Update on Just Go Haiti Trips for 2023
Mt. Carmel sends teams each year to minister to the Emmanuel Children's Village, the Boys’ and Girl's’ Transition Homes, the Jeremie area and surrounding communities. Due to unrest in Haiti and COVID-19 around the world, we were not able to take teams to Haiti between June 2019 and June 2021. Because we have a trusted local Haitian partner on the ground, Pastor Dony St. Germain, we have the latest information from Haiti and always err on the side of caution. Our ministry area in Haiti is far removed from Port au Prince, way out on the tip of the southern peninsula. Because we only fly in and out of the capital city, often we can travel when others who are required to drive in the city cannot.
“Going to Haiti and Emmanuel has changed my life. I look at everything differently now. ”
Our team had a wonderful week of reunions and ministry in June of 2021, but in the weeks following our return, Haiti’s President Moise was assassinated, and we chose to cancel travel in August for Christella’s wedding.
The devastating 7.2 earthquake hit southern Haiti August 14, 2021, affecting so many in our area - loss of life, homes and churches. We teamed up with Chicago Friends of Haiti to send a medical disaster relief team to the hardest-hit areas of La Hatte, Les Cayes and Saint Louis du Sud in last August. In September, 17 American missionaries were kidnapped by gangs in the capital city, and we chose to cancel our October Disaster Relief Medical Team and Papa Noel Christmas Team. While the missionaries have been released, the situation around Port au Prince is still tenuous, with road travel dangerous.
We were thrilled to have been given the go-ahead for our trip in June 2022. This June team had an amazing week of reunited with old friends and ministry in the Jeremie area only. This included daily walks over the large Grand Anse bridge damaged in the earthquake and every moment hearing how much it meant that our team came.
Dates were set for a Medical Team in October and a Christmas Trip in December. 2022 open only to those over age 18 who have traveled to Haiti before. When planning these trips, we reminded everyone that these trips, as always, are subject to change at any time depending on conditions in the US and Haiti. Because of the deteriorating situation in Haiti with the gangs controlling the roads and the fuel supply and the country completely unstable, we canceled both 2022 teams.
We were given the “go-ahead” from Pastor Dony for a trip in July 2023 but sadly once again have canceled the trip due primarily to concerns over the safety in Port au Prince. Also, in the aftermath of flooding, another earthquake and cholera concerns, things are just not stable enough for us to go right now.
Thankfully our ministries are run by Haitians and continue even when we can’t travel. We are busy working here to provide for those who are in such great need at this time.
emmanuel and transition home team
july 26- aug 3, 2023 CANCELED
This team will minister and visit with the children of Emmanuel and the boys' and girls' Transition Homes. They will celebrate birthdays and the beach with the children and simply enjoy being together! This team will also provide medical care at the Emmanuel Medical Clinics and visit the 29:11 Jeremie Bakery and Chicken businesses.
