Current Projects of The Village 
ESOL English for Speakers of Other Languages In America the command of the English language is as much of a commodity or staple as any other talent or skill. This is no different in Haiti. A young adult with translation or interpretation skills only increases her ability to be a successful part of her family. - Command of the English language facilitates advanced study abroad--namely Canada, United States and Great Britian. - Command of the English language facilitates employment in Haiti as either a translator or interpretor. - Command of the English language facilitates service by foreign missionaries--medical, construction and religious. We work with high-schools students who are in there senior levels with advanced study of the English language. This is a stateside missionary effort. With the technology advancements available today, we make every effort to employ the resources that are easily accessible both in the States and in Haiti. We always welcome volunteers who can commit to 3-5 hours weekly in working with small groups and their studies. Training and safety measures are in place to help you help us!  3|1 Church Link Church Link facilitates the Good News in Haiti! Stateside churches have the opportunity to pair with other Christian churches to support support the leaders and teachers in Haiti. The Village supports the belief that religious instruction is best provided by those who are indigenous to the language and customs. Translation to facilitate communication between Church leadership is available. The Village attempts a three-to-one pairing of Stateside Churches with Haitian Churches. Your Church or group can help! We cannot stress enough the value of the volunteers who support the efforts of The Village. If your are interested, please let us hear from you. | | Who Are We – The Village @ Grace Falls is a community of individuals and groups (mostly Christian-based church groups and organizations) with a central focus on the advancement of missionary service to the people of Haiti, West Indies. The Village and its services are not committed to any one political or religious organization. We strongly encourage individuals and groups who desire an outlet for expressions regarding the political and/or religious activity in Haiti to seek out those organizations that participate in these very noble activities. The Village has no commitment to any particular political and/or religious organization—either stateside or in Haiti. We believe that these activities are best left to indigenous efforts. Our levels of success have been possible by remaining neutral.
Our Purpose of a Village – In preparing for the 2002 mission trip to Port-au-Prince, my search for required forms and documentation was often frustrated. Contacting and waiting for responses from even our US Embassy was not the most comfortable experience. The information that I found on various government sites appeared to be somewhat conflicting, at times. I took my search to the web and to other groups who had successfully completed mission trips. Finally I found most of what was needed. I was still uncertain, however, as to whether the material that I had compiled was current and/or complete. Thankfully, my 2002 trip was successful! It was during this same trip that I witnessed another medical mission team’s medications and supplemental materials confiscated by Haitian Customs. The reason for the confiscation was cited as “incomplete documentation”—the very thing I had feared most. Despite the frustration and setbacks, that team’s trip was a success, as well. Thanks to the Haiti-based Mission, donations were collected from other groups to replace most of the medications and materials that were lost and delay by Customs. _______________________________________________________________________ It was my own uneasy experiences with the 2002 trip that led me to pray for and embrace the concept of a Village @ GraceFalls >>> Harriet Callier, Exec. Dir. | Why our Members are So Valued – The collective efforts of the members of The Village @ Grace Falls encourage and empower other groups in their efforts to successfully complete mission trips to Haiti. Our mission teams range form those who are 1-3 years out in preparing for their first trip to those who are changing from either a construction or evangelism mission to a medical mission. Our volunteers reach across lines that would normally divide us: State lines, political lines, racial and ethnic lines, religious lines and gender lines. We ban together in a hodge-podge of like-minded teams. Within the teams we support and encourage one another. The empowerment these teams receive from The Village is in the form of information, training and one-on-one coaching in preparation for a trip. Among our various services, The Village provides a · Missions Requirements Database. A database of current requirements is maintained to empower members with information necessary to complete a successful mission. The database also includes a small collection of statistics and information compiled by universities and other organizations. This information generally proves most helpful in preparing for various mission trips. · Speakers Bureau. A cadre of experienced and reliable sources that are devoted to inform and encourage groups in their missionary service. A Mission Coach is available to walk groups through the various phases of mission planning, if requested. · Members’ Links. A collection of biography snippits and links to webpages of various groups who have competed mission trips to Haiti. These groups have agreed to allow the Village to include their information and/or links in the Village’s database. How Can You Help – Individuals and groups who join us in the work of the Village @ Grace Falls will find that the rewards to far outweigh the time and financial commitments made. Donations to the Village are 95%-Time / 5%-Money! TIME – The commitment of our volunteers is why the Village exists. Our members are the very life force to support the work that is accomplished. Share your information. Share your stories. Share your visions of work that you would like to see accomplished. Invite other like-minded individuals and groups to participate in the work that you have been fortunate to embrace. MONEY – We could never began to purchase the equivalent of the work and energy received from our teams of volunteers. We ask for only nominal financial support and only for specific projects/ expenses that are required for the Village to exist. On very limited occasions, the Village will publish the financial requests of teams actively engaged in missionary service to Haiti. Those requests, however, are separate from the requests of The Village. |