When local residents Gary DiDomenico, John Conrad, Jim Crawford, and Bill Harshman, plus four out-of-area residents travel to Haiti in June, they will offer their talents to assist in community development through a house-building project.
Local efforts to assist the missionary work of Rodney and Sharyn Babe of Sinking Valley have been going on for nearly 10 years from the Tyrone community.
Two meal functions have been scheduled to gain financial support for the group. On Saturday, April 16, from 4:30 until 7 p.m. the Sinking Valley Presbyterian Church will host an Italian dinner. A free will offering is requested. Missionary couple Rodney and Sharyn Babe are to be visiting in the area and will be in attendance. Sinking Valley Presbyterian Church is located on Lower Kettle Road, just 1.5 miles off of Route 453 south of Tyrone.
On Sunday, April 24, the St. Matthew Church will host a soup and sandwich luncheon from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the Monsignor Harkins Hall.
Advance tickets, $6 for an adult and $3 for a child, are being sold. The raffling of cute and unique gifts will also be held. Tickets can be obtained by calling Anne Harshman at 684-1639 on any evening.
The mission work team will assist in building a treated lumber house with a Haitian family. The project is part of a self-help effort of Presbyterian Church-USA and Haiti Fund Inc. Community development has been conducted in reforestation, soil conservation, water accessibility, fish pond construction, and schooling for Haitian children. Haitians are working to improve their own lives through self-sufficiency made possible by these projects.
Funds raised from the meals will be used for travel needs into the interior of Haiti, for supplies for ongoing mission efforts, and to maintain the mission presence in Haiti.
Besides the four local men traveling to Haiti will be workers from Howard, Shade Gap, Washington, Pennsylvania, and Baltimore, Maryland.
The group will appreciate the public’s attendance at the meal functions. Private donations will be accepted as well; contact Bill Harshman (684-1639), John Conrad (684-0351) or Jim Crawford (684-4339).
