Announcing the RESTORE RETREAT- July 21st-30th, 2012.

We need YOUR help packing 100k meals on March 10th!

Let’s help to end hunger in northwest Haiti together!

NWHCM and Diane Cornelius featured in USA Weekend!

Thursday, December 1st, 2011 -
Diane Cornelius was recently featured in USA Today’s weekend insert for her work facilitating weddings with NWHCM in Haiti.

NWHCM Announces New Mission Trip Packages

Wednesday, April 20, 2011 - Executive Director Janeil Owen describes new options for NWHCM trips, aimed to offer travelers greater flexibility. Read more…

Posts Tagged ‘News_General’

Introducing Points

Saturday, March 6th, 2010

Welcome to Points, a unique way to support someone on a NWHCM mission trip and help the needy at the same time.

PointsLogoWEB Simply sponsor a child or adult in any Northwest Haiti Christian Mission program, and a short-term missionary of your choice will earn points toward his or her trip. They can convert those points into a scholarship for their trip, funded through a special mission scholarship program.

Your sponsorship will change the future for a child forever. And it may just change the life of a traveler, too.

How it Works

1. Sponsor a child or adult online at nwhcm.org in any mission program. The greater the sponsorship amount, the more points a traveler earns.

2. When creating a sponsorship, be sure to include the words “Points Sponsorship” and the traveler’s name in the notes field.

3.The traveler specified in the notes field will automatically earn points for your sponsorship, and those points will be automatically credited toward a scholarship for their upcoming mission trip. Unused credits can be used by the traveler on future mission trips.

4. Enjoy the relationship you will begin building with your sponsored child or adult, and remember to pray for the traveler your sponsorship is supporting.

To qualify for Points, a sponsorship must be:

Established online at nwhcm.org, or made over the phone
Established with an automatic donation plan via credit card or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
Established indefinitely or for a minimum of one year
Established for the full amount of the Sponsorship Need, except for Miriam Center sponsorships. Partial points will be awarded if Sponsorship Need is less than the program amount. For example: A Miriam Center sponsorship of $200 a month (out of a total Sponsorship Need of $300 a month) would earn 120 Points. A Miriam Center sponsorship for the full $300 a month would earn 180 Points. See below for a full explanation of Points amounts.

For Travelers

Earning Points

You can earn Points for every new sponsorship of a child or adult that a sponsor designates as credit toward your trip. You can also earn Points for medical sponsorships, as outlined below. Note: Points may not be earned for mission trips departing before May 30, 2010.

Sponsorship Point Values

PointsValuesTableWEB
*Click here to learn more about NWHCM Medical Sponsorships

Click here to sponsor a child or adult in Northwest Haiti today.

Redeeming Points

It takes almost no time at all to begin benefiting from Points. You can cash in your Points for large or small amounts toward the cost of your mission trip. When the amount of points you’ve earned reaches any of the benchmarks below, NWHCM will automatically credit your Points toward your upcoming trip.

Point Benchmarks

ScholarshipValuesTableWEB

FAQs

How is the Points program funded?
Points is paid for through a dedicated scholarship fund that NWHCM has established. This money has been generously set aside by donors and NWHCM to provide scholarships for people traveling on mission trips with NWHCM. The goal of the scholarships is to make overseas missions more accessible and to encourage lasting investments in the lives of children and adults in Haiti.

How can I check my Points balance if I’m going on an upcoming NWHCM trip?
Remember that your Points will be automatically applied to your trip cost when your accumulated Points reach one of the redemption benchmarks, so no action is required on your part. NWHCM will notify you of your trip balance 30 days prior to your travel date.

If necessary, you may check your Points balance and the balance for your trip anytime by e-mailing us at travel@nwhcm.org. Please do not phone our U.S. business office to check your Points balance. Thank you.

Do my Points expire?
Yes. Points expire 18 months after the date of the trip for which they were accumulated. For example: If you are awarded Points for a particular sponsorship two months before your mission trip on June 1, 2010, and you do not use them for that trip, those Points would expire on December 1, 2011.

