United Methodists Rekindle Mission in Haiti with Renewed Commitment to Community Support and Healthcare

In the small mountain village of Furcy, about 30 miles southeast of Port-au-Prince, a group of United Methodists from New York has dedicated much of the past decade to serving the community. This mission, driven by a spirit of radical hospitality, has become a testament to the power of love and service.

Furcy is a village of farming families who have transformed steep mountainsides into beautiful gardens. At the heart of this community is the Furcy Methodist Church, which serves as the center of community life, alongside a Methodist medical clinic and a primary school. The Revs. Wendy and Tom Vencuss, United Methodist pastors from Wethersfield, Conn., first visited Haiti in 2002 and were immediately drawn to this place. They began collaborating with resident missionaries, including Charles Maddox, to establish a site for long-term mission work.

The mission, later named “Mountains of Hope” by the New York Annual Conference, has seen three or four teams annually journey to Furcy. Accessing the village involves a rugged trek, with the final leg of the journey requiring a hike down the mountain to reach the church and clinic. Despite the challenges—such as navigating muddy trails and camping on air mattresses on the cold concrete floor of the church—the mission teams find the experience faith-affirming.

Terry Temple, chairperson of the mission commission at Hyde Park United Methodist Church, describes Furcy as “breathtaking.” She highlights the stark contrast between the proximity of Haiti to Miami and the impoverished conditions faced by many in the country. Leigh Bak and her daughter Emily, along with others from the New York Conference, experienced this firsthand during their first trip to Furcy. As they served at the Methodist Church’s health clinic, they encountered a community eager for support and connection.

The mission in Furcy exemplifies the biblical call to love and serve one’s neighbor, as outlined in Matthew 25:35, where feeding the hungry and caring for the sick are seen as acts of love. This ongoing commitment to Furcy reflects a broader mission of mercy and justice, embodying the spirit of Galatians 6:10, which encourages doing good to all, especially to those of the household of faith. Through their dedication, the mission teams continue to leave a lasting impact on the community, demonstrating the transformative power of love and service.

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