The Neighbors Project is NWHCM’s approach to relief and development. Spend some time clicking around here to learn what it’s all about.

NWHCM staff perform a community needs assessment in La Baie des Moustiques. Dustin Waller photo

Northwest Haiti Christian Mission was founded on forging lasting relationships between North Americans and communities in Northwest Haiti. We place the Church at the center of that relationship, using it as an instrument for evangelism, relief and development. Our goal is nothing less than changing Haitian communities forever by sharing the love of Christ and meeting basic human needs.

But sometimes in overseas ministry, we sell ourselves (and the nationals) short by not using our God-given creativity. We limit our efforts to merely handing out “stuff” and going home, or by assuming we know the best ways to help.

At NWHCM, we want to make sure we are investing the hard work and service of our mission teams in the most effective ways to help Haitian communities. That’s why we’ve launched the Neighbors Project, an exciting initiative that helps focus our ministry efforts to make sure we’re meeting real needs.

The Neighbors Project is about teaming up North Americans with Haitian communities. It’s a partnership where Haitians and North Americans share physical and spiritual resources, with the mutual goal of bringing people out of spiritual, physical, economic, and social poverty.

Simply put, it’s about loving our neighbors in the global Church in the same way we love our own churches.

Have you ever done short-term mission and wondered if you could do more? Have you ever wanted to think outside the mission trip? Spend some time exploring here to learn more about the Neighbors Project. You’ll be glad you did.

May 24, 2011

Montello, WI — As the country of Haiti struggles in so many ways, there is good news as well. The launch of the first Living Food Bank aquaponic system will bring fresh fish and vegetables to many. The construction of this system is nearing completion on the Northwest Haiti Christian Mission (NWHCM) campus in Saint-Louis Du Nord, Haiti and the training for the individuals who will oversee the operation of the system has been completed in Montello, Wisconsin.

Trainees Chris Clarke (left) and Ed and Lora Ginter in an aquaponics demonstration greenhouse at Nelson and Pade, Inc., in Montello, WI, earlier this year. Photo submitted

Nelson and Pade, Inc., a Wisconsin-based company specializing in aquaponics and the creator of the Living Food Bank, in collaboration with NWHCM, has trained three enthusiastic people who will be managing the new aquaponic system at NWHCM. The Living Food Bank uses a science-based aquaponic system, solar energy and a tropical greenhouse to grow high quality fish and vegetable crops. Aquaponics is an integrated method of raising fish and vegetables in a soilless system. In Haiti, tilapia, a fast-growing fresh water fish, along with leafy greens such as Swiss chard, collards and kale, and peas, beans, eggplant, tomatoes and peppers will all be grown.

Ed and Lora Ginter, from Kentucky, and Chris Clarke, from Montana, traveled to Nelson and Pade, Inc.’s facility in Montello to complete a two-month Extended Stay Learning Program. Nelson and Pade, Inc.’s new demonstration greenhouse has various aquaponic systems in operation which are very close in design to the systems in Haiti so, even though the training took place far from Haiti, the information and application is parallel to the system at NWHCM.

Ed, Lora and Chris learned the daily operation of the systems, water quality testing and monitoring, fish feeding and feed calculations, filter maintenance, seeding, transplanting, harvesting and system assembly.

Nelson and Pade, Inc.’s John Pade and Education Director, Sarah Kaatz, provided direction and education to Ed, Lora and Chris. Other advanced principles covered included fish biology, fish stocking, plant culturing and health, pest scouting and control, bio-security, nutrient dynamics, system and greenhouse maintenance and more. Plus, the team assembled, tested, crated and shipped the complete solar energy system to Haiti.

Ed, Lora and Chris will travel to Haiti – Ed and Lora as long-term missionaries working to oversee this and other aquaponics projects, and Chris to assist with the start up and operation of this system. Rebecca Nelson and John Pade will also travel back to Haiti, to help with the start up of the system. As NWHCM expands their aquaponics projects and installs additional Living Food Bank aquaponic systems, they will have a serious impact on the availability of fresh food in Northwest Haiti and beyond.

This project is headed toward success due to the combination of using a science-based aquaponic system design and a comprehensive training program from Nelson and Pade, Inc., along with the well-established and very capable Northwest Haiti Christian Mission, a holistic ministry that currently feeds 15,000 servings per day, provides medical and surgical services, nutrition programs and many other services to residents of northwest Haiti.

For more information on aquaponics, systems or training programs, visit www.aquaponics.com.

Press release from Nelson and Pade, Inc.

