INDUSTRY – When a Haitian pastor asked Cindy Moore to pray for him and to ask God to send someone his way, she didn’t realize she would be that someone.

Just a year ago, Moore, a member of Farmington Baptist Church, attended a mission meeting with some who were planning to go to Haiti, and she was invited to go too, she said.

During the short-term mission project, she met Pastor Dorlean – she never did get his first name – who was working at the clinic where the mission group helped. When she left, he asked for her prayers and once she was home, she said, she felt led to go back.

Over the past year, she enlisted a team of three more and raised $4,000 to start building a church for Dorlean’s 300-member congregation. Most of the congregation has to stand outside the school building they now use for worship, she said.

Farmington Baptist members Mike Gerdin and Kathy Caton signed on to help as well as Joanne Karkos from a Farmington Falls church. Church and family members helped raise the money through a walk-athon, bottle drives, a supper and a large donation.

Prior to the week and a half spent there in March, Moore flew down to make arrange the supply line. When the team arrived, they worked with the Haitian pastor, deacons and elders from age 6 and up, she said. They laid cement blocks 11 layers high around most of the 50- by 80-foot church.

“The total cost to build the church will be $16,000,” she said. “You can’t even build a house here for that.”

While Moore said she helped in building her home and helped at church, this was new to her. The Haitians hired a mason, but the group carried blocks and water and loads of cement and sand. Most of it was carried in buckets because there were no wheelbarrows.

“Although,” she said, “the Haitians enjoy your help so much, they do it all for you. Sometimes, five people would end up lugging one block, but it shows the pride they felt.”

The area in Haiti was very poor, she said. While the deacons worked, their wives would make a meal, although they usually only eat a meal a day or every other day. With a population of 1 million people, to have a job or to get a job requires knowing someone or being friends with the employer, she said. Most Haitians only earn $250 a year.

The American group stayed with missionaries Pat and Clark Moore, who owned a vehicle to transport the group to the church. It was only a 12-mile trip but with really bad road conditions it took an hour to get there, she said.

Lodging was provided by the Moores, she said, but for those who go there it was $1,200 out of pocket for food and transportation. The personal cost won’t stop her though, she said. After the church, there’s a pastor’s house to finish and schools.

“There are just so many needs you don’t know where to start,” Moore said, “But just to be able to help and see the smiles on their faces is such a joy.”

One member, Caton, came back inspired to start a project that will sponsor children in Haiti.

A trip in January 2008 is already being planned, but she intends to take eight instead of four people. In the meantime, Moore has started thinking about how to raise another $10,000. Anyone who would like to make a donation may mail it to her at 250 Rand Road, Industry, ME 04938.