[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 126 (Thursday, July 26, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1092]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HUTCHINSON CHURCH GROUP VOLUNTEERS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. COLLIN C. PETERSON

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 26, 2018

  Mr. PETERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a group of four 
adults and eight students from Hutchinson, Minnesota, who traveled to 
Haiti and volunteered a week of their time to build and upgrade a new 
church office and teach kids at an Orphanage through a missionary 
program through Peace Lutheran Church.
  These men and women rolled up their sleeves to help as much as 
possible at Good Shepherd Orphanage. The first day at the Orphanage 
they worked with kids on arts and crafts projects and helped the local 
pastor with construction on his new office in the church.
  After a week of work, the group was scheduled to fly back to 
Minnesota. However, civil unrest in Port-au-Prince forced the State 
Department to issue a shelter-in-place warning to Americans staying 
near the capital. The Orphanage was very helpful in making sure they 
had enough food and water for the additional three days they stayed. At 
the Orphanage, the group felt safe as rock blockades and fires 
prevented their movement.
  While civil unrest continued to paralyze Port-au-Prince, my office 
stayed in close contact with the Hutchinson church group. Over the 
three days, they experienced more of Haitian culture and spent extra 
time working with the kids. Once most of the road blockades were secure 
and local authorities deemed it safe to move, the group was escorted to 
the airport and boarded a flight home. I am thankful for the aptly-
named Good Shepherd Orphanage who provided shelter, food, and water to 
a group of Minnesotans who needed it unexpectedly. I look forward to 
meeting with the Hutchinson church group to learn more about their 
incredible experiences in Haiti.

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