MISSION OUTREACH OUR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES Members from 38 congregations conduct ministries in Brazil (Amazon), Cuba, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Hungary, India, Korea, Mexico, Panama, Peru and the Ukraine. ****************************************
India Mission Partnership of Smithtown and Baldwin ChurchesBackground First Presbyterian Smithtown has enjoyed an active relationship with the Church of North India (CNI), our partners since the late 1900s. We supported education, most especially of Dalit children, first through Witnessing Ministries of Christ and then through Prentiss Inter College. Both organizations are in Uttar Pradesh, an area referred to by the Indian Government as “backward.”
In 2004 Pastor Jimmy Hulsey and Elder Grace Simonete led a group of 11 members and friends of the Smithtown Church to India, cementing relationships with our mission partners and forming new relationships with staff of CNI and with leaders of educational facilities in Uttar Pradesh. A highlight of that trip was visiting the McGaw Memorial Chapel, named in honor of Grace’s grandfather a missionary there from the late 1800s through the early 1920s.
We had been eager to return and in 2010 formed a partnership with the Baldwin Church to promote interest in and understanding of India. With Elder Margaret Cook and Pastor Adrian Pratt we have participated in worship and led workshops to enhance understanding of India and particularly of the challenges faced by Christians.
With the support of the Synod of the Northeast, Presbytery and our respective Churches, Margaret Cook from Baldwin, Elders Grace Simonette, Lois Netter and Pastor Hulsey from Smithtown were representatives from the PCUSA at the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Founding of the Church of North India. We were guests of CNI for much of our trip, getting to know the then new General Secretary, solidifying relationships with old friends and forming relationships with people we met along the way.
Our presence at the Celebrations and at worship throughout our visit was a visible sign of the friendship between PCUSA and CNI; between America and India, and between ourselves and our friends both new and old. We were greeted warmly everywhere as people went out of their way to make sure we felt welcomed. As Christians we share our love of Christ and seek ways to support one another. ************************************************************************* Presbytery of Long Island Partnerships Presbyterian Youth Leadership Conference – Havana, Cuba, July 19-18, 2011.
From: Jim Burke. Group Leader, Northport Presbyterian Church "Throughout the Bible, God has declared that He would keep a remnant people for Himself, a true people who would obey Him and not wander from His truth. Jeremiah 23:3 ...'And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. "In 1890, a Presbyterian Pastor from New Jersey – traveled to Havana,Cuba and started the IPRC – Iglesias Presbiteriana Reformada de Cuba. They formally joined with The Synod of New Jersey in 1904. Since that day the Presbyterian Church in Cuba has survived (wars, poverty, revolutions, discrimination) only to become today a small but dynamic church in a country that rejects the concept of a loving God. In 1967, because of the revolution, The Presbyterian Church in Cuba cut their ties with the church in the US and decided to make a go of it on their own. Many church leaders (Pastors and lay leaders both) left both the church and the country. About 5% of the clergy were left to maintain the denomination (IPRC). "While attending the Youth Leadership Conference from July 10-18 in Havana, Cuba this year the groups from both The Presbytery of LI and Chicago numbering 16 people who joined with about 35 Cuban youth and leaders think they have a good idea of why that remnant of Presbyterians has grown to be a dynamic example of God‟s work in the midst of a country where the government declared itself an "atheist country". Among other practices the Presbyterians welcome young people not only into the church but also place on them the responsibility of working to become leaders within the family of the church by being active, alive, studying God‟s will for their life, and accepting responsibility as a member of the congregation.
"The youth conference brought Presbyterians of the 2 countries together to relate how we can share our knowledge of how the future leaders of the Presbyterian Church can prepare to lead now and for the rest of their lives by taking on roles within the church as mature and dynamic church members.
"To say the conference was successful is an understatement. Watching the participants as I did and comparing with past events, I noticed an uplifted spirit through the use of each other‟s language, early and lasting positive impressions between the Cubans and the Americans, willingness to relate through activities (dancing and volleyball), sharing of experiences and beliefs, cooperative committee planning and group reporting, and the development of ideas about how we can work together as a church of Christ and as countries who need to come closer to move on from the recent past of turmoil and misunderstanding. An example of common understanding is the promotion of the idea that the use of God‟s gifts as the basis of future work together would be appropriate for something that the youth at this conference would bring back to their own congregations. For example, the gift of writing may be used to share our experiences and to produce school and church newsletters for all to share our experiences. Another example, the gift of music, was shared by twelve youth - eight from Cuba, four from the US. They sang "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee", Beethoven‟s Hymn to Joy, first Spanish, then English and finally singing together in both languages.
