COVID-19 and RMI

Current Situation

On March 19, 2020, the Haitian President announced that 2 cases of the COVID-19 had been found in northern Haiti.  He also announced most of the same precautions as the US such as the closure of schools, factories and most stores and businesses, no gatherings of more than 10 people, practicing social distancing, shelter in place and hand washing as well as instituting a curfew.  All airports were also closed to commercial flights.

These measures are not easy for the Haitian culture, where they live their lives outside of their homes and shop for food just for that day’s meal.  It is a nation of 12 million people living densely packed into a mountainous 10,000 square miles.  There are few medical facilities.  Reportedly there are only 64 ventilators in the whole country.

So far we are not seeing much multiplication in infections, but that could be coming.  We have real concern for the country if this were to get out of hand as it has in other countries as they simply don’t have the healthcare capacity to handle this pandemic.

So how has this impacted RMI, our missionaries and staff, and the ministry?

RMI International Office:  The RMI in Florida is open with employees working from home.  Phones are being answered from 9:00-4:00.  Feel free to email us or call the office (239-368-8390) if you need to communicate with us.  Mail and donations are being processed.  Hope for Kidz is open and processing renewals and new sponsorships.  Providing hope for these children is more needed now than ever.

Teams:  Please contact Dawn Shoemaker and Lee Nunemaker through your partnerships.haiti@rmibridge.org email for information concerning scheduled team trips or to reschedule for the fall.

The RMI Haiti Office is closed until further notice.  All of the staff, both missionary and nationals are working from home and will be answering email and staying in contact with you and providing regular updates on how things are going with your C3 Partner.

RMI US Missionaries:  After much discussion together, RMI leadership, even though they highly recommended the missionaries come back to the US, have allowed them to consider staying in Haiti if desired.  Due to the many difficulties in returning to the US due to the “shelter in place” requirements, lack of supplies in grocery stores, not wanting to put elderly parents at risk, housing needs, and many other issues, most have decided to stay, knowing the risks inherent in doing so.   They have been able to stock up and are fairly isolated at the mission center. 

The Nunemakers and Starkeys stayed in Haiti and are working from home.  Joslynn and Tessa are there as well, working from home and continuing to teach their classes virtually online.  Dawn chose to come back to the States and is working from there.

Special Note

Thank you for continuing to support the RMI missionaries as they weather this crisis and continue to work at their ministry as possible both in Haiti and in the US.

Pray for RMI, our staff and missionaries, and the Haitian people during these difficult days ahead.

Keep Up To Date

On the RMI website home page, there is a COVID-19 button.  Click on that to be taken to this same information.  On the right-hand side you’ll see the latest update on the official number of cases and any new information we receive.

RMI’s Facebook page will provide you with the most current information as well as pictures.