Bolivian Mission
What started out as a cultural exchange between members of the Suhnam Presbyterian Church in Kwang-Ju, Korea and First Presbyterian Church has grown into much more over the years. Rev. Ik Bai Moon, a native South Korean, felt called to become a Christian missionary in Bolivia. He established twenty-five churches in Bolivia and helped to train native Bolivians to lead those congregations.
Starting in 2005, FPC began sending medical, dental, and vision mission teams to the Eden School Campus and have treated more than 30,000 individuals.
Our Vision Mission team recently returned to Santa Cruz Bolivia in the Spring of 2024. We had not been to Bolivia since 2019 before the COVID pandemic. We carried seventeen suitcases containing several thousand pairs of sunglasses, readers, and prescription glasses. For six days we operated the clinic and served 2,100 people in total, many of whom come to Santa Cruz from many miles away and waited in line for the chance to get glasses.
For most, this is their only opportunity to get glasses so that they can see well enough to read, drive, and navigate their surroundings. It’s an amazing feeling to see someone try on a pair of glasses and finally be able to read a sign on the wall. The smile that forms on their face is priceless.
Culturally, we have meals with the Bolivians, attend worship services, interact with the Eden School children, and visit some local landmarks.
In addition to sending Vision teams to Bolivia, First Presbyterian Church annually provides scholarship support to the Eden School Children.
Starting in 2005, FPC began sending medical, dental, and vision mission teams to the Eden School Campus and have treated more than 30,000 individuals.
Our Vision Mission team recently returned to Santa Cruz Bolivia in the Spring of 2024. We had not been to Bolivia since 2019 before the COVID pandemic. We carried seventeen suitcases containing several thousand pairs of sunglasses, readers, and prescription glasses. For six days we operated the clinic and served 2,100 people in total, many of whom come to Santa Cruz from many miles away and waited in line for the chance to get glasses.
For most, this is their only opportunity to get glasses so that they can see well enough to read, drive, and navigate their surroundings. It’s an amazing feeling to see someone try on a pair of glasses and finally be able to read a sign on the wall. The smile that forms on their face is priceless.
Culturally, we have meals with the Bolivians, attend worship services, interact with the Eden School children, and visit some local landmarks.
In addition to sending Vision teams to Bolivia, First Presbyterian Church annually provides scholarship support to the Eden School Children.
Haiti Mission
First Presbyterian Church of Raleigh has been involved in supporting work in Port-au-Prince, Haiti since the 2010 earthquake. The annual trips offer medical care, dental care, reading glasses and reroofing of homes to serve and benefit our brothers and sisters in Christ in the Port-au-Prince area. We work with our Haitian partners at MICECC (Mission Communautaire de l’Eglise Chretienne des Cites) in all of these efforts. Please refer to https://www.haitiom.org/ for more information about Haiti Outreach Ministries and their ministry and service in Haiti.
Individual church members and fellowship groups such as the ROCKStars and the Early Birds sponsor primary school students in Haiti through Haiti Outreach Ministries.
Due to the COVID pandemic and the current Haitian political instability and general unrest due to gang activity, we have not taken a team to Haiti since 2019. We hope to return as soon as possible. The Haitian Mission team recruits volunteer physicians, nurses, dentists, and non-medical people to staff the medical and dental clinics. The clinics in the past with the assistance of teams like ours has seen between 20,000 to 30,000 patients annually. But without these teams, the numbers have been much less.
There are also opportunities to work in light construction, distributing reading glasses and participate in other non-medical activities. This annual trip usually takes place during the summer.
Individual church members and fellowship groups such as the ROCKStars and the Early Birds sponsor primary school students in Haiti through Haiti Outreach Ministries.
Due to the COVID pandemic and the current Haitian political instability and general unrest due to gang activity, we have not taken a team to Haiti since 2019. We hope to return as soon as possible. The Haitian Mission team recruits volunteer physicians, nurses, dentists, and non-medical people to staff the medical and dental clinics. The clinics in the past with the assistance of teams like ours has seen between 20,000 to 30,000 patients annually. But without these teams, the numbers have been much less.
There are also opportunities to work in light construction, distributing reading glasses and participate in other non-medical activities. This annual trip usually takes place during the summer.
Madagascar-Dan and Elizabeth Turk (Presbyterian Missionaries)
Dan and Elizabeth Turk (Presbyterian Mission Agency) serve with the PC(USA)’s partner church, Fiangonan’i Jesoa Kristy Eto Madagasikara (FJKM) in the areas of health, environment, agriculture, and safe drinking water in their efforts to improve the lives of the Malagasy people.
Madagascar, located in the Indian Ocean, remains one of the world’s poorest countries. The majority of Malagasy citizens are Christian, a large percentage adhere to traditional beliefs, and less than 10 percent are Muslim. Elizabeth trains village health workers, helps communities develop safe drinking water sources, and educates church leaders and youth about AIDS prevention. Dan has helped the FJKM develop an extensive fruit tree program that includes a fruit tree nursery and extension work with farmers as well as environmental education.
As part of Elizabeth’s program, more than 150 community health volunteers from rural areas are receiving training in health education techniques and basic health messages. Dan’s program helps communities in improving food security and nutrition.
First Presbyterian Church’s Mission Budget annually supports the wonderful work of Dan and Elizabeth Turk in Madagascar. We look forward to their updates and visits when in the United States.
Madagascar, located in the Indian Ocean, remains one of the world’s poorest countries. The majority of Malagasy citizens are Christian, a large percentage adhere to traditional beliefs, and less than 10 percent are Muslim. Elizabeth trains village health workers, helps communities develop safe drinking water sources, and educates church leaders and youth about AIDS prevention. Dan has helped the FJKM develop an extensive fruit tree program that includes a fruit tree nursery and extension work with farmers as well as environmental education.
As part of Elizabeth’s program, more than 150 community health volunteers from rural areas are receiving training in health education techniques and basic health messages. Dan’s program helps communities in improving food security and nutrition.
First Presbyterian Church’s Mission Budget annually supports the wonderful work of Dan and Elizabeth Turk in Madagascar. We look forward to their updates and visits when in the United States.