"Attending this conference from Long Island were 6 young people from 4 churches: Northport, Setauket, Bellmore and Old First. Additionally 5 adults were also participants in many ways. We were joined by 5 folks from Chicago – 3 young women and 2 adult leaders. The attendees were Northport – Elizabeth Coleman, and Jim Burke, Setauket – Jenny Kate Schlagel, Bellmore – Laura Piccirillo, Old First – Jordan Ponzetti, Robert Ponzetti, Taylor Mandrakos, Dorothy Mandrakos, Olivia Johnson, and Scott Johnson.
At the conclusion of the conference the participants met together to evaluate and suggest improvements for future meetings such as this gathering. The United States people then traveled to their sister churches for a 2 day stay that helped each of us bond further with our close friends in those churches and to further the cause of our shared faith and to try to bring the long separation of our governments and countries to an end.
"There are always some unplanned hardships in every visit to Cuba and this one was no different. Travel was not a blessing because of the lack of good service on the part of the charter airlines. However, on the plus side, the travel license from the government was made so much easier as the license was now provided by our own pastors. Additionally no difficulties were experienced at either immigration or customs checkpoints and that was a first. God truly blessed this trip.
"The groups left with a common goal: We would like to change the personality of church – that is to know who we are so we can know where to go next"
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2011 Youth Mission Trip to Cuba, July 23- August 2
East Hampton First Presbyterian Church What is a Youth Mission Trip - especially one to Cuba? Following are some comments from The Rev. Thomas Schacher, pastor of the East Hampton Church taken from a "Youth Mission" booklet published for the East Hampton Church mission trip.
"This mission trip is about people of faith coming together to do the work of God. It is about new and creative ways to do mission. It is about being a vehicle for God‟s caring in another part of the world. And last, but not least, it is about maintaining our personal connection with Pastor Yampier and his family, their church, community and homeland. Everyone benefits….you will benefit… this is a life-transforming and soul-nourishing opportunity……your church will benefit and be strengthened and transformed by this mission , and the community of Guines is going to be changed as well. Hopefully, doors to the Lord will be opened.
From group leader, Barbara D‟Andrea, (also Chair of the Cuba Work Group)
The following people went on this Vacation Bible School mission trip held in the Guines Presbyterian Church: Pastor Tom, Barbara D‟ Andrea, Emily Hulsey, (Smithtown Presbyterian Church) Melissa and RJ Anderson, Alana and Will Ellis, Conner Larcombe and Hudson Cooke. They flew to Miami before our early morning flight to Cuba. In Havana they were met at 9:30 am by church hosts and we traveled out to the church which is Havana Province, but out in the town of Guines. They had one free day before the Vacation Bible School started. The youth‟s expenses were paid for with funds from the "52" Club – money earned by fundraisers. There was a daily blog written from Cuba by Hudson Cooke and Melissa Anderson which informed those at home but also to be a daily diary. Below are a just a few excerpts:
"After an hour flight from Miami to Havana, Cuba‟s capital, we went through Customs without a problem. We had made it! Pastor Yampier‟s wife Adriana and Yoimel, the director of the VBS project met us. The ride to Güines was impressive… all the cars – old, beautiful - Wow! Houses - bright colors, canary yellow, baby blue, and a soft pink. All of them had columns holding up roofs over the street for shade. At last Guines, big spaghetti casserole, meet the Vacation Bible School teachers, and make plans for who does what project. Each day ended with devotions, and each morning group member sharing their thoughts – theological or personal. What did mission mean to us?
"Our gracious hosts made us forget we were in a third world country, but after our tour of Guines we believed it – broken sidewalks, more bikes than cars, people sitting on their porch in their rocking chair, or inside watching TV, houses one room wide with two or three rooms to the back, but brightly colored houses, cheerful, friendly people. Back at the Guines church where we slept, we had air-conditioners and showers.
