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| Missions |
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| Cap Haitien, Haiti |
| November 13 - 21, 2006 |
Status: Completed
Application Deadline: Completed
Mission Leader(s): Leah Foster
(770-591-3614)
Cost (US$):
Price Included: food, housing, ministry opportunities,
and all transportation to Haiti and back to Atlanta.
Age Group: 18 and Up
Program: Nehemiah Project
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Pictures/Summaries of Last Trip
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| Ministry Detail |
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Project Overview:
Located on the northern coast of Haiti, just east of the island of Cuba, this ravaged nation is just now beginning to come out of years of rule by one tyrant after another. It is truly a third world nation where decent roads, reliable government services and so much we take for granted in America are only wishful thinking. Medical care is rare and medicine even harder to find. On this trip you will have the opportunity to see the courage of Haitian believers who press on despite overwhelming odds. We will host free medical clinics and provide prescriptions for many who have no other place to go. We will join them in revival and watch souls being harvested in a land where the fields are so ready despite the stronghold of voodoo in this nation. You will leave Haiti with a love for the people of Haiti who are passionate about their faith and their God and a determination to return again and again until the work is done.
Ministry Description:
Our sister church, The Baptist Church of Salt & Light, led by Pastor Jean Claude (Codo) Cimeus and his wife, Bunie, is presently meeting on the 2nd floor of an L-shaped strip mall outside Cap Hatien: no windows or doors and only one noisy generator to provide power for microphones and a keyboard. They are in the process of purchasing land to build a sanctuary, school and medical clinic on the road leading to “Plain du Nord”, the center of voodoo worship in this area of Haiti. The Nehemiah Project will be sending a team down November 13-21, 2006 to begin construction of a cinderblock wall and gate around the property.
Not everyone is able to help build but there is much more to do while we are there. We will be bringing donated medicine with us and hosting free medical clinics. Pastor Codo’s brother-in-law is a doctor but we can always use more medical personnel. We will also be assisting as Pastor Codo’s congregation holds revival nightly, reaches out to the community, and feeds those in need. If you have a spiritual gift, we can use it in Haiti. The smiles and hugs you’ll receive as you minister in the name of Jesus will stay with you for a lifetime.
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| Trip Requirements |
| Pending |
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| Food and Lodging |
| The team will be housed at La Creole Hotel. The rooms are clean with fresh sheets and towels each day. Cold water and air conditioning are available when needed. Breakfast at the hotel is included and meals and water during the day will be provided for all team members. Bottled water is readily available; beans, rice and plantains are the main staples in Haiti. |
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| Dress Code and What to Bring |
| Modesty is the key. No tank tops, cut-off sleeves, or halter tops. It is warm and humid most of the year so light clothing is suggested though a sturdy pair of shoes and gloves will come in handy for those helping build the wall. Mosquitoes and the sun can be an irritation so bring plenty of repellant, sunblock, a hat, and some hand sanitizer. |
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| Travel Information |
Airport and Transportation:
We will be driving down to Fort Pierce, Florida from Atlanta Monday, November 13th and boarding
Missionary Flights International Tuesday, November 14th for Haiti. We will return November 21st,
flying from Haiti and driving back to Atlanta all in one day.
Visa and Passport Passport:
You must have a valid passport to enter Haiti.
Shots and Vaccinations:
Check with your local county health facility to see what you may need. You will definitely need
malaria pills for the week before, during, and 4 weeks after you return from Haiti; other shots are
also recommended.
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| Location Information |
Location Description:
Haiti is located in the Caribbean, the western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the
Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic. The climate is
tropical but the terrain is mostly rough and mountainous away from the coastal areas.
Weather:
Daytime temperatures in the Cap Hatien area during November range from 76-85’F.
and 60-70’F at night.
Area Attractions:
Labadee, an area located in northern Haiti that is famous for its striking natural beauty and great
beaches; The Citadelle, high above Haiti’s once-fertile northern plains, like a stone ship jutting
through the clouds, one of the engineering marvels of the New World, the largest fortress in the
Western Hemisphere.
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| People, Culture and Religion |
People: Most people in Haiti speak Creole or French though they are delighted when you attempt to speak their language. We will have English interpreters with us and many in Haiti have family members in Miami so they are anxious to learn English.
Religion: 80% of the population is Roman Catholic; another 16% are Protestant. Roughly half of the population practice Voodoo, often in conjunction with their profession of faith in Christ.
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| Government and Economy |
The native Taino Amerindians - who inhabited the island of Hispaniola when it was discovered by Columbus in 1492 - were virtually annihilated by Spanish settlers within 25 years. In the early 17th century, the French established a presence on Hispaniola, and in 1697, Spain ceded to the French the western third of the island, which later became Haiti. The French colony, based on forestry and sugar-related industries, became one of the wealthiest in the Caribbean, but only through the heavy importation of African slaves and considerable environmental degradation. In the late 18th century, Haiti's nearly half million slaves revolted under Toussaint L'Ouverture. After a prolonged struggle, Haiti became the first black republic to declare its independence in 1804. The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has been plagued by political violence for most of its history. After an armed rebellion led to the departure of President Jean-Betrand Aristide in February 2004, an interim government took office to organize new elections under the auspices of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (Minustah). The election of a new president in 2006 has given the nation new hope.
In this poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, 80% of the population lives in abject poverty. Two-thirds of all Haitians depend on the agriculture sector, mainly small-scale subsistence farming, and remain vulnerable to damage from frequent natural disasters, exacerbated by the country's widespread deforestation. The economy grew 1.5% in 2005, the highest growth rate since 1999. Haiti suffers from rampant inflation, a lack of investment, and a severe trade deficit. In early 2005, Haiti paid its arrears to the World Bank, paving the way for reengagement with the Bank. The government is reliant on formal international economic assistance for fiscal sustainability. Remittances are the primary source of foreign exchange, equaling nearly a quarter of GDP in 2005.
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| Statistics |
Population: 8 million
Literacy Rate: 53% |
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