STM PREPARATION
It’s the middle of summer. For Haiti H2O, this means we’re busily preparing our next Short-Term Mission (STM) teams to travel to Haiti, from July 18th thru August 8th. Vaccinations, passport applications, cross-cultural and language training, prayer and scripture study – it’s all part of getting ready for an experience that transforms the lives of everyone involved. And yet, ever since we first began leading these trips in 1997, no two trips have been the same. (follow our trip on Facebook.)
Want to join in, be part of such an amazing experience? Check it out: http://haitih2o.org/trips/planning-a-trip
According to the UN, only about half of the people in Haiti have easy access to clean water sources, without which they must rely on dirty water for everyday use and expose themselves to water-borne diseases. So, among other projects this summer, we’re working with community leaders in Bassin Caiman to develop plans for water and sanitation systems. We’re of course delighted to help community members enjoy clean water and become less vulnerable to serious illness; we’ve begun referring to our next team as the Haiti H2O Team Bèl Dio (Beautiful Water). Our next monthly update will let you know how this initiative goes!
STM W/ H2O
“It is one thing to read about statistics, and it is another when they’re lying in your arms.” - Haiti H20 STM participant
LEARN MORE ABOUT HAITI
You may have seen the recent article by journalist John Seabrook about his experience adopting his daughter from Haiti just after the January earthquake. He provides a thorough reflection on international adoption and how recent events have affected adoption and orphans in Haiti. Also, several individuals and agencies in Pittsburgh were major advocates for adopting Haitian orphans.
(“The Last Babylift: Adopting a child in Haiti” by John Seabrook http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/05/10/100510fa_fact_seabrook )
(See also these articles in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10015/1028425-455.stm
and
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10055/1038068-455.stm)
GET INVOLVED
Remember, every donation to Haiti H2O is critical to the communities we serve.
- $40 enables a child to attend school, by providing her with books, supplies and a uniform
- $80 feeds a child lunch for an entire school year
- $400 supports a teacher’s salary for one school year
- $800 trains a local student to be a teacher
To donate online, go to http://haitih2o.org/ and click on the “Donate now” button, or mail donations to the following address:
Haiti H2O
1110 Portland Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:
to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
James 1:27
For more on Haiti H20: http://haitih2o.org or follow us on Facebook.
jeff 
