HAITI
Haiti is probably the “Poorest” country in the western hemisphere. It is about 650 miles from Florida and Southeast of Cuba . The official languages are French and Creole with bits of English here and there. Port-Au-Prince is the overcrowded Capital city with space for about 250,000 people but a population of 1,200,000. The people are plagued with a “rocky” history of corrupted dictator type leaders and very little commerce. The majority of the people were born in a home practicing a religion of “VooDoo”. This combined with a lack of money and “knowhow” has kept education, religion, and the economy unstable. Crime and shootings is probably the highest in this part of the world. Some try to make a meager existence by selling assorted items, fruits, and sometimes “raw meat” along the streets. The weather is always hot, humid, and “foul”. Street water is a mixture of house wastewater, open sewage, and decay. Mosquitoes and other airborne insects help spread disease and germs. The epidemic of AIDS and other extreme diseases are having an impact on every family.Many areas of the country still show little change and are without knowledge or a place to worship. Most children have little are no opportunity to attend school. Even some Mission/Schools and Private schools are “overcrowded”. The fortunate have a flimsy seat among 110 pupils in one room. A divider or a small torn curtain separates the three youngest grades from the others. They may have a small worn blackboard, a wooden window opening, and one electric light in the ceiling. Any schoolbooks that are available are ragged and to be shared. The electricity is only available in certain areas and then is “off” an average of two to four hours every day. Missionaries and Medical personnel from various countries have started to bring Jesus Christ and Hope to a Helpless and Hopeless Haiti. The growing number of Christians, Mission Church/Schools and Clinics are beginning to show a “turn around” in Haiti. The worship of Jehovah, the one true God, and training of the church leaders is giving them a foundation they can build a Life on. Jesus gives hope for the present and the future with Forgiveness for the Past. The conditions as described are slowly changing for the better. Many are accepting God’s plan of Salvation and Life. Pastors and church leaders are seeking Biblical training in evangelism and discipleship. Some churches are also trying to help in meeting the Education and Medical needs. The People are Praising God for the prayers and help from Christians who love enough to begin to see the world through the eyes of Jesus. Thank You. Haiti - Frequently asked Questions and Answers
1. How are Christians treated now?
Christians and God’s Love are welcomed in most areas of Haiti. 2. How can we help The Christians in Haiti?
Many Americans are helping by giving support and providing additional assistance through “short-tem mission trips”. This gives training, building and construction, as well as providing medical supplies. Pray for the Christians in Haiti. 3. Are the Christian Churches growing in Size? . . .and new Church starts?
The churches have been growing steadily and are very involved in evangelism through new mission churches. Construction and building materials are difficult for them to obtain so often in many situations improvisations are made. 4. What is an average annual wage? . . .what is needed for a family of 5?
In reality 70% of the people do not have jobs. The annual wage amounts are often hard to establish because of the necessity of trading and bartering. 5. How does the weather affect the people?
The heat makes life more than uncomfortable. The high heat and humidity affects their health through exhaustion, dehydration and provides a breeding ground for infections and diseases. 6. What Dangers or Problems do the people face?
Crime and killing combined with starvation and diseases make everday life an almost unbearable situation. 7. What are their Hopes (Goals)?
For decades Hope was to have food for the day. Now, Hope is beginning to have time even a future added to it. Jesus Christ brings Hope for the present and for Eternity. His Love can reach the darkest of places. Pray for Haiti. God loves Haiti. Haiti Information: Background: One of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has been plagued by political violence for most of its history. Over three decades of dictatorship followed by military rule ended in 1990 when Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE was elected president. Most of his term was usurped by a military takeover, but he was able to return to office in 1994 and oversee the installation of a close associate to the presidency in 1996. Location: Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland Climate: tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds Terrain: mostly rough and mountainous Natural hazards: lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes; periodic droughts Environment - current issues: extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion; inadequate supplies of potable water Population: 6,867,995
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.) Religions: Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3% (1982)
note: roughly one-half of the population also practices Voodoo Languages: French (official), Creole (official) Economy - overview: About 80% of the population lives in abject poverty. Nearly 70% of all Haitians depend on the agriculture sector, which consists mainly of small-scale subsistence farming and employs about two-thirds of the economically active work force. The country has experienced little job creation since President PREVAL took office in February 1996, although the informal economy is growing. Failure to reach agreements with international sponsors have denied Haiti badly needed budget and development assistance. Meeting aid conditions in 2000 will be especially challenging in the face of mounting popular criticism of reforms. Unemployment rate: 70%; widespread underemployment; more than two-thirds of the labor force do not have formal jobs (1999) Industries: sugar refining, flour milling, textiles, cement, tourism, light assembly industries based on imported parts Industries: sugar refining, flour milling, textiles, cement, tourism, light assembly industries based on imported parts Ports and harbors: Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, Jacmel, Jeremie, Les Cayes, Miragoane, Port-au-Prince, Port-de-Paix, Saint-Marc. | 