Can Points be applied to our group as a whole?
Yes. If your church or group is handling trip costs as a lump sum instead of as individuals, then Points may be earned for and applied to the group’s total trip cost. However, any Points earned for that group will expire after the group’s travel date and may not be used for future travel. In addition, those Points may not be transferred to individuals. If you wish to inquire about handling trip costs as a lump sum or are unsure of your group’s status, please contact NWHCM’s travel manager.

Can I start a new sponsorship and credit the Points toward my own upcoming trip?
Yes. If it’s a new sponsorship, you can earn Points for it!

Do I need to have a firm trip date before earning Points for my upcoming trip?
No. You can earn Points for your upcoming mission trip even if you do not have a specific date range just yet. Please be sure to have sponsors include in the note field a general idea of when you may be traveling.

How can I start taking advantage of Points?
If you are planning an upcoming mission trip with NWHCM and you have not already received a brochure about Points and about NWHCM sponsorships, please contact us. We encourage you to use these valuable materials as you serve as a sponsorship advocate for NWHCM.

Click here to download a Points flyer to help you as you raise support for your trip.

Rules and Details

1) Points may only be earned for new sponsorships. Existing sponsorships or increases to existing sponsorship amounts are not eligible. Only sponsorships started after March 10, 2010 are eligible.
2) The cutoff for earning Points for a particular trip is 30 days prior to the travel date. New sponsorships created 30 or fewer days prior to the travel date will earn Points for a future trip.
3) Unused points expire 18 months after the trip date for which the points were initially earned.
4) Points may not be applied toward trips of other travelers or family members.
5) Points are redeemed automatically by NWHCM, and may only be redeemed when the total point amount reaches one of the Point Redemption Benchmarks. Unused points will be counted as surplus toward a future trip.
6) Sponsors who are identified as intentionally closing existing sponsorships and replacing them with new ones, with the intent of earning extra Points, will be disqualified from participation in the Points program. NWHCM reserves the right to disqualify sponsors and Points at anytime, at its discretion, without prior notice.
7) Points have no cash value and may not be redeemed for any goods or services other than NWHCM trip scholarships, as defined above.

Tags: News_Development, News_General, News_Sponsorship
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Sawyer Products donates 269 water filters to NWHCM

Friday, February 12th, 2010

Friday, February 12, 2010

Sawyer Products, a Florida-based water filter manufacturer, has donated 269 water filters to Northwest Haiti Christian Mission’s earthquake relief efforts. The filters will provide vital clean water to communities in Northwest Haiti and in the Port-au-Prince area.

Children at NWHCM's orphanage in Saline Mayette use a Sawyer pointONE water filter. Amy Reed / Sawyer Products

Children at NWHCM's orphanage in Saline Mayette use a Sawyer pointONE water filter. Courtesy Amy Reed / Sawyer Products

Thanks to a special matching program by Sawyer, the filters were provided through a combination of individual gifts, and generous donations from Messiah College students and the congregation of First Church of Christ in Burlington, Kentucky.

After the earthquake struck Haiti, Amy Reed, a Sawyer employee and Messiah College alumna, got in touch with Messiah’s women’s basketball team to raise funds for filters. Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams made appeals at four home games and raised over $3,800 for filters.

“Clean water is of critical importance after a natural disaster because existing water sources can very easily become contaminated and an epidemic of waterborne diseases can be just as deadly as the natural disaster itself,” Reed said. “The Sawyer filters that were donated to NWHCM take literally minutes to install, are easy to maintain, require no chemicals and are powered by gravity. They are not just a short-term solution, they will be providing clean water to the Haitians weeks, months and years down the road.”

The Sawyer pointONE filter is the official water filter for NWHCM development projects. The filters will be distributed through NWHCM’s partners in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas to help those who were affected by the earthquake, as well as in communities in Northwest Haiti to provide badly needed clean water for poor families and refugees.

Learn more about pointONE filters by clicking here.

To donate to NWHCM’s earthquake relief efforts, click here.

