About Damou Christian Mission

Come visit us and see the impact your sponsorship has on the lives of these children. To plan a trip, send an email to info@damou.org.

Passport: If you don't have one, get one. This needs to be taken care of before doing anything else.
Shots and immunization: Check with your doctor. If you are healthy, we suggest an up to date tetanus shot and malaria tablets. The malaria tablets need to start a week before you leave and end a week after you come home. You should also start vaccination for hepatitis b. This needs to be started before you go, but can be completed after you come home.
Airline tickets: These should be purchased as soon as possible. If you are flying American Airlines, which your flight from Miami to Haiti will probably be, please open an American Airlines advantage account. This must be done before purchasing your tickets. Then when you purchase your tickets, give your account number to receive frequent flyer miles. After they are credited to your account, you can transfer or assign them to Tina to assist her with flight costs.
Miami hotel: Depending on your flight schedule, you may need to secure a hotel in Miami for a layover the night before you fly to Haiti. Some people don't mind staying in the airport itself, but the layover time can be as much as eight hours.
Haitian hotel: Depending on your flight schedule, you may need a hotel in Port-au-Prince the night before you leave.
Airport fees: When leaving Haiti, you will be charged an airport exit fee. This fee is $30 in U.S. currency. You will not be able to leave the country without a receipt for these fees. Tina can assist in changing your currency to Haitian before you leave.
Living expenses: We ask that each person donate $125 per week to cover food and fuel expenses while there. It is asked that we have this money two weeks in advance, so as Tina may purchase the food in advance.
Housekeeping: We ask that you decide among your group how this will be handled. The cooking and cleaning during the time you are there is your responsibility. This also includes laundry.
Clothing:

(a) Women: Common sense needs to be used in the selection of clothes to wear. Women can wear shorts or skorts, but only at the mission house. When going out in public, women need to wear skirts or dresses. Women should wear modest clothing. No sleeveless dresses are permitted at church. No spaghetti straps. When swimming, a one-piece swimming suit is appropriate, if you have a 2 piece then a cover-up should be worn. No tongue rings. If you have other body parts that are pierced that are visible, then those rings will need to be removed also.

(b) Men: The men cannot wear earrings nor tongue rings. If you have other visible body parts pierced, then those rings will need to be removed also. You need to take good clothes that you can wear to church. It is considered offensive to wear jeans to church No shorts are permitted in the worship services. It is recommended that the men wear a dress shirt and tie, dress pants, and dress shoes.

(c) General: The mission has a washing machine so you will be able to wash clothes while in Haiti. It is also a good idea to take a hat. The sun is very hot in southern Haiti, and you don't want to have a heat stroke. We ask that men don't wear speedo's and women don't wear thongs. Remember, everything you wear is a reflection on the mission and God's work here.
Visiting and traveling in Haiti: It is imperative that you explain to Tina what you would like to do, and where you want to go. These people speak very little English, and miscommunication is quite common. If you choose to evangelize to some of the people, go over your plan with Tina first and get her approval. Tina wants to work with you, not against you, and cooperation is very important. You should also be sure not to travel out by yourself, especially at night. It is best to always travel in groups. We are her guests, and we need to show respect to her and her wishes. We can destroy in one trip what has taken Tina years to accomplish in this ministry.
Luggage: We commonly try to ship in as many supplies as we can from the states. This keeps down the cost of being in Haiti. It also affords us the ability to have things that we are use to having, but are not available in Haiti. To accomplish this, we ask that people going in use duffle bags to put their clothes in, and take them on as carry-on luggage. Then we can use the checked baggage to send containers of products needed in Haiti.
Church: This is an active church style. There is a lot of singing and special music by individuals. It is considered polite to ask visitors to share in this special music. If you can, prepare some singing for the church time, whether it is individuals or groups. They don't care that it is in English, they just enjoy the praise that is given to the lord. There are no instruments available, so accapella is the best. The minister may also be asked to deliver a message. This message should be written out, so Tina can interpret it to the people.



