Immersion Trip June 2017 – by Janice Taylor

I have been to Haiti many, many times since my first church mission trip in 2004. But the Global Birthing Home Foundation Immersion trip in June 2017 was my first visit to Maison de Naissance (MN).  Seeing the steady flow of women in the waiting room showed just how important this institution is to the community. We visited with Directrice Rosena Baptiste and she was able to answer many questions for us.

I was so impressed with the layout of rooms for their multiple services. They even considered privacy concerns by making a separate building for HIV counseling. The expansive land behind the birthing center was full of okra and this helps provide some food resources for staff as well as  a small amount of income for the center.

Maison de Naissance is so well connected to the community. My highlight was seeing over 100 women gather at the gazebo shelter at MN to listen and brainstorm about potential business creation with Kathy and Benson, who run successful artisan businesses in Gonaives, Haiti.

Leading up to our MN visit, we saw the beautiful landscape of Haiti’s south and enjoyed the bustling of the capital, Port au Prince. Visiting the National Museum for my 2^nd time still left a desire to spend more time there. From a mountaintop view of the capital and surrounding area to a beach side hotel in Jacmel, we saw the stunning beauty of this country. The company was great as well. I cannot wait to go again.