Tags: News_Agriculture, News_DisasterRelief, News_General
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Notice to Medical Volunteers

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

Wednesday, January 27 — Northwest Haiti Christian Mission has been overwhelmed with requests from U.S. medical professionals desiring to travel to Haiti to assist in earthquake relief efforts. At this time, organizations in Port-au-Prince are turning away medical volunteers for lack of resources and facilities to utilize them. NWHCM is unable to accept any new inquiries for medical personnel at this time, though we will continue utilizing small, specialized medical teams on a limited basis, based on the recommendations of our medical staff and their analysis of the medical needs in Haiti.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and we are truly grateful for the God-given desire to help. Haiti’s need is greater than ever, and will continue to be for years to come. There will be ample opportunities to serve on NWHCM medical teams later this year and in future years, and we encourage anyone interested in serving to consider applying for one of those teams. — The NWHCM medical staff

Tags: News_General, News_Medical
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Two Companies Announce T-Shirts for NWHCM Earthquake Relief

Friday, January 8th, 2010

Wednesday, January 27 – Your next favorite T-shirt has arrived, and it has a conscience.

The NWHCM T-shirt design by SpendYourself features the word "Hope" in Creole. Available in men's and women's sizes. Graphic courtesy SpendYourself.

Two apparel companies have teamed up with NWHCM to sell T-shirts benefitting the mission and its earthquake relief efforts.

Both companies, SpendYourself and Yellow Black & White, are offering hand-screened shirts with custom designs that draw attention to Northwest Haiti in an artistic and beautiful way. Available for order online, all shirts are made in the U.S.A.

Louisville, Kentucky-based SpendYourself is an all-volunteer organization committed to producing shirts to support reputable Christian ministries around the world. Their shirt design focuses on communicating a message of hope for Haiti. Proceeds from shirt sales will support NWHCM relief efforts with a special focus on clean water projects.

The T-shirt design by Yellow Black & White features the Haitian saying, "Everything's already OK." Available in red and black, men's/unisex sizes. Photo courtesy Yellow Black & White.

Los Angeles-based Yellow Black & White has partnered with NWHCM in the past as a corporate sponsor for a benefit concert featuring music artist Judith Hill. Their T-shirt features the message, “Tout Bagay Deja Byen,” a Creole phrase that means “Everything is already OK.” All proceeds from shirt sales will go toward NWHCM earthquake relief.

To order shirts, please visit the companies’ respective websites:

Click here to order a T-shirt from Yellow Black & White.

Click here to order a T-shirt from SpendYourself.

Tags: News_DisasterRelief, News_General
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New Year, New Threads

Friday, December 18th, 2009

2009_12.18NWHCMTShirts

We admit, we take our T-shirts pretty seriously at Northwest Haiti Christian Mission. A lot of lives have been changed while wearing them.

Anyone who travels on a short-term mission trip with NWHCM receives one of our shirts. This year, we have two different shirt designs — different fronts (see top), identical backs. We distribute the various designs at random, and if you’re traveleing with a group, your group’s shirts will be an assortment of both.

We have a limited supply of each, so unfortunately we cannot entertain requests for one design or another. Thanks for your understanding. If the design you received is not the one you prefer, maybe you can trade with a friend!

This year, the backs of our shirts feature a large map of Haiti. The areas marked with red crosses are key places where Northwest Haiti Christian Mission is working, though we have a presence in dozens of other communities throughout Northwest Haiti.

As always, please wear your T-shirt at all times while traveling in and out of Haiti with us. Of course, there’s no rule saying you can’t wear it at home, too!

What is “Rescue, Restore, Redeem?”

We’re glad you asked.

These three words, written on the fronts of all our 2010 T-shirts, are our humble attempt to encapsulate everything we do here at Northwest Haiti Christian Mission. They are our mission statement, if you will (though we have a more formal mission statement you can find here).

As a mission, we seek to:

Rescue the oppressed by providing medical care to the poor, food to the hungry, and orphan care to the abandoned.
Restore hope by running schools and organizing sustainable community development programs in needy areas.
Redeem God’s people by planting churches, developing indigenous church leaders, and training effective Haitian ministers.

We do all this in partnership with people like you, which is why we thought you’d like to know what this “rescue, restore, redeem” stuff is all about.

