What will you be doing?

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1 Serving in Haiti - Things to Know Before You Go Updated by Marla Bearden, March 2013 As you prepare to come to Haiti, you may receive information and/or instructions from any of the following people: Ernie Rice, We Care Haiti/Texas Baptist Men, Haiti Specialist ernierice@yahoo.com, Cell , Haitian Cell Marla Bearden, Baptist General Convention of Texas, Disaster Recovery Specialist marla.bearden@texasbaptists.org, Cell Gerald Davis, Baptist General Convention of Texas, Disaster Recovery and Development Specialist, gerald.davis@texasbaptists.org Trip Cost: $1,500 per person, includes flight, transportation to and from airport and job sites, hotel (double occupancy), breakfast, dinner and bottled water. What will you be doing? Construction teams will Work on construction of Orphanage Cottages in Fon des Negres, Haiti Work on construction of School and Churches in Peiti Goave, Haiti Construction projects with the We Care Haiti Guest House in Bon Repos Work on projects that are associated with the mission at the time of your visit. Medical teams will Assist with mobile medical clinics to remote villages, health screening, and basic medical care for construction teams. These teams will be coordinated by Ernie Rice or an assigned person. Adult and Children s Bible Study Activities VBS and Children s Bible Study Activities are possible in Fon des Negres or Bon Repos. Adult Bible study is also available with translators 1

2 Please let us know if you are interested in any of these type of actives before you go. All teams will stay at the 13 bedroom, We Care Haiti Guest House in Bon Repos or small cabins in Fon des Negres, both are air-conditioned. Breakfast and dinner are included in the cost of the trip and there is an ample supply of bottled water. The teams typical work day: The work day starts at 7:30, but is flexible given island time. Understand that the daily/weekly work schedule shifts based on the work that was completed the previous week and on the skill sets of the team members. Flexibility is key! On Sunday you will worship at one of the local Baptist Churches. How do you volunteer? Team members: Each team member will need to register. Volunteer travel insurance is provided to you and your team once we have received your registration and $100 deposit. Click the Click here link to register. Click here! Be sure and download the BGCT Liability Waiver Form. These must be signed and ed, mailed or faxed to our office before the trip. Click here for information on the Volunteer Travel Insurance: Remaining funds: Pay the $1,300 in remaining funds online by clicking the link below. Put your amount Payment Options under Enter Amount. Click here! Or make checks payable to Baptist General Convention of Texas and send to: Finance and Accounting, We Care Haiti Trips, 333 N. Washington, Dallas, Texas Please click on the link below, complete the registration form and submit the information: 2

3 Click here! How big/small can my group be? The We Care Haiti Base Camp can accommodate only up to 30 members per team How much extra will this trip cost? We have worked very hard to keep the costs associated with this project low. Extra cost will include: 1. Vaccinations (Hepatitis A&B, Tetanus, and Typhoid) / Malaria tablets 2. Lunch - each team member should plan on bringing peanut butter, crackers, tuna in foil packs, Vienna sausage cans, fruit in plastic peal containers and additional snacks such as protein bars/snack food to eat for lunch. 3. If you want to buy things locally / in country please bring small notes $5/$1 for souvenirs and personal purchases. Special note from Ernie - Where we are staying and working credit cards can't be used. You should plan on taking cash in if you want to purchase something extra. No kidding. They will not take worn bills. The team should be aware that traveling to Haiti has its risks and should not be taken lightly. One of the biggest risks is with the meals. We will have breakfast at the hotel. Bring Vienna sausage, trail mix, tuna fish, etc for lunch and then have evening meal at hotel. Each team member should pack a supply of items for their own lunches. Be prepared for rustic conditions. Haitian food is in Creole tradition, basic not fancy. Food should be considered fuel not an eating experience. Hotels may not offer hot water so be prepare to take cold showers Do not drink the water. Don't even rinse your toothbrush with sink water use bottled water instead. Air conditioning is minimal so a small personal fan might be a comfort. Electricity here is same voltage and frequency as in USA. Check with doctor regarding the trip. He or the local health dept can recommend the necessary inoculations and precautions. Refrigeration is not generally available so insulin dependent diabetics are discouraged from making the trip. The weather here is like Texas summer all the time. Shorts are generally not a good idea to work in. Mosquitoes are an issue at night so you should pack repellent because our meals are on a veranda in open air. 3

4 Is there an age-limit? Youth who are years old must have a parent or legal guardian traveling with them to Haiti and sign consent for the student to travel. Young adults 18 and over do not need a parent s consent. Youth under the age of 14 may not travel to Haiti even with a parent. What to bring: Personal Items personal prescription meds (pack them in your carry-on bag and bring only enough to last a few days longer than you intend to stay) salt tablets (if advised by your doctor) a prescription of Cipro (in case you develop traveler s diarrhea ) a prescription of anti-malarial medication insect repellent (DEET 35% or less)... consider pre-treating your clothing with permethrin sunscreen (consider bringing a sunscreen with a higher SPF) sunglasses (also, if needed, regular glasses are easier to deal with than contacts) a hat, cap, and/or bandana a towel baby wipes for quick clean ups and hand sanitizer for constant hand cleaning single packs of dry Gatorade mix a personal water bottle - PLEASE bring a large volume bottle (Nalgene or aluminum) personal care items (e.g. feminine hygiene, toothpaste/toothbrush, shampoo, soap, deodorant, toilet paper, etc) passport (in a security pouch that you wear under your clothing) nutritious snacks (e.g. Power Bars, Cliff Bars, or other snacks with wrappers that you can peel) Work Clothes 4

