Crystal Funk
Founder/President of Hearts United with Haiti
Born Sept. 15, 1961 in Pennsylvania, USA, Crystal has been married for 29 years to her husband Ron and has three daughters ranging in age from 24 to 19. The Funk family lives in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania where Ron owns his own landscaping business and Crystal worked in a Middle School as a Title One Tutor for 8th graders in Reading and Mathematics (though her degree is in Physical Therapy). Crystal worked in education for over 12 years. Perhaps that is why the prospect of bringing education to a group of students who would otherwise not receive it was so exciting to her. (and the health care background helps with her interest in medical care for Haitians) She has seen first-hand the impact lack of education has on youth- working mainly with "at risk" teenagers to help them stay in school and not drop out as a result of their difficulty in learning.
Crystal has been involved in mission work for many years- both as a participant, as support staff on trips, and as a leader. She has done extensive work stateside following Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast and lived in Haiti for the summer of 2010- working with an amazing missions organization and helping them serve short term mission teams in the Carrefour area. This is how she met the Arris family- the first week of June 2010.
In addition to mission work, Crystal and Ron were lay senior high youth leaders at Living Rock Bible Church in Elverson, PA for many years and she also taught Sunday School at her former church for years before that- grades 5/6. She has been involved in starting a Bible Quizzing team at her current church and coaching/coordinating that ministry for the past 3 years. Other interests include photography and travel/meeting new people. Crystal has a heart and love for people and is often encouraging them (particularly teens/young adults) to reach beyond themselves to serve others.
After traveling to Haiti many times and talking to many people in the US about her work in Haiti, she started to hear of other communities just like Chaveneau and other pastors who are struggling and in need of assistance from abroad. So, the idea of Hearts United with Haiti was "born". The goal of this organization is to connect people- individuals and churches in other countries with those in Haiti and to provide a way that they can support one another- whether that support be prayer, physical (labor to do the work), financial (raising funds for various projects) or emotional (just to provide a "listening ear") in nature. Currently Hearts United with Haiti is working to serve different areas- such as the orphanage in Port au Prince, some places in the countryside, and the community of Carrefour.
Crystal is VERY excited and feels blessed to be part of these projects and would love to talk to you about how YOU can be part of it as well!! ("the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few"- Matthew 9:37- let's change that together!! We need MANY "workers" to assist in these projects- there is something for everyone to do!)
(Funk family in Mexico - summer 2009)
Founder/President of Hearts United with Haiti
Born Sept. 15, 1961 in Pennsylvania, USA, Crystal has been married for 29 years to her husband Ron and has three daughters ranging in age from 24 to 19. The Funk family lives in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania where Ron owns his own landscaping business and Crystal worked in a Middle School as a Title One Tutor for 8th graders in Reading and Mathematics (though her degree is in Physical Therapy). Crystal worked in education for over 12 years. Perhaps that is why the prospect of bringing education to a group of students who would otherwise not receive it was so exciting to her. (and the health care background helps with her interest in medical care for Haitians) She has seen first-hand the impact lack of education has on youth- working mainly with "at risk" teenagers to help them stay in school and not drop out as a result of their difficulty in learning.
Crystal has been involved in mission work for many years- both as a participant, as support staff on trips, and as a leader. She has done extensive work stateside following Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast and lived in Haiti for the summer of 2010- working with an amazing missions organization and helping them serve short term mission teams in the Carrefour area. This is how she met the Arris family- the first week of June 2010.
In addition to mission work, Crystal and Ron were lay senior high youth leaders at Living Rock Bible Church in Elverson, PA for many years and she also taught Sunday School at her former church for years before that- grades 5/6. She has been involved in starting a Bible Quizzing team at her current church and coaching/coordinating that ministry for the past 3 years. Other interests include photography and travel/meeting new people. Crystal has a heart and love for people and is often encouraging them (particularly teens/young adults) to reach beyond themselves to serve others.
After traveling to Haiti many times and talking to many people in the US about her work in Haiti, she started to hear of other communities just like Chaveneau and other pastors who are struggling and in need of assistance from abroad. So, the idea of Hearts United with Haiti was "born". The goal of this organization is to connect people- individuals and churches in other countries with those in Haiti and to provide a way that they can support one another- whether that support be prayer, physical (labor to do the work), financial (raising funds for various projects) or emotional (just to provide a "listening ear") in nature. Currently Hearts United with Haiti is working to serve different areas- such as the orphanage in Port au Prince, some places in the countryside, and the community of Carrefour.
Crystal is VERY excited and feels blessed to be part of these projects and would love to talk to you about how YOU can be part of it as well!! ("the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few"- Matthew 9:37- let's change that together!! We need MANY "workers" to assist in these projects- there is something for everyone to do!)