Hi Ryan and Melissa,
Hope you didn’t get too flooded by the hurricane and that things are drying out.
I met you briefly at Kaliko on July 4 (my wife and I have 2 kids we are in the process of adopting). Your blog is very helpful and informative! I had some questions about cell phones in Haiti. We are coming again next weekend and I just want to verify a few things. Can you please email me back when you get a chance? …Thanks!
I am planing my fourth trip to the village of Bassin in the Artibonite Department. I will be traveling in January with two others. I hope to arrange transportation so the pastor of our sister parish does not need to borrow a vehicle and make the long journey to pick us up. I would love to check out your list of Haiti drivers phone numbers.
I did find an Avis car rental site and for under $400 can rent a small SUV for 6 days. Honestly, I would rather pay a Haitian the money to drive us if the cost is comparable. I don’t need to have a car while in Bassin!
I am so very grateful for your blogs & all the helpful information you have made available. I am comming to Haiti on the 9th in order to get a house ready for my family to move into. We will be living at an orphanage in Fermathe. We would like very much to meet you and Melissa some time. Our plan is to move some time in early March.
In Christ alone,
Charlie
Ahh!! Just saw this comment! So glad we were able to meet you guys! Don’t worry if you are overwhelmed at this point in your journey. Maybe you are not – which is great – BUT – if you are, no worries. It is totally normal! Just prayed a short prayer for you.
Ryan,
I stayed your guesthouse before leaving Haiti in Feb. I was the guy who slept outside in the hammock. Do you have any suggestions about the cheapest way to call Haiti? I have a Haitian phone when I get there but calling my Haitian friends at $2/min gets expensive. Thanks again for the pizza and hospitality.
Luke – Yea! I am actually trying to figure that out myself since being back in the U.S. I have started to use Skype. Who is it your trying to call? Is it a +509 number?
Ryan & Melissa-
I just stumbled across your story about gps tracking your iPad while I was looking into ways to do gps tracking in Haiti.
I’m a doc student in Chicago and am doing my dissertation research on recovery and education partnership in Haiti. I’d love to connect with the two of you as I believe we’d have quite a bit in common. I’m also interested in the details of renting space at your guesthouse. Would you mind sending me an email? Can’t wait to hear from you–
Peace to you- Jessica
Jessica – Great to hear from you! For sure, there is also another “long-term” apartment you may be more interested depending on how long your planning on being in Haiti. We just finished our 2-year term in Haiti and are back in the U.S. 🙁 BUT fill out the contact page with your question and someone will get back to you. Here is the webpage: http://www.heartlineguesthouse.com/contact/
I would be happy to answer any questions you have on Haiti though! Blessings on your journey!
Hi!!
My name is hayleigh! Nd i really want to plan a trip to Haiti i know someone who lives there we meet through our family’s but me nd my cousin aren’t communicating anymore nd she has been to Haiti plenty of times nd idk the first thing about traveling nd she refuses to tell me but me and Colin (resident of Haiti) have been communicating via email Facebook telephone skype for the past 3 years nd have never met face to face but I’ve met his whole family & my cousin is very close with him so this is no where near a cat fish situation .. im willing to receive any advice from anyone about traveling to Haiti (nd he is 25 & i am 22) (also he will be meeting me at pap airport ) i just have sooooooo many questions PLEASE HELP!!!
thanks hayleigh
So .. how do i book the hotel? & which ones do you recommend also should i book the hotel with a visa or cash? How much spending money will i need about .. because my biggest fear is running out of cash Im thinking of going for 7-10 days depending on what i can afford Im very excited nd looking at the positives but my family doesn’t approve of it for my safety but i feel ill be ok. Once Im in Haiti ill be with a person who lives there and has grown up there
I will be leaving next week to work in Haiti for the next 1-2 years, and I would like to cancel my US cell phone carrier service. I have a question about Google Voice:
If I port my US cell phone number to Google Voice, can I cancel my US carrier service after the porting process is complete? Or do I have to have a working phone number/carrier while using Google voice?
I would ideally like to cancel my cell service so that I don’t have to make empty payments to Sprint anymore, but also maintain my old phone # and use the google voice text messaging capabilities. Will this work?
Thank you for your help! Very helpful info on your blog– I appreciate it!