Tags: News_General
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For Love of the Game

Sunday, December 13th, 2009

NWHCM missionary Grant Roszkowiak uses sports to score new ministry opportunities in Northwest Haiti

By Andy Olsen, NWHCM media director

Saint-Louis du Nord, Haiti — Grant Roszkowiak came to Haiti in the summer of 2009 with a five-year plan. But the NWHCM missionary has already burned through so many of his goals that these days, it’s looking more like a one-year plan.

The 22-year-old from Savannah, Georgia joined Northwest Haiti Christian Mission full-time after graduating in 2009 from Wheaton College, near Chicago. It took him just a few weeks living in Saint-Louis du Nord, Haiti, to put a finger on his passions: Sports and youth.

Now Roszkowiak is spearheading NWHCM ministries that are reaching out to everyone from down-and-out street kids to professional soccer players.

He sees sports as a natural vehicle for the gospel. “If you play soccer in Sri Lanka and you play soccer here, it’s the same soccer and it just naturally bridges cultures,” he said.

The ASSL soccer team of Saint-Louis du Nord, Haiti. Photos by Andy Olsen / NWHCM staff

Roszkowiak’s most immediate — and somewhat surprising — success story has been his involvement with the Association Sportif de Saint-Louis du Nord, or ASSL. It’s the local professional soccer franchise, about as big-time-sports as one can find in this small Haitian city.

A few weeks after arriving in Haiti, ASSL supporters approached NWHCM and asked about ways the mission could partner with the team. Roszkowiak jumped in and began attending practices and hanging out with the players. He led morning devotions with the team and, before long, was unexpectedly appointed to the organization’s board of directors.

“I had no idea what was going on,” Roszkowiak said with a laugh. The next thing he knew, he was dissecting team budgets and meeting with the city’s mayor.

Though professional soccer players in Haiti earn a reasonable salary (considering Haiti’s larger economy) and are relatively well cared-for, the teams often lack the basic equipment that sports teams in developed countries take for granted. So Roszkowiak began contacting soccer equipment manufacturers about donating supplies to NWHCM.

The response was overwhelming. California-based Xara Soccer has given hundreds of adult and youth uniforms, soccer balls, socks, and other equipment like shin guards and shoes. Canadian soccer equipment manufacturer Admiral donated uniforms and socks they were able to ship directly from a warehouse in the Dominican Republic.

NWHCM has received so much equipment that Roszkowiak has used much of it for youth ministry, as well. Youth teams in the area and in the Far West, the region of Haiti west of Port-de-Paix, are now playing with the donated jerseys and soccer balls.

Roszkowiak’s next step is to get Bibles into the hands of ASSL’s two Christian players and some of the others. If the guys on the team come to know Christ, he said, there is enormous potential for the witness they could have in the community. “These people are the heroes of Saint-Louis,” he said.

REACHING YOUTH
In many ways, Roskowiak’s passion for youth ministry works in tandem with his love of sports. A football player and swimmer in high school, he began the first Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter at his school in Savannah. At Wheaton College, where he continued playing football, he was actively involved with youth at nearby Willow Creek Community Church.

Grant Roszkowiak, NWHCM missionary in Saint-Louis du Nord

Shortly after joining NWHCM, Roszkowiak began helping with the youth group at the Citadel Church in Saint-Louis du Nord. He organized youth community service activities. And now he has his eye on building a community basketball complex and youth center in town.

“There’s nothing (for youth) to do here. After school, people just hang around, and that’s where trouble happens,” he said “If I have a safe place where these kids can come and play and hang out, hear the Word, but also just be kids and relax and watch movies and play ping pong or whatever, that’s something.”

Next year, Roszkowiak plans to finish construction of the basketball courts (conveniently located right next to the ASSL soccer field) and launch an annual three-on-three basketball tournament and league. He hopes the tournament would draw hundreds of youth and provide part-time jobs for pastors and other community members serving as referees.

“If 20 people are playing and 40 people are watching, that’s 60 people right there,” he said. “Over and over again, that adds up. It’s people hearing the gospel all the time in a fun way, and it’s just something to look forward to.”

Eventually, Roszkowiak even wants to form partnerships with college and professional sports teams in the United States that would bring athletes to Northwest Haiti to do sports camps and youth events.

