We Were Framed

Today we started framing the chicken coop. Some have nicked named it the "Yellow Flower Chicken Club", but I am not sure it will stick. It was quite an experience helping in the framing process as it was done in the traditional Haitian way, which is not always the same way you might do it in the US. But, as you can see we have support posts, cross beams, and the beginning of a roof line.

Our jobs today consisted of digging a lot of post holes, carrying cement, and some cutting of lumber. We were not expected to climb the 2x4 that they rested against the structure as a incline because there was no ladder.

Cement mixing in Haiti is still a very manual process. It is mixed on the ground by shovel by and individual who uses their experience to created the right mixture and consistency. Then the result is hand carried by buckets down to the work site. It is a very labor intensive process.


After the work day, showers and dinner we headed to the orphanage to spend some time with the kids and play some indoor games. Unfortunately the orphanage, much to our surprise, were not aware that we were coming. But, no worries, the we found our way inside and broke out some bead to make bracelets, a board game, twister, and the Polaroid camera.


It was a wonderful time of hugs and fun and I recognized a few faces from years past, most notably Edna. I believe I have mentioned Edna in my blog from past years and it was really good to see her again, but also a bit sad she is still not able to live with her parents as they, as I recall, do not have the funds to support her. Edna was special to me because her smile and the way she giggled is exactly how my middle daughter Emily smiles and giggles. If I could she would be coming home on the plane with me to join our family (guess I should have discussed that with the wife first, but as it is not possible I guess there is no harm done). The first picture above is Edna today. The second is Edna a few years ago.

A long but rewarding day. It will be interested to see what tomorrow holds.

Location:Ruelle P. Savain,Port-au-Prince,Haiti

Off To Work We Go

Today was the first full work day. It started off with a drive to the work site, which was about 20 minutes away. It was not quite what I expected, it was a compound that was being used by a Pastor who runs a school and who took over her husband's church when he was killed in the earthquake.
We were shown an area in the corner of the compound that was covered in brush and trash and our first task was to clear the area. This would have been a little easier if we had tools for every worker and the proper tools, but neither of those wants were available.




Sometime after we started clearing the area the trucks started to come. These trucks always bring bad news as it always requires heavy lifting. The first truck contained cinder blocks which were first offloaded and then moved 25 feet or so to their temporary destination. Soon after that the lumber truck came and that had to be offloaded as well.




By the end of the day we were all very tired and dirty, but we had made a lot of progress, including clearing the area, and digging a one foot trench around the area. To dig the trench we had to first use a pick to break the ground and break the roots. This was followed by using shovels to dig out the rubble.
The area is about 20x20 feet and is meant to be able to hold enough hens to produce about 500 eggs a day.




There was one hen and chicks in the yard. I guess they will soon have a lot of friends. All in all it was a good work day and we accomplished quite a lot, although there is much more to complete tomorrow.

Location:Ruelle P. Savain,Port-au-Prince,Haiti

Whew, It Was Only A Short Service

Today is Sunday and that means it was off to church in the morning. For those of you in the US that start to get uncomfortable when the service runs over by 10 or 15 minutes, then I recommend you don't attend a Haitian service. Today's was about 3 and 1/2 hours.

Now don't get me wrong, that does not mean that it was boring and we were all falling asleep. There were some great choirs including a group of young men that sang two songs about faith. The sermon was given by Pastor Ronel and spoke to how with God's grace we can live the right life even if we have made mistakes in the past. At the end of the service Pastor Ronel asked people to come up that we're ready to ask for forgiveness and strive to live right. About 30 to 40 mostly young people came up on their knees and were prayed over. Very powerful and moving.


Outside the Church, actually before the service, we spent some time meeting the local community. One of our group brought a Polaroid camera which was a great idea. She was able to take photos of the kids and some adults and then give the photos to them. It was great seeing their expressions when they first saw their image appear. There are not a lot of mirrors in Haiti and many of these kids, while they have seen digital images or themselves, have not had a photograph of themselves. Polaroid camera ... again, what a great idea.


After lunch, a delicious mixture of peanut butter and jelly along with chips and cookies, we walked to the near by orphanage for a quick visit. We brought balls, frisbees, and bubbles, but I think what most captivated the children was the singing and guitar playing. Even with the language barriers the kids were able to join in on the chorus.


