A DAY IN HAITI

Hope to Haiti’s new orphanage “Hope House” for children of the January 12, 2010 earthquake.

Kay Espwa “Hope House” Children’s Home

Visit www.hopetohaiti.com to sponsor one of these beautiful children.

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One More Trip To Haiti Completed.

CLICK HERE To see my Photo Journal from my trip to Haiti in May 2010.

This visit was somewhat different than my other visits.  I was with the group, Hope to Haiti, Directed by Scott Bonnell.  This was my 1st trip after the horrific earthquake in January. Seeing all the destruction in Port-Au-Prince was surreal.   However, with outside help and financial support, hopefully Haiti can once again become the “Pearl of the Caribbean” as it once used to be.

Photo taken June 2009 – My 3rd Visit to Haiti, pre earthquake

Photo taken May 2010 – My 4th Visit to Haiti, after earthquake

BRIEF FACTS ABOUT HAITI:

• Haiti is the oldest black republic in the world.
• Population: approximately 8.3 million, almost entirely of African origin
• Employment rate: 30%
• Illiteracy rate: 48%
• Religion: Catholic 85%, Voodoo 90%
• Languages: French (official), Creole or Kreyol (most widely spoken)
• Current government: Elected president
• Haiti is the poorest and most densely populated country in the Western Hemisphere.
• Average life expectancy is only 52 years

On December 6, 1492 Christopher Columbus first laid eyes on the pristine shores of the island of Hispanola. Lush with fruits and towering mahogany trees, Haiti became known as “La Perle des Antilles” or “the Pearl of the Caribbean”. What was once France’s richest colony today has become one of the world’s poorest nations, hindered by dictatorships, depleted natural resources, major natural disasters and overwhelming spiritual darkness.

To see my Photo Journal from my trip to Haiti in May 2010,

CLICK HERE.

Yes, there is Hope for Haiti

Click on link for the Google Map

http://www.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=113872538410978519368.0004857967221e79eadad&t=h&z=9

ShelterBox formed a partnership with Sean Penn’s camp, although I am not sure how many boxes/tents were received there.   Most likely many of the people that Frank McKinney saw in the streets of Port Au Prince just after the quake ended up at this camp.

We did not see Sean Penn in Haiti, but we met all his people and walked through the big tent that the Doctors were staying in.   This refugee camp is very organized and is located on edge of Port Au Prince.

Click on Link for Article in Vanity Fair about Sean Penn and his work in Haiti.

http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2010/06/hunkered-down-in-haiti-with-sean-penn-humanitarian.html

Douglas Doebler Visits Haiti With Hope To Haiti Just 4 Months After The January 2010 Earthquake.

Locations visited are Port Au Prince, Bambou Laporte, Gonaives and Saint Marc’s Haiti.

Music from Road To Fondwa  http://www.Fondwa.org

Click Here to Visit  Caring House Project Foundation

I recently returned from Haiti.  One of the places I visited was a Beach Town that is two hours from the Capital of Port Au Prince, near Saint Marc. Check out my video of Montrouis.

This week, I am getting ready for my visit to Haiti with Scott Bonnell, Founder of Hope to Haiti.  I’ve got my Malaria pills and done my shopping.    I am almost packed – won’t need much but I’m bringing a 50 pound suitcase with me.   My Rotary club has sponsored $200 for a suitcase full of toys and my dentist friend donated 16 lbs of sample toothpastes and kids tooth brushes.

The new orphanage we are visiting opened on April 16, 2010.  When they opened, there were 14 boys and 6 girls.  I’ll be teaching the kids how to brush their teeth.  Something so simple (that we take for granted) will be a big thrill for them.   It will be a heartfelt blast watching the kids play with the toys that I bought.

This will be my 4th trip.  It will be my 1st trip since the devastating earthquake that struck on January 12, 2010.  I am anxious to see the progress and clean up that has been going on for the past 4 months.

Kay Espwa – Hope House Children’s Home in Gonaives, Haiti

In the next couple of weeks, I am heading back to Haiti with Scott Bonnell, Founder of Hope to Haiti.   We will be arriving in Port-au-Prince in the afternoon.  The next day we will attend a Church Service in a town called Montrious.

Montrouis is a coastal town in western Haiti.    It is located at around in the Ouest Department.   Montrouis is also one of the most important beach tourism destinations in Haiti, with several well renowned hotels and resorts, including le Moulin-sur-Mer.   The town is located on the Cotes des Arcadins, one of Haiti’s longest stretches of pure white sand beaches.  It is also an exceptional place for sailing and fishing.  I have never been to Montrouis – I love the beach so I am anxious to visit there.  We will be staying at a hotel in Montrouis.

From Monstrouis  we plan to travel to Cabaret and then head north to Bamboo Laporte.  We will be visiting the school and talking with the community there.  The next day, we plan to visit Gonaives to visit the new orphanage, the other schools and the water project.  We will be spending the night at the Caring House Village in Gonaives.  The next day, we will visit the main school campus at St Marc.

These are the children at the Confraternite School in St Marc Haiti.  Most High Ministries/Hope to Haiti has provided food for these school children since April 2008.  This was the first feeding program for Hope to Haiti.

We will finalize our visit back at Port-au-Prince and then head back to Miami.

This will be my 4th trip to Haiti & my 1st trip since the earthquake.  Needless to say, this trip will be a little different than my past trips to Haiti.  I am anxious to see the results and efforts of all the hard work that has gone into helping the people in Haiti since the earthquake.  The newest water project by Hope to Haiti should prove to be interesting also.