M.A.P.A.
(Mision A Paraiso Ahora)
FUNDRAISING DINNER
Saturday, January 19 from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Menu includes lasagna, spaghetti, meatballs, salad, dessert
Tickets are $8.00 for adults/$5.00 children under 12
All proceeds from this supper will be used to purchase a cistern for the church-run school in Paraiso. Currently there is no running water at the school.
What is M.A.P.A.?
In 1992 a group of laity and clergy organized a short term mission team to the Dominican Republic. This group
established a covenant with one of the congregations of the Evangelical Dominican Church (an indigenous church
born out of a joint effort of the Presbyterian Church, USA, the United Methodist Church, and the Moravian Church).
The congregation is located in Paraiso, Barahona, on the southwest coast of the Dominican Republic. From this covenant
relationship, M.A.P.A. (Mision A Paraiso Ahora - Mission in Paraiso, Now) was born.
WHAT IS THE GOAL OF M.A.P.A.?
We have many goals as we work together with the Dominican people:
- Initiate and facilitate the means for economic justice in Paraiso.
- Support the local church community as they strive toward independence and self determination as a Christian community.
- Accompany our sisters and brothers as they develop and maintain their ministries, which includes a church-run school.
- Celebrate and witness a holistic Gospel with our communities as we journey together.
- Build a relationship of mutual ministry between the people of New England and the Dominican people.
Paraiso is a small, economically impoverished town, and at the same time it is rich in natural re-sources. To help the local economy, M.A.P.A. has become a partner with a small group of coffee growers to develop a cooperative. Coffee beans, grown in small plots of land, are picked, roasted, and sent to New England. Fresh roasted beans are the sold through the M.A.P.A. group in New England.
"Cafe MAPA" is available once again. The devastation
of Hurricane Georges in October of 1998 spoiled the crop for 1999,
but the mission group brought back 150 lbs. of fresh coffee in
January 2000. Coffee is available for $10 per pound. In
addition, we also sell pins, magnets, "mood rocks", dream changers, serenity stones, and candles made from rocks
brought back from Paraiso. Rocks are another natural re-source of the Dominican Republic. This is an-other way
of us sharing the beauty of the country with you.
WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?
You can participate in this ministry in a number of ways.
- Participate in one of our mission trips
- Provide "Sponsor a Child" financial scholarships for children in Paraiso to attend the church-run school
- Buy "Shares in Ministry" to purchase building supplies used in our mission trips.
- Support our "Buck A Block" campaign.
- Buy "Café MAPA" when it become available again.
- Purchase one of the items made from rocks brought back from Paraiso.
Here are details of each of these options:
Mission Trips
Our next mission trip is planned for February 14 through February
24. Contact the M.A.P.A. group for more information.
"Sponsor A Child"
To help provide education for the children of Paraiso we offer opportunities for individuals to provide scholarships
for children. Your donation of $50 pays for one child to attend school for an entire school year.
Purchase "Shares in Ministry"
As a fundraiser for building supplies, we are offering $10 "Shares in Ministry". The money received for
these "shares" is put directly into purchasing the needed supplies in the Dominican Republic.
"Buck A Block" Campaign
As another way of raising funds for building supplies, we offer people the opportunity to buy blocks for the wall
in the church yard in Paraiso for $1 each. Again, all proceeds from this campaign go directly to purchasing building
supplies
CAFE MAPA
Coffee is available by contacting the MAPA group or by contacting
the Church office. Coffee can be purchased in whole beans or
ground for $10 per pound. All proceeds from the sale of our
coffee is used to support the school in Paraiso.
WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?
Each year during our mission trips, in addition to purchasing supplies for the building projects,
we also try to provide material aid to the people of Paraiso. The following kinds of items are always gratefully
accepted:
School Supplies
Crayons, Markers, Pencils,
Notebooks, Construction Paper
Pain Relievers
Tylenol, aspirin, ibuprofen, etc.
Anti-Diarrhea Medicine
Immodium AD, etc.
A reminder that all donations to M.A.P.A. are fully tax-deductible.
For more information about any of the work of M.A.P.A. or to find out how you can participate :
WRITE: M.A.P.A.
c/o First United Methodist Church
57 Peters Street
North Andover, MA 01845
CALL: (978)682-5305
Email: fumc@netway.com