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> TRIP DESCRIPTION
Haiti has gasoline stations, grocery stores, city water, community electricity, hardware stores, universities, pastry shops, book stores, movie theaters, etc. -- but, not where we are going in Northeast rural mountainous Haiti. We may get to see some of these things on your trip either going into the country or coming out, since we fly in and out of Port-au-Prince on our commercial flight from and to Miami. But we try to not stop in Port-au-Prince if possible, because it takes extra time, is more expensive, involves smog and urban clutter, and often is not as safe as rural Haiti.
The terrain of
Haiti is very similar to Eastern Kentucky's mountains but with more spa
rse
Florida type trees, shrubs and flowers. The climate is also semi-tropical,
very similar to what is publicized for Florida. Because we will be in the
mountains (1200 foot elevation), it is often cooler, especially in the
evenings, than in the lowlands, but a night-time temperature of 60 Degrees
Fahrenheit is a low temperature for Ranquitte, Haiti. Because of the warm
climate, cool comfortable cotton clothing with protection from the sun is the
clothing-de-jour. You will not need to bring sheets or bedding or towels since
they are available at the compound.
Our first day
should be something like this: Arrive
at Lexington or Louisville Airport (for Central
Kentucky travelers) at 5:30
A.M. to check in our baggage which can be voluminous and heavy. You are asked
to bring only one bag for your personal clothing and travel needs (14
in. by 9 in. by 24 in.) which you will carry on the plane - a backpack works
nicely – no purses please, but a fanny pack is ok. The checked baggage
will be medicines and supplies for the school, clinic, church, and community.
We usually depart from Lexington about 6:30 A.M. via Delta Airlines, change
planes in Atlanta (occasionally Cincinnati), and arrive in Miami usually by
noon, ending up in Port-au-Prince (PAP) via American Airlines by 1:30 P.M.
This is where the confusion starts.
The first stop in the PAP Airport is the
Immigration desk where they check and stamp our
passports, ask for our
destination (Home of Ivy Salomon in Ranquitte, Haiti - no phone), and check
your entry paperwork, (which they give you on the plane to Port-au-Prince --
you need to keep this with your passport until departure (when they
will collect that paper back from you). After passing through immigration we
walk into a larger baggage area with hundreds of pieces of baggage, with what
seems like hundreds of Haitian bag-handlers all wanting to help us with our
gear, waiting just outside the airport doors.
Our goal in the baggage area is to collect all our bags, which can amount to up to 30 or more bins and duffle bags, negotiate with one or two of the bag-handlers to help us get them to the Customs baggage inspection area, and make it out the door to a throng of taxi drivers and other greeters - somewhat intact.
There are pickpockets and petty thieves in the airport area, so keep your possessions close to you, and do not be surprised if you are given a can of mace for security detail.
We will h
ire
a vehicle,
or have friends with a truck, transport us from the large Commercial Airport,
one quarter-mile up the road to the small Civil Aviation Air Terminal, where
we will need to sort and weigh bags and passengers (humility and
self-disclosure is the mark of a true missionary) individually so that we can
squeeze 1000 lbs. on a six seater single-engine Cesna plane flown by Mission
Aviation Fellowship (MAF).
Sometimes we will stay overnight in Port-au-Prince, other times we will fly on to Pignon that day. The flight from PAP to Pignon (12 miles from Ranquitte) takes thirty minutes one way, so if we have more than five travelers (one seat is used by the pilot) we will need to hurry so that everyone can get to Pignon before dark.
The last leg of our journey is by 4x4 truck
from Pignon to Ranquitte where hopefully we will a
ll
be tucked into our comfy wire frame cot beds before midnight.
I am sure, that from the description of the trip alone, you realize that these are only man-made plans, and that only by the grace of God will we actually make it in one day with all of us and our bags in one fell swoop, so there are at least two contingency plans for each leg of the trip, each of which has benefits and drawbacks from this "preferred flyer plan." Once we get to Ranquitte, we can all relax and enjoy ourselves among new friends and true "family" as you will be warmly received by people who truly appreciate your sacrifice in coming to serve and associate with them. Our return trip will be a replay in reverse.
