This calendar is designed for the families of Trinity Church to follow during the summer as a means of learning about and collecting coins for La Gonave, Haiti. The children of Trinity will focus all their mission programs for the 2010-2011 program year for the people of this very poor island. The Presbyterian Church (USA) has had a long partnership with the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti on La Gonave and our Presbytery is part of the La Gonave Partnership. Trinity's Mission Council will be supporting the nutrition program at St. Francis School in La Gonave and the children of Trintiy will be learning about Haiti, La Gonave, and collecting money and items for these chidlren this year. So designate a collection spot in your home, pick a day on the calendar below, read the information about La Gonave and Haiti, and start giving your coins. There are 28 days on this calendar. Try to complete all 28 days between now and October 3. Don't forget to pray for our brothers and sisters in Haiti.
Generous and loving God, we thank you for your love and care for us. You have blessed us with [recount some of your household's blessings and gifts]. You call us to share our blessings - to remember to do good and to share what we have. Today we offer a gift of a few coins as missionaries to our world, and pray especially for the country to Haiti and the island of La Gonave. We ask that you would strengthen them, bless their lives, provide them with the assistance they need, and show them, Jesus, your love. Help us to see the needs aroundus today and to show your love through our actions. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
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Week 1 |
Week 2 |
Week 3 |
Week 4 |
| Sunday |
LaGonave is a mountainous island with a population of 100,000 located 45 miles off the coast of mainland Haiti. Look at the clock and then find Haiti on a map. Give 1 coin for each minute it took for you to find the location of this country |
In Haiti, 42% of the people are under the age of 14. Give 3 coins for each member of your family who is under the age of 14. |
Beatitudes, Inc. works with the women's vocational program in sewing, embroidery and beadwork to develop handcrafted goods and to build a market for the products. Give 1 coin for each tablecloth in your home. |
Water Cooperative at Nouvelle Cite serves families in the surrounding areas by providing drinkable, fresh water at 2 community fountains and a well at the clinic. Give 1 coin for each time you used water today. |
| Monday |
The life expectancy in Haiti is only 49.5 years. Give enough coins to make 49 cents. |
Haiti declared its independence in 1804. Add up the numbers 1+8+0+4 and then give that number of coins |
Only 50% of the children in Haiti go to school Give 1 coin for each student in your class at school. |
Using micro-credit loands, women in Haiti are starting small businesses to buy food and medicine and to send their children to school. Give 1 coin for each place your family shops today |
| Tuesday |
The Haitian flag looks like this. Give 5 coins for each flag you have seen today.
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The island of La Gonave is accessible only by a 2 hour boat ride from the Haitian mainland. Give 1 coin for each boat ride that you or a member of your family has been on. |
In Haiti, 42% of children under 5 are malnourished. Give 2 coins for each meal or snack you eat today . |
In Haiti, less than 20% of the schools have electricity; 39% have potable (drinkable) water; 15% have a library. Give 1 coin for the number of library books you have at your house right now. |
| Wednesday |
The averag eincome in Haiti is $440 a year or $1.20 per day. Have a discussion with your family about what an "average income" is and then give $1.20 in coins. |
Nearly 8% of the babies born in Haiti do not survive. Give 8 coins. |
There are over 150,000 AIDS orphans (children who do not have parents to take care of them because they are ill or have died from the disease AIDS) in Haiti. Give 2 coins for each parent and grandparent you have. |
The La Gonave Goat Project trains farmers how to raise goats. Give 1 coin for each pet in your home. |
| Thursday |
40% of the Haitian population does not have access to a doctor on a regular basis for check-ups (primary health care physician). Give coins to equal to the number of people you know who are doctors. |
The Children's Nutrition Program in La Gonave provides beans and rice fortified with protein supplements to malnourished children. Give enough coins to equal the amount of your weight. |
In La Gonave they want to expand the garden in Nouvelle Cite and provide training in proper agricultural techniques to surrounding communities. Give 3 coins for each fruit or vegetable you eat today. |
One-third of girls over 6 years old never go to school in Haiti. Give 6 coins. |
| Friday |
Ten schools have been established by the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti in communities scattered across La Gonave. A total of 165 teachers serve 2900 students from kindergarten through high schooo. Give 1 coin for each year you have been in school. |
Haiti's next door neighbor is the Dominican REpublic. These two countries share the island of Hispaniola. How many letters are in the words "Dominican Republic"? Give 1 coin for each letter. |
Haiti's capital is Port-Au-Prince. There are 1,500,000 who live there. Give 1 coin for every capital city you can name. |
In Haiti, the literacy rate (percentage of people who can read) is 45%. Give the number of coins that it would take to equal 100%. |
| Saturday |
The Presbytery of Greater Atlanta (the Presbyterian region Trinity belongs) is a partner with the programs to help the people of La Gonave, Haiti. Give 1 coin for each year you have been coming to Trinity Church. |
The La Gonave Community Health Workers Program now has 21 health workers trained in preventative healthcare, serving between 750-1000 villagers, providing basic healthcare, nutritional education and immunizations /vaccinations. Give 21 cents in coins. |
80-85% of the people of Haiti are unemployed. Give 85 cents in coins. |
A large earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, 2010 at 4:53 p.m. near the capital city of Port-Au-Prince. 3 million people had need (medical, food, shelter) after the earthquake. Give all the coins you can find. |
