Meet the Board: Melissa Hoffmann

Hands down, December is my favorite month! The weather is cooler, Christmas decorations are in full swing, and we get to take a little time off for the holidays. Many of us who have a December Birthday feel this! We wait all year long to celebrate – might as well do it for the entire month!!

Fun Fact: Did you know that I share my birthday with my mom, Lynn? We have a tradition that I LOVE! On December 21st, my sister and I always gather our kids, decorate gingerbread houses, and then roll into a birthday dinner celebration. Always fun with my family!

The birthday girls, Lynn & Melissa!
Back Row: My sister Vicky, son Camden, and me with
Front Row: my nieces Bailey, Mackenzie, Darcy, daughter Mavis, and niece Gracie
with our gingerbread masterpieces!

This past April – after almost 7 years – Hal and I got married and our family grew! We have 4 kids between us and even welcomed a grandbaby this year!

L-R: Hal’s kids: Erin & Charlie, Hal, Melissa, my kids: Camden & Mavis

Hal and I first traveled to Haiti in 2018 as part of a mission trip with SouthPark Church. We went on behalf of our church, partnering with Ballantyne Rotary Club and Water Mission to bring clean water to more communities in Bayonnais. Little did we know how impactful that trip would really become! We visited all 3 campuses and truly fell in love with the people of Bayonnais!

Check out this video from our trip: https://www.southparkchurch.com/outreach/haiti

Hal & Melissa in Nicholas

I really, really like the mangoes in Haiti!

Who wouldn’t enjoy a mango almost as big as your head???

We went again in 2019 to continue our partnership to bring clean water, but we brought more of our family! We brought our daughters, Mavis and Erin, as well as my father, George!! It was amazing to be back in Bayonnais and to be able to share this beautiful community with members of our family!!

Erin, Mavis, Melissa, George, & Hal

Hal and I both decided that this was more than a yearly mission trip – we realized that we were called to serve with our friends in Bayonnais. I joined the board at Ewo (then World of God) and Hal joined the board at Friends Empowering Haiti (then Friends of OFCB).

Melissa, Actionnel, & Hal
Yolande & Melissa

I’m beyond thankful to work everyday on behalf of my friends in Haiti. This is so much more than a job to me! It is an honor to work alongside Actionnel & Yolande, to be a part of what they helped build. Our board ROCKS – Dow, David N., David B., Missy, Jen, Sherri, Jodi, and Stephanie. I love working with Joan, Olguens, Presly, Yvolene, and Jodeler. I also love working with all of our AMAZING sponsors and donors – without all of you, none of this would be possible!!

We are all excited!!

I am excited about the future of Ewo!

Melissa Hoffmann
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