Let me emp
hasize the "associate" with them.
Missions is a two-way street. No one knows Ranquitte, Haiti, better than it's
native-born citizens. Much of our "service" is nothing more than enablement of
their dreams and visions for their own community. The only thing we have to
offer is friendship, our support, our Lord, and eventually our love. Pray not
only about temporal tasks for which you may be used on the Mission field, but
also for relationships which can affect both parties for eternity. Blancs do
not just one day wake up in Ranquitte, they have been chosen and drawn for a
purpose by the Sovereign Lord of the Universe. Seek after that calling and be
eager to share life stories with Haitians - you will be a blessing, as well as
be blessed.
Airfare for the commercial portion of our trip from Lexington runs about $600. Expenses in country run another $500 (includes all in-country meals, lodging, transportation and trip insurance) on an average seven day trip, for a total trip expense (including passport and vaccinations/medicines) of around $1300.
Another way to say this is, if we arrange your ticket, you will pay us four your ticket and for your in-country fee – these two together will total about $1,100. You on your own will get your passport and meds. This will be around $200. Add them together and that’s how we come up with your estimated total trip cost of $1,300.
You need a passport. In Central KY, The Lexington Post Office on Nandino Boulevard has and takes applications. Kinko’s Copy Shop has Polaroid passport photos while you wait ($12.95). For Madison Countians, passport applications are available on the second floor of the Courthouse, in the Circuit Court Clerk's Office. To get a passport, you need a certified copy of your birth certificate and two photos along with the completed application. Application fees are currently $65 over 18, $30 under 18, plus $10 for processing and handling by the Circuit Court Clerk's Office. If you have an old passport that is less than 10 years expired, the fees are reduced and the process is quicker.
Get your passport now, because it takes a few weeks, and expedited rush services are expensive.
You need your routine immunizations that you received when you were in school. You need to have had a TD (Tetanus and Diphtheria) immunization within the last five years. You need to get a prescription for Chloroquine tablets (take one each week for two weeks prior to the trip and one a week for three weeks after) to prevent Malaria. There is a new vaccine available for Hepatitis A, food and waterborne Hepatitis, which is now less than $75, I would recommend that you get that at your local health department, along with a typhoid vaccination. You may also choose to get a Hepatitis B and/or Hepatitis C. The cheapest place to get vaccinations will by your local health department – often costing around $5 each. But, they probably won’t offer everything you want. (In KY check with the University of Kentucky Medical Center Preventive Medicine and Travel Clinic at the Kentucky Clinic South (859-257-5150) on Alexandria Drive not far from the Turfland Mall).
All our water will be boiled and safe in Ranquitte, but we may have to eat as we travel at other places.
You may also order a "Survival Creole" Book and listening tape, which should help immensely in your communication with Haitians. There are many Haitians on the compound who speak English, but that extra effort to communicate with as many Haitians as possible, brings big dividends in rewarding personal relationships and experiences.
Share your upcoming trip with as many people as possible in the U.S. as well, especially your brothers and sisters in Christ. We do not want to undertake this mission without adequate prayer support. This is not a vacation trip to Florida. There are many aspects of it that are dangerous. This is an unstable third world country. We are 700 miles from U.S. civilization, justice, and law and order. Take the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ with you, and have family and friends praying daily for our mission and our watchcare.
The unexpected blessing from these requests is that they too become a pivotal part of our team. Missions is not for everyone, but praying is. So allow as many people as possible to share in your excitement, and your anxiety, and your joy as you prepare and participate in a great Christian adventure.
God's Peace and
Guidance,
Ray Jackson, M.D.
CFI President
415 Riva Ridge Richmond, KY 40475
(606) 624-0355