CUBA

UMCPB has a covenant relationship with a church in Briones Montoto in the Pinar District of western Cuba. It is an amazing small church with six mission churches that serve congregations in this rural area often under very difficult circumstances. The pastor Rev. Raciel has been serving there since 2005. We were blessed to have him visit with us here in Florida in 2008. Several teams from our church have had the privilege of fellowshipping with the congregation down there. With UMCPB's support we have helped them to transform a thatched roofed tiki hut worship area into an enclosed stone structure for worship. We have helped rebuild the entire parsonage after the previous house was destroyed in a hurricane. The mission teams have hauled in many pounds of donated clothing, hygiene items and nonprescription drugs to supplement the little that they have. The people are extremely happy with our relationship with them, and they pray daily for us. UMCPB has a covenant relationship with a church in Briones Montoto in the Pinar District of western Cuba. It is an amazing small church with six mission churches that serve congregations in this rural area often under very difficult circumstances. The pastor Rev. Raciel has been serving there since 2005. We were blessed to have him visit with us here in Florida in 2008. Several teams from our church have had the privilege of fellowshipping with the congregation down there. With UMCPB's support we have helped them to transform a thatched roofed tiki hut worship area into an enclosed stone structure for worship. We have helped rebuild the entire parsonage after the previous house was destroyed in a hurricane. The mission teams have hauled in many pounds of donated clothing, hygiene items and nonprescription drugs to supplement the little that they have. The people are extremely happy with our relationship with them, and they pray daily for us.


 

HAITI

Many of our members have come to us from the land of Haiti and still have a heart for those still there. One such member is Fritz Etienne who has returned frequently to his homeland. We have helped him complete a church in his hometown. Now that the church is complete, Fritz has a dream of a school for the children there. Fritz Etienne returned to Haiti this summer to continue helping his village of Thomas-Elie. In past years Fritz helped them build the church behind the children. It was built by hand stone by stone. This summer Fritz went to build school benches and to help turn the church into a school during the week when it is not being used for worship. Without this school, the children would not go to school at all since their parents can't afford to send them.
The village sent the following "thank you" in their native Creole. Fritz has translated it for us:
To all members of the United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches and especially all members of the mission community,
In the name of all parents and children in Thomas-Elie Pestel Haiti.  We greatly appreciate what God placed in your heart for our children to go to school for the year 2012/2013. We will continue to pray for you all and your Pastors. 

Thank you, thank you, and thank you.
Pastor Enock, Yslet Jean and Deny Belline
 

INDIA

Through the Hindustan Bible Institute UMCPB supports Pastor Michael who is ministering in small villages in the eastern coastal area of India near Madras. HBI oversees and trains Pastor Michael. Pastor Michael brings the Word of God and hope to the people of these villages. He has established a church in the village--a second floor open air meeting area with a thatched roof. While visiting family in India, two of UMCPB's members visited with Pastor Michael and saw the work he is doing and brought us photos of him and his church.
 

PERU

Our connection to Peru is through one of our young people-Justin Chapman. His idea for this mission came while visiting Peru with his mother who is from Peru. He saw how little the children there had so he returned to the church to ask for our help in sponsoring him to return to Peru with hygiene kits for the children. He loved seeing the smiles on the kids faces when he gave out these items. He has returned to Peru to distribute clothing to the children. May 20, 2012-Members and friends of UMCPB joined Justin Chapman to walk a mile in barefeet to show their support for his goal of providing shoes for the children of Peru. Walkers collected donations for Justin's projects. Carrying in 100 pairs shoes, Justin Chapman and his mother visited Peru this summer. There they purchased another 350 pairs of shoes. Then they traveled to a very poor area called Huaycan. There, they were greeted with crowds of people, many carrying "thank you" signs directed to Justin and the United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches. Using a strategy for distribution, they were able to give the 450 pairs of shoes to these children who were overjoyed with this gift. Justin is eager to return to Peru next summer to bring more help to these children. All of this was possible because of many generous gifts to this project.

SOUTH KOREA 

UMCPB has a sister relationship with the Mora Jugang Presbyterian Church in Busan, South Korea. The purpose of this relationship is to learn about the culture and worship of our fellow Christians. We also aid them in reaching out to Chinese students who are studying at the universities in Busan. Some of these students are finding Christ while in Korea and are carrying their faith home to China. 
  In order to learn about the life of our Korean church, six of our members traveled to Busan last October and became immersed in their culture. It was an amazing and a true image of Christian friendship. July 2012, we hosted a team from that church to show our ways of life and worship.