2005

A group from Lakewood went to the central plateau region of Haiti from March 4-11, 2005. The group worked with missionaries Sam and Delores York in the rural areas of the central plateau in Haiti, near Hinche. The Yorks have established four self-sustaining churches, built 20 wells and 3 dams, finished two water cap projects, and provided bible study, Christian education, leadership training, education, and medical assistance to thousands of Haitians. The Yorks are sponsored by the Southern Baptist International Missions Board and have been in Haiti for six years.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, and the area where the Yorks work is one of the poorest in the whole country. The majority of Haitians are unemployed, and those who do work earn less than 55 cents a day. There is no middle class and almost all Haitians live under the poverty line. Haiti has little natural resources, so most goods are imported and cost as much as they do in the U.S. The average education level is between 2nd and 3rd grade. Health care is virtually non-existent and mortality rate is high. Diseases easily treatable in the U.S. result in a death sentence for Haitians. Among the worst killers are Tuberculosis, AIDS, Malaria, and Typhoid. Malnutrition is also a serious problem due to the lack of varied diet and education. Infrastructure is not developed, with most roads being washed out and pot-holed. Telephone service and electricity are rare and unreliable. Recent political uprisings have split the country in two and resulted in daily violence and fear. In the past year, parts of the country have been devastated by flooding and mud slides due to deforestation and hurricanes. Because circumstances are so severe, it is often difficult for Haitians to find ways to improve their life because they have to spend much of their time worrying about the basic neccesities to live. Despite all of this, most Haitians do the best they can under the circumstances. They have similar ambitions as most Americans. They want to work and provide for their families, and to be healthy and well.

The work the Lakewood group did included medical clinics, laying pipe to bring a spring down a mountain, bible storying, evangelism, English classes, church worship (including helping with baptism and Lord's supper), as well as several projects to help the Yorks: electrical rewiring, electric fence, window repair, and welding a new luggage rack.

Attending were: Kim Carter, Kate Deryle, Carl Harrison, Kristen Latham, Brian Long, Johnny Long, Michael Long, Danny Spears, Julie Spears, Chuck Wancheck, Joy Woodward, and Madeline Woodward; and also Craig Davis and Terry Frazier from Calvary Baptist Church in Glasgow, KY.

Pictures are available at: Rural Haiti Team Pictures

For more information about Sam and Delores York, please visit http://www.ruralhaititeam.org

2003

From December 29, 2003 to January 9, 2004 a group of us went to do missionary work in Haiti.

Our group consisted of Kim Carter, Brian Long, Michael Long, Ed & Joy Woodward, and Madeline Woodward.

We went to help Samuel & Delores York who are southern baptist missionaries living near the city of Hinche. We had three native translators who were Fucien Alius, Jackie Belizaire, and Dieuseul Saint-Ange. We were joined by a number of peace corps who were Ashley Austermann, Ivy-Dacia Green, Jessica Heckert, David Holland, Matt Koerner, Gyna Ridenoure, and Dale Rodgers. We were also joined by Kaleb Baker whose parents are missionaries in Haiti.

-See Pictures of Our Journey
-Kim Carter's Journal
-Michael Long's Journal
-Brian Long's Emails

-Website of Gyna Ridenoure (Peace Corps)
-International Mission Board (Southern Baptist Convention)
-Jessica in Haiti (Peace Corps)
-Peace Corps Departing Haiti (2/20/04)