Not only were the kids that were crowded around the guitar singing and dancing, but so were the kids playing the other games. As they were throwing things they would stop every now and again and sing and dance where they were. It was a good end for the day and I am very grateful for the singing talent in this group, of which I have none.

We will see what tomorrow brings as we start the day with a trip to the supply store to shop for chicken farm supplies. How hard can it be to build a box around a bird ....

Location:Ruelle P. Savain,Port-au-Prince,Haiti

Getting to Know You

The Port-au-Prince airport is much improved since I was here last (March 2012). They now have their gangways working and you know longer have to take the shuttle bus from the airplane to the terminal. I was pleasantly surprised.

The rest of the airport is pretty much the same. I was able to find the rest of the group quite easily, or rather they found me. And once I realized I was at the wrong baggage carousel and got to the correct one, I was able to find my bag without a problem. (btw, all the tools and odd shapes in my checked bag caught the interest of the TSA and they went through the bag and then put it back together). But the good news is that everything was there and nothing went missing.

We did a quick meet and greet at the airport, purchased a SIM card for the phone, and then were off to run the gauntlet of people trying to "help" you with your bags all with the expectation of a tip at the end. There was a lot of shouting "no mesi" and I think we made it through with only two hanger ons. (I believe "mesi" is the correct spelling in Haitian Creole.

We packed the cars and heads for the guest house. It is quite a nice quest house and there were a few other groups including a "strength" group, which go around breaking and bending things as well as preaching the gospel. I saw a video of them once visiting a school, but I can't find it fit now.

We also had a very nice dinner and some group time to help us get to know each other. The group from the right coast brought a guitar along with talent so we had some good music tonight and were able to practice for our song during the church service tomorrow, during which I will be mouthing "watermelon". We were also lucky to hear some other tunes include one of from Bob Marley's.

Tried to clean up a bit tonight, but there was no water. It was unclear if that is because they ran out or because a lack of power somewhere. There is no central water system in PaP. No worries, it is what it is and if nothing else there are wet wipes to deal with it in the morning.

Well, it is time for bed, so please forgive any mistakes as I am too tired to deal with it.

Location:Ruelle P. Savain,Port-au-Prince,Haiti

Travel Day

Don't let anyone ever tell you it is easy to get from San Jose, California to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Well, I guess it is easy, it just takes a long time, particularly when you are attempting to time your arrival time with people coming from other locations.

I am at the airport now, doing a lot of what I will be doing over the next 18 hours or so, waiting. I fly from San Jose, CA to Los Angeles, CA. Wait. Then to New York. Wait. Then to PaP to arrive tomorrow at about 2 in the afternoon local time. So the leg from LAX to JFK is a red eye.

It doesn't feel like I have had as much time to sit and contemplate this years trip as I have in the past. Perhaps that is the purpose God has put this waiting in my path. It gives me time to sit and get in the right frame of mind.

This year we will be visiting and working at the orphanage that we have come along side of the past two years to help construct a chicken farm. The chickens will bring the children needed food as well as allow the orphanage to sell any extra to help support its needs.

I miss my family already, but am looking forward to seeing friends in PaP as well as meeting the rest of the team. Safe travels to the rest of the team and see you tomorrow in PaP ... save me a seat on the back of the truck.

Location:Airport Blvd,San Jose,United States

Haiti January 2013

Chicken Run Haiti Logo Designed
by my daughter Christine

I have found myself thinking about Haiti a lot lately. Some of this is caused, I am sure, by the fact that I am planning to go back to Haiti on January 12, part of this is, I am sure, that Haiti never completely leaves my mind.

This year, as you should know if you have spoken to me about the trip, we will be focused on construction of a chicken farm at the orphanage we have been working with over the last couple of years. I am a bit nervous about this because I literally have no experience with chickens other than thinking they taste good deep fried or rotisserie.

If you do feel moved to help me out either in prayer or financially for this trip any and all help is appreciated. If you are moved to help financially I have placed the details at the end of the post.

