Rick and Cookie were approved in October 2009 to serve in Haiti. Rick is committed to leadership development and pastoral training. Cookie is a certified nurse-midwife and is looking forward to working with women and children, as well as serving through hospitality ministries and work team coordination. The Irelands originally anticipated several months of partnership building before a projected fall departure. Following Haiti’s devastating earthquake, Rick departed in January for Port-au-Prince to assist the Haitian FMC in relief and recovery efforts.