Trips to Haiti
Join us on a Mission of Mutual Exchange Trip To Haiti!
When: We currently offer at least two ten-day long trips each year, in February and in August! The trips are currently under the leadership of Bryan Sirchio and Julie Johnson, and we now have two new leaders in training-Candice Schneider- Waunakee, and Mitch Lown-LaCrosse.
Trips are called a "mission of mutual exchange." We understand that this might be a confusing term, so let us take a moment to explain what we mean by this. It may seem like a lot to read, but this is very important!
If you’d like to skip this part for now though and get right to the trip details, click here.
First, it has long been realized that older models of doing "mission work" were often problematic at best. According to these older models, groups of folks from the world of the "haves" would travel to places like Haiti in order to give to the "have nots." Often this "giving" would mean that WE (folks from affluent countries) would travel to a developing country in order to hand out food or clothing, or that WE would put our hands and expertise to use and build a house or a church or a school, dig a well, or teach something. In other words, WE would do the giving. We would then return home after a week or two without having developed any ongoing structure through which the work done or the relationships begun could continue. It has become clear the this kind of "hit and run" mission work often created as many problems as it addressed, and all too often had a rather arrogant or condescending tone to it. So we are being very deliberate about trying to embrace a new way of doing short term mission work that is more respectful.
Though it is a work of fiction, any of you who have read the book Poisonwood Bible will have good understanding of the level at which this old mission model often backfired. While the intentions were almost always good, the outcome was often not what was expected or hoped for. True and deep cultural sensitivity was missing in the use of this model, and the fact that the local inhabitants of a land really know their needs best was largely overlooked.
A one week trip can certainly enlighten us, inspire us, and deepen us in many ways, but it will not give us a total and complete understanding of the real problems that the people face in their day to day existence after we get back on planes and fly home.
While well intended, this older model of mission actually furthered the tiers of oppression that indigenous peoples have endured for centuries and arrogantly ignored the very real potential that lies hidden within people that have long been oppressed by various forces. In many ways this model hampered the kind of progress that moves a culture forward in dignified and just ways.
Furthermore, many of us who have worked in Haiti over the years have witnessed first hand how Haitians often resent having affluent persons from other countries come and build buildings for Haitians in a context of over 80% unemployment. It has become clear that a more dignified, loving, and sustainable approach is to invite Haitians to partner in this kind of work, (not only in the work, but also in the planning) and ultimately to actually create jobs in Haiti by hiring Haitian workers to both design the buildings and to build them themselves.
Second, those of us taking groups to Haiti on "mission" trips soon realized something. We may leave our own home country with a heart-felt desire to give or to serve, but something very powerfully transforming for us usually winds up happening. Countless people on such trips eventually say things like, "I thought I was going to Haiti to help people there, but they gave much more to me than I gave to them." It became clear that in many ways those of us from the U.S. and other so-called "first world" countries who travel to Haiti actually need to receive the gifts that Haitians have to offer us every bit as much (if not more so) as Haitians need the gifts we have to offer them.
Somewhere between the words from Matthew 25:31 ("when I was hungry you fed me, when I was naked you gave me clothing") and the unsettling notion that we "privileged folks" go to just tour a third world country and take what we need from the experience, lies an important and precious middle ground that we are choosing to call "missions of mutual exchange". Some of us have been blessed to experience this profound gift of mutual giving and receiving, and we are excited to share this gift with you.
We will indeed have many opportunities on this trip to be a loving presence to many hurting people, and to enter into relationships with Haitians that could lead to future partnerships of all kinds. You will be invited into many relationships of mutual giving and receiving which have already been established, and to learn about some amazing projects that have emerged as a result of Haitians and U.S. citizens working together over the years.
In the work we do, we will be careful not to take a potential job, even a day's labor, from a Haitian. But we'll also have some opportunities to get our own hands dirty and actually do some tangible work. Again, the key is mutuality and respect. We will engage with people using our hands, we will work with our own hearts as we process what we are experiencing together, and we will work with our heads as we enjoy seminars through which Haitians will teach us about their history and their present reality. We'll listen, learn, sing, and pray together too. It will be a powerful and often a life changing experience!
We look forward to hearing from you, and helping you discern if a trip is right for you.
More Details About This Trip…
When Will This Trip Take Place?