When I think of the orphanage we will be helping I wonder if Evan will still be there. He is the boy that helped me out last year while I was building kites. I remember him for several reasons including him helping to make Haitian kites the "right way" as well as him helping all the of kids at the orphanage as well. I remember that when one of the smaller children broke their kite he quickly and willing offered his. I wondering if I could be as giving in the same circumstances. Great kid, I hope and pray he is well.

I wish I could explain my pull to Haiti, I have tried, but the words really don't come. It is mostly just a pull I can't resist. If I could explain it better perhaps I would make more sense to my wife and kids. Until I am able I suppose I will have to accept their patience; as they have been very patient and understanding. I was hoping that I would be able to share Haiti with some of them this year, but I don't think it is going to work out. There is another trip in March, mostly medical, maybe things will change by then.

It will be good to see old friends when I get back to Haiti. I have been watching them afar via Facebook, but it will be good to greet them in person again. It will also be good to make new friends, both locals and those I will meet from other states that are participating in the mission trip. Now that I live in CA I do have a chance to meet anyone on the trip before touching down in Haiti. It is interesting flying solo into Port-au-Prince. Mostly there are groups that fly into Haiti, in my experience, along with people who have family. I am one of the few people, without family in Haiti, who travel alone. It is a different experience as you see groups chatting about going down either for the first time or that have been going down far long than I have.

I do look forward to going to Haiti. I miss my family terribly when I am away from them, but this trip, as opposed to other trips, somehow better justifies that time away. The hardest part about being away from them on this trip is I am not able to share the events as they happen.

If you have made it this far through today's rambling and you still are interested in helping with the trip financially, you can send any thing you can spare to the following address. Please also let me know in an email (davidk.bainbridge@gmail.com) so I can personally contact you and thank you as well. If you do send a check in please put in the memo that it is for David Bainbridge.

Please make out your check to "Union Church" and mail it to

Union Church
C/O Jonathan Wright-Gray
PO Box 7028
Ocean Park Maine, 04063

God Bless.

Chicken Run - Haiti

It has been nearly three years since an earthquake struck Haiti. And while there has been progress there is much more that needs to be done. Even before the quake Haiti was one of the poorest countries in the world and in the 2012 rankings it remains on that list. Haiti continues to need help and while I am not foolish enough to believe my traveling to Haiti every year effects the "big picture", I do pray that what I do contributes in the slightest bit. I suspect that I get more from my work in Haiti than I give.

Condemned, but still in use

I am planning to travel to Haiti again this January. The purpose of this trip will be to help construct a chicken farm at the orphanage we first visited two years ago. At that time the orphanage was housed in a condemned building. They had little food and water. The children were not able to have food every day and the person running the orphanage had to turn children out at night for fear of being shut down by the government because they were only allowed 60 children at night.

New, more permanent housing

 The next year when we visited the orphanage it had a permanent building with a much better water supply. The food, while not plentiful, was much more consistent and the children were getting some education as the orphanage had an attached school. Durning the morning the school taught paying children and in the afternoon it was open to the children of the orphanage.

As I prepare to travel to Haiti for the fourth time, I again ask for your help. I am seeking donations to help cover the cost of the trip and supplies. The cost of the trip is approximately $2000 including travel, housing, food, supplies, payment to local translators and drivers.

I would appreciate any help people can give. I promise to post pictures and stories from the trip as I have in the past so that you can see how your contributions are being used. Please take some time to read my past blogs from Haiti, as I hope it will give you a "taste" or what your contributions help and also what Haiti means to my heart. You can also see a video of my first trip to the Dominican Republic and Haiti about two months after earth quake on at http://vimeo.com/10870243.

If you are able to contribute you can send checks payable to "Union Church" and mail them to

Haiti c/o Wright-Gray

PO Box 7028

Ocean Park Maine 04063

Please put "Haiti" in the check memo and if you want to donate to support me, as opposed to generally support the trip, please also include my name, "David Bainbridge" in the check memo.

Even though I now live in California, I continue to work with east coast friends on these trips. If you have any questions or simply want to talk about the past or future work in Haiti I would be more than happy to speak with you about it. You can post to my Facebook page or email me at davidk.bainbridge@gmail.com.