It has not all been easy or without complications. But Roszkowiak finds encouragement from a conversation he had recently with another NWHCM missionary. They were attending a funeral for a local youth who had been killed in a fight. The missionary turned to Roszkowiak and said: “I finally understand why you do what you do.” She said she didn’t want this to happen to any of the kids in NWHCM schools.

I want “to give these kids a hope for the future, to make them feel human, to go to a movie and not worry about where their next meal is coming from,” Roszkowiak said. “It gives them an opportunity to experience Christ in a new way.”

Tags: News_General, News_Spirituality
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On the Frontlines of Medicine

Saturday, September 26th, 2009

At Northwest Haiti Christian Mission’s medical facility, we battle every day against the preventable diseases that cause thousands of deaths across Haiti. Through health education, immunizations, medical care and our maternity center, we are making a difference on Haiti’s northern coast against very formidable odds.

Our medical staff delivers between 60 and 80 babies and cares for over 2,000 patients a month in our general, pediatric and prenatal clinics. Our staff exemplifies compassion everyday as they face difficult situation after difficult situation, yet they do so with a smile on their face and prayers on their lips.

NWHCM nurses examine a newborn baby after a delivery.

Case in point: Meet Sylveste, our nurse manager.

Sylveste is a natural leader. Sylveste lets her faith shine as she rescues the baby that is close to death, restores the faith of a fragile mother, and shares the redeeming story of Christ with patients and staff.

Whether she is completing essential paperwork for the government, having an afternoon seminar with nursing students, or tirelessly working with patients, Sylveste is impacting lives every day!

You cannot have a Christ-centered medical facility without Christ-centered staff like Sylveste. But Sylveste and the rest of our medical staff need your help. We need individuals, churches, and health professionals to step up to the frontlines in this battle. We need people like you to sponsor our medical staff, providing financial support that will meet the current and future needs of the medical work.

Sylveste, NWHCM's nurse manager

Delivering health care in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere comes at a cost. In fact, the biggest percentage by far of NWHCM’s budget is spent on the medical ministry.

We need you! Would you join us on the frontlines by becoming a staff sponsor? Your investment in our staff’s future will save lives and will forever impact people across Northwest Haiti for Christ.

SPONSORSHIP: YOU CAN HELP!

Your monthly sponsorship of a member of Northwest Haiti Christian Mission’s medical staff provides them with a competitive salary to help care for their family, and enables us to continue hiring and training qualified Christian workers.

Frontline Sponsor Levels

You can sponsor for the full amount each month or designate the amount in $50/mo increments

Nurse Staff Sponsor $250 a month
Lab Staff Sponsor $125 a month
Pharmacy Staff Sponsor $90 a month

Sponsor a staff member today!

Tags: News_General, News_Medical
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New Maternity Center Open

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

In May, NWHCM staff finished the initial phase of moving in to the mission’s new maternity center, which is now open. The center now includes four patient rooms and a four-bed delivery room. In coming months, our maternity facility will also include an OR, two exam rooms, and a premature infant room with incubators and oxygen concentrators.

In addition to routine deliveries, NWHCM’s maternity center offers care for high-risk patients with pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, as well as infant care and post-partum care for mothers and infants. It also serves as a first-line ER, where staff primarily treat lacerations, burns, dehydration and congestive heart failure.

Thanks to a renewed partnership with FAME, an Indianapolis-based medical ministry, the maternity center opened with a strong inventory of medical supplies, including new delivery beds and incubators.

NWHCM is grateful to FAME and all the generous partners who made the new maternity center a reality. On average, the mission’s staff deliver more than 80 babies a month.

To learn more about NWHCM’s diverse medical ministries, please click here.

Tags: News_General, News_Medical
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The New NWHCM.org

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

By Andy Olsen, NWHCM Media Director

You’ve probably noticed: Northwest Haiti Christian Mission has launched its completely redesigned website, nwhcm.org. We hope you’re pleased with what you see.

The new website is the result of more than a year of conversations, research, planning and development. We’ll be the first to admit the wait was a little longer than we’d planned (we originally announced the launch would happen in May). But we believe it was well worth the wait.

In this fast-paced era in which we live, our cultures and the ways we see the world around us are changing more quickly than ever. In the Church, it seems we are perpetually asking ourselves whether we are “relevant” to our modern culture, an especially challenging question because sometimes we’re not even sure what our modern (or post-modern) culture is.

One thing we do know is that the gospel and God’s Word do not change with the times. The ways we communicate them and the ways we interpret them certainly look different now than they did a century ago, but the core truths of Jesus, salvation and missions are the same as they have always been. Christ and His call on our lives are just as relevant today as they were in Christ’s own days.

But the problem is, Jesus did not speak English or Creole (to our knowledge). His words have been translated into myriad languages over the years, in order that people around the world would believe in Him. And when it comes to language today, it is undeniable that the Internet and technology are foundational parts of the modern language that most North Americans use to live, learn, work and interact.

Even in developing countries like Haiti, we are increasingly seeing Internet usage become a part of daily life for many people.

NWHCM always wants to be speaking the language of the people it works with, whether in the United States, Canada, Haiti, or elsewhere in the world. We want to communicate with our ministry partners in the ways that best speak to them, so that our ministry in Haiti can be as effective as possible.

That is the foremost goal of our new website — to stay better connected with our partners, so that together we can better serve Christ in Haiti. We anticipate the website will provide new avenues for storytelling, child sponsorship, organizational transparency, and for being better stewards of our resources.

Needless to say, we’re excited about the site’s potential as a tool to improve everything we’re doing. Of course, it is merely that — a tool that will only work through faith in God’s hands. But we feel its a step in the right direction, and we pray you’ll gladly to join us in taking that step.

Click here to learn more about our website and take a brief orientation.

Tags: News_General
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Interpreters Complete Training

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009

In April, Northwest Haiti Christian Mission interpreters completed a one-day intensive training course in medical interpreting. The course included study of advanced anatomy and medical terminology, as well as training in interpreting best practices, ethics, and skill-sharpening.

NWHCM's medical interpreter team during the Spring interpreting training. NWHCM photo

In all, 16 Haitian interpreters participated in the training, which was led by Erika Olsen, NWHCM staff development coordinator and a former medical interpreter in the United States. Good medical interpreting requires precise, objective communication between doctors, interpreters and patients, and can make a major difference in the quality of care patients receive.

The course was part of NWHCM’s ongoing efforts to provide greater training and preparation for all its employees, both national and North American. This year, nurses at NWHCM’s clinic and maternity center have been involved in regular professional workshops led by Melissa Curtice, NWHCM assistant medical director.

NWHCM believes in creating a culture of empowered service, where professional skills are valued and encouraged as a vital part of ministry. The mission is always seeking skilled individuals willing to serve in Northwest Haiti by organizing or leading training sessions, workshops or classes for employees and community members. Please contact us to learn more about the many opportunities to serve in this way.

Tags: News_General, News_Medical
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Announcing the RESTORE RETREAT- July 21st-30th, 2012.

We need YOUR help packing 100k meals on March 10th!

NWHCM and Diane Cornelius featured in USA Weekend!

NWHCM Announces New Mission Trip Packages

Posts Tagged ‘News_General’

Introducing Points

How it Works

For Travelers

Earning Points

Sponsorship Point Values

Redeeming Points

Point Benchmarks

FAQs

Rules and Details

Sawyer Products donates 269 water filters to NWHCM

Notice to Medical Volunteers

Two Companies Announce T-Shirts for NWHCM Earthquake Relief

New Year, New Threads

What is “Rescue, Restore, Redeem?”

For Love of the Game

NWHCM missionary Grant Roszkowiak uses sports to score new ministry opportunities in Northwest Haiti

On the Frontlines of Medicine

SPONSORSHIP: YOU CAN HELP!

Frontline Sponsor Levels

Sponsor a staff member today!

New Maternity Center Open

The New NWHCM.org

Click here to learn more about our website and take a brief orientation.

Interpreters Complete Training

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First Sunday With Our Little Orphan Babies…

Lee/Ball State Team Update!

Greetings from Haiti!