Haiti Allies has been leading at least two group trips each year, usually in February and August. Group trips include participants from many different parts of the U.S., and therefore we begin by meeting in Miami or Ft. Lauderdale the evening prior to our departure.
What Will We Actually Do On This Trip?
Exact itineraries are formulated about a month prior to each trip. Previous trips have included some or all of the following:
- Participation in a cultural orientation session with activities activities (language lessons, Haitian cooking, coffee roasting…) through which we will learn about Haitian life, history and culture.
- Working with the Missionaries of Charity (The sisters of Mother Teresa) in an orphanage and/or a hospice of sorts for homeless men and women called "The Home for the Dying and the Destitute."
- Engaging in various activities at an elementary school in Cite Soleil (a shanty town on the outskirts of Port au Prince) called Community School of Cite Soleil.
- Learning from and with students and directors from SPARE (Sponsorship Program Aiding Relationships and Education) in Port au Prince.
- Exploring our new rural partnership by spending time with Haitian families who have just recently relocated from their post earthquake tent camp to their new community in the rural countryside.
- Taking part in evening seminars run by Haitian guest speakers who will further educate us about Haiti's history and current reality.
- Participating in informal morning and evening gathering sessions where, as a group, we collect ourselves to begin each day and process happenings together at the end of each day.
- Attending worship at a Haitian church.
- Souvenir shopping if desired.
Who Is Leading This Trip?
The next trip will be led by Julie Johnson of Watertown, WI and Bryan Sirchio of Madison, WI., both members of the Haiti Allies team. Our new leaders in training (Candice Schneider and Mitch Lown) will be assisting. Julie has traveled to Haiti for over ten years now either with or leading various groups. Bryan has traveled to Haiti extensively for the past 19 years and has also led numerous group trips.
How "Churchy" or "Religious" Is This Trip Going to Be?
Obviously since church groups are sponsoring this trip, and since so much of the network we will be stepping into in Haiti is church-related, the Christian faith will show up a lot during our experience in Haiti. Please know that we accept everyone wherever they happen to be with regard to spirituality.
We will have a brief informal gathering time each morning and on the evenings when we do not have guest speakers. During these times together, we invite people to share prayers, inspirational messages, and any nuggets pertaining to all divine truths. While the majority of persons who make up our group will probably be Christians, some are not, and we invite everyone to step up, step in fully, and help us to learn with, through and from each other! Know that we have no religious agenda to lay on anyone, and that no one is required to be a Christian or to embrace any particular doctrine in order to join our group.
Just as we want to meet our Haitian friends wherever they are and to honor and respect their spirituality which may be very different from our own, we will do the same with each other.
You will not be required to pray or to believe anything that is not real or authentic for you, but it will be important for you to at least be able to be with us in the circle when others pray or share their spiritually based perspectives, and to accept others wherever they may be in their faith journeys.
How Large Will The Group Be?
We hope to limit the group to about a dozen participants, and certainly no larger than 15.
Where Will We Stay?
In Port au Prince we will stay either at modest hotels or at a guest house.
What Will It Cost?
The cost of the trip is $1,700.00, but this fee does not cover the cost of getting to Miami or Ft. Lauderdale or the first night's lodging in Florida. Airfare to and from Miami or Ft. Lauderdale will be additional, and each person will be responsible for making these reservations and getting themselves to/from Ft. Lauderdale. Once we leave Ft. Lauderdale, then everything else is covered by the $1,700.00 fee, including round trip airfare from Ft. Lauderdale to Port au Prince.
We always tell people that if they know they are somehow called to be on a trip, then money should not be the only reason that this doesn't work. Some fee flexibility is possible, and we'll do our best to make it possible for you to be on this trip even if finances are tight.
What Next Step Do I Need To Take To Sign Up?
Contact either Julie Johnson or Bryan Sirchio, and we will begin the process of helping you decide if a trip or which trip is right for you. Once you are clear that you want to be a part of this mission of mutual exchange, they you should register by mailing your check of $850 to Bryan or Julie.
We will then send you additional materials to read in preparation for this trip, and other information that you may need.Note: you will need a valid and current passport. If you do not yet have one, you should check into this immediately.
Also, if interested in joining us you may wish to check with your local physician or check the CDC (Center for Disease Control) website for recommended travel immunizations and/or medications.
Contact Information:
Julie Johnson
506 S. Washington Street
Watertown, WI 53094
Phone: (920) 253-9566
e-mail: julie1961@hotmail.com