Molly – Great question. Yes after you port your number to Google Voice you can cancel your US cell phone carrier service. Make sure to test it before you do. It will work just as you described! Good luck and blessings on your journey in Haiti.
Hi ryan, im interested or thinking seriously about moving to haiti for a year or two to do something like you have done with your wife. A brief question about residency i want to use a facilitator as you did even if it costs a little more. Can you give me the contact address for yours or reccomend one who is honnest. Did you use a lawyer, if you have a good and honnest one can you share his contact details with me. Iv enjoyed reading your website and have benefited thank you and god bless. If possible can you reply to my email as well as on your website. Mark.
Mark – Great to hear from you! I would love to share with you the info. No problem at all. Are you looking at a particular organization down there? I will reply in a private email with the details!
I was looking for recipes on cooking accra with griot, one of my favorite Haitian dish, when I accidentally found your website. I read your story about your time in Haiti. I know you went there on a church mission, but I wanted to ask if you guys got to go anywhere like Kenscoff, Camp Perrin, Les Cayes, Jacmel, Petionville?
I was born in Haiti. My mother was from Cap Haitien and my dad is from Jacmel. We lived in Martissant and Petionville before moving to the U.S. when I was a kid and I haven’t been back since. It’s been over 30 years. I know things were not the same for everyone then, and are worse now for the majority of the people, but I remember there are some beautiful places and fun things the country has to offer. I have brothers and cousins who travel there occasionally and tell me about the good and bad side of things around the country.
When most people in the States talk of Haiti, unfortunately they talk more about the worst of the conditions. I try to let my friends know that it is heart breaking to see how bad most Haitians are suffering in a country that is only a few hours from the United States. I don’t think billions of dollars are needed to help rebuild the neighboring country or at least build some electricity generating power plants. I guess that’s a whole other topic. I just wish more people could see and talk about the other side of Haiti.
Someday I’d like to go to there with a church/charity group to help, like you guys have, with some of the work that is being done in the villages.
I hope you, Melissa, and baby Eliana are doing well. God bless you!
Not sure if you’ll get this message as I see much has changed since I met you in Haiti at the Heartline House. I see you are back in the states AND have a sweet baby. congrats!
Don’t you just love a sweet story to see how God works in lives?!! Ryan, I wrote to you a few years ago for some assistance in finding a doctor to do an evaluation for a little girl at the House of Joy with severe crossed eyes. We were in need of an evaluation so we could get her proper care from a pediactric opthalmologist.. Not sure if you remember.
I wanted to share that after a more than 2 year effort from Joy in Haiti and some assistance from Wings of Hope we were able to finally bring her to St. Louis, MO last summer/fall. After a delay as she immediately developed Chicken Pox ,(as did many in her orphanage) she was able to get surgery and return to Haiti…with a new hope to finally complete kindergarten. She has a changed life and has truly been blessed by God.. I though you and Melissa would love to hear a praise report! We truly serve an awesome God!!!
Wishing you a blessed 2015 and blessings as you continue to serve God! Sybil
I will be leaving for my second mission trip to Cap Haitia, Haiti. I promised a couple of the teenagers that are in school a phone upon my return. I have been reserching unlocked smart phone for over a month now. I would like to keep the cost below 100 dollars. Can you recommend a brand or type of unlocked smart phone that works well in Haiti. There are so many negative reviews on phones out there that I am stuck. Thanks
Thanks for your lovely blog. I appreciated reading it as I have recently moved to Mirebalais, Haiti to work with Partners in Health for 4 months. I would love to get the contact information of your driver. Could you please send me the information? My e-mail address is RupalRShah@aol.com and my number (available on Watsapp) is 18646507434.
28 responses to “FAQ”
Hi Ryan and Melissa,
Hope you didn’t get too flooded by the hurricane and that things are drying out.
I met you briefly at Kaliko on July 4 (my wife and I have 2 kids we are in the process of adopting). Your blog is very helpful and informative! I had some questions about cell phones in Haiti. We are coming again next weekend and I just want to verify a few things. Can you please email me back when you get a chance? …Thanks!
Hi Melissa and Ryan
I am planing my fourth trip to the village of Bassin in the Artibonite Department. I will be traveling in January with two others. I hope to arrange transportation so the pastor of our sister parish does not need to borrow a vehicle and make the long journey to pick us up. I would love to check out your list of Haiti drivers phone numbers.
