Rough Itinerary for our trip to Haiti

Mon July 6:

The team flies out of San Francisco International at 11:05 pm

Tues July 7:

Arrive at the Mompremieres in Haiti approximately 1-2PM (Eastern Time).

Wed July 8:

Here are some of the work projects we will be starting on: organize supplies brought in by team, cement floor/putting up roof for Zouell, cement floors for others, Painting–painting doors and windows in the community, Carry rocks for road repair, clearing ground for basketball court, building rock walls

Thurs July 9:

We’ll continue with the projects above in the morning. In the pm we’ll get a chance to participate in an English class and then take a prayer walk and deliver some food.

Fri July 10:

We will continue the projects above and some of us will . . . attend a 4am Bible Study (that’s right 4am! Got to get it in before the day’s work begins), a women’s Bible Study, and a meeting with the team that runs the local ministry in Haiti.

Sat July 11:

We will get up early and take a long hike to a cave that is used for the practice of Voodoo. Some of the team might elect to rest or continue working on various projects. This afternoon we will spend some time with a newly started youth group and this evening we will hear the testimony of a former witch doctor.

Sun. July 12:

We will prepare our own meals. We will attend Sunday school at 9, church at 10, and another church service at 2pm. The rest of the afternoon will be spent hanging with the local kids and resting.

Mon July 13:

This morning we will go to the local market and see some of the local towns. This afternoon there will another English class and a prayer walk where we will deliver some food. A men’s choir will come and sing for us

Tues July 14:

We will be doing a Vacation Bible Camp for little kids and possibly end the day with another prayer and food distribution walk.

Wed July 15:

We will be doing a Vacation Bible Camp for older kids and possibly end the day with another prayer and food distribution walk.

Thurs July 16:

Today we will be packing up and flying home.

Reflections on a Kindergarten Graduation

Facts about Haiti

• Haiti is about a two hour plane ride from Miami to Port-au-Prince, the capital
• Haiti is the most impoverished country in the Western Hemisphere, with 76 percent of its population below the poverty line, in Kentucky that would be over 3 million people (KY has about 4 million residents)
• Most Haitians live on less than $2 per day
• 95% of Haiti's 8.5 million people are descendents of African slaves
• An estimated 300,000 children are child laborers or Restavecs,* domestic slaves
• Child mortality:
o 1 out of 14 children die before their first birthday
o 1 out of 8 children die before they reach age of 5

• Life expectancy – 49 years , lower in Haiti than in Sudan
• Only 50% of primary-age children are in primary school
• Less than 2% of children finish secondary school
• 40% of the children do not get regular vaccinations for childhood diseases
• Its people have less access to clean water and sanitation than residents of Ethiopia or Sierra Leone
• Chronic malnutrition affects 42% of children under the age of five
• Haiti has the third-highest rate of hunger in the world, behind Somalia and Afghanistan
• Haiti has about 11,000 square miles with over 8.5 million people
• Port-au-Prince, the capital, has about 60% (5 million) of the total urban population
• A greater percentage of Haitians live in poverty than citizens of the war-ravaged Congo in Africa
• Haiti is a beautiful tropical land, with a rich history, full of amazing kids

Hurricane Season

Today marks the official beginning of the hurricane season. Haiti was devastated by hurricanes last year as you can see in this video by UNICEF. Please pray that this is a better year and that Haiti might receive some relief.