Haiti is a Caribbean country, sharing the island of Hispanola with its neighbor, the Dominican Republic. (Click here for a map.) The capitol of Haiti is Port-au-Prince, the city in which we will be arriving. Once we have landed in Haiti we will travel approximately two and half hours north of Port-au-Prince until we reach the coastal village of Montrouis. Montrouis is a relatively small city. It feels very much like a small town, though within its district live almost 30,000 people.
Montrouis is a very safe place. People in Montrouis are for the most part very friendly and welcoming. In the vicinity of Montrouis, American members of Mission MANNA are very well known. Please be aware that the people with whom we'll be living and working are our friends and for some us, like our family as well. Be respectful of maintaining caring relationships between Mission MANNA and the community of Montrouis. Treat the people of Montrouis with the same dignity and respect with which you would treat anyone with whom you are living or working in the US.
We will stay on the grounds of the former Episcopal Seminary of Haiti, in Montrouis. On the seminary grounds are several bunkrooms, a partially completed conference center, a medical clinic, the priest's home and, a dining room. The compound is located directly on the Caribbean. We will stay in bunkrooms. The men and women will both have two bunkrooms. In each room there are about four bunk beds each, as well as one bathroom with a toilet, sink and shower. There is running water in the bathrooms, although it is not safe to drink. There is no hot water. Don't worry though, chances are you'll find it refreshing after a hot day in Haiti.
During our stay, we will eat most of our meals on the compound. Our food will be prepared by Haitian cooks who are friends of Mission MANNA. Be ready to try new dishes and to be grateful for the food that you receive. For the most part, Americans seem to really enjoy Haitian cuisine. It is different, but very tasty as well. If you are a vegetarian, the cooks will work with you as best as they can. Sometimes, however, you may find yourself picking the meat out of prepared meals.
In many ways, we can consider our hosts to be everyone in Montrouis, and hopefully you will make many new friends during your stay in Montrouis. Our actual host and mission coordinator is Jean Robert Dorsainvil, the Executive Director of Mission MANNA. Jean Robert speaks very good English and has been working with health care coordination and administration in Haiti for over 20 years. He is very well practiced in coordinating health care events and programs in and around the Montrouis area. For this reason and many others, Jean Robert is very well known, liked, and respected in his community.
Jean Robert has lived in Montrouis his whole life and continues to do so today. He has two children, Mario, who is 16, and Karline who is 20. Jean Robert's wife, Rhode, will help cook for us during our stay in Montrouis. Rhode speaks no English but has a delightful smile and laugh. I can assure you that you will thoroughly enjoy her sense of humor.
Luxo Vital is another young man with whom you will be working. He is Jean Robert's nephew, also from Montrouis, and is studying business administration at a university in Port-au-Prince. Luxo's English is fairly good and improving all the time. Though he may come across as a little shy at first, be assured that he is not. Joke with him as often and as much as you'd like. You should have fun with him too.
We will have no phone to use as a group in Haiti, but we can be contacted or found at any point during our stay You will be able to call home at least once while in Haiti, either by billing the call to a credit card or by calling collect. US calling cards will not work in Haiti. We will also make at least one visit to a former Club Med resort, up the beach from the seminary, and there is a somewhat reliable phone there. Be aware though, phone contact with relatives in the States will be very limited.
The official language in Haiti is French, however the colloquial and most widely spoken language in Haiti is Haitian Kreyol. This type of Kreyol is indigenous to Haiti and pulls aspects of Spanish, English, French, Caribbean, and African dialects all into one language. Haitian Kreyol has only been a written language for about 17 years, and has yet to be standardized. It is not used in most schools, but always used in casual conversation in a village or at home. Business conversations generally require French, although it is mainly spoken by the wealthy and well-educated classes in Haiti.
In Montrouis, there will be many artists and vendors wanting to sell you items ranging from pictures and shells to necklaces and friendship bracelets. You are welcome to buy anything you would like, but make sure to bargain. You wouldn't buy a friendship bracelet in the US for $10.00, so don't do it in Haiti either. We would like to encourage you to buy most of your souvenirs in Montrouis. You can get most things cheaper there and will be helping the locals out at the same time.
On the day of your departure, there may be time to visit an iron market or the Episcopal Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, both in Port-au-Prince. In the event that time allows, you may want to buy some souvenirs at these places as well.
Following is a typical itinerary for a Mission Manna medical relief journey.
Our goals for a mission trip such as this are generally to continue our efforts at improving public health in Montrouis by operating medical clinics in town and in the surrounding areas. In addition to medical expertise, we need assistance with patient registration, triage, pharmacy, de-worming, and dispensing vitamins. We expect to see children with malnutrition, parasite infections, skin infections, pneumonia, eye and ear infections, genetic disorders, fever and aches and pains. There will be a jobs for everyone. For the non-medical personnel these clinics are an exercise in assistance and compassion. There are children to be checked in and weighed, pharmaceuticals to be dispensed, and hands to be held. You will not be asked to undertake any responsibilities that you feel uncomfortable with, but your enthusiastic participation will be greatly appreciated.
Attendees are responsible for all their expenses on Mission Manna trips. You need to purchase your own plane ticket, pay for your room and board at the seminary in Montrouis, and have your own spending money. The plane tickets generally run between $400 and $500, room and board around $200, and you'll want some spending money, typically around $200. There may be times when you'll be asked to help buy fuel for vehicles and to assist with purchasing additional medical supplies. Please factor this in when you make your plans—better to have a little extra spending money.
Related to air travel, we all need to arrive at the same time, and ideally, depart at the same time. It's a long drive from Port au Prince to Montrouis and not one we want to be making several times, so please coordinate your flights with Mission Manna staff.
This is not an easy trip, this is not an inexpensive trip, and all too often, it is not a particularly joyous trip. But it is a rewarding experience, both for the people of Montrouis and the Mission Manna volunteers. And we'll manage to have some fun....
For further information please contact Todd Kaderabek at todd@larkbooks.com.
This is a general list. You should consider that you will be in a third world country for a week and add other items that you think you might need. It will be very hot, very humid, and very dirty. Plan ahead.