Just Got Back?

Know Before You Go

We are so excited that you are coming to Haiti with RMI! We can't wait to welcome you here in Haiti!

Here are some things that we think you might want to know as you make last minute preparations.

We recommend that you get to know RMI before you arrive.

If you haven't already, surf around our website to check us out.
Among other things, check out the RMI Haiti Team page to get to know who you will likely meet once you've arrived with RMI in Haiti.
Want to see where you are going and the location of all of RMI's partners in Haiti? Check out our RMI Map.

Although the following information is available in our Training Manuals, we want to highlight some information just before you go.

Dress Code in Haiti
As a reminder, the general rule for most events and activities is that men should always wear pants and ladies should always wear a skirt (no shorter then knee length) and top that covers their shoulders. Ties for men in church services are suggested for team members, but only required if you are preaching. During moments of relaxation at Zanglais Ministry Center, while in Cayes with the missionaries, while resting on the front porch at your Sister church, or doing physical work projects, shorts are acceptable. Note, that during hard physical labor, it’s your decision, but we suggest pants for safety reasons.

Gifts and Blessings
It would be customary and culturally appropriate for you to be prepared to bless certain people at your Sister Church with a gift. Here in Haiti, gift giving must be done in a very careful and culturally relevant manner, always in private, always through the pastor and deacons, and always in the presence of an RMI Staff member. It would be very customary to give a gift to the 1. pastor and his wife, 2. each deacon, and 3. the Ladies Hosting Group that will cook/clean/serve/host you while you are at your Sister Church, 4. satellite church pastors, 5. widows and shut-Ins, and 6. the church at-large. Here are some ideas on how to bless these people.

Pastor and deacon's - tie, dress shirt, tool set, Leatherman, flashlight, batteries, radio, French Bible study resources (pastor), cash, your church branded Items (mugs, shirts, hats, etc).
Pastor’s wife - bed sheets, towels, dishes, utensils, pots and pans, fabric, first aid supplies, your church branded items (mugs, shirts, hats, etc).
Ladies Hosting Group - easiest would be one gift of about $150 for them to throw a party and celebrate/have fun, or decorative bags, aprons, your church branded Items (mugs, shirts, hats, etc). You can expect this group of ladies to be 25 or less people.
Satellite churches’ pastor and wife - same list as above. Typically you will visit 1-2 satellite churches while you are there.
Widows and shut-Ins - box of food (available from RMI for $30), or some other item. Typically you will visit about 5-10 homes.
Church at large - it would be a nice gesture to bring musical instruments, soccer and other balls for the youth group, jump ropes, school supplies for the school, Bibles and songbooks, etc.

Airport and Transportation in Country

Each person must be prepared to pay the $10 Tourist Fee. You need to cash ready to pay this. It is collected before you go through immigration.
Immigration officials will tear off and stamp the green card at the bottom of your immigration form and return it to you. You will need this to exit the country. Keep it with your passport.
An RMI Driver will meet you OUTSIDE of the airport.
On the INSIDE of the airport, porters, or baggage handlers, will want your business to help you get your bags out to our vehicle. You can say no firmly if you don't want help, but it will be difficult to avoid using them. Don't get frustrated or mad, it is just the way it works in Haiti. If you do want help, look for and pick someone who can be your "boss". RMI has a porter inside the airport we typically work with, but we are unable to enter inside ourselves. We can't promise he'll always be available, but feel free to ask for "Ronald". See picture below. Make sure the other porters that may also want to help know that that one man is your “boss”. Once you find our RMI Driver with an official ID badge outside, identify the boss and RMI will pay the boss. If they ask for money from you, and they likely will, just say RMI, or no. They may ask to be paid inside. Say no. RMI will pay the boss outside, and the boss pays the others that helped.

All team members should use the restroom in the airport before you exit as there is a long drive ahead. There is a restroom by immigration and another by the luggage carousels.
Proceed toward Baggage and collect your bags. If you feel you need them, and you probably will, you can rent luggage carts for $3 US each. Don't leave anything unattended. You will need to present your airline supplied luggage tickets in order to exit.
After you have all your bags, collect your customs forms (half white sheet) in one pile. You will present these and exit as a group. Stick together. They may randomly search some bags. They will likely ask if you have medicines. They mean medicines for distribution. Personal medication is not included.
Which RMI Driver will pick you up? Outside of a very unique situation, it will either be Naga, Frantz, John, or Marcel. Here are their pictures.

In a very unique and unlikely situation (like if we had trouble on the road and couldn’t get to the airport in time), you may alternatively be met by our taxi driver named Nader, or Nader’s brother named Johnson. These are very good men you can trust. If for some reason an RMI Staff member, Nader nor Johnson are not there, don't go with anyone else. Just wait under the covered walkway or outside the airport door. RMI will find you. You can call Lee’s cell phone, 4637-7012 or Benjamin’s cell phone, 3882-4895. If you are calling on a US cell phone, add 011-509 to the front of these #’s. Don’t count on your US phone working in Haiti. Feel free to offer a couple dollars to use someone’s Haitian cell phone.
You will be taking RMI’s vehicles, from Port-au-Prince to the RMI Zanglais Ministry Center. It’s about a 4 hour trip. The bus/vehicles will make as many stops as your team needs (typically one stop about halfway). Depending upon your arrival time, you may or may not be provided a sandwich meal. We suggest bringing some healthy finger foods that you can eat in the vehicles while traveling (granola, Clif Bars, nuts, trail-mix, cut veggies, Pringles, apples, etc). RMI covers all your expenses in Haiti. Note: On your departure day, the last meal provided by RMI will be breakfast before you leave RMI’s Zanglais Ministry Center. You may want to be prepared to purchase lunch in the Port-au-Prince airport before you board your plane back to the U.S.