Currently, the people of Haiti
desperately need your help!

 Posted Wednesday, January 20, 2010 1:50 PM.

Dear Friends of Haiti,

I have just received a message from Global Ministries.

At their request, it is necessary to postpone our plans to go and be with our brothers and sisters of CONASPEH until another time.  I have reserved the same dates for 2011 (February 18-26) and will plan to go at that time if CONASPEH can receive groups.

The best way to help at this time would be to continue to raise money for Week of Compassion/Haiti relief to help with the current “first response” efforts.  Secondly, I intend to take the money that it would have cost me to be there in February and whatever project money I would have taken, and donate it to CONASPEH through Global Ministries, the Department of Latin America and the Caribbean.  I invite you to consider doing the same.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me.

Your servant in Christ,

Michael Yarbrough

To all visitors to this web site.

You can continue to pray for the people of Haiti as they grieve the loss of family members, friends, their homes and communities.  Another way to assist Haiti is to provide financial resources.  You may direct your gifts to:

Trip has been postponed.  Watch here for further details.

 Originally Posted April 11, 2009 - revised June 16, 2010.

          Do you have a desire to help others?  Would you like to give a portion of yourself, in the name of Christ, to those who need you the most, working for a short time where you could do the most good?

          You are invited to participate in a short-term Mission Trip to Haiti!

Participants will be working through Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) who are international partners with CONASPEH (the National Spiritual Council of Haitian Churches).  CONASPEH is an alliance of 5,800 small, indigenous congregations spread throughout the country of Haiti.  We go by invitation from CONASPEH, with ready hands and servants’ hearts to serve this national Protestant Christian organization.

          What will we do there?

Our mission work will be dependent upon the skills, experience and training of our group.  Local congregations need construction work done, school and medical supplies (which we will bring into the country in our luggage) are always needed, teachers of short two-day classes for their seminary and their nursing school are welcome, and dental or medical clinics for local communities are always critical.

          When is the trip?

We intended to fly to Port au Prince, Haiti on Thursday, February 18, 2010 and fly home to the United States on Friday, February 26.  Tentative dates for 2011 are February 18 to 26.

          Where will we stay?

Our primary residence will be Walls International Guesthouse in Port au Prince.  It is possible that our work may take us for a short time to other cities.  If so, we will stay in local hotels in those places.

          What do we know about the group?

Due to transportation considerations, the group size is limited to a total of eight clergy and laity.  The trip leader is Michael Yarbrough, an ordained minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) from the Greater Kansas City Region.  Michael has made twelve of these trips since 2001.  The itinerary will be determined by the national committee of CONASPEH once we know who is going.

          What is the cost?

Total expenses for this trip will be $750.00 plus airfare.  This amount will be collected in advance by Michael to pay for room, board, and group expenses.  Any of those funds that are not needed for our expenses will be given to CONASPEH as a donation on the morning of our departure.  There will be some opportunities to purchase snacks at the guesthouse, personal incidentals and beautiful Haitian arts and crafts.  These will need to be purchased with your own personal spending money.

          Is a trip like this the best way to help the Haitians?

The national leaders of CONASPEH assure us that it is.  Our physical presence with them is a living witness to Christ’s (and our) love for them.  We will work beside them and worship with them respectfully as equals.  Our trip is an act of solidarity with these small and very poor congregations.  We bring with us the gifts of our own education and experiences, gifts of money with which to purchase desperately needed food or construction supplies, gifts of the supplies we personally bring into the country in our luggage, and even the clothes we wear while we are there and then leave for them to distribute to those who need it the most. 

          How do I know if this is something I can do?

Do you have a servant’s heart and a humble spirit?  Can you put group needs above your own?  Can you adapt to uncertainty or last-minute changes?  Can you be temporarily satisfied with simple food and simple accommodations?  Do you have a lot of patience and a sense of humor?  Can you accept simple hospitality with grace?  Can you give of yourself with no expectation of reward or recognition?  If you can answer “yes” to these questions, then this will an experience of a lifetime!

          What do I do if I have more questions or I feel that God is calling me to take part in this experience in 2011?

Submit a form message on the Contact Us page.  Also, if you know of someone who might be interested in being a part of this trip, please feel free to forward this invitation on to them.