5 e.g. jeans, work pants, polos or t-shirts.**closed toe shoes and long pants are mandatory on all work sites. Church Clothes e.g. long pants, polo or short sleeve collared shirts for men and a dress or skirt for women; Please do not wear shorts or t-shirts to the church service and shoulders should be covered. Some men may like to wear a tie at church. Leisure Clothes e.g. shorts, pants, decent shirts, sandals. Please wear tank tops only in the hotel and the beach. Most people wear shirts and shorts to bed. If you need to use the bathroom at night, then you could be in public while walking to them. tennis shoes or work boots, and crocs or flip flops a modest bathing suit Optional snacks that you might want to supplement with dinner or just to have while you are relaxing and hanging out at night flashlight and batteries (head lamp recommended) battery operated small personal fan (optional). There are some at the volunteer house; please bring many D size batteries. games for the evenings small travel Bible and a notebook (for journaling) [Try to keep your luggage to 1 bag plus a carry-on unless you are bringing extra items to leave in Haiti] You will bring amazing talent, education, and experience to this team, but what is most important is that you bring a servant s heart. Serve the people of Haiti by extending your hands in compassion, love, and hope and look for opportunities to learn from the Haitians. Dress Code: Any shorts worn in public must be no more than 3 inches above the knee. Avoid shirts that show cleavage or are too form fitting. Tank tops may be worn to the beach or around the volunteer house. Anyone wearing a two-piece swim suit must also wear a cover-up to and from the beach. Men should avoid overly short swimming trunks. MODESTY IS KEY! What Not to Bring: 5

6 Jewelry that can be easily lost or taken from you. Wedding ring and watches are OK Electronic equipment - (warning!) please understand that these items are uncommon and if left around will walk. Please do NOT bring more than 1 computer. Only bring cell phones if they work in the country and you are going to use it! If you bring I-Pods and cameras, it is at your own risk. If you do bring them don t forget the charger or extra batteries. Should you choose to bring these items, keep them with you at all times. NOTE: We are not responsible for lost/damaged/stolen electronics, including cameras, computers, music devices and phones. Bring these items at your own risk. Accommodations: Hotel lodging includes 2 meals and clean drinking water, same sex occupancy rooms or married couple, (2 per room) electricity 24 hours, showers and toilets. Dining is buffet style and usually consists of a typical Haitian meal. Food in Haiti is almost all spicy, with the exception of plain white rice and black bean sauce. Spaghetti is a breakfast food, hot chocolate is a soup, oatmeal is dinner fare and soups are more likely on the breakfast table then the dinner table. You can expect a large breakfast and a light meal for dinner. The chef cooks most food in peanut oil. Please notify your stateside representative of any food allergies people have on your team. Showers are mostly cold water only and we have flush toilets for sanitary purposes. Wifi is available in some places in Bon Repos but not in Fon des Negres. Please limit your time on the internet to brief s and Facebook post/blog updates. Part of the experience in Haiti, however, is to unplug from the world we are surrounded by at home. The site is secure and dry. Arrival Information: SPECIAL NOTE: Before leaving Fort Lauderdale or Miami Airports - after getting to the departure gate - fill up your water bottle. This will be for the ride to Peiti Goâve. There is no good place to purchase water. Also ration yourself at the airport, next toilet stop is Peiti Goâve, 3+ hrs ahead! Customs Forms: 6

7 On the plane you should be given two forms - a green immigration form and a white customs form. Each person must fill out the green immigration form whereas the white customs form is one per family. If you are not traveling with immediate family, then you must fill this out. Otherwise, the head of the family will fill one white form out for the entire family. If you have not yet received the green immigration form proceed through, without it! For the customs forms, your address is for the Hotel is We Care Haiti Guest House Onaville, Village Theodore #80 Bon Repos, HT 6312 Indicate your purpose of visit as either other or personal, but it is not Business. Declare any medical items(supplies) if you are bringing them in to leave. After you depart the plane you will follow hallway into the Immigration Desk. Immigration Desk: Please approach counters as an individual or a family unit. At the desk they will take your green form and stamp your passport. They should detach the bottom of the form and return that to you. Keep it in your passport for departure. Retrieving your luggage: (YOU SHOULD NOT NEED A CART but carts are available.) You will want to be careful and handle your own luggage. Disregard porters that will be insisting that you use their service. If your luggage is pulled off the carousel, look for it behind the rope barrier. Work within your group to grab and monitor your bags. Prior to leaving home place a 7

