

It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of former RMI Board Chairman, Larry Alvin Smith, of Lafayette, Louisiana on January 4, 2012. Larry was 63 and is survived by his dear wife, Kay, and 5 adult children, Ally, Jason, Becca, Jessie and Lizzie. Larry was an entrepreneur, a businessman, a fabulous chef and host, a violinist, avid golfer and many other things. He was a charter member and elder of Trinity Bible Church for over 30 years. It was through Trinity’s involvement with RMI as a Sister Church that he first went to Haiti in the 1990’s. He fell in love with the Haitian people and he made sure that his next visit included his wife, Kay. Over the next 15 or so years they returned to visit their brothers and sisters in the Picot church numerous times. When there were school or church benches to

It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of former RMI Board Chairman, Larry Alvin Smith, of Lafayette, Louisiana on January 4, 2012. Larry was 63 and is survived by his dear wife, Kay, and 5 adult children, Ally, Jason, Becca, Jessie and Lizzie. Larry was an entrepreneur, a businessman, a fabulous chef and host, a violinist, avid golfer and many other things. He was a charter member and elder of Trinity Bible Church for over 30 years. It was through Trinity’s involvement with RMI as a Sister Church that he first went to Haiti in the 1990’s. He fell in love with the Haitian people and he made sure that his next visit included his wife, Kay. Over the next 15 or so years they returned to visit their brothers and sisters in the Picot church numerous times. When there were school or church benches to

It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of former RMI Board Chairman, Larry Alvin Smith, of Lafayette, Louisiana on January 4, 2012. Larry was 63 and is survived by his dear wife, Kay, and 5 adult children, Ally, Jason, Becca, Jessie and Lizzie. Larry was an entrepreneur, a businessman, a fabulous chef and host, a violinist, avid golfer and many other things. He was a charter member and elder of Trinity Bible Church for over 30 years. It was through Trinity’s involvement with RMI as a Sister Church that he first went to Haiti in the 1990’s. He fell in love with the Haitian people and he made sure that his next visit included his wife, Kay. Over the next 15 or so years they returned to visit their brothers and sisters in the Picot church numerous times. When there were school or church benches to

Gary out on a trip with the Hope for Kidz team on their way to the Grand’Anse. But months of hard work go into making the Hope for Kids program ready for a new school year. In fact, in October of every year, not too long after the current school year has gotten underway, the Hope for Kidz team starts gearing up for the next year. Marilyn McLaughlin, Merry Raymond, and Benson Joseph, the Hope for Kidz team, head out into the country side to get photos of each of the students. This year the team was also joined by Marie France Cherival and Perguens Hyppolite and an occasional visit by Gary McLaughlin as well. The Paperwork:Before photos are taken, each Haitian pastor receives a packet of applications for students to be selected for the following year. The number of applications is based on participation from the previous year, expected