About Haiti

• Discovered by Columbus in 1492 and settled by the Spanish within the next 25 years
• French established a presence in the 17th century and took over official rule in 1697
• French imported African slaves who revolted in the late 18th century and took over rule
• Haiti has been plagued by political violence for most of its history.
• Poorest country in Western Hemisphere with average annual income of $310 U.S.
• Population of over 7.5 million
• Life Expectancy – male 50 and females 52
• Located in the Caribbean, the western 1/3 of the island of Hispaniola the other 2/3 is Dominican Republic

Haiti trip of 2005

Let me introduce our team...we are all from St. Paul's Congregational church with the exception of Mike Hart who is our leader from ACWAM - Active Christians With A Mission. 

Back Row: Wayne, Fred, J. P. Mike, Dave, Kathy

Front Row: Andrea, Kim, Cheryl, Joyce, Mary, Ruth

We bring with us a multitude of skills and are ready for what God has set before us. 

This is the first team to Haiti from St. Paul's so it will be an exciting time for everyone. ACWAM have been going to Haiti for several years and have a great relationship with a couple of orphanages located just outside of Port Au Prince.  We will be staying at HCRM - Haiti Children Rescue Mission.

Host Family

Our Host Family at HCRM is Dr. Joe and Cindy Kraft.  They have come to Haiti to adopt 4 children and have been at HCRM for just over 6 months.  The Haitian government usually only allows 2 children to be adopted and if you already have a family of your own they also take that into consideration.  Dr. Joe and Cindy do have 4 children of their own so the Haitian government is taking time to consider this application.  While we were there they were turned down because of their already large family...however, we heard several months later that all the adoptions were approved so they are heading back to Texas after a long year of prayer and countless meetings and paperwork.

Walking to School

Part of our daily routine was to walk the children to school.  The kids are divided into two groups, those that go in the morning are in classes for there own age and those that go in the afternoon have most likely never been to school so you will find 10 and 11 year olds in grade 1. 

The morning class ends around 1 p.m. and then the afternoon classes begin and finish around 5 p.m.  We would take the children up in the morning and then fetch them at noon.  Go back with the afternoon group and then return later to pick them up. They go to school 5 days a week.

Each of the kids wear a uniform of a white shirt and navy skirt / pants.  Most of the children did have a backpack.  I must admit i never really saw what was in it but they all carried them proudly to school. 

Back at the orphanage they had a tutor come in to teach the children English.  At the school they of course taught in Creole.