"The next day we started the Vacation Bible School. We began by introducing ourselves: the mission team, staff members and 33 children. On the second day 45 children came and by the fourth day we had 61. They even came 15 minutes early. Daily each new song in Spanish or English, each new prayer brings us closer together. Seeing the children sing and dance was amazing - so enthusiastic even though in front of unfamiliar faces. One day the theme was "trust." We blindfolded my little preschoolers and walked them around, so they had to "trust" us. Very cute. Each day after our "opening" we broke into groups, using the VBS materials that we had brought, ending at noon.
"Sunday worship in Guines was so much fun………Not that worship in East Hampton isn‟t fun!) But this was just different. People stood up voluntarily to sing; they clapped and swayed back and forth. People go to the front of the church to offer prayers, and they talk for a long time. Although the service was 3 hours, it felt like time flew. We were part of the service bringing up stones for Pastor Tom‟s sermon. We tied many colored bandanas together and ran down the aisles holding them over the congregation‟s heads. We are all different colors but united in God. It was a beautiful thing. It was a great seeing how their service differs from ours but we are all the same in God‟s eyes.
The afternoons were filled with trips – the beach, Havana City, touring and the craft market, with a beautiful view of the bay. Although the beaches were littered with garbage, the water was warm, and very shallow, only up to our chests, 75 years out. We played games with the Cubans in the water. They showed us, when they weren‟t able to tell us. Back in Guines, we also talked with a party official, Ramon Goicochea. He wanted to clear up any misconceptions we had about Cuba. He wanted to show us more about his country, so that when we talk about our trip with others in America, we can give them a different viewpoint. We went on a bus to an abandoned sugar factory. The bus was very old with broken seats and rusted metal. The factory was on a dirt road in the middle of fields. We walked about half a mile to the factory. Our guide had to pull an ox out of the path for us, and that was a very interesting scene. The factory was very cool. It‟s over 200 years old, and functioned by hydraulics. Our guide explained the processing of the sugar. The factory was in ruins. Its aqueduct reminded me of the ones in Rome. Our guide picked guavas from a tree and told us, "This would go for 5 pesos in the market," he said. "Because it is so big." At the end one person had 60 signatures on her T shirt." At the end there were tears. It was hard saying Good-Bye! "
Background Info - CUBA PARTNERSHIP
The Presbytery of Long Island and the presbytery of Havana have been in partnership for 20 + years. It began with correspondence and Bible Study in the early 1980s and in 1989 a formal partnership agreement was established. Over 200 people have visited Cuba and 70 + Cubans have visited Long Island. Sister Churches: Bellmore/San Nicholas de Bara; East Moriches/Luyano; Northport/Nueva Paz; Southampton/Los Palos and Vegas; Montauk & Malverne/Guines; Old First Huntington/First Havana;Setauket/San Antonio de Los Banos. Some of the mission projects include: providing tuition/room & board for seminary students; leadership training; hot lunch program at First Havana; roof repair at Vegas church; rebuild Nueva Paz; 2nd floor addition to Christian Education building in Guines; missionary extension at Marianao and El Cerro missions; transportation for pastors and church leaders; repairs for cars;repair and reconstruction for Guanabacoa, etc. For more information please go to: www. cubaworkgroup.org ************************************** ************************************** EL SALVADOR PARTNERSHIP 
THE PEOPLE OF EL SALVADOR
AND THE PEOPLE OF LONG ISLAND
ARE YOKED IN COMMUNION. 
Communion in San Salvador
The Rev. Kathryn (Kazy) Hinds
The Rev. John F. Underwood
Communion is fellowship and sharing...
SHARING OF DOCTORS & MEDICINES 
SHARING OF LOVE 
SHARING OF FELLOWSHIP COMMUNION REQUIRES FELLOWSHIP 
Kelly Marsh (Deer Park) 
Lois Delong acting out the Bible story Daniel and the Lion - April 2008 
Anthony Sinacore (Deer Park) painting a mural on the community center in El Escobal, El Salvador with youth from the community.  DEBBIE ROSENBERG (SMITHTOWN) WITH THE CHILDREN  These people are waiting to see the doctor...many for the very first time. Your mission dollars help provide the doctors and medications that they receive. Mission trips take place each year. Five doctors (three of them from U.S.)worked with the team for one week and a total of 1800 people were treated for various illnessess ranging from respiratory infections, parasites, penumonia, broken bones, etc. Dr. Christina, an El Salvadoran doctor, (see below) has worked with the team for the last few years. 
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL JOHN HILE, MISSION COORDINATOR, AT 631-495-4055
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