Trip Information Come visit us and see the impact your sponsorship has on the lives of these children. To plan a trip, send an email to info@damou.org. Planning a trip? Here are some useful guidelines: Passport: If you don't have one, get one. This needs to be taken care of before doing anything else. Shots and immunization: Check with your doctor. If you are healthy, we suggest an up to date tetanus shot and malaria tablets. The malaria tablets need to start a week before you leave and end a week after you come home. You should also start vaccination for hepatitis b. This needs to be started before you go, but can be completed after you come home. Airline tickets: These should be purchased as soon as possible. If you are flying American Airlines, which your flight from Miami to Haiti will probably be, please open an American Airlines advantage account. This must be done before purchasing your tickets. Then when you purchase your tickets, give your account number to receive frequent flyer miles. After they are credited to your account, you can transfer or assign them to Tina to assist her with flight costs. Miami hotel: Depending on your flight schedule, you may need to secure a hotel in Miami for a layover the night before you fly to Haiti. Some people don't mind staying in the airport itself, but the layover time can be as much as eight hours. Haitian hotel: Depending on your flight schedule, you may need a hotel in Port-au-Prince the night before you leave. Airport fees: When leaving Haiti, you will be charged an airport exit fee. This fee is $30 in U.S. currency. You will not be able to leave the country without a receipt for these fees. Tina can assist in changing your currency to Haitian before you leave. Living expenses: We ask that each person donate $125 per week to cover food and fuel expenses while there. It is asked that we have this money two weeks in advance, so as Tina may purchase the food in advance. Housekeeping: We ask that you decide among your group how this will be handled. The cooking and cleaning during the time you are there is your responsibility. This also includes laundry. Clothing: (a) Women: Common sense needs to be used in the selection of clothes to wear. Women can wear shorts or skorts, but only at the mission house. When going out in public, women need to wear skirts or dresses. Women should wear modest clothing. No sleeveless dresses are permitted at church. No spaghetti straps. When swimming, a one-piece swimming suit is appropriate, if you have a 2 piece then a cover-up should be worn. No tongue rings. If you have other body parts that are pierced that are visible, then those rings will need to be removed also. (b) Men: The men cannot wear earrings nor tongue rings. If you have other visible body parts pierced, then those rings will need to be removed also. You need to take good clothes that you can wear to church. It is considered offensive to wear jeans to church No shorts are permitted in the worship services. It is recommended that the men wear a dress shirt and tie, dress pants, and dress shoes. (c) General: The mission has a washing machine so you will be able to wash clothes while in Haiti. It is also a good idea to take a hat. The sun is very hot in southern Haiti, and you don't want to have a heat stroke. We ask that men don't wear speedo's and women don't wear thongs. Remember, everything you wear is a reflection on the mission and God's work here. Visiting and traveling in Haiti: It is imperative that you explain to Tina what you would like to do, and where you want to go. These people speak very little English, and miscommunication is quite common. If you choose to evangelize to some of the people, go over your plan with Tina first and get her approval. Tina wants to work with you, not against you, and cooperation is very important. You should also be sure not to travel out by yourself, especially at night. It is best to always travel in groups. We are her guests, and we need to show respect to her and her wishes. We can destroy in one trip what has taken Tina years to accomplish in this ministry. Luggage: We commonly try to ship in as many supplies as we can from the states. This keeps down the cost of being in Haiti. It also affords us the ability to have things that we are use to having, but are not available in Haiti. To accomplish this, we ask that people going in use duffle bags to put their clothes in, and take them on as carry-on luggage. Then we can use the checked baggage to send containers of products needed in Haiti. Church: This is an active church style. There is a lot of singing and special music by individuals. It is considered polite to ask visitors to share in this special music. If you can, prepare some singing for the church time, whether it is individuals or groups. They don't care that it is in English, they just enjoy the praise that is given to the lord. There are no instruments available, so accapella is the best. The minister may also be asked to deliver a message. This message should be written out, so Tina can interpret it to the people.