A truck filled to the brim with people, cargo, and several chickens travels down a dirt road in Ethiopia. There, as in Haiti, trucks are a common mode of public transportation. Joel Carillet / iStock Editorial

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

By Janeil Owen, Executive Director

What do you see in the picture above? Craziness? Adventure? Danger? Culture?

At Northwest Haiti Christian Mission, we see a blending of culture and adventure as part of the journey to minister in the northwest zone of Haiti.

Although we don’t normally travel like this, we do have several new options for you to choose from for your next trip to Haiti. Because let’s face it, travel into Haiti is always an adventure, whether you’re headed to “The Mole” or Saint-Louis Du Nord, NWHCM’s main campus. But we want to make sure the adventure is the best possible fit for you.

You are an important part of NWHCM!
We see your role as vital to the long-term goals of the mission. The challenge of reaching 120 communities for Christ through the “Neighbors Projects” as well as being the hands and feet of Jesus to the poor, the orphaned, the widowed, the imprisoned and the lost will not happen without you. Together we RESCUE, RESTORE and REDEEM!

Over the last few months, as you know, the cost of fuel has gone up significantly. This unfortunately also affects the cost of ministry in Haiti. The costs of shipping things in-country, powering the generators, as well as the cost of actually getting to the mission have all increased.

With this in mind, we have been reviewing the options for travel and have developed several package options for you to choose from, making travel as affordable as possible. These options cover a variety of ways for you to arrive at the mission and continue your role in Haiti.

Package 1: The Weekend Warrior

This package includes up to five nights on campus. It is perfect for those of you that need a Haiti fix, have just a few extra vacation days to use, or want to spend your spring break with us.

• Option A: Adventure Package

This is a great roundtrip way to travel to St. Louis du Nord, via bus or Land Rover. Note: We are working to be able to replace our buses with Land Rovers, we will have our first two very soon. This 6-hour ride across the beautiful and startling countryside of Haiti is worth the time to experience fully the land and people where we serve. You will experience first hand the beautiful mountain views, the valleys, vistas, desert and lush forest, as you drive across the changing terrains that make up Haiti.

Price: Plane ticket to Haiti, plus $765*
This includes all accommodations, three meals a day, travel expenses in the northwest zone, translators and security.

• Option B: High/Low Combo Package

This option combines the best of both worlds. It gives you the ability to fly one way on Tortuga Air, viewing Haiti’s beautiful mountains from 6,000 ft and then the ride of your life in the bus/car for your cross-country Haiti experience.

Price: Plane ticket to Haiti, plus $855 *
This includes all accommodation, three meals a day, travel expenses in the northwest zone, translators and security.

• Option C: Deluxe Traveler Package

This option gives you the fastest route to the Northwest, but misses the cross-country adventure. You will fly both directions on Tortuga Air, where you will land and travel by vehicle to one of our mission campuses. Please note that if you choose this option you may have to overnight in Miami or Port-au-Prince to make your connecting flights. Tortuga Air is an independent company, as such we are at the mercy of their scheduling.

Price: Plane ticket to Haiti, plus $930*
This includes all accommodation, three meals a day, travel expenses in the northwest zone, translators and security.

*Please note there will be an extra $100 fee if your return flight to the U.S. requires an overnight hotel stay in Port-au-Prince.

Package 2: The Impact Classic

This package includes up to 10 nights in the Northwest. It is perfect for those of you that are coming with a mission project in mind, whether as part of a surgery team, the Neighbors’ Project, or any number of other ministry opportunities that are available to you.

• Option A: Adventure Package

This is a great way to travel to Saint-Louis du Nord, via bus or Land Rover. Note: We are working to be able to replace our buses with Land Rovers, we will have our first two very soon. This six-hour ride across the beautiful and startling countryside of Haiti is worth the time to experience fully the land and people where we serve. You will experience first-hand the beautiful mountain views, the valleys, vistas, desert and lush forest, as you drive across the changing terrains that make up Haiti.

Price: Plane ticket to Haiti, plus $1070*
This includes all accommodation, three meals a day, travel expenses in the northwest zone, translators and security.

• Option B: High/Low Combo Package

This option combines the best of both worlds. It gives you the ability to fly one way on Tortuga Air viewing Haiti’s beautiful mountains from 6,000 ft and then the ride of your life in the bus/car for your cross-country Haiti experience.

Price: Plane ticket to Haiti, plus $1160*
This includes all internal accommodation, three meals a day, travel expenses in the northwest zone, translators and security.

• Option C: Deluxe Traveler Package

This option gives you the fastest route to the Northwest, but misses the cross-country adventure. You will fly both directions on Tortuga Air, where you will land and travel by vehicle to one of our mission campuses. Please note, that if you choose this option you may have to overnight in Miami or Port-au-Prince to make your connecting flights. Tortuga Air is an independent company, as such we are at the mercy of their scheduling.