I did find an Avis car rental site and for under $400 can rent a small SUV for 6 days. Honestly, I would rather pay a Haitian the money to drive us if the cost is comparable. I don’t need to have a car while in Bassin!
Great question! I will reply via email with information for you.
Hi Ryan and Melissa,
I am so very grateful for your blogs & all the helpful information you have made available. I am comming to Haiti on the 9th in order to get a house ready for my family to move into. We will be living at an orphanage in Fermathe. We would like very much to meet you and Melissa some time. Our plan is to move some time in early March.
In Christ alone,
Charlie
Ahh!! Just saw this comment! So glad we were able to meet you guys! Don’t worry if you are overwhelmed at this point in your journey. Maybe you are not – which is great – BUT – if you are, no worries. It is totally normal! Just prayed a short prayer for you.
I am going to haiti for my bday…and i wanted to spend the night in wahoo bay and i was wondering if you could help me find a driver.
Yaz – Head over to this page: http://ryanandmelissaalberts.com/haiti-drivers-phone-numbers/ and use the password “haiti”. You will find phone numbers of drivers there. Have fun!
Ryan,
I stayed your guesthouse before leaving Haiti in Feb. I was the guy who slept outside in the hammock. Do you have any suggestions about the cheapest way to call Haiti? I have a Haitian phone when I get there but calling my Haitian friends at $2/min gets expensive. Thanks again for the pizza and hospitality.
Luke – Yea! I am actually trying to figure that out myself since being back in the U.S. I have started to use Skype. Who is it your trying to call? Is it a +509 number?
Ryan & Melissa-
I just stumbled across your story about gps tracking your iPad while I was looking into ways to do gps tracking in Haiti.
I’m a doc student in Chicago and am doing my dissertation research on recovery and education partnership in Haiti. I’d love to connect with the two of you as I believe we’d have quite a bit in common. I’m also interested in the details of renting space at your guesthouse. Would you mind sending me an email? Can’t wait to hear from you–
Peace to you- Jessica
Jessica – Great to hear from you! For sure, there is also another “long-term” apartment you may be more interested depending on how long your planning on being in Haiti. We just finished our 2-year term in Haiti and are back in the U.S. 🙁 BUT fill out the contact page with your question and someone will get back to you. Here is the webpage: http://www.heartlineguesthouse.com/contact/
I would be happy to answer any questions you have on Haiti though! Blessings on your journey!
– Ryan
Hi!!
My name is hayleigh! Nd i really want to plan a trip to Haiti i know someone who lives there we meet through our family’s but me nd my cousin aren’t communicating anymore nd she has been to Haiti plenty of times nd idk the first thing about traveling nd she refuses to tell me but me and Colin (resident of Haiti) have been communicating via email Facebook telephone skype for the past 3 years nd have never met face to face but I’ve met his whole family & my cousin is very close with him so this is no where near a cat fish situation .. im willing to receive any advice from anyone about traveling to Haiti (nd he is 25 & i am 22) (also he will be meeting me at pap airport ) i just have sooooooo many questions PLEASE HELP!!!
thanks hayleigh
How can I help?
So .. how do i book the hotel? & which ones do you recommend also should i book the hotel with a visa or cash? How much spending money will i need about .. because my biggest fear is running out of cash Im thinking of going for 7-10 days depending on what i can afford Im very excited nd looking at the positives but my family doesn’t approve of it for my safety but i feel ill be ok. Once Im in Haiti ill be with a person who lives there and has grown up there
Hi Ryan,
I will be leaving next week to work in Haiti for the next 1-2 years, and I would like to cancel my US cell phone carrier service. I have a question about Google Voice:
If I port my US cell phone number to Google Voice, can I cancel my US carrier service after the porting process is complete? Or do I have to have a working phone number/carrier while using Google voice?
I would ideally like to cancel my cell service so that I don’t have to make empty payments to Sprint anymore, but also maintain my old phone # and use the google voice text messaging capabilities. Will this work?
Thank you for your help! Very helpful info on your blog– I appreciate it!
-Molly
Molly – Great question. Yes after you port your number to Google Voice you can cancel your US cell phone carrier service. Make sure to test it before you do. It will work just as you described! Good luck and blessings on your journey in Haiti.
