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A TRIP TO CODEP AT
L’ACUL
HAITI
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 It is our pleasure to welcome you to spend a week at our mission
facility in L’Acul Haiti. We hope that your desire is
to learn about the Haitian culture and to explore how God wants
to use you to build God’s kingdom. This booklet is designed
to help you understand what to expect when you get here. It
is our desire that your mission group meet ahead several times
so you will arrive ready to learn, work, and have a great time
with us.
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TRAVEL
American Airlines from Miami, Ft, Lauderdale, or New
York is the best international carrier into Haiti. You need
to check with the airlines as your departure date approaches
about new travel restrictions and luggage allowances. Everyone
is required to have a valid US passport. There are no medical
restrictions to enter Haiti, but we highly recommend that
you have a current tetanus shot. Some people take hepatitis
shots, but it is not required. Malaria pills are also a choice,
but if you use lots of mosquito repellant, it should not
be a problem. We request that your arrival time into Haiti
be in the morning or very early afternoon, since travel after
dark is not wise. After you reach Port au Prince, there is
a 2-3 hour drive by closed van to the L’Acul countryside.
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ACCOMMODATIONS
The facility at L’Acul has 4 bedrooms
and 4 separate bathrooms. The guest fee is $40 per
night, per guest, with a one-time $50 charge for group transportation
to and from the airport in Port au Prince.
Two of the rooms sleep 3 people per room, and the other two
sleep 2. The maximum number of people on a team is 10 people
with no exceptions. There is a great room where you can visit
and eat. The guest accommodations are all on the 2nd level,
so guests must be able to climb stairs. Linens are furnished
during your stay.
Our home is
powered 24/7 by a generator, solar panels, and an inverter.
It is important that everyone understand that we must always
conserve energy. We ask that you not bring curling irons,
hair dryers, radios, or PCs on your mission trip. Plan to
enjoy the freedom of the island lifestyle!
The CODEP compound is blessed to be located on a beautiful
beach. You will have ample time to swim, view the coral reef,
or take walks on the beach, so come prepared with the proper
clothing and equipment. We do have several masks, snorkels,
fins, and beach shoes (which you will need because of sea
urchins). We will be attending the Epiphany (pronounced Epi
Phane) Episcopal church across the road from the compound.
You will enjoy this service and the lovely people who attend.
The service is not too long, so come and enjoy a Haitian
church service that will both delight and inspire you. This
is a great time to meet many of our neighbors. Pray about
how your offering might be a blessing to this small congregation.
Bring your Bible with you to use on your trip as God reveals
new insights to you.
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 Each evening we will all have “show and tell.” We
will debrief you on what happened during the day and make our
plans for the next. This is a special time for groups to bond
and to get to understand each other better. The host missionaries
lead this time. When it is time for bed, we ask that you respect
the whole staff who will be sleeping close by. Our facility
is on the National Highway #2, a very busy road. You will hear
traffic 24/7, so if you are a light sleeper, bring ear plugs.
Please be careful if you are out and about when we take walks
and see the sights near L’Acul.
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CULTURE
Haiti is the first nation in the western hemisphere
that was founded by freed slaves.  There has always been a
struggle by the Haitian people as they work to become independent
and selfreliant. Today, they remain the poorest country in
our hemisphere. The current president is Rene Preval. Creole
is the language of the peasants, while French is the language
of the elite, however many Haitians can converse in English.
Students must take Spanish, French, Creole, and English if
they enroll in school.
The mountain people who comprise the
leadership and workers of CODEP are intelligent and resourceful,
even though many cannot read or write. They are self-motivated
and very proud of what they have worked together to accomplish.
We hope that you will be inspired by their example as we
show you what has been done over the past 15 years and is
continuing today. Mountains that were once barren are coming
to life with vegetation and trees. Gardens are now growing
where nothing has grown for decades. CODEP workers, (and
there are more than 600), take pride in saying that they
are changing Haiti, not just for their lifetime, but for
generations to come!
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FOOD
You will get the chance to go with us to market nearby
our home. This is the most fun! Just like in exotic movies,
you will get to buy from local merchants who operate food
stands along the road. You will get to spend Haitian gourdes
(that’s
the local currency) and buy something perhaps you have never
seen before, like militon or corosal. (You’ll learn
what these are after you arrive)! 
Food at the mission is
really fresh and good! Our Haitian cook (along with us) will
provide 3 great meals a day for you. We will be asking each
team member to help out by bringing a few designated items,
which we will convey to you via e-mail closer to the time
of your arrival here. Please plan to keep one of your check-in
bags free to bring in supplies for us and maybe the project.
(The current limit per passenger is 50 pounds per passenger
for checked baggage, and 40 pounds per passenger for carry-on
baggage).
We have excellent clean, treated water here. Bring
an empty water bottle to fill and carry with you. Of course,
we ask that you help us conserve water when showering. Water
is in high demand everywhere in Haiti. You will see this
as we tour the mountain cistern projects.
You will have many
chances to purchase Cokes etc. close to the compound. Please
do not plan on using our refrigerators for anything other
than necessary medications. We will promise you good cold
drinking water at all times, and great fresh fruit drinks
at most meals.
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CLOTHING
Haiti is in the subtropics, so bring lightweight clothing.
Try to bring enough for the entire time. If it becomes necessary
to wash your clothing to get you through the week, we will
help you wash your articles and you may dry them a la solar,
which we have lots of! 
Dress for men and boys should include
at least one long pair of pants for church. Walking shorts,
T-shirts, and short-sleeved shirts should get you through
fine. If you know you will be doing construction work, you
may choose to bring a pair or two of jeans.
Women and girls
may wear walking- length shorts most of the time. However,
you might consider a skirt or two. If you walk in the project,
remember there are no toilet facilities, so lifting a skirt
off the trail is less revealing than having to pull down
your shorts! Of course, bring a nice church dress for Sunday.
It is hot, so short sleeved or sleeveless blouses are best.
Everyone should bring good, supportive walking shoes that
can take them into the project, market, or on long hikes
around the neighborhood and beach.
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PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS
Because of the nature of the CODEP
work, it is imperative that all visitors be in good physical
health. You will need to be able to walk, climb, and ride
in the truck. You will need to be free from breathing problems
or excess allergies, since there can be places that  are dusty
and hot. You will need to be able to reside on the 2nd floor
at the L’Acul guest house.
AGE REQUIREMENTS
We have agreed that
anyone who is under the age of 18 must be accompanied by
an older adult who will be responsible for the conduct and
security of the minor. We encourage youth visiting, and think
that multi-generational teams have great advantages.
PROJECTS
Teams must decide what they might be capable of doing while
they are at L’Acul.
Options might include medical, construction, masonry, teaching
(this could go beyond school teaching, perhaps teaching a
skill, like sewing, cooking, art, woodworking, plumbing,
painting etc.) Once your team has decided on their specific
work project, we will help you to plan the costs and offer
suggestions on raising funds if necessary.
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