8 matching ribbon or bandana on your luggage to make your luggage recognizable to the group. Exiting the Airport: After retrieving your bags, you are ready to exit the building. The exit is opposite the luggage carousel. Give the white customs forms to one person along with the baggage claim tickets and let that person take the lead. As you exit give the white forms to the customs desk. Be aware that customs may try to charge or you may be bribed. No charges or cost should be incurred here. Don t panic if your luggage is searched as you exit the building. They search for weapons or quantities of medicine. Allow Ernie and his translator to do the talking and follow his instructions. As you exit, you will walk inside a chain-link fenced area. DO NOT LEAVE THIS PROTECTED AREA UNTIL YOU SEE OR TALK WITH A TBM, BGCT or WE CARE REPRESENTATIVE. Important: As you exit the building you will be met with even more porters that want to help you again be strong one of the best defense is to tell them I will not pay you, which makes them leave you alone! Do not let anyone help you with your bags. you. Turn cell phone on AS SOON as you land. Our ground team may try to reach If some of your bags don t show up: American Airlines has a lost baggage kiosk on the back wall between the luggage carousel and the customs area. Present your baggage claim sticker and your passport, and they will give you some paperwork. Give paperwork to Ernie or greeter to they can pick up your bag when it comes in. Update on Gifts-in-Kind Because of customs regulations and our desire to focus on asset-based ministry, we do not accept gifts-in-kind. This includes water filters, medical supplies, clothing, bibles, etc. The only circumstance under which to bring such extra items is if the BGCT, TBM 8

9 or WE Care Haiti mission team requested them. Otherwise, please bring only the materials that your team needs for the week. We cannot be responsible for items confiscated by customs. Other Important Information: We are all generous, well-meaning people who want to give from our resources to those who have less than we do. Done correctly, this is helpful. Done badly, it creates dependency, teaches others to be beggars, and causes jealousy between those who get something and those who don t. Before giving any monetary or other gifts, check with Ernie Rice, the host missionary. They will be able to distribute them to the neediest, allow the pastor or the missionary to be the one to give any gifts. Distribution usually occurs during a special occasion, after the team has gone home. Do not bring any visitors into your living space and do not wander away from your team alone for any reason. If two or more of your team want to leave the team for a short excursion, always keep your team leader informed as to your whereabouts. Please always have an approved Haitian guide with you. Medical Screening for Volunteers in Haiti Work environments in the Republic of Haiti can exert extreme physical and mental demands upon the part of those seeking volunteer service as the presence of Christ in Haiti. Combining these demands with a level of medical infrastructure below the level of the volunteer s home country can result in the occurrence of untreated or inadequately treated medical emergencies in Haiti requiring emergency medical evacuation. Lack of easy access to optimum emergency medical care, compounded and/or precipitated by harsh and demanding working and living conditions, require that individuals with certain medical conditions should not come to Haiti to work in such challenging environments. Proactive policy decisions in this regard require the implementation of medical screening of medical conditions that would place potential volunteers at high risk for medical emergencies in Haiti. To this end, below is a list of such medical conditions that potentially increase this risk. This list is not exhaustive and is proposed as a guide for the potential volunteer and his/her health care provider. All potential volunteers coming to Haiti must receive medical clearance from a licensed physician or mid-level health care provider who understands the realities, health risks and level of health care available under which foreign volunteers will work in Haiti. 9

10 1 Uncontrolled or poorly controlled hypertension 2 Uncontrolled or poorly controlled angina/coronary artery disease 3 Heart attack/myocardial infarction or ischemia less than 6 months prior to arrival in Haiti 4 Congestive heart failure requiring Furosemide or other strong diuretics 5 Any condition requiring daily anticoagulation with warfarin/coumadin 6 Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus 7 Moderate to severe asthma and poorly controlled mild asthma 8 History of hospital admission for any condition less than two months prior to arrival in Haiti 9 Anemia (Hemoglobin <12 mg% or Hematocrit <35%) 10 Immune deficiencies requiring medications 11 Unstable or poorly controlled gastrointestinal disorders 12 Inadequately treated psychiatric disorders (i.e. depression, anxiety, PTSD, mania, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder) 13 Major psychiatric disorders (i.e. schizophrenia) 14 Inadequately treated seizure disorder (> 1 seizure/year) 15 Severe obesity (BMI > 40) 16 Lack of adequate immunizations: a Tetanus Booster vaccine (last given > 10 years ago) b Hepatitis A vaccine (series started < 2 weeks before trip) c Hepatitis B vaccine (series started < 6 months before trip) d Typhoid vaccine (last given orally > 5 years ago, or intramuscularly > 2 years ago) Stephen W. James MD The local team in Haiti anticipates your visit with joy. We want you to have a good experience and to remain safe and healthy. Lots of planning and preparation are required by you and the folks in Haiti who will receive you. As we work together, God can accomplish wonderful things through us. Please watch these video as a part of your preparation for your experience in Haiti. Texas Baptist Disaster Recovery Video 10

11 Cultural Training Kreyol Dining Kreyol