April Edition of Response

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"7 Presidents: Look Back...Dream Forward" by Dana E. Jones

Seven presidents have headed the Women's Division since the birth of United Methodist Women in 1972. This article explores their list of accomplishments and goals, which include racial and gender inclusiveness; advocacy for children; and being in solidarity with women internationally.

"Key West: Beyond Palm Trees and Tourists" by A. Victoria Hunter

Key West stretches along a 130-mile archipelago and is known as a haven for well-to-do retirees and tourists. But for 25,000 residents, living is not easy. People need to work two or three jobs because of low wages, and they need good childcare while they work. That's where Women's Division-supported Wesley House fulfills a crucial need. This article looks at the crucial services Wesley House provides, their philosophy of education, and their funding concerns.

"Grassroots Healthcare in Bolivia's Barrios" by Paul Jeffrey

Esperanza Quispia used to wash clothes in the river for money, while her children played along the bank or home alone. Today, she washes clothes in a well-ventilated laundry room on the grounds of Emmanuel Methodist Church while her son plays at the church-sponsored preschool. This article explores the variety of health-care development projects that women and youth of the community undertook with the help of the church, the Latin American Council of Evangelical Methodist Churches (CIEMAL) and the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. It looks at the ways individuals are improving community health, the extent of their outreach, how they use the resources they have, and how they have collaborated and learned from similar organizations in other countries.

"Haitian Development = Economy + Education + Health" by Tequila Minsky

Every January 1, Innette Durandis accompanied her mother and local Methodist women to Petit Goave, Haiti, to eat the traditional soup with the prisoners and to pray with them. Ms. Durandis still remembers this experience, and this drives her to help make Haiti a better place for disenfranchised, poor women. Ms. Durandis now heads the Haitian Methodist Church's Coordination on Development program, which uses more than 150 staff to address the rural economy, community health, and basic education needs. This article explores Ms. Durandis' work; the challenge of addressing women's traditional role in this country; the programs that focus on development, education, and health; and reaching out to women.

"Haiti: Women Helping Women -- Village Banking" by Tequila Minsky

A little money can be a lifeline in Haiti, where the average annual income of a rural family is $350 and most rural women are market ladies. The Haitian Methodist Church's rural-economy division has started a women's credit union to help generate successful business and create an esprit de corps among its participants. As seen in this article, the economic development plan is working and expanding.

"Haiti: A Missionary's Role" by Tequila Minsky

Nancy Osgood and her husband, Bob, run the Methodist Guest House in Port-au-Prince. She schedules work teams, she orients them to the culture and their projects, and she possesses a love and respect for the Haitian people. In this interview, Ms. Osgood answers questions about working with people whose nation is in political turmoil; how Haitians view missionaries; what the key needs of the Haitian people are; what the role is of the Haitian Methodist Church; what the role is of the United Methodist Church as they interface with the church in Haiti; what the future holds; and how United Methodist Women can respond.

See also:

• Response
• Responsively Yours
• United Methodist Women
• Women's Division
• March Edition of Response