Mission Trip Basics

pictures of haiti

Overview	Requirements
Family Health Ministries has conducted 10-15 trips per year for over 8 years without incident. Although the media regularly reports the conditions in Haiti, we will always rely on our own friends, families, and partners to keep us up-to-date on the social and political conditions in Haiti. The earthquake created new challenges, but housing and travel have returned to normal.	Each participant must fill out BOTH an application an liability waiver which can be downloaded from our forms page. If you don't know which you need, call or email Justin Davis at (919) 382-5500. Standard trip application (most participants) Special teams application (individuals going to Fondwa with their church) Mission trips liability waiver.
Participants will visit the three FHM communities, learn about daily life, and establish relationships with community members.	There is a $200 non-refundable deposit due at the time of registration.
The three primary trip types are: medical, construction projects, work and play with children on trips such as vacation bible school, or plan a completely unique trip specific to your interests.	The trip cost for 2011 is $900 plus the cost of airfare. This does include housing, meals, ground transportation, and tips. Family Health Ministries has certain requirements for airline travel to Haiti. Please speak with Justin before you purchase your tickets, and certainly before you employ a travel agency to assist you.
Trips are generally 8 days in length but can be shorter or longer depending on the team needs and/or weather. Special trips such as our Duke Engage trip last 8 weeks! A staff or board member will lead each trip.	You will need to obtain your US passport before you leave. If your passport is expired or full, you will need to have it renewed. New, expired and updates to your passport will take 4 and 6 weeks, so plan early. Information on how to obtain your passport is available from the U.S. Department of State website.
Space is limited to 15 people and reservations are taken on a first come-first serve basis.	The US Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that individuals traveling to Haiti make sure their immunizations are current. The basics they suggest are routine immunizations, Hepatitis A & Hepatitis B, Typhoid, and Rabies.More information can be found on their website at www.cdc.gov.

If the trip dates posted do not coincide with your availability, feel free to inquire about other possibilities. On occasion, we arrange special trips for groups, typically of ten or more. More trips are often added as each year progresses. We can put you on a contact list for notification for additional trips as they occur. Click here to view the upcoming trips. You will need to talk directly to Kathy Walmer, the Executive Director at 919-382-5500 to discuss your trip idea(s).

Basics

Weather	The weather in Haiti is either hot, hotter, or hottest. The coolest days and nights are typically from November to March, with highs reaching the upper 70's and 80's, and the evening lows dip down to the lower-to-mid 60's. April starts the warming trend and May through July is considered the rainy season. Hurricane season is July through October, just like it is here in the US. If you are in the mountains of Fondwa, the evenings can be a little chillier.
Transportation	If you're leaving from the US, you'll find American Airlines is one of the only carriers servicing Haiti. Air France does travel to Haiti, but we have never used them and have been told their restrictions are limiting to individuals who need to take large quantities of team supplies for extended travel. Once you're in the country, there are cars and buses just as there are here, with one exception. Typically the buses, called tap taps, are only available in Port-au-Prince, and FHM will be shuttling you around in one of our vans with your group. In certain circumstances, you may get the opportunity to ride a moped, or perhaps a furry four-legged friend. Yes, there are horses and mules/donkeys in Haiti that people use for transportation.
Food/Water/Snacks	If you are travailing with FHM, we will take care of the food arrangements in advance. You will need to tell us about any special dietary considerations when you register. Depending on the community you are in, you may need to pack your lunch one day, or have the chance to eat a tasty Haitian dish at the hand of a local friend. You are always welcome to pack your own snacks such as crackers and trail mix in the team bags or your carry-on luggage if you wish.

Activities

Activities outside of your mission trips objectives include shopping in local boutiques and open-air markets, hiking, swimming (in Jacmel), visiting the countryside and attending special cultural events in the communities.