Tree of Hope Haiti's 1st Annual Meet and Greet and Grand Opening!

Tree of Hope Haiti 1st Annual Meet and Greet

On April 2, 2016 TOHH had our 1st Annual Meet & Greet. There was a great turn out of support and we thank everyone for joining us. It was open to the public and many friends, family members, pastor’s, church members, community organizations and mission committee’s came out. 

Pastor Brian and Marie Richard opened with a welcome and lead us in a blessing over the food. We ate while hearing live music from local worship leaders. Pastor Emy Vazquez of Excel Church (Gama and Angela’s pastor) shared about his partnership and guidance for establishing TOHH.  Gama shared his story and Angela shared the mission of TOHH as it’s a beacon of hope for Haitians by spreading the gospel of Christ through community development rooted in God’s love.

TOHH seeks to: 

• Improve the quality and accessibility of water
• Ensure that every family in the community has a safe and durable place to call home
• See every child in the community enrolled in school
• Increase job opportunities for Haitians

We continued the night with touching testimonies of those in partnership with TOHH. Angela’s uncle, Pastor Peter Vitello of Good News Bible Church in Wilton, N.H. shared how being involved with TOHH has transformed his church, as members have taken trips to Haiti.  CaroleAnn Knetchel shared why it’s important for her to be a monthly supporter of TOHH as her heart aches for those in need in Haiti.  We recognized Pastor Vic Miller and his wife from the Erving Evangelical Community Church who were the first church to partner with TOHH. We gave him a Haitian shell lamp as a token of our love and support. Angela’s cousin, Jon Vitello shared why it was important for him to take his whole family on a mission trip and bypass a family vacation to Walt Disney World to built a house for a local family in need. His son Ethan, 12 yrs old, shared how it amazed him to see Haitian children have so little and be so happy as he played soccer with the local kids. We ended the night by hearing a powerful testimony from Stewart Harmon who recently took a mission trip in Feb. with Good New Bible Church. He spoke about why he was compelled to quit smoking and sponsor 2 children to go to school.

There are so many people to thank! We thank Our TOHH’s Event Committee who worked endless nights to prepare, Rick Plourde with sound and all the talented worship leaders, those who set up and did break down, those who spoke on behalf of their experience and partnership with TOHH and most of all our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who has given us this passion and desire to be His hands and feet.

Tree of Hope Grand Opening/Dedication Ceremony Success

We are so happy to announce that January 28, 2016 was our Grand Opening and Dedication Ceremony!

 Haitian and American came together as we celebrated what God is doing in Grand-Goave, Haiti. We had over 250 people gather to worship God in English and in Creole. Then we heard testimony from special guest speakers Pastor Lex Edme, Pastor Brian and Marie Richard along with special prayer from our Haitian Pastor’s, Pastor Edon and Pastor Cauvin.  

President of TOHH, Kervince “Gama” Parayson gave an over view of his story and what TOHH will be doing. Gama’s wife Angela shared thanks to her parents, family and friends for their continued support.  A closing song written by friends (Samantha Shultz, Priscilla Smith and Rich Allen called “Tree of Hope” was sang by Angela Parayson to end the night.

Tree of Hope Haiti thanks all those who came out to celebrate, all those who helped to set up/tear down and all those who prepared food. It was a huge success!