Haiti is a Caribbean country occupying the western one/third of the island of Hispaniola, sharing the island with the Dominican Republic. It is about the size of the state of Maryland, 50 miles from Cuba, and 600 miles from Miami, Florida. Haiti, the first independent black republic, has historically been poverty stricken due to a variety of factors such as war and war debt, occupations and dictatorships, isolation and racism. These factors are still impacting Haiti today along with current economic and environmental factors such as international aid sanctions, internal political conflict, deforestation that leads to soil erosion and flooding, hurricanes, etc.

 

The average Haitian earns less than $3 a day, and survives on a mere $1 per day. There have been estimates that 1 percent of the country’s estimated 8.1 million people control nearly half its wealth. More than half of the population lacks access to clean water or sanitation. Fifty percent of the population is undernourished, with one in five children underweight or under-height for their age. Twelve percent of Haitian children die before their first birthday, and one third do not make it to their fifth.

 

According to a 2004 U.N. report, Haiti ranks with Afghanistan and Somalia as one of three countries of the world with the worst daily caloric deficit per person with 2.4 million Haitians unable to afford the minimum 2,240 daily calories recommended by the World Health Organization. In addition, only one in every 10,000 Haitians has access to a physician. Spiritually, many Haitians continue to practice Voodoo or incorporate Voodoo into Christianity as has been done for several hundred years.

 

Add to this the devastation of the recent earthquake on January 12, 2010, and you truly have a people in need or ministry and help. The earthquake left 3 million people in need of emergency aid. Currently millions are living in massive tent cities. 60% of the structures in Haiti were destroyed or deemed unsafe.

 

Haiti is in desperate need of economic improvement. The lack of market activity has led to tremendous unemployment, food scarcity and poor education.

 

   *  Haiti is ranked 149th out of 177 on the 2009 United Nations Human Development Index.
   *  Port-au-Prince is ranked 213th out of 221 on the 2010 Mercer world cities livability index.
   *  The World Food Program reports that food supply covers only 55% of the population.
   *  Haiti ranks among the worst three countries in the world in daily caloric intake per person.
   *  42% of children less than five years of age suffer from stunting of growth.
   *  Literacy rates in Haiti for the general population were 45% in 2010.

   *  Unemployment is now 90% in Haiti and 80% of Haiti’s people live in abject poverty.

   *  There are over 400,000 children without parents in Haiti.

   *  There are still over 17,000 children in Mission of Hope’s surrounding area that will never go to school, due jointly to lack of money and lack of schools.

   *  1 out of 5 children will die before the age of five.

 

A trip to Haiti is truly a life changing experience full of beauty and sorrow. It will give you a better appreciation for the strength of these amazing people and the wondrous goodness of God through His people. Will you be a part of rebuilding the lives and homes of those in Haiti

What will we do once we are there?
Your week will be comprised of work projects and evangelism outreach. Or, if you have medically licensed professionals, their week can be scheduled for a medical outreach focus. Your week will be planned by our Mission Trip coordinators in Haiti. You will receive your daily itinerary upon arrival to the mission.

 

GIVING – For information on how to give towards the Livingway Haiti Mission Trip
Send tax-deductible donations to:
Livingway Church
PO Box 452711

Garland, TX 75045

TRIP INFORMATION
Some details may change as new information becomes available

 

TRIP DATES: July 30 – Aug 6, 2014

 

MINISTRY PARTNER: Mission of Hope Haiti (MOHH) http://www.mohhaiti.org/

 

COST: $1100 – $1200 (Depending on Airfare)
   *  $450-$650 round trip to Port a Prince
   *  $575
                *  Includes all in-country transportation, food, housing, ministry costs (see below)
                *  If applicable, any leisure activities will not be included in the cost. Team members are responsible for providing their own funds for shopping or non-ministry activities.

 

Fundraising activities will be provided for you to help raise the cost of the trip.
Trip Cost includes:
  * All transportation costs in Haiti/Dominican Republic: gas, driver, ect.
  * Housing, meals
  * Bottled water in the mission field
  * Coordination of trip activities and Relief Projects (distribution of food, clothing, etc.)

 

CURRENT DUE DATES and DEADLINES:

 

– Feb 14 – Application Forms, Liability Release Form, and $50 deposit.
– Passports are required. If you do not have one, begin now and apply for one ASAP.
– Flight tickets will be purchased separate from the trip cost but together. We will keep you updated on the price of the tickets and when we need to purchase them.
– July 13 – all money is due

 

TRIP PREP MEETINGS:

 

There will be 6 Mandatory meetings for all team members (one each month). These times are important for team building and mission trip training. All meetings will last approximately 2 hours. The meeting dates are below:
  * February – Details and fundraising meeting
  * March
  * April
  * May
  * June
  * July

 

 

Things to keep in mind for this mission trip:

 

* This trip is not for the faint of heart, you will more than likely come face to face with harsh conditions.
* We will walk you through the fundraising process.
* We will walk you through the required and suggested immunizations.
* You must have a valid passport.
* MOHH is a safe and reliable organization.
* We will be meeting once a month – and it is required.