Can you send me an address I can send you guys something at? Thanks:) praying things are going well!
Ashley
Hi ryan, im interested or thinking seriously about moving to haiti for a year or two to do something like you have done with your wife. A brief question about residency i want to use a facilitator as you did even if it costs a little more. Can you give me the contact address for yours or reccomend one who is honnest. Did you use a lawyer, if you have a good and honnest one can you share his contact details with me. Iv enjoyed reading your website and have benefited thank you and god bless. If possible can you reply to my email as well as on your website. Mark.
Mark – Great to hear from you! I would love to share with you the info. No problem at all. Are you looking at a particular organization down there? I will reply in a private email with the details!
Hi Ryan and Melissa,
I was looking for recipes on cooking accra with griot, one of my favorite Haitian dish, when I accidentally found your website. I read your story about your time in Haiti. I know you went there on a church mission, but I wanted to ask if you guys got to go anywhere like Kenscoff, Camp Perrin, Les Cayes, Jacmel, Petionville?
I was born in Haiti. My mother was from Cap Haitien and my dad is from Jacmel. We lived in Martissant and Petionville before moving to the U.S. when I was a kid and I haven’t been back since. It’s been over 30 years. I know things were not the same for everyone then, and are worse now for the majority of the people, but I remember there are some beautiful places and fun things the country has to offer. I have brothers and cousins who travel there occasionally and tell me about the good and bad side of things around the country.
When most people in the States talk of Haiti, unfortunately they talk more about the worst of the conditions. I try to let my friends know that it is heart breaking to see how bad most Haitians are suffering in a country that is only a few hours from the United States. I don’t think billions of dollars are needed to help rebuild the neighboring country or at least build some electricity generating power plants. I guess that’s a whole other topic. I just wish more people could see and talk about the other side of Haiti.
Someday I’d like to go to there with a church/charity group to help, like you guys have, with some of the work that is being done in the villages.
I hope you, Melissa, and baby Eliana are doing well. God bless you!
JP
Not sure if you’ll get this message as I see much has changed since I met you in Haiti at the Heartline House. I see you are back in the states AND have a sweet baby. congrats!
Don’t you just love a sweet story to see how God works in lives?!! Ryan, I wrote to you a few years ago for some assistance in finding a doctor to do an evaluation for a little girl at the House of Joy with severe crossed eyes. We were in need of an evaluation so we could get her proper care from a pediactric opthalmologist.. Not sure if you remember.
I wanted to share that after a more than 2 year effort from Joy in Haiti and some assistance from Wings of Hope we were able to finally bring her to St. Louis, MO last summer/fall. After a delay as she immediately developed Chicken Pox ,(as did many in her orphanage) she was able to get surgery and return to Haiti…with a new hope to finally complete kindergarten. She has a changed life and has truly been blessed by God.. I though you and Melissa would love to hear a praise report! We truly serve an awesome God!!!
Wishing you a blessed 2015 and blessings as you continue to serve God! Sybil
Thanks so much for sharing!
Dear Ryan and Melissa,
Would it be possible to send through the password for your recommended drivers list in Haiti?
Many thanks,
Martha
I will be leaving for my second mission trip to Cap Haitia, Haiti. I promised a couple of the teenagers that are in school a phone upon my return. I have been reserching unlocked smart phone for over a month now. I would like to keep the cost below 100 dollars. Can you recommend a brand or type of unlocked smart phone that works well in Haiti. There are so many negative reviews on phones out there that I am stuck. Thanks
Dear Ryan and Melissa
I would like to get information on private drivers in Port-au-Prince. I appreciate your blog.
Kind regards
Hey Melissa it’s Charmika it’s been along time I hope you all are well. Can you recommend an English speaking driver please?
Dear Ryan and Melissa,
I will be coming back to Haiti for the first time since 2011 and would be grateful if you could provide information on drivers in Port au Prince.
Many thanks,
Dear Ryan and Melissa,
Thanks for your lovely blog. I appreciated reading it as I have recently moved to Mirebalais, Haiti to work with Partners in Health for 4 months. I would love to get the contact information of your driver. Could you please send me the information? My e-mail address is RupalRShah@aol.com and my number (available on Watsapp) is 18646507434.
Thanks for your time and help!
Best,
Rupal