Price: Plane ticket to Haiti, plus $1260*
This includes all internal accommodation, three meals a day, travel expenses in the northwest zone, translators and security.

*Please note there will be an extra $100 fee if your return flight to the U.S. requires an overnight hotel stay in Port-au-Prince.

Tennessee Titans linebacker Tim Shaw distributes shoes during his mission trip with NWHCM.
Photo by Paul Del Valley / NWHCM staff

By Tresa Halbrooks, TitansOnline.com

February 24, 2011

Nashville, Tenn. — The off-season allows time for players to recharge their batteries, spend time with family, take a much needed vacation and give back to their communities. Tennessee Titans players Pete Ittersagen and Tim Shaw are doing just that by lending a hand to Haitians in need during a mission trip to Haiti February 19 – 28.

Along with six other volunteers, Ittersagen and Shaw have joined Northwest Haiti Christian Mission for a mission trip including a variety of duties such as construction, community development, well drilling, preaching, teaching, relational evangelism and medical assistance.

Just over a year ago in January 2010, Haiti was hit by a 7.0-magnitude catastrophic earthquake near the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince. The Haitian government reported an estimated 316,000 people died, 300,000 were injured and over 1,000,000 others lost their homes. It’s also been estimated that 250,000 residences and 30,000 commercial buildings had collapsed or were severely damaged due to the disaster.

“We are going on this trip to serve the people of Haiti and to be a light that reflects Christ’s love for us,” Ittersagen said. “As folIowers of Christ, we are passionate about making a difference and spreading the good news about Jesus that has changed our lives. It excites us to help the people in whatever way possible and be a blessing to a country that has been through a lot and is in so much need.”

Every year, more than 1,000 volunteers from North America serve on short-term trips through NWHCM, which leads groups and individuals of any age and background from churches, businesses, schools, or community associations on short-term trips 10 months of the year.

Ittersagen was informed of the NWHCM mission trip opportunity by his friend, NWHCM missionary Grant Roskowiak. Once he realized this was something he wanted to be a part of, he began to assemble the team that would travel to Haiti, which included Shaw.

In April of 2010, Indianapolis Colts receiver Pierre Garçon also traveled to Haiti in partnership with NWHCM. His foundation, the Pierre Garçon Helping Hands Foundation, supported relief work in the Port-au-Prince area and in Northwest Haiti in response to the earthquake.

Follow updates on the Titans’ trip at www.titansonline.com.

February 24, 2011 — American Airlines has announced it will begin charging $30 for a second checked bag each way for trips to Haiti and elsewhere in the Caribbean. Passengers may still check one bag at no charge traveling both to and from Haiti.

The charges will take effect for any tickets purchased after February 10. Tickets purchased prior to February 10, even if for trip dates later this year, will not incur the charges.

NWHCM advises travelers to plan their trips accordingly be prepared to cover all baggage charges upon airport check-in. Questions? Please contact us, we would be glad to help.

The nationwide outbreak of cholera in Haiti has not affected any short-term mission trips or travelers. Mission staff are carefully monitoring the impacts of cholera in the communities NWHCM serves. The disease poses little risk to people who drink clean water and follow basic hygiene practices such as hand washing. NWHCM goes to great lengths to provide all travelers with clean drinking water and safe and healthy food. The mission has an excellent track record of facilitating safe, rewarding mission trips.

Updated November 29, 2010

The new facility, in Zionsville, Indiana, has just over 11,000 square feet of office, warehouse and volunteer space. With it, NWHCM is now able to ship a larger volume of badly needed supplies to equip and empower its 12 full-time American missionaries and hundreds of Haitian staff. In particular, the new building allows for increased efficiency in all stages of receiving, sorting, and shipping donations. It also offers expanded space to house NWHCM’s U.S.-based staff and volunteer activities.

NWHCM has vacated its old office and warehouse space in Frankfort, Kentucky and is no longer using it.

The address and phone numbers for the Zionsville office are:

Northwest Haiti Christian Mission
7271 Mayflower Park
Zionsville, IN 46077

Phone
(317) 733-8770

Fax
(317) 733-8773

For more information about NWHCM’s move, please contact Cameron Mayhill, Director of Development (cameron.mayhill@nwhcm.org), or Sam Guilliams, Executive Vice President (sam.guilliams@nwhcm.org).

Marie Julie, 10, plays in the Miriam Center, NWHCM's residential program for special-needs orphans.
Andy Olsen / NWHCM Staff

By Cameron Mayhill, NWHCM Director of Development

Monday, October 4, 2010 — Several years ago, a man named Pastor Andy worked as a preacher for Northwest Haiti Christian Mission in Saint-Louis du Nord, a small city on Haiti’s northern coast. His wife, Emanulla, worked as a nurse in the mission’s birthing center. When it came time for Emanulla to give birth to their first son, Ralph, the baby was born with his umbilical cord around his neck. In desperation, the nurses tried to deliver the boy and save his life. It took CPR to revive him, but in many ways it was too late. Having been starved of oxygen, Ralph suffered permanent brain damage.

Andy and Emanulla did their best to take care of baby Ralph as their faith was put on display before a watching community. Many other families in Haiti would have let Ralph starve, washing their hands of a disabled child. In Haiti there is no place to go, no help for “the least of these” in a country that is “the least of these.” But despite the best efforts of his parents, baby Ralph soon died.

Mike and Leah Warner, an American couple, were traveling on a short-term missions trip to Haiti when they heard Ralph’s story. Leah’s eyes filled with tears as she recalled her own daughter, Miriam. Leah had been pregnant with Miriam when she found out the baby was not forming correctly. The doctors suggested an abortion, and Leah refused, trusting that God was in control. When Miriam was born, the baby girl lived only a few hours. Moved by the two tragic deaths, NWHCM and the Warners founded in 2001 what would become the Miriam Center. It was originally dubbed Heaven’s Waiting Room, a place where severely disabled children could wait in comfort for their turn to enter Heaven.

To our great delight today, however, most children at the center are growing and thriving. Many of them may well live long lives under the mission’s care. There are currently 31 children in the program and some of these children came to us after the earthquake after being orphaned in Port-au-Prince. The hope is to grow the program by launching a new Bonneau Miriam Center Campus, which will provide for over 100 special-needs children in a one-of-a-kind home and therapy facility.

TwitChange: One of many exciting partnerships
In an effort to see the new Miriam Center grow and provide for as many special-needs children as possible, Northwest Haiti Christian Mission reached out to build partnerships with the Christian charities Orphan’s Promise, Kimmy’s House, and A Home in Haiti, among others. Each stepped up to the plate to raise funds to help Northwest move forward with this amazing opportunity.

Sometimes, a fundraiser is so unique that it begins to take on a life of its own. TwitChange, an initiative of A Home in Haiti, is one such fundraiser. It began when Shaun King, pastor at Courageous Church in Atlanta and the man behind A Home in Haiti, had an idea. What if he could utilize Twitter to raise money to help people in Haiti?  That idea grew into TwitChange, a celebrity tweet auction.

In TwitChange, bidders compete for the chance to have any of over 150 celebrities follow them, retweet them, or mention them on Twitter (some lucky winners even get all three). The first TwitChange auction took place in September, raising more than $540,000. All proceeds will go to A Home in Haiti to help Northwest Haiti Christian Mission build a new Miriam Center in Bonneau, Haiti.

TwitChange anticipates another celebrity auction during the holiday season.

Click here to learn more about the Miriam Center or make a gift directly to the ministry.

Watch Shaun King Interview :: Courtesy CNN

Northwest Haiti Christian Mission is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that aims to rescue others from hardship, restore families and communities to wholeness, and redeem lives to their full potential in Jesus’ name. For more than 30 years, NWHCM has demonstrated its commitment to help bring people out of spiritual, physical and social poverty.

By Andy Olsen, NWHCM Media Director

Tuesday, August 17, 2010 — American Marines, sailors, soldiers and airmen descended on Port-de-Paix and Saint-Louis du Nord in July during a large-scale humanitarian effort in partnership with Northwest Haiti Christian Mission.

As part of the military’s Operation Continuing Promise relief campaign, servicemen, civilian workers and NWHCM staff worked to treat more than 4,000 Haitians for medical problems between July 24 and August 3. Workers set up medical treatment sites in both Saint-Louis du Nord and Port-de-Paix.

NWHCM missionary Grant Roszkowiak stands at NWHCM's campus in Saint-Louis du Nord with a group of military servicemen from multiple countries, all participation in the U.S. military's Operation Continuing Promise campaign.

“The intent of this mission is to bring (Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines) from all over the region to provide fundamental medical, optometry and dental care to the folks in this region,” Navy Cmdr. Cyrus Rad said in a Marines press release. “We bring patients in and they choose which service they want whether its eyes, dental or medical, and we take care of them to the best of our ability.”

The mission also provided veterinarian service, with Army vets traveling throughout the streets of Port-de-Paix to screen and treat more than 440 animals.

At Northwest Haiti Christian Mission’s main campus in Saint-Louis du Nord, servicemen installed bathrooms in NWHCM’s surgery wing, wired portions of the baby orphanage, donated building supplies and assisted with other construction projects. They also donated pallets of medicines, school supplies, patient care packages and other supplies.

“The military loved it so much here they decided to stay! They came for two nights and were even at devotions,” said NWHCM Executive Director Janeil Owen. “They said they never have had an NGO of this caliber that welcomed them with such open arms and was ready to assist them at every corner. Anything they needed — from interpreters to junction boxes — we had it ready for them.”

Owen, along with NWHCM Lab and Pharmacy Director Maureen Moore and missionary Grant Roszkowiak, were flown by helicopter to visit the USS Iwo Jima, the aircraft carrier that was the staging ground for the civil-military operation. While there, they toured the ship and met with the U.S. ambassador to Haiti, Kenneth Merten.

Military members said they hope to return to the Northwest soon, possibly as early as December.

The band Seabird has quickly made its presence known on the national Christian music scene since its first album debuted in 2008. Since then, the Cincinnati-based group’s music has been featured on radio stations across the country and on television outlets including MTV, CBS and ABC (their songs have been used as themes in hit television series including Grey’s Anatomy, Pushing Daisies and Numb3rs). Seabird has toured solo and with groups including NeedToBreathe, David Crowder Band and Jars of Clay.

Morgan poses with children at Northwest Haiti Christian Mission. Photo courtesy Aaron Morgan.

In June, Seabird visited Northwest Haiti Christian Mission as part of a trip with Help Heal Haiti, a division of Northwest Haiti Christian Mission. The group visited NWHCM’s multi-faceted ministries and has been an advocate for the mission’s work at concerts and other venues. Seabird’s lead vocalist Aaron Morgan recently answered a few questions for Northwest Haiti Christian Mission’s media director Andy Olsen about their experience.

NWHCM: Why did Seabird decide to visit Haiti?
AM: My dad is a missionary and inspired me to go to Youth With A Mission right out of high school. YWAM is where I really fell in love with world missions and traveling abroad. When I started the band I had always hoped to use our music to get us into countries that might otherwise be closing their doors to Christianity. This is something I’m still very passionate about, so when the opportunity to go with HelpHealHaiti was presented I immediately wanted to make it work.

NWHCM: Was what you found in Haiti different than what you expected?
AM: I expected Haiti to be more island-ish, if you will. And it was in parts, but it reminded me a lot of Ghana, Africa. Not just because of the people but because of the way people live and work. The buildings and homes also reminded me of my time in Ghana. I also expected to see more of the Voodoo and spiritual oppression than we did. I can remember being in Malaysia and feeling a spiritual heaviness, but I didn’t experience that as much in Haiti. Even while visiting the Voodoo temple it seemed like more of a scam than anything real or powerful. Men were talking on their cell phones while accepting money from villagers waiting to pray to the voodoo doll they believe fell from the sky.

NWHCM: Tell about a moment of experience that you had in Haiti that was powerful for you or that made a lasting impression.
AM: When my wife Celeste and I visited the Miriam Center (special needs orphanage) for the first time it was difficult for me to hold back the tears. I was introduced to a little 4 year old girl who couldn’t walk or talk mostly because of malnourishment. My daughter London just turned 4 and my heart was broken thinking about what it must be like to have a disabled child because you don’t have enough food to keep them healthy. That was something I’ll never forget. The kids in the Miriam Center are so well taken care of, but the need there is still so great.

NWHCM: What, if any, plans does Seabird have for increased involvement in Haiti?
AM: We have been speaking about our trip to Haiti at our performances and have been selling HelpHealHaiti shirts to help support what the NWHCM is doing there. We’ll also be coordinating with HelpHealHaiti director Brent Bramer to organize a benefit concert later this year.

NWHCM: In what ways did the trip affect your faith or walk with God?
AM: This trip was an excellent reminder for me to be thankful to God for all the little things in life. It’s so incredibly easy to be ungrateful when things don’t go our way. But to see the way the Christians in Haiti give thanks to God for all things really puts things into perspective.

NWHCM: Bands and celebrities visit Haiti and other distressed countries all the time. Why do you think such visits are important? Does being a Christian band change the role that such a visit plays?
AM: I think if a band has a platform to share about the needs of a place like Haiti it can be very important. We obviously recognize that people in America already know Haiti needs help, but if we can show them how simply some of these needs can be met it might inspire more people to go for themselves and give. Being Christians in a band certainly does change the role or responsibility we have on a trip like this. We’re not there simply to give out food or to purify water, we’re there to save souls